Exploring a Golfer’s Mental Game: An Intrapersonal Communication Study A Thesis Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Marisa Oeltjen 2016 Exploring a Golfer’s Mental Game: An Intrapersonal Communication Study Marisa A. Oeltjen Thesis Approved: Accepted: _______________________________ _______________________________ Advisor Interim Dean Dr. Kathleen Clark Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences John Green _______________________________ _______________________________ Committee Member Dean of Graduate School Dr. Yang Lin Chand Midha _______________________________ _______________________________ Committee Member Date Dr. Mary Triece _______________________________ School of Communication Director Dr. Theodore Avtgis ii ABSTRACT This study explores a golfer’s use of intrapersonal communication during competition. A thematic analysis of interviews with four golf professionals in Northeast Ohio examines their individual mental game. Additionally, it explores how golf professionals use the practices of (1) mindfulness (2) self-talk (3) being in the zone as they seek success during competition. Three major themes emerged during the analysis including: (1) Making an intentional decision to be completely present during competition; (2) Managing self-talk to enhance confidence during play; and (3) Using mindfulness and self-talk to reach for the zone. This study is designed to take a more in depth look at how golf professionals use their intrapersonal communication during competitive play. Keywords: intrapersonal communication, self-talk, mindfulness, in the zone, golf iii DEDICATION To my Gram. Thank you for passing down your love of sports to me. Because of you, I will forever be a sports fan. All my love. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I first would like to thank my graduate school and thesis advisor, Dr. Kathleen Clark. Words cannot express how grateful I am for your kindness, patience, and unwavering support during this process. You have been an incredible mentor throughout my whole graduate school career. Honestly, I could not have done this without you and I am forever grateful. My thesis committee, Dr. Mary Triece and Dr. Yang Lin, thank you for your time, encouragement, and direction. Thank you for challenging me in the best way. I have learned so much from both of you. Lastly, I would like to thank Josh. Your support throughout this crazy journey has been undeniable. Your faith in me has led me to be the best version of myself. Thank you for being you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………….………1 Preface ………………………………………………………………………..1 Sport and Communication …………………………………………………....3 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ……………………………………………...…8 Intrapersonal Communication………….……………………………………..8 Professional Athletes and Self-Talk ……………………………………….....9 Mindfulness …………………………………………………………………11 Being in the Zone: Peak Performance and Play …………………………….13 Research Questions …………………………………………………………18 III. METHOD ………………………………………………………………...…19 Participants ………………………………………………………………….20 Data Collection ……………………………………………………………...21 Data Analysis ………………………………………………………………..23 IV. FINDINGS ………………………………………………………………….25 Theme One: Deciding to be Completely Present during Competitive Play ...25 Theme Two: Managing Self-Talk to Enhance Confidence during Play ……29 Theme Three: Using Mindfulness and Self-Talk to Reach for the Zone ……32 V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ……………………………………....37 Limitations and Future Directions …………………………………………. 39 VI. REFERENCES …………………………………………………………...…42 vi VII. APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………47 APPENDIX A: INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL ….….48 APPENDIX B: INFORMED CONSENT LETTER ………………………..49 APPENDIX C: PGA OF AMERICA MEMBER CLASSIFICATIONS …..51 APPENDIX D: INTERVIEW QUESTION GUIDE ……………………….54 APPENDIX E: CODEBOOK ……………………………………….……...58 vii CHAPTER ONE “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies.” - Bobby Jones Describe golf in your own words: “Very, very stupid (laughs)…insane way of doing something fun.” –Caleb, 35 “Thrill of competition and opportunity to be outdoors.” -Mike, 58 “Learn a lot about yourself, how to overcome adversity, accomplish something positive, realization you are never going to be perfect and opportunity of meeting a lot of different people never would meet.” -Ross, 36 “It’s a game of a lifetime, you can play it at any age. It reflects life: you get out of it what you put into it.” – Stan, 48 Preface I have been a sports fan since I was a little girl. I can remember sitting on my grandma’s lap cheering for tennis star Chrissy Evert. This is my first memory as a sports fan; I was 4. To many, I was considered a tom boy throughout the first decade of my life. I refused to wear dresses and always played with the boys. I was an active child and this continued through my junior high and high school years when I participated in organized sports. I have always believed being an athlete was more than just playing a game. Furthermore, I have always thought athletes contain something deep within them that sets them apart from the rest. This is what sparked my initial interest in the inner workings of athletes, and although my participation in organized sports ended with high school, my passion for sports, did not. The end of high school signaled the beginning of a new chapter in my life as well as the beginning of my journey into the sports world. 1 My fascination with athletes started at a young age and when I set out to college it only expanded more. I became a more avid sports fan and this eventually led to me graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. My interests in the sports world didn’t end there; I worked for a variety of sports teams throughout my twenties which ultimately led to my decision to return to graduate school and produce this paper. I wanted to explore a different aspect of academia, one that I could apply to the world of sport, which is why I chose the area of communication. Throughout my life my love of sports and competition has grown considerably. Additionally, my past work experience in the sports world steered me towards one sport in particular which completely captivates me. Those who are familiar with the world of golf know golfers need to be just as strong mentally as physically, perhaps even stronger. Famous professional golfer, Arnold Palmer once said “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented” (http://www.bluecollargolf.co/golf-quotes.htm, 2013). Golf takes passion, strength, and above all mental toughness. Golfer Bobby Jones once said “golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course - the distance between your ears” (http://www.mindtrainingforgolf.com, 2014). My hope for this paper is to find a connection between a golfer’s intrapersonal communication and success on the golf course. 2 Sport and Communication The popularity of sports and our fascination with athletes is on a continual rise in the United States. “Sports, with their impact and influence, have always had a place in society” (Nikpour, 2011; www.sun-sentinel.com). As a culture, we give athletes a considerable amount of power and deem them a highly influential part of our society. As fans, we hold certain expectations for our athletes. Steinberg (2013) says, “It is inescapable. Athletes will be figures of admiration and emulation in this sports obsessed society” (www.forbes.com). Previous research from the Kaiser Family Foundation also reported, “Many kids are learning lessons about sports and life from watching famous athletes” (Ziemer, 2000). Additionally, “sport and communication have existed since humans began interacting with one another, with organized sport and planned communication formalized for hundreds of years” (Abeza, O’Reilly & Nadeau, 2014 p. 289). Today, many individuals have participated in, been involved with, or been affected by sports at some point in their life. Douglas and Carless (2015) note: Aside from these personal experiences, there exists a multitude of public portrayals of sports. Perhaps more so than almost any other area of life, sport is represented to the public on a daily basis through thousands of public portrayals including: television coverage, interviews, documentaries and features; newspaper, magazine and online articles; autobiographies and biographies; films and plays; policy documents; research papers and academic texts; ‘how-to’ manuals…the list is endless (p.7). The study of sport and communication is not a new one, however, Abeza, O’Reilly and Nadeau (2014) state, “the area of sport and mass media account for 49% of the International Journal Sport Communication’s publications” (p. 302), meaning almost half of the research about athletes reported in IJSC has been done through the lens of mass media outlets. Little to no research has been done on an athlete’s personal communication perspective and whether, if any, the process of inner dialogue affects an athlete’s level of 3 play. Athletes as well as coaches recognize “communication also could help people to learn and maximize their potential. Athletes realize the unlimited potential of the human body, mentally as well as physically. Furthermore, most coaches and athletes agree that