Bob Edens, a sports psychologist, has had a varied career that has led him through sailing to dressage, but it was golf that truly captured his interest. His background as a competitive soccer player and coach prepared him well for his work with college golfers. When asked to work with college golfers, he realized that there was a piece missing in his understanding of the sport, leading him to participate in the Myrtle Beach World Golf Amateur tournament.
Through his experiences working with players, Edens has learned that the process of mental coaching varies for each individual. It is more about the quality of the session rather than the number of sessions. He emphasizes the importance of getting to the root of the problem and finding solutions that players can implement step by step to improve their mental game.
One of Edens’ early success stories involved a freshman golfer who was scared to tee off at her first collegiate tournament. With Edens’ guidance, she ended up not only leading after the first round but also winning the tournament. This experience highlights the impact that mental coaching can have on a player’s performance.
Despite being largely retired from coaching, Edens continues to compete in senior golf tournaments, including the North & South Senior Amateur and the Golfweek Senior National. He competes close to home, not setting big-picture goals for his performance but instead enjoying the camaraderie he finds at each tournament with fellow golfers.
Edens believes that competition makes him a better player and enjoys the challenge of exposing his flaws and improving his game. He approaches each tournament with the mindset of doing his best and congratulating the winner if he falls short. His love for the game and the people he meets at tournaments keep him coming back to compete year after year.
As he defends his super senior title at the Golfweek Senior National, Edens reflects on his accomplishments in the sport and focuses on giving it his all in the present moment. His journey from soccer player to sports psychologist to competitive golfer showcases the importance of mental coaching in sports and the lifelong impact it can have on athletes.
