Relish challenges

I recently set my England under 16 boys team a challenge in which they hit balls from a bunker to a sleeve of Pro V1's on the green.

The first player to hit the pack got to keep it. The shots they hit were phenomenal.

I then changed the game by placing the flag flat on the green. I gave them an ultimatum each boy had one shot, if he failed to pitch the ball over the flag he had to go home.

This time the shots were a mish-mash of thins and fats.

Obviously, none of the boys were sent home but this game highlighted just how powerful your mind can be.

It showed that if you dread the outcome, fearful of the result a bad shot becomes far more likely. If, however, you can train your mind to relish the challenges that a round of golf presents your performance is guaranteed to improve.