Mental Health matters, whether you’re an everyday Golfer, or a professional playing at the highest level. That is a view held not only by ourselves here at GYH, but also by this week’s guest, Dr Ian Peek.

Ian is a Master PGA Professional - a recognition of excellence which the PGA bestows on only a select few members - who recently completed a PhD in Social Psychology, examining the mental health challenges faced by some of the world's best golfers.

As part of his research, he interviewed 16 tour professionals, including Ryder Cup players and past champions on the DP World Tour. In his findings, it transpired that 50% of the players cited long-term depression and anxiety, with some even experiencing it whilst operating at the highest level of the game.

In a far-reaching conversation, Kris and Ian explore:

👉🏻 How are attitudes towards and discussions about Mental Health evolving within Golf?

👉🏻 How can we get enjoyment from Golf, whilst still striving for high performance?

👉🏻 How can club golfers set effective and realistic goals to improve their game?

👉🏻 What role do parents play in supporting young athletes?

00:00 Episode Intro

02:00 Introducing Ian Peek: Master PGA Professional

05:48 The Challenges of Elite Golfers

06:22 Balancing Social and Competitive Golf

17:44 Insights from Ian's PhD Research

20:02 Mental Health and Performance in Professional Golf

33:07 The Struggles of Admitting Defeat

33:47 Grieving in the Public Eye

34:42 The Role of Managers in Mental Health

37:09 Generational Perspectives on Mental Health

38:53 Changing Attitudes in Professional Golf

39:36 Personal Experiences with Anxiety

50:19 The Importance of Realistic Goal Setting

53:08 Encouraging Children in Sports

❓About the Show:

At Golf Yourself Healthy, we believe that Golf is Good for you. Through the power of Storytelling, the GYH Podcast invites guests from a wide range of backgrounds - including Golf professionals, health practitioners, influencers and public figures - to discuss how Golf can positively impact our Health and Wellbeing.

🔗 Website

www.golfyourselfhealthy.com

📧 Get in touch on e-mail

kris@golfyourselfhealthy.com

🔎 Follow us on Social Media

instagram.com/golfyourselfhealthy

📚Episode links and resources

https://www.pga.info/news/pga-pro-peek-driving-a-better-understanding-of-mental-illness-with-phd-study/

https://www.pga.info/news/peek-awarded-top-pga-honour/

https://www.tandpcoaching.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drianpeekcoaching?igsh=OW5md20wN21xMjk5

Golf is everyone's game, but for everyone to feel comfortable in Golf, it needs positive role models and the right culture to make it happen.

Enter Jordan Ryan, a PGA qualified Golf coach who teaches out of Parc Golf Club in Newport, South Wales. Having started playing Golf at age 12, Jordan went on to represent Wales in elite competitions and also played on the LET Access Tour, before more recently finding fulfilment in coaching. Jordan discusses the importance of inclusivity in golf, highlighting her role in creating a welcoming culture and her initiative in running successful beginner classes, especially for women.

Key episode chapters and talking points include:

00:00 Breaking Stereotypes in Golf

00:49 Welcome to Golf Yourself Healthy

02:07 Introducing Jordan Ryan

04:41 Jordan's Journey in Golf

07:34 Transition to Professional Golf

14:05 Life Lessons from Golf

19:54 Coaching and Inclusivity

25:20 Breaking Down Golf's Uncomfortable History

25:42 The Importance of Gender-Specific Golf Groups

27:44 Golf's Social Benefits: A Personal Story

30:57 The Eagle Has Landed: Memorable Golf Shots

35:30 Becoming Wales Girls' Captain: A New Role

42:40 Inclusivity in Golf: Dress Codes and Community Initiatives

52:20 Final Thoughts and Reflections

❓About the Show:

At Golf Yourself Healthy, we believe that Golf is Good for you. Through the power of Storytelling, the GYH Podcast invites guests from a wide range of backgrounds - including Golf professionals, health practitioners, influencers and public figures - to discuss how Golf can positively impact our Health and Wellbeing. This serves our mission of improving the diversity and accessibility of the game for both current and future generations of Golfers.

🔗 Website

www.golfyourselfhealthy.com

📧 Get in touch on e-mail

kris@golfyourselfhealthy.com

🔎 Follow us on Social Media

instagram.com/golfyourselfhealthy

📚Episode links and resources

https://www.instagram.com/jordaaanryan?igsh=MTJtdjA5aDVwcXk2aw==

https://womenandgolf.com/news/new-captains-louise-and-jordan-break-the-mould

Are you “Fit for Golf”? Or is your fitness the thing which is actually holding you back from being the best Golfer you can be?

This week’s guest is Ed Voss, a Chartered Physiotherapist and Golf Fitness specialist, who is on a mission to help Golfers achieve peak performance and stay injury free. As a fully subscribed member of the GYH community, we also invite Ed to share his own beginnings in Golf and what the game means to him personally.

In this episode, we cover:

👉🏻 Golf fitness - what is it and why should you do it?

👉🏻 How warming up before a round of Golf can shave shots off your scorecard

👉🏻 Why personal accountability and consistency are so vital in your Golf fitness plan

👉🏻 What makes Golf so unique (as compared with other sports)

❓About the Show:

At Golf Yourself Healthy, we believe that Golf is Good for you. Through the power of Storytelling, the GYH Podcast invites guests from a wide range of Golfing backgrounds to discuss how Golf can positively impact our Health and Wellbeing.

📧 Get in touch on e-mail

kris@golfyourselfhealthy.com

🔗 GYH Website

www.golfyourselfhealthy.com

📔 GYH Journal

www.golfyourselfhealthy.com/journal

🎧 Listen on Audio

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0L379bGvlmx069xF1cmIbQ?si=aJRDptqYREuzsk4wXKz7SA

Listen on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/golf-yourself-healthy/id1729607964

Also available on most other major podcasting platforms

📝 Write a Review

Please leave a 5 star review on your podcast platform of choice

🔎 Follow us on Social Media

Instagram - instagram.com/golfyourselfhealthy

X - https://twitter.com/gyhpod

📚Episode links and resources

https://www.instagram.com/edvossphysio?igsh=MXY2NHdrb3p6dm53aw==

https://swing-fit.co.uk/about-us/