The Zen of Golf: A Game, A Mirror, A Journey Within

In this profoundly honest and soul-stirring episode of the Mi365 Podcast, Pete Cohen is joined by spiritual teacher and lifelong golfer Paul Hurcomb for a deep dive into golf as a mirror for life.

What begins as a chat about The Masters and favorite players quickly evolves into a powerful exploration of identity, ego, emotion, and personal transformation—through the lens of the game they both love.

From childhood golf memories to elite performance coaching, Pete and Paul reveal how golf exposes our deepest thoughts, insecurities, and patterns, and how the game can be a tool for spiritual growth, presence, and healing.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

Why golf is unlike any other sport – and how it mirrors our internal world

How golf reveals your emotional patterns, resistance, and unconscious beliefs

The concept of "Conscious Golf" – playing from presence, not pressure

How trauma and ego show up in performance (and in life)

Pete’s raw reflections on grief, loss, and learning to stop

The importance of letting go of outcome and playing from joy

How to be with emotions like rejection, frustration, and fear

The relationship between self-worth and performance

What “the second before the swing” reveals about you

Zen teachings, stillness, and what it means to truly listen

Powerful Quotes:

“Golf is like a mirror — it reflects your inner world back at you.” – Paul Hurcomb
“Every round of golf is your life playing out over 18 holes.” – Pete Cohen
“When ego is lost, universality exists.” – Tea bag wisdom (and now a life mantra)
“Golf can’t give you peace. But it can show you where you’re not at peace.”
“You don’t need a better plan. You need more discipline with the one you’ve got.” – Jack Nicklaus to Rory McIlroy
“The ball doesn’t move. You do. That second before you swing… that’s the moment of Zen.”
“There’s only one way in life — yours.”

Who This Episode Is For:

Golfers looking to connect deeper with the game (and themselves)

Coaches, athletes, and performers navigating mindset and emotional regulation

Anyone interested in mindfulness, self-inquiry, or conscious living

Those processing grief, change, or a desire to stop and reflect

Listeners ready to explore the longest journey – the one within

Connect with Pete & Paul:

Pete Cohen Website: petecohen.com

Paul Hurcomb Conscious Golf Group (Facebook) – for golfers seeking deeper conversations and connection through golf

www.meetingsinstillness.com

www.Paulhurcomb.Org

Call to Action:

Loved this episode?
Let us know your thoughts. Whether you’re a golfer or not, we’d love to hear what resonated most for you. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that golf — and life — is more than just a scorecard.

Contact Paul here; www.meetingsinstillness.com
www.Paulhurcomb.Org

DM Pete with your reflections or stories from the golf course at @PeteCohen_