Many golfers start playing because the game is fun. But over time something shifts. Golf becomes work. The scorecard becomes the focus. And the joy that originally drew us to the game slowly fades.

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play, to explore how the science of play can reshape the way we approach golf.

Mia shares the story behind the research of her grandfather, Dr. Stuart Brown, whose work helped establish play as a fundamental human need and led to the creation of the National Institute for Play. Together they explore how play affects learning, performance, creativity, and how golfers can reconnect with the reason they started playing in the first place.

The conversation also looks at how reframing success in golf can lead to deeper learning, greater presence, and often better performance.

Play personalities include:

1. Competitor
2. Explorer
3. Mover
4. Dreamer
5. Creator
6. Joker
7. Storyteller
8. Director

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction to the Power of Play

(3:20) Mia Sundstrom’s Background and the Origins of the National Institute for Play

(7:42) What Play Really Means and Common Misconceptions

(10:06) Play as Both a State and a Personality Trait

(12:53) Understanding Play Personalities

(16:09) Applying Play Styles to Golf

(22:24) Reframing the Way We Approach the Game

(28:53) How Play Can Improve Golf Performance

(33:27) Flow, Relaxation, and Being Fully Present

(37:26) How to Discover Your Own Play Personality

(39:22) Reframing Success and Enjoyment in Golf

(41:16) Resources and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Learn More About the National Institute for Play: https://nifplay.org

What does golf coaching actually look like?

In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with golf coach Brian Coleman to talk about the difference between lessons and coaching, why most golfers plateau, and what long term improvement really requires.

Brian shares his journey from aviation to golf, why he left a stable career to pursue coaching, and how he structures development with a new student. They discuss clarity, identity, nervous system regulation, and why “I just want to get better” is not specific enough to build a plan.

This conversation is not about quick fixes. It’s about the process behind becoming better golfers.

(0:00) Intro

(2:02) Brian’s Journey Into Golf and Aviation

(15:18) Lessons Versus Coaching and the Quick Fix Problem

(24:40) What Long Term Golf Improvement Actually Requires

(35:05) How Brian Builds a Plan With a New Student

(41:08) Identity, Letting Go, and Growth

(46:44) Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Learn more about Brian Coleman’s golf coaching at:

https://golfcolemans.com

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Pressure is something every golfer faces, but learning how to handle it is what separates average rounds from your best ones. In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy sits down with Robert Wrenn, former PGA Tour winner and 1987 Buick Open champion, to talk honestly about what pressure really is and how to play better when it shows up.

Drawing from 16 years on the PGA Tour, Robert explains why pressure is largely self-imposed, how elite players think differently in high-stakes moments, and why preparation, commitment, and reflection matter more than talent alone. The conversation moves through course management, visualization, breathing, and post-round reflection, while also connecting golf pressure to life, leadership, and growth.

This episode is practical, grounded, and focused on repeatable habits that help golfers perform closer to their potential when it matters most.

(0:00) Intro

(3:30) Pressure Is Self-Imposed

(5:21) Mindset Under Pressure

(15:14) Game Planning and Process

(23:56) Visualization and Commitment

(27:30) Reflection and Improvement

(36:39) Embracing Pressure

(59:27) Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy is joined again by Joel Suggs for a deep conversation on ego, pride, identity, and humility.

Together, they explore how the words we use, the identities we claim, and the expectations we carry quietly shape our experience on the golf course and in life.

This episode isn’t about swing mechanics. It’s about learning to accept facts, release false identities, and find freedom from ego driven frustration.

(0:00) Introduction and episode overview

(0:36) Humility and golf

(1:06) Ego and pride in the game

(2:31) Pride, insecurity, and self image

(5:09) Ego vs pride and why language matters

(8:32) Personal experiences with ego on the course

(12:10) Identity and performance

(16:27) Self perception and pressure

(20:56) Philosophy of ego and identity

(30:00) Humility and accepting facts

(40:15) Language shapes belief

(50:02) Practical tools for managing ego

(55:26) Final thoughts and closing wisdom

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How do you pursue improvement in golf without letting expectations steal the joy of playing?

In this episode of Links for Life, Joe and Tommy explore the tension between wanting to grow and actually enjoying the game. They unpack the difference between goals and expectations, process and outcome, and how pressure slowly replaces joy when performance becomes the focus. A powerful conversation on learning how to grow without losing the love of the game.

(0:00) Growth vs enjoyment

(3:00) How goals shape the round

(5:52) Process vs outcome

(9:12) Trusting the process

(11:56) Finding joy in improvement

(14:55) Practice vs performance

(17:49) Defining success beyond score

(20:55) Staying engaged in the round

(23:52) Finishing strong

(26:55) Setting better goals

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How do you play a smart round of golf while still pushing your game forward?

In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson reflects on a frustrating short-game moment and the question it raised, how do you accept the game you have today while still building the game you want?

The conversation explores the tension every golfer feels, playing safe to protect your score versus taking intentional risks that help you grow. Through personal stories and practical examples, Tommy walks through why improvement doesn’t come from hero shots or playing scared, but from thoughtful practice, honest self-assessment, and taking small, intentional steps forward.

• Playing the game you have while building the game you want
• When playing smart helps and when it holds you back
• Why range confidence doesn’t always show up on the course
• Learning from bad shots instead of getting stuck in frustration
• The difference between reckless risk and purposeful growth
• How to practice with intention and bring it onto the course

• You can’t grow your game if you never try new shots on the course
• Playing smart all the time can quietly cap your ceiling
• Improvement happens in small, intentional steps
• Practice builds skill, but course reps build trust
• Bad shots aren’t failures if they teach you something
• Focus on one area of improvement at a time

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction to Golf Improvement

(2:08) The Challenge of Finesse Shots

(5:41) Understanding Limits in Golf

(9:44) The Game You Have vs. The Game You Want

(22:37) Building the Game You Want

(36:23) Practical Takeaways for Golfers

Pick one part of your game you want to improve this season. Practice it intentionally, then look for low-risk moments to try it on the course. Expect some frustration, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

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In this episode of Links for Life, the hosts explore what golfers can learn by simply paying attention to professional golfers and how those lessons translate far beyond the scorecard. From unrushed routines to emotional control and focused decision making, the conversation highlights how the best players approach the game with intention, discipline, and self awareness. Rather than copying swings, the episode invites listeners to observe how pros think, prepare, and respond under pressure, then apply those principles to both golf and life.

• Observing professional golfers reveals habits that matter more than mechanics
• Taking your time creates better focus and calmer decisions
• Unrushed routines lead to freedom, not restriction
• Emotional control is a skill that can be practiced
• Giving full attention to one shot at a time changes outcomes
• Playing your own game leads to greater confidence and enjoyment
• Discipline and consistency create space to perform freely
• Integrating heart, mind, and body improves both golf and life
• Small adjustments in focus can produce meaningful improvement

(0:00) Observing the Pros and What They Actually Teach Us

(10:16) Why Taking Your Time Changes Everything

(20:54) Unrushed Focus and the Rhythm of Rest

(28:08) Discipline and the Freedom of Routine

(35:23) Managing Emotions Like the Pros

(47:54) Giving Each Shot the Attention It Deserves

(59:18) Playing Your Own Game and Embracing Individuality

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In this episode of Links for Life, host Tommy Thompson sits down with Maggie Will, a three time LPGA Tour winner, to talk about what excellence actually costs in golf and in life.

Maggie shares her story of discovering golf at a young age, committing to the discipline required to reach the highest level, and learning how excellence evolves across different seasons. The conversation explores the difference between excellence and perfectionism, why self discipline matters more than external pressure, and how gratitude fuels passion over the long haul.

This episode goes far beyond golf technique. It is a thoughtful conversation about growth, leadership, coaching, and choosing to live with intention in whatever arena matters most to you.

• The cost of pursuing excellence
• Excellence versus perfectionism
• Discipline and self discipline
• Doing the extra over the ordinary
• Gratitude as a source of motivation
• Coaching and inspiring growth in others
• Practicing under real conditions
• Sustaining excellence through changing seasons

(0:00) Intro and Maggie’s Story

(8:59) The Cost of Pursuing Excellence

(17:51) Excellence Versus Perfectionism

(26:51) Discipline and Doing the Extra

(39:13) Coaching and Motivating Others

(50:05) Sustaining Excellence Over Time

(1:00:00) Practical Golf Advice for Improvement