287: Gary Belsky - The Mental Game Difference Between Pros and Amateurs

About this episode

Gary Belsky discusses the mental game differences between professional and amateur golfers, emphasizing the benefits of solo golf.

If you've ever played your best golf alone but fallen apart the moment others are watching, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Gary Belsky makes a compelling case that solo golf isn't just a scheduling convenience — it's a mental training ground that can rewire how you handle pressure, self-criticism, and the performative noise that creeps in during a round. You'll walk away with some fresh perspective on why the mental game is so hard, and a genuinely practical tool for building it. Gary is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and decision-making expert who spent 14 years at ESPN, and his newly released book Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game is unlike anything else in the genre. Timestamps and topics: 01:46 - Is golf a difficult test, or for pure enjoyment? 14:49 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off 17:19 - The Value of Solo Golf for When You're Not Solo 29:10 - Basic Practice Plan: joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 30:06 - Why Do We Try to Perform for Others? 45:30 - PutterCup: Get 15% off by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter 47:14…

People in this episode

Host: Josh Nichols

Guest: Gary Belsky

Topics covered

• mental game
• solo golf
• pressure handling
• self-criticism
• performance
• golf improvement

Keywords

• mental game
• golf
• solo golf
• pressure
• self-criticism
• performance
• golf improvement

Sponsors

shotpattern.app, PutterCup

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ESPN, shotpattern.app, joshnicholsgolf.com, puttercupgolf.com

Books & works: Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game

More episodes of The Mental Golf Show

• 294: Dr. Justin Ternes (Breath Expert) - How to Breathe To Play Better Golf · June 8, 2026 · 1h 10m
• 293: Deep Dive Into How Josh Prepares for a Golf Tournament · June 1, 2026 · 29 min
• 292: My Mental Game Has Gotten Worse (I Have Proof) · May 25, 2026 · 10 min
• 291: How Well You Play and How Well You Score Are Not the Same Thing - Peter Melton · May 18, 2026 · 39 min
• 290: Perfect Mechanics Don’t Matter If Your Tempo is Off - Chia Chou (Master Pianist) · May 11, 2026 · 1h 6m
• 289: The Mindset Shift That Almost Won Me the U.S. Mid-Amateur · May 4, 2026 · 14 min