Peaceful Golf
In 2017, I founded Peaceful Golf to help golfers enjoy the game without the common distractions that can subtly disrupt their performance, such as the YIPS. The idea of Peaceful Golf originated in 2006 while I was working with a client struggling with performance anxiety as a musician in an orchestra. As I guided the client through the treatment, I realized that my own departure from golf had stemmed from a similar issue—performance anxiety, or what golfers commonly refer to as the YIPS. Over the next few years, I developed and refined a treatment approach, using myself as a test subject. By 2017, the Peaceful Golf concept was fully realized, and since then, I have been helping golfers worldwide.
The principles behind Peaceful Golf are versatile and can be adapted to any sport or area of life that may be a concern. Simply replace “golf” with your specific activity or challenge. The approach centers on Subconscious Counseling, a technique designed to replace the default thought patterns that can erode confidence with ones that restore a sense of ease and focus.
To begin incorporating the Peaceful Golf method, I recommend my introductory book Peaceful Golf: Eliminating Your Negative Game or YIPS: The Subconscious Cure. Both books explore the influence of the subconscious mind and provide guidance on using it to enhance, rather than hinder, your performance. Your conscious mind will thank you for it.
My Goal
As an experienced golfer, you likely remember that while starting out was challenging, it was also enjoyable. At what point did the joy start to fade from the game? Identifying this shift can often pinpoint when the subconscious began undermining the skills that once set you apart from your competitors. More than likely, this process was subtle, driven by unnoticed thoughts and comments that gradually shifted your mindset.
My goal with Peaceful Golf is to provide you with tools to replace these negative default patterns with positive and constructive thinking. In my books, Peaceful Golf and YIPS, I outline strategies for doing this on your own. Additionally, I’ve developed recordings that address common issues which often contribute to performance anxieties, like trembling hands. If you have specific needs not covered, please reach out—I’m happy to create a tailored recording to support your journey back to confident, joyful play.
The Yips!
In the early 1970s, my professional career began to decline before I reached the peak of my sport. It wasn’t until nearly 20 years later, during a conversation with other professionals, that I first heard the term "YIPS." My personal experience involved a phenomenon where I would momentarily "black out" just before making contact with the ball, resulting in erratic and embarrassing shots. I later learned that many famous golfers, as far back as Harry Vardon, had faced similar challenges. The term "YIPS" itself was coined by Tommy Armour (pictured to the right), who famously remarked that he kept "yipping" it after repeatedly hitting the ball out of bounds on a closing hole of a tournament.
Originally, the YIPS was associated with various aspects of the game, though it is now most commonly linked to putting—a part of the game of which I had specialized. Back then, the primary approach to managing the YIPS was to employ momentary distractions, which only provided temporary relief. The underlying problem would inevitably resurface. In the early 2000s, while working with a client struggling with performance anxiety, I recognized that the described experiences mirrored my own from the 1970s. I also realized that my approach to helping could be applied to addressing the YIPS in golf.
After six years of dedicated experimentation and personal refinement, I was able to compete again in tournaments, free from the YIPS. I share this journey and the methods I developed in my book, YIPS: The Subconscious Cure. While I may not win every tournament, I no longer lose due to the destructive mental patterns that once controlled my game. By adopting this process, you too can remove the YIPS from your game—or from any other sport where performance anxiety might affect you.
Many professional and amateur athletes from various fields have successfully applied this technique, achieving impressive and enthusiastic results. If you have a group interested in learning more about the YIPS and how to harness the power of the subconscious to improve performance, please feel free to contact me. I am always delighted to share these insights and help others unlock their potential.
I have also included in my store a generic recording that is strategically designed to eliminate the YIPS. It is not an instant cure, but it is a permanent cure.
Our team
Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Esther Bryce, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various fields, from architecture to interior design and sales.
Esther Bryce
Founder / Interior designer
Lianne Wilson
Broker
Jaden Smith
Architect
