Hours spent getting inside golfers' heads

The Life: Want to improve your golf game? Why not try neuro-linguistic programming. Golf pro Martin Robinson speaks about using it on the people he teaches in a typical day in his job.

For Martin Robinson, golf is all about the mind. Delores Johnson / The National

Want to take your golf game to the next level? Consider trying neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which aims to help people to play better by showing them how to stimulate their minds. Martin Robinson, an NLP expert and a Professional Golfers' Association member at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, discusses how he uses the technique to improve the game of those he teaches.

7am

I'm always up on the first alarm call. I normally actually wake up about a minute before my alarm goes off.

8am

I get to work. I normally have quite a busy schedule for golf lessons. I have a diary with lessons every hour. On a busy day I'll do about eight or nine lessons, and it will be a real mix of individuals. I get to know people from many different walks of life. Generally if you're helping them you gain a strong rapport with people. Golf means a lot to people.

Mid-morning

More lessons. My normal lessons are on the golf course or working on the driving range … then I will do the psychological training for golf as well. People who are learning … have to learn how to move their body and how to swing the club. But generally for better golfers and elite golfers, once they know how to swing, it's the mind that stands in their way - not the body. One minute I'm teaching a complete beginner about how to swing the golf club and be very conscious, and the next minute I'm teaching an expert how to let go.

Lunch

Generally I get something in the restaurant. I don't really block a lunchtime, but there always tends to be a couple of hours here or there. There's a lot of flexibility as to how my day is structured.

Afternoon

I might play nine holes with someone I'm teaching. I make sure that they commentate on what they're thinking about when they play and get inside their head a little bit and tell them what they should do differently. Your body is linked with your mind quite closely. Learning how to use imagery and visualisation [is important], like making sure you are seeing what you want to do before and as you do it, because your muscles respond to the images you see in your mind. All [some golfers] can see is the water hazard or whatever they don't want to hit, and the ball tends to go there. So you have to control your visualisation and imagery.

4pm

I might do a class of junior coaching in the evening after school. I might get a class of kids down and we just have a bit of fun learning to play golf.

6pm

I do the odd lesson with someone after work if they're really struggling with their game.

7pm

I go and get some dinner on the way home from somewhere. If the time allows, I go and have a night out or watch a concert. I like attending events and things going on and getting out and about.

Before 11pm

I go to sleep.

* Gillian Duncan