The 17^th hole is a straightforward Par 3.  That is, the hole is on a green right out in front of you, 125 to 175 yards away depending on the tee box you use with nothing but grass in between you and the hole.  However, this hole really plays with your head.  It’s a hole where the mental part of the game is almost entirely at play.

Bobby Jones, one of the most famous golfers of all time, said “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course…the space between your ears.”  Arguably the most successful golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus, said, “Golf is 90% mental and 10% physical.”  One of Nicklaus’ teachers, Jim Flick, used to take that quote one step further saying “Golf is 90% mental and 10% mental.”

There is a forest on the left of the 17^th hole that drops down into a deep ravine.  Not in your way at all, but you can’t help but think about it as you’re teeing off.  Then, there are sand traps around most of the green…again, not in your way at all, but you can’t help but think about it.  These are trouble spots that you shouldn’t even be able to get into, but we do.  And that’s the 17^th hole.

Golf coaches spend a lot of time with professional golfers helping them master the mental part of the game.  Many of the golfers who play at the highest levels have separate mental coaches and swing (physical) coaches.

From time to time, all professionals need help to sharpen their skills and help them perform their duties to optimum levels, no matter how successful they are.  And, PR professionals are no different.  In our own ways, we play our game at the highest levels.  We need to keep our skills honed, our attitudes positive, and our behaviours and actions in line with what is expected of our profession today.

The annual CPRS national conference is like a mega coaching session.  This year, the theme is “Change the Conversation” and it takes place in the national capital region which, relatively speaking, is quite close to the GTA, certainly drivable for those who choose to travel that way.

I have had the good fortune of attending some of the recent conferences and I always get a great deal out of them.  Victoria in 2012, Saint John in 2011, Regina in 2010…these were all great conferences, yet they were far enough away and therefore perhaps not easy to attend by everyone.  The 2013 conference being in Ottawa provides an opportunity to get some high level coaching and enhance your skills as a PR professional, provide great networking opportunities, and get motivated and even rejuvenated in a meaningful way.

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY

It’s timely that we arrived at the 17^th hole at this time because the deadline for early bird registration is this Friday, April 12.  Members can save $200 off the regular conference rate, and there’s a special rate for those who choose to renew their memberships when they register for the conference too.  And there’s a Kobo Glo eReader to be had for one lucky registrant.  It could be you!  Registration information is available online.

If you can, have a look at the website and check out the program, featuring keynote speakers Evan Soloman, Terry Fallis, Ira Basin and Alexandra Samuel.  I trust you’ll find a few events in the program that will help you in your work as a PR professional.

I encourage any Toronto Society members, who are able, to take advantage of this early-bird rate and join me and other local Society members in Ottawa-Gatineau for an educational and networking experience that will be a memorable one.  Let’s make the Toronto contingent a presence to be noticed!  How much better we’ll all be with all those coaching opportunities.

Better enough to tackle that 17^th hole without getting mentally distracted, that’s for sure!

Vincent Power, APR

P.S.  Remember April is ACE Award month for CPRS Toronto.  This year’s ACE Awards gala takes place on Wednesday, April 24^th.  This is always an exciting evening for all participants and this year’s event at Arcadian Court promises to be the same.  See you there!!