Thesis (MA)--Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goal of this research is to establish the effect of a hypnosis programme, based on the cognitive behavioural-hypnotherapeutical model (Araoz, 1985), on amateur golfers with a handicap of less than five in tournament golf. A secondary goal is to establish whether the programme had an effect on their general golfing attitude towards competing in tournament golf. In this research the focus is specifically on "putting", because it plays an important role in tournament golf. It is a part of the game for which there is no prescribed technique, but which involves heightened concentration, and therefore psychological preparation is of optimal importance. The importance of psychological programmes to enhance performance is confirmed by literature. The participants were golfers with a handicap of less than five, and they took part in this research voluntarily. The group was split into an experimental and control group on an equal basis. Both groups took part in the same five tournaments prior to and following the intervention. The intervention consisted of a mental training programme and was supplemented by interviews, which were held with the experimental group before and after the programme to ascertain if it had an effect on their putting performances. The averages of their scores before and after the programme were measuredand then compared with those of the control group. The results of the comparison between the two groups indicated a significant difference between the groups regarding their putting stroke averages. The results of the control group scores indicated no discernable difference between the scores. The interviews confirmed this effect and showed the positive influence of a mental training programme on the general golfing ability and attitude towards tournament golf, on the experimental group. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die ondersoek is om die effek van 'n sielkundige inoefeningsprogram, gebaseer op die kognitiewe gedragshipnoterapeutiese model van Araoz (1985),op amateur-gholfspelers met 'n voorgee van minder as vyf in toernooigholf vas te stel. 'n Newe-doelstelling sal wees om vas te stelof algemene gholfgedrag en ingesteldheid teenoor kompeterende toernooigholf gewysig is, al dan nie. In die ondersoek word spesifiek op die setwerk van gholfspelers gefokus omdat dit 'n beduidende rol in toernooigholf speel. Setwerk is 'n aspek van die spel wat baie konsentrasie verg, en omdat daar geen spesifieke tegniek voorgeskryf word nie, is sielkundige voorbereiding noodsaaklik. Die belangrikheid van sielkundige programme om sportprestasie te verbeter, word deur die literatuur bevestig. Die proefpersone wat aan die ondersoek deelgeneem het, het bestaan uit 'n vrywillige groep ghOlfspelers met 'n voorgee van minder as vyf. Die ondersoekgroep is op 'n ewekansige wyse in 'n eksperimentele en 'n kontrolegroep verdeel. Beide groepe het aan dieselfde toernooie voor en na die intervensie deelgeneem. Die eksperimentele groep is aan die sielkundige inoefeningsprogram blootgestel. Daar is voor- en na-onderhoude met die eksperimentele groep gevoer om vas te stelof die program 'n effek op hulle spel of gedrag gehad het. Die voor- en na-toetsgemiddeldes van die eksperimentele groep (blootgestel aan 'n sielkundige inoefeningsprogram) en kontrolegroep (geen inwerking van 'n onafhanklike veranderlike nie) is met mekaar vergelyk. Na die ingreep het dit geblyk dat die eksperimentele groep nie 'n beduidende verbetering ten opsigte van setwerk getoon het nie. Waar die resultate van die eksperimentele groep met die kontrolegroep vergelyk is, is 'n betekenisvolle verskil tussen die twee groepe gevind. By die kontrolegroep is daar geen beduidende resultate ten opsigte van enige veranderlike gevind nie. Uit die onderhoude het dit geblyk dat die sielkundige inoefeningsprogram 'n beduidende wysiging in die algemene gholfgedrag en ingesteldheid van die eksperimentele groep teenoor kompeterende gholf tot gevolg gehad het.

The purposes of the study were to provide additional information concerning the relationship of Competition Trait Anxiety, State Anxiety, and Performance in collegiate golfers under non-competitive and competitive field settings. Subjects were thirty college males. Data were analyzed by a three-way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) low-Competition-Trait-Anxious golfers performed better and exhibited lower levels of state anxiety than high-and moderate-Competitive-Trait-Anxious golfers in competitive and non-competitive settings; (2) collegiate golfers exhibit higher levels of state anxiety in competitive versus practice settings; and (3) there was a significant relationship between SCAT and pre-competitive state anxiety.

Low, moderate, and high handicap golfers, while wearing glasses with a blinder on the side, attempted 9 putts differing in length from 5 to 21 ft under timed (less than 3.5s from grounding of club to initiation of back swing) and untimed conditions in a counterbalanced design. Confidence ratings were taken prior to and following each putt. The results revealed a significant condition by handicap group interaction (p=.021). The lower handicap group had a more consistent and lower initiation interval duration than did the moderate and high handicap players. Post interviews determined that 33 of the 35 golfers felt more comfortable in the untimed condition. However, golfers' confidence levels were not significantly different in the untimed condition as compared to the timed condition.

D.Litt.et Phil. / This study investigated the personality and mood characteristics of golf players at four different levels of competency. The role played by personality factors in sport and sport performance, was actively researched between 1950 and 1980, especially in the U.S.A. and Europe. Since then, research in the field of sport psychology has focused more on aspects like anxiety, motivation, attribution and arousal. A study of the available literature shows that the role of personality factors in sport has not been researched and identified satisfactorily, mostly as a result of methodological problems experienced in earlier studies. There has thus been a move away from this subject before the methodological problems could be solved properly, or the field of study be explored completely. Local research in this area is limited and available studies often display the same methodological inconsistencies as those incurred in the U.S.A. and Europe. Golf is seen as a sport in which psychological factors play a substantial role. Only a few studies that address these aspects in golf were found. However, in none of these the unique nature of golf was taken into account or integrated into the results in a satisfactory manner. Even though the literature confirms the existence of typical personality profiles for motor racers and soccer players, no such profile has been identified for golf players. The value of such a profile extends over a wide front, which includes counselling, career planning, enhanced performance and timely remedial interventions. One hundred and sixty nine golf players at four different levels of competency namely professional, provincial, club champions and ordinary club players were evaluated with the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The data was analized statistically with the use of multivariate and univariate measures as well as intercorrelations. Various significant differences were identified between the four groups. A personality and mood profile was identified for each group. The profiles of the professional and the provincial groups differed meaningfully from those of the other two groups and the norms for the normal population. In terms of mood characteristics, both these groups displayed the "iceberg profile" which indicates below average scores on tension, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion and an above average score on vigour. Mood characteristics that feature prominently in top performance was identified from this. The most important personality characteristics identified were emotional stability, tough-mindedness, assertiveness, a practical orientation, self-sufficiency, self-control and a low level of resting tension. In conclusion, recommendations are made and a critique delivered of the study.

Psychological momentum (PM) is often regarded as an important phenomenon that influences athlete performance. Nevertheless, conceptualisations of PM are criticised for being speculative, vague and impractical for scientific inquiry. In contrast, self-regulation is a long-standing, well researched concept used to explain performance outcomes, yet not clearly integrated in current PM conceptualisations. Hence, this thesis explores self-regulation relative to PM. Golf was considered to be an appropriate context for the empirical inquiries on the basis that it serves as a metaphor for managing life’s challenges. Three studies were conducted. The first study entailed a systematic conceptual analysis of PM based on previous conceptualisations and studies in relevant scientific literature. Self-regulatory processes were identified among the key psychological mechanisms and moderators related to PM. The second study aimed to identify key self-regulation strategies in PM experiences among 16 golfers. A mixed method approach including novel “walk-along” and “think aloud” data collection techniques was used. An inductive thematic analysis yielded a comprehensive typology golfing strategies. Nevertheless, the study did not find consistent strategy patterns in positive or negative PM phases. The third study explored the self-regulation of identity (ego-regulation) in relation to PM phases. A staggered multiple-baseline single-case research methodology was used with five golfers (three professionals and two amateurs). Ego-regulation was manipulated through a mindfulness-based schema mode program tailored to golf (Mindfulness for Golf; MFG). Pre-, mid- and post-intervention data showed positive changes among the participants on two dimensions of PM as well as performance outcomes. Overall the results suggest that golfers use idiosyncratic self-regulation processes to facilitate performance, but these are not directly linked to PM phases. Nonetheless, there are promising indications that enhancing ego-regulation through the MFG program facilitates positive momentum among golfers. Based on the results of the studies in this thesis, and for the sake of scientific parsimony and pragmatism, it is recommended that self-regulation models incorporating motivation are used to explain momentum in athletic activity. In this view, PM has the function of describing, not influencing, goal-driven performance

M.A. / The approach of psychology to sport has over the century been ambivalent. The relationship between the field of psychology and matters on the sports field has tended to favour one type of understanding, namely cognitive-behavioural psychology. The theoretical underpinnings of this conception are seen to be directly connected to a set of philosophical, ethical and aesthetic ideas known as Modernism, which have dominated this century. It is suggested herein that with the renewed interest of psychology in matters sporting, some of the current theoretical perspectives in the general field of psychology might be applied to sports. The approach adopted here explores how the narratives of professional golfers, looked at through a social constructionist lens, could assist them in re-evaluating and enriching their experiences. Social constructionism aims to change the traditional agenda of psychological research, which might lead to new ways of talking about ourselves and our surroundings. Social constructionism is situated inside a different set of theoretical premises, which are known as Postmodern, which challenge the Modern way of knowing.