Exploring the Role of Play in Golf with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play

From Links for Life by Tommy Thompson

March 10, 2026 · 43 min · Episode 24

About this episode

This episode explores how the science of play can reshape the way golfers approach the game.

Many golfers start playing because the game is fun. But over time something shifts. Golf becomes work. The scorecard becomes the focus. And the joy that originally drew us to the game slowly fades. In this episode of  Links for Life , Tommy sits down with  Mia Sundstrom , CEO of the  National Institute for Play , to explore how the science of play can reshape the way we approach golf. Mia shares the story behind the research of her grandfather,  Dr. Stuart Brown , whose work helped establish play as a fundamental human need and led to the creation of the National Institute for Play. Together they explore how play affects learning, performance, creativity, and how golfers can reconnect with the reason they started playing in the first place. The conversation also looks at how reframing success in golf can lead to deeper learning, greater presence, and often better performance. Play personalities include: Competitor Explorer Mover Dreamer Creator Joker Storyteller Director Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction to the Power of Play (3:20) Mia Sundstrom’s Background and the Origins of the National Institute for Play (7:42) What Play Really Means and Common…

People in this episode

Host: Tommy Thompson

Guest: Mia Sundstrom

Topics covered

play in golf
golf performance
science of play
reframing success
play personalities

Keywords

golf
play
performance
learning
creativity
success
play personalities

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Institute for Play