Martin Wells, "No One Playing: The Essence of Mindfulness in Golf and in Life" (John Hunt, 2022)

Feb 10, 2022

No One Playing

The Essence of Mindfulness in Golf and in Life

Martin Wells

Hosted by Dan Hill

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Summary

Today I talked to Martin Wells about his new book No One Playing: The Essence of Mindfulness in Golf and in Life (John Hunt, 2022).

As Martin Wells explains, to imagine you’re in control, on a golf course or otherwise in life, is downright “absurd.” It’s not that you “get into the zone”; instead, the zone finds you. In those and other ways, this delightful book and author both honor golf as a sport and find much more in playing this game that offers us insights into human nature and behavior. Want to know which emotions may help you putt better? Why there’s a thin line between humility and humiliation? Want to hear about the saga that has been Tiger Woods’ career? Then this episode is for you. Addition highlights include a discussion of Jean Van de Velde’s epic 1999 Open Championship meltdown, along with the wisdom of Bobby Jones’ observation that “The length of a golf course is five inches—the space between your ears.”

Martin Wells has worked as a psychotherapist in the National Health Services (NHS) for over 30 years. He lives in Bristol, England, and at age 70 is still a single figure handicap golfer. He’s also played senior amateur and semi-professional soccer for nearly 20 years.

Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of nine books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. (https://www.sensorylogic.com). His new book is Blah, Blah, Blah: A Snarky Guide to Office Lingo. To check out his related “Dan Hill’s EQ Spotlight” blog, visit https://emotionswizard.com.