FACTORS OF AMATEUR GOLFER’S PERFORMANCE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HANDICAP, SKILL, PHYSICAL, AND MENTAL COMPONENTS

Abstract

Background: The successful sport athletes must have a comprehensive training component of physical fitness, mental fitness, skills, and include other factors such as many practice sessions and goes on many rounds of golf to analyses the individual’s game. The ability of amateur golfers can be assessed from the golfer’s handicap.

Objectives: The purposes of this research were to correlate the factors of each amateur golfer’s performance (physical fitness, mental fitness, and skills). Second the correlate the factors of amateur golfer’s performance and the impact that it has on handicap. Thirdly, the golfer is correlation of basic information; practice programs other support that impact the golfer’s handicap.

Instruments and procedure: The samples derives from purposive random sampling selection of 150 amateur golfers with age ranging from 10 - 18 years old The instrument for this study was the performance assessment form for amateur golfers (PAAF) that consisted of 110 items. (Chattrakul et al., 2011). The PAAF consisted of 3 dimensions:  skill, physical and mental components. The participants were asked to complete the PAAF questions which take about 20 minutes.

Statistics: Data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, percentage, cronbach’s alpha coefficient, Pearson chi – square, Pearson product moment and multiple correlation coefficients. The Significant was tested at the 0.05 level.

Result: The results from the factors of amateur golfer’s performance consisted of golf skill, physical fitness, and mental fitness were significant correlated at 0.05. This includes of mental fitness in dimensions of self-confidence, commitment and determination. Second, the factors of golf skill in dimensions the short game were significance correlated with the handicap at 0.05.

(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2013;13(2): 31 – 43 )