When I look back on my years grinding the mini-tours, I remember plenty of good rounds — but also the sleepless nights when I knew something was missing. Two players, Len Komar and Brian Wilson, helped me see what it was: my mindset.
Playing for Par vs. Playing for Birdies
I met Len after a mini-tour event in Arizona. He’d just shot 61, with nine birdies in a row. I was stunned. That day I thought my 67 would hold up, only to watch player after player pass me on the leaderboard.
When we started talking, I realized how different our approaches were. I was taught to play against par: aim for the middle of the green, stay safe, protect your score. Len, on the other hand, was hunting birdies. If conditions were right — a good lie, favorable wind, or a pin he liked — he went flag-hunting without hesitation. He wasn’t protecting. He was scoring.
It was a revelation. While I was leaving myself 30- and 40-footers from the fat side of the green, he was giving himself ten-foot looks all day long.
Where to Step on the Gas
Brian Wilson drove the lesson home later on. He explained how a pro looks at 18 holes: not just as a round to survive, but as a map of scoring opportunities. Some holes are green lights — pedal down, attack, make your move. Others are red lights — play safe, take your par, and don’t get greedy.
The key was knowing the difference. Too often I had one gear: cautious. Brian showed me that winning golf comes from shifting gears — being aggressive where you have an edge, and disciplined where risk outweighs reward.
Clover Valley: My Struggle with Fear
One hole that haunted me was No. 16 at Clover Valley, a par 5 with water on the right and moguls on the left. After a good drive, I’d usually have 140–180 yards in. On paper, it was a scoring hole. But no matter what, I’d yank it left into the mounds.
I even set up alignment sticks one day, forcing myself to aim at the flag in the middle of the green. Still, I tugged it left. It wasn’t a swing problem — it was a mindset problem. Years of being taught to “play safe” had built a habit in my subconscious. I couldn’t free myself to go at the flag. And that’s why it took me nearly two years to break free.
My Breakthrough
Eventually, I learned to trust a different mindset. To see when the green light was truly on — and take it. When it finally clicked, I made four eagles in a single round and shot 70. That was the day I realized I had stopped playing just to survive. I was finally playing to score.
Peaks and Valleys
Along the way, I also learned that all golfers go through peaks and valleys in performance. The great players aren’t immune to slumps — but they ride the peaks longer and work through the valleys quicker than most. From the outside, it looks like they’re always on top. In reality, they’ve mastered how to manage the rhythm of form, confidence, and mindset.
What You Can Take Away
Golf is a game of choices. Most players get stuck in one mindset: always safe, or always aggressive. The truth is somewhere in between.
- Play to your strengths. Lean on the shots you own and sharpen them like Excalibur.
- Know your opportunities. Identify the “green light” holes and don’t hold back.
- Stay disciplined. On red light holes, play smart and move on.
- Manage your rhythm. Ride your hot streaks with confidence, and don’t let valleys drag you down for long.
Len taught me to look for birdies. Brian taught me when to step on the gas. Together, they changed the way I approached the game — and the way I looked at every round since.
Because in the end, scoring isn’t just about swing mechanics. It’s about mindset.about swing mechanics. It’s about mindset.