About Me

Who Am I?

Hi everyone, my name is Ben Esposito and I am a professional golfer from central NC. In addition to my love of playing golf, I like to share my passion with others by teaching and writing about the game.

  • Mental Golf Type Certified Coach

  • BS Computer Science, Minor in Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill

  • Played Division 1 NCAA Golf

  • Trained at Mike Bender Academy as a junior golfer

  • Volunteer Coach at the First Tee of the Triangle for 3 years

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How Did I Get Started in Golf?

At the age of twelve, while on a trip to Ireland, I learned that golf was quite literally in my blood. While there I had the opportunity to meet my great uncle, the Irish golf legend Christy O’Connor Snr. and his nephew Ryder Cup hero Christy O’Connor Jnr.

The family records and accomplishments inspired me, and I have loved golf ever since. As my progression through the game continues, I have a much greater understanding of just how remarkable these achievements are and continue to look to them for inspiration.

What is Mental Performance Coaching?

Mental Golf Performance Coaching teaches players to access their best!

  • It gives one the ability to learn their best mode of operating for peak performance

  • It also gives players the opportunity to learn what stresses them and how to return to the zone

The number one killer of performance is stress, as stress manifests itself in a variety of physical and mental symptoms that can wreak havoc throughout a round of golf.

What is the Blog?

This Blog is a place where I give insights on the various aspects of golf and explore my in-depth thoughts on golf related topics. My goal is to provide a perspective through the lens of a young golf professional, and sometimes read between the lines by examining current golf events through less conventional angles. Some of my posts come from day-dreams, and others were born out of trying to maximize my own golf potential.

All thoughts are welcome, 

Hope you enjoy,

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FAQs

What is mental performance coaching?

Mental performance coaching is a means for you to learn how to hone your mental game. Golfers of all levels spend hours on their ball striking, chipping and putting but have not put practice time into their mental skills. Mental performance coaching will show you how to practice the mental game, what makes you play your best, and how to identify when you are in stress during a round.

Am I good enough for mental coaching?

Mental coaching is about learning to bring the best out of the skills you have on the golf course and when it matters most. This goes for golfers of all levels, from those trying to break 100 for the first time to competing in professional events. You don’t have to be at the tournament level to experience the frustration of not translating practice to on-course performance or making unforced errors.

Also, mental coaching can help a player achieve any milestone, whether it is breaking 100 for the first time or dominating competitions (and everything in between) 

What Is The Structure Of The Program And Sessions?

All of my sessions are one-on-one due to the personalized nature of the program. Students will receive custom advice on their mental game, practice, course management and more. Most In The Golf Zone students are remote but all students have the option to do remote, in-person or both!

Is this therapy? 

No, our mental performance coaching is explicitly tailored to golf. 

Do I play enough to have a mental coach? 

Mental coaching is about bringing your best skills to the course and tournaments. However, this does not mean that golf has to be a daily commitment in your life for mental coaching to work. In fact, I’ve seen working golfers who don’t have the time to grind on the range benefit even more from mental coaching. My students learn how to squeeze more out of the game that they have, reduce the number of scoring errors, and most importantly, enjoy their time on the course free of stress.

How is this different from other mental coaching or mental game books? 

My program is not one size fits all, it is tailored to you and your unique strengths through Mental Golf Type. Also, my program synthesizes other elements such as course management, practice, and preparation to create a compound effect on a player’s confidence. In addition to this, I am a player-coach. I have stood in the shoes of my students and can provide direct insights into the mind of a competitive golfer (at times without my students even telling me).

Experience and Results?

In The Golf Zone, students have achieved wins, personal bests, multiple wins, and improved aspects of tournament golf that they were struggling with. Every student who has committed to our plan and comes consistently has improved.

How Do You Tailor Your Sessions?

Based on the context of our discussions and the golfer's Mental Golf Type, I explain what causes the stress during those specific challenges. Then we start to develop strategies to shift out of stress. Also, I always consider a golfer's proximity to an event when coaching. Right before a tournament, we would address more immediate needs and situational questions. During a break or offseason, I would be more education-heavy and introduce more information. The last thing I'd want to do is overwhelm a student before an event. 

How long does the MGT Quiz take?

5 minutes, 10 at the most even if you are extremely deliberate. On each question, you will have 2 choices to select the option that applies the most to you. You are never promoted to give written responses