In this episode, I sit down with PGA professional and Raglan Golf Club manager, Tom Higson, to explore what it really means to enjoy golf - and why happiness and performance might be far more connected than most golfers realise.

🧠 What we cover:

• Why so many golfers struggle to separate their identity from their scores
• The hidden cost of becoming obsessed with performance
• How Tom's wife helped him rediscover perspective during his professional career
• Why half of on-course golfers don't even consider themselves "real golfers"
• What golf clubs can do to create a genuine sense of belonging
• Why process goals often matter more than handicap goals
• The surprising idea that could completely change the way you keep score

🏌️ A different kind of golf club

We also explore the remarkable story of Raglan Golf Club.

After closing completely, the club has been rebuilt around a simple philosophy:

👉 Golf is for everyone.

From mixed-gender competitions and flexible tee choices to creating a welcoming space for families, non-golfers and newcomers alike, Raglan is challenging many of golf's traditional assumptions.

🔑 The shift

Most golfers judge themselves through one question:

"What did you score?"

But what if that isn't the most important question?

Tom shares a fascinating example of a golfer who stopped tracking scores and started tracking whether she followed her process instead. That simple shift opens up a bigger conversation:

👉 Who do you want to be as a golfer?

Not just what handicap do you want.

Not just what score do you want.

But what kind of golfer - and person - do you want to become?

🎯 A preview of our coaching partnership

This conversation also introduces an exciting new coaching collaboration between Tom and myself.

By combining traditional PGA coaching with mindset coaching, our aim is simple:

• Help golfers enjoy the game more
• Build healthier relationships with golf
• Improve confidence and resilience
• Create performance gains as a natural by-product

Because happier golfers tend to become better golfers.

🌳 Stop and look around

Golf is one of the few sports we can play for a lifetime.

Yet many of us spend our rounds frustrated, distracted or chasing perfection.

Tom's challenge is wonderfully simple:

👉 Pause.

👉 Look around.

👉 Notice where you are.

You might discover that golf has already given you more than your scorecard ever could.

🎁 Claim your Free 5-Day Reset

👉 Link here - https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/free-5-day-reset

💬 Join the Community

👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community

📧 Get In Touch

hello@golfyourselfhappy.com

🏌️‍♂️ Final Thought

Golf isn't who you are.

It's something you do.

The score is just the score.

So next time you play, don't just ask how many shots you took.

Ask yourself:

Did I enjoy it?

Happiness First. Handicap Later.

What actually happens when you try to enjoy competitive golf… and it doesn’t go fully to plan?

In this episode, I reflect on my experience playing an NCG Top 100 event at Royal North Devon - and preview my next round at Edgbaston.

🧠 What we cover:

• What it really felt like stepping onto the first tee
• How quickly simple habits break down under pressure
• The moment that forced a complete reset mid-round

🔑 The shift

Golf constantly presents things outside your control:

• The conditions
• Your swing
• Other players

The question is:

👉 Do you fight it… or accept it?

After six holes of frustration and no score, a flashpoint on the 12th forced me to reset - and changed the rest of the round.

🧭 Looking ahead: Edgbaston

This next round isn’t about getting it perfect.

It’s about continuing the experiment:

• Staying anchored to enjoyment
• Letting go of what I can’t control
• Showing up in a way that’s true to me

🔬 This is still an experiment

I haven’t figured this out.

But I experienced something different — and that matters.

🔁 Part of a NCG Top 100s mini-series

This is Episode 2 of 3.

🗓️ Next episode on Wednesday 27 May: what actually happened at Edgbaston.

👉🏻 Check out the full NCG Top 100s Tour Schedule (use discount code GYH10 at checkout for 10% off your booking)

💬 Join the Community

👉 https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community

🎁 Claim your Free 5-Day Reset

👉 Link here - https://tinyurl.com/2udzf3ze

🏌️‍♂️ Final Thought

You don’t need a perfect round to enjoy golf.

Happiness First. Handicap Later.

What does it actually feel like for an everyday golfer to play in a Top 100 event?

In this episode, I take you inside my mindset ahead of playing on the NCG Top 100 Tour - not from the perspective of performance, but from the perspective of experience.

Why? Because these are exactly the kind of days that used to make me enjoy golf less… not more.

🧠 What we cover:

• Why high-pressure or “big” golf days can feel harder to enjoy
• The hidden mental patterns that show up before you even hit your first shot
• How comparison, expectation, and over-preparation can shape your round
• Why playing well doesn’t always mean feeling good

🔑 The shift

Instead of focusing on score or performance, I’m approaching this round differently: Can I actually enjoy it?

✅ The 2 simple habits I’m using:

1. Pause before every shot - A breath, a reset, and a moment to arrive in the present
2. No immediate judgement after each shot - Good or bad - notice it, and move on

Simple, repeatable, and something you can actually use when it matters most.

🔬 This episode is an experiment

I don’t know how this is going to go.

I might play well. I might not. I’ll probably get frustrated at times.

But that’s kind of the point.

This isn’t about perfection, it’s about seeing whether I can experience golf differently.

🔁 This is part of a mini-series

In the next episode, I’ll reflect on what actually happened at Royal North Devon - honestly, and in full.

So make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast!

👉🏻 Check out the full NCG Top 100s Tour Schedule (use discount code GYH10 at checkout for 10% off your booking)

💬 Join the Community (Free)

If this episode resonated with you, come and join Happy Hackers — my free WhatsApp community for everyday golfers who want to enjoy the game more.

No pressure. No egos. No unsolicited advice.

Just real golfers, sharing the ups, downs, and everything in between.

👉 Join here: https://www.golfyourselfhappy.com/happy-hackers/free-community

🙏🏻 If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Share this with a golfing mate who needs to hear it
• Leave a quick rating or review — it really helps more golfers find the show

🏌️‍♂️ Final Thought

Happiness First, Handicap Later

What if playing better golf had less to do with fixing your mindset… and more to do with how you respond to what shows up?

In this episode of Golf Yourself Happy, I’m joined by PGA professional and mental performance coach Trevor Jones to explore a different way of approaching the mental game — one that doesn’t rely on trying to feel confident or getting rid of nerves before you play well.

We dig into Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), the model that sits at the heart of the HAPPY framework, and unpack why so many golfers get stuck trying to manage their thoughts and emotions… instead of learning how to play alongside them.

This is a conversation about performance, yes — but more importantly, it’s about your experience of the game and how you want to show up on the course.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• Why trying to “fix” your mindset can actually hold you back
• The truth about confidence (and why you don’t need it to play well)
• What mental toughness really looks like on the golf course
• How avoidance shows up in golf (often without you realising)
• A different way to respond to pressure, nerves, and doubt
• How ACT can help you build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with the game

🧠 Key Takeaway

You don’t need the perfect mindset to play good golf.

You just need to learn how to play with whatever shows up.

👥 About Trevor

Trevor Jones is a PGA professional and mental performance coach who works with golfers across all levels of the game. Over the past decade, he has specialised in Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), helping players perform under pressure without needing to control their thoughts or emotions.

Follow Trevor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevorjones_aware/

💬 Join the Community (Free)

If this episode resonated with you, come and join Happy Hackers — my free WhatsApp community for everyday golfers who want to enjoy the game more.

No pressure. No egos. No unsolicited advice.

Just real golfers, sharing the ups, downs, and everything in between.

👉 Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cl5a39HM4GbAXN59T7NwRT

🔁 If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Follow / subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Share this with a golfing mate who needs to hear it
• Leave a quick rating or review — it really helps more golfers find the show

🏌️‍♂️ Final Thought

Happiness First, Handicap Later

This is a free WhatsApp community for golfers who love the game… but don’t always love how it makes them feel.

If you’ve ever walked off the course frustrated, sat in the car wondering why you even play, or felt like you don’t quite belong in traditional golf spaces — this is for you.

🏌️‍♂️ What This Is

The Happy Hackers Club is a space for everyday golfers.

Just normal people who enjoy golf… but want it to feel better.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Honest conversations about how golf actually feels
• A place to vent after tough rounds
• A space to celebrate small wins
• Support without judgment or unsolicited advice
• Golfers who understand exactly what you’re going through

🧠 What Makes It Different

Most golf communities focus on improving your game.

This one focuses on improving your experience.

• Feelings first, scores optional
• No unsolicited advice
• Showing up is the win

You don’t need to play well to belong here.

👥 Who It’s For

This is for you if:

• You love golf but often leave the course frustrated
• You feel pressure to perform or improve
• You don’t relate to traditional golf culture
• You play for enjoyment, not perfection
• You just want golf to feel lighter, more social, and more enjoyable

🚪 Join the Happy Hackers Club

It’s completely free to join.

No commitment. No pressure. You can even just join and read.

👉 Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cl5a39HM4GbAXN59T7NwRT

After weeks of teasing, the name is finally official — Golf Yourself Happy — and in this episode, Kris explains exactly what that means… and what it doesn’t.

Kris also introduces The Happy Hackers Club — a free community for recreational golfers who love the game but don’t always love how it makes them feel.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Why Golf Yourself Happy exists
2. The philosophy behind “happy first, handicap later”
3. What the Happy Hackers Club actually is
4. What it definitely isn’t (no tips overload, no comparison culture)
5. Why “hacker” isn’t an insult — it’s a badge of belonging
6. How this community will work (and why it will always be free)

🚪 Big Announcement — Doors Open April 1st

The Happy Hackers Club officially launches on:

👉 Wednesday, 1st April 2026

In the next episode, we’ll explain exactly how to join and walk you through everything inside the community.

So if this episode resonated with you…

📅 Make sure you come back on April 1st.

You don’t need to be exceptional to deserve enjoyment.

You just need to show up.

Happy first. Handicap later.

Key Topics:

1. The fundamentals of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) applied to golf
2. The five components of the Happy Framework: Habits, Acceptance, Presence, Purpose, and Call to Action
3. Practical insights on accepting difficult feelings and embracing the game’s challenges
4. How psychological models tailored for everyday golfers can boost happiness on the course
5. The upcoming launch of a supportive golf community for average players
6. Differences between elite mental toughness training and approachable mental strategies for amateur golfers
7. The importance of aligning your golf game with your personal values

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introducing the Happy Framework for recreational golfers 01:20 - What is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)?

02:47 - Core belief: lean into difficult thoughts and feelings

04:10 - How happiness in golf is about values, not fleeting victories

06:04 - Breakdown of the five components: Habits and Acceptance

07:20 - Understanding and auditing your mental habits

08:02 - Embracing acceptance: golf is hard, and that’s okay

08:57 - The importance of presence and being in the moment

09:53 - Clarifying your purpose in golf: why do you play?

11:16 - Moving from mindset to action: commitment as progress

11:51 - Personal story: accepting current skill level

14:23 - Accepting conditions and refraining from self-criticism

15:49 - The Happy Framework is for the 95%, not just elites

16:25 - Upcoming community launch to support your golf happiness journey

Resources & Links:

1. Stephen Hayes - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
2. Learn more about ACT

🗓️ Save the Date for our Big Launch! - Wednesday 1st April

👉🏻 Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/golfyourselfhealthy/

🎦 Watch this episode exclusively on YouTube

Kris also discusses the following topics:

1. The impact of overthinking on golf performance and how to avoid the "paralysis by analysis" trap
2. Insights from research by Sian Beilock on autopilot and choking under pressure
3. How experienced golfers can benefit from playing faster to prevent overthinking
4. The difference between internal and external focus in golf coaching, based on Gabriele Wulf's studies
5. Practical tips for shifting your mindset from scoring to feeling good and enjoying your game more

🗓️ Save the date for our big launch! - 1st April 2026

Connect with Kris:

Instagram - @golfyourselfhealthy

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-lynch-a9166037/

E-mail - kris@golfyourselfhealthy.com

Other useful links

Sian Beilock TED talk

Skillest - database of online and in-person Golf coaches

He reflects on the PGA's Golf For All research project, which found that 22.4 million people in Great Britain and Ireland engaged with Golf in some form, yet only 70% of people who play Golf identify as a Golfer.

As Kris argues, there isn't a participation problem in Golf, there is an identity crisis. He offers his experiences and insights around how and why this problem has come to exist in the first place and offers his own unique solution, to help Golfers feel the sense of belonging they crave and are otherwise currently lacking.

🗓️ Save the date - 1st April 2026

🔗 Check out the PGA's Golf for All research paper for yourself

📧 Get in touch - kris@golfyourselfhealthy.com to share your own experiences and perspectives on the topic

🎦 Watch this episode in full video only on YouTube

🎧 Listen to this episode on your favourite podcast player