The Influences of Skill Level, Anxiety, and Psychological Skills Use on Amateur Golfers’ Performances

Abstract

The present study not only explored the influence of golf expertise on mental skills utilization, but also the influences of the use of mental skills and anxiety on performance at a major national golf competition. Participants, who had played golf for an average of 23 years, ranged in age (M = 52.17, SD = 11.81) and in skill level (M handicap = 15.58, SD = 6.41), included 1151 male and 173 female amateur golfers competing in the Dupont World Amateur Golf Championship in Myrtle Beach, SC. Measures targeted mental skills utilization, golf-specific skills, and competitive trait anxiety. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the use of psychological skills across age (≤49, 50 and above) and levels of golf skill (Professional Golf Association certified handicaps, ≤11, 12–19, and ≥20), and based upon prospective longitudinal data, hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine those factors that predicted successful golf performance across all three rounds of the tournament. Not surprisingly, consistent differences in the use of psychological skills across skill level were found, favoring more skilled players. The most salient predictors of better tournament performance (lower gross scores) were automaticity, commitment to golf, and disruptions in concentration, whereas positive self-talk predicted higher scores. These findings reinforce the role of automaticity in fostering the experience of peak performance in a competitive sport context.