Golf coaches’ receptivity to sport psychology

Abstract

Golf coaches play a vital role in preparing golfers for tournaments yet no academic peer reviewed research has been conducted on the receptivity to sport psychology support with this population. We investigated the receptivity of professional golf coaches towards sport psychology and sport psychology services. All 24 Provincial golf coaches from within the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) participated. Coaches completed an adapted Sport Psychology Services at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Institutions questionnaire, and a subsample (N=6) took part in an interview. Findings showed a high level of receptivity of provincial golf coaches towards sport psychology. The main type of support preferred was performance orientated, with higher ranked services of interest reported as improving focus (91.7 per cent) and managing emotions during competition (87.5 per cent). Coaches’ indicated specific requirements for education on sport psychology whilst also identifying the potential role of the sport psychologist. In addition, coaches’ responses outlined different circumstances which sport psychologists should expect to encounter and navigate through within the golf coaching population. Based on these findings we propose the first model providing guidance on potential barriers and opportunities for sport psychologists in advance of consulting with golf coaches.