Stop Playing the Holes That Haven’t Happened Yet: Master Golf’s Mental Game

About this episode

Former PGA Tour pro David Canipe, The Confidence Doctor Dr. Bob Winters, and original Golf Channel creative force Michael J. Whelan join me for an episode filled with great stories, mental-game advice, and a trip through golf history.

We start with David Canipe, a three-year letterman at the University of Georgia who helped the Bulldogs win the 1972 SEC Championship before beginning a professional career that epitomized what it meant to be a grinder. David takes us back to the old Space Coast Tour, where he estimates he won 25 times, and shares what it took to make it through PGA Tour Q-School three different times.

We also hear about playing alongside Bill Kratzert at Georgia, the incredible field he faced at his first Q-School in 1976, and some of the biggest moments of his PGA Tour career—including becoming the early leader at the 1984 U.S. Open, finishing T4 at the 1988 Las Vegas Invitational, making the cut at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, and taking the 54-hole lead into Sunday at the 1989 Southern Open.

Then, The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters, returns with a mental-game lesson every golfer needs to hear: stop playing holes that haven't happened yet.

We've all done it. Three holes to go and suddenly we're calculating what we need to shoot to break a milestone score, win the tournament, or finally beat our buddies. Dr. Bob explains why getting ahead of ourselves can derail a great round, how to stay present when the pressure builds, and even shares a simple rubber-band trick that can help bring your mind back to the shot in front of you.

Finally, Michael J. Whelan returns to take us inside his fascinating new book, The Fairways of Wisdom. Mike was the guy behind everything when The Golf Channel launched in the mid-1990s, creating its original programming and assembling the talent both in front of and behind the cameras. His remarkable television career also includes HBO, CBS, and NBC.

In The Fairways of Wisdom, Mike combines that lifetime of storytelling with his love of golf, playing 9 holes with 9 legends and exploring the lessons and wisdom they might share.

Three terrific guests. PGA Tour stories from a true grinder. A mental-game lesson you can use during your very next round. And a creative journey alongside some of golf's greatest legends.

It's all here on Next on the Tee—where golf legends live and your game gets better.

Thank you for pressing play and taking the journey with us.

Key Takeaways

David Canipe was a three-year letterman at the University of Georgia who helped the Bulldogs win the 1972 SEC Championship and had a professional career that included winning approximately 25 times on the Space Coast Tour.

Dr. Bob Winters teaches that golfers should avoid playing holes that haven't happened yet, as calculating future scores or outcomes before completing the round can derail performance and that staying present on each shot is essential when pressure builds.

Michael J. Whelan was a creative force behind The Golf Channel's launch in the mid-1990s and has created a new book called The Fairways of Wisdom that combines storytelling with golf by playing 9 holes with 9 golf legends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were David Canipe's major PGA Tour accomplishments?

He became the early leader at the 1984 U.S. Open, finished T4 at the 1988 Las Vegas Invitational, made the cut at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, and took the 54-hole lead into Sunday at the 1989 Southern Open.

How many times did David Canipe attempt PGA Tour Q-School?

He passed through PGA Tour Q-School three different times.

What is Dr. Bob Winters' mental-game advice?

Stop playing holes that haven't happened yet; avoid calculating future scores or outcomes before completing the round, and use techniques like a rubber-band trick to stay present on the shot in front of you.

What is Michael J. Whelan's new book about?

The Fairways of Wisdom combines storytelling with golf by having Whelan play 9 holes with 9 golf legends and exploring the lessons and wisdom they share.