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Golf is a microcosm of life. In the short hours we spend on the links, each shot challenges our focus and tests our emotions. When hitting that small, dimpled ball, we strive to stay present and to trust. Golf offers us the opportunity to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. How often in casual conversations about the game have we heard someone say, "Golf is just like life!" And yet, we frequently miss the lessons that golf affords. Through golf, we learn to wrangle destructive emotions. We learn to stay present in the moment, letting go of the past and resisting the allure of projecting into an unknown future. In a round of golf, we have unrushed time to enjoy our favorite relationships with fewer distractions than everyday life. Golf is beautiful and challenging. Golf is play, and hard work. Golf shows us who we are and teaches us how to become better versions of ourselves. This is the "why" of Links for Life, a show that explores the intersection of golf, growth, and God. Tune in for inspiring and empowering episodes that explore the beauty of golf and how it can teach us to improve our daily lives. Join your host, Tommy Thompson, to discuss relationships, mindset, faith, leadership, and, at the same time, how to improve your golf game. In Links for Life, find out how the game of golf parallels the challenges you face along your journey, offering incredible mental strategies for personal growth while at the same time learning from the masters how to lower your handicap. Learn how to focus on the present, let go of past negativity, and free yourself of anxieties about the future. Get tips on overcoming nerves, improving your chipping and putting, and having more fun along the way. Tommy sits down with golfers at all levels who openly share their life experiences and how they use the game of golf in their everyday lives. Gather practical advice and inspiration from their stories to transform your life. Let their personal experiences and learned lessons guide you in elevating your beliefs, spirituality, and perspectives. Of course, golf isn't just about self-improvement. It also teaches you how to connect with others on a deeper level. Through these conversations, discover how this sport can help you build better relationships in all areas of your life. Find out how to create lasting connections with the people around you. Learn how to cultivate and appreciate relationships with the most important people in your life, helping you become a better spouse, parent, sibling, or friend. Your host, Tommy Thompson, has been a golfer for over five decades. He knows the game inside out and fully understands how it brings people together on a much deeper level. Beyond that, Tommy is also a professional life coach and business entrepreneur who has mentored countless executives and leaders, helping them achieve balance, fulfillment, and more significant impact. He also has a seminary degree and is the author of Space to Breathe Again: Hope for the Overloaded and Overwhelmed. Tommy is host of the sibling podcast Space for Life. Tommy's journey stands at the intersection of golf, personal growth, and a vital relationship with God, making him the best person to lead these thought-provoking conversations. Join Tommy in improving your scores, dissecting the intricacies of golf, and exploring its limitless links with human life. Listen to Links For Life at linksforlife.golf

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Check latest episodes from Links for Life podcast

5 Things Pros Do That Most Amateurs Don’t

2026/07/21

What makes pros different isn’t just talent. It’s how they approach the game. In this video we break down 5 things the best players in the world do every round that most amateurs completely overlook. From how they manage their pace to the way they handle pressure and stay locked in on every shot these are the habits that separate elite players from the rest of us. If you want to start thinking more like a pro and playing with more purpose this is where to start. 0:00 Intro 0:17 Habit 1 1:40 Habit 2 2:41 Habit 3 4:04 Habit 4 5:15 Habit 5 6:51 Final Thoughts

5 Tips to Break 100

2026/07/01

Breaking 100 is one of the most rewarding milestones in golf, and it is closer than most people think. In this episode, Tommy walks through five practical tips covering scoring strategy, practice habits, course management, and mindset that will help you get there faster. Whether you are stuck at 105 or hovering right on the edge, these are the adjustments that actually move the needle. What You'll Take Away: Why minimizing triple bogeys matters more than eliminating doublesHow to get out of trouble without compounding one bad shot with a second bad decisionWhy spending the majority of your practice time inside 100 yards fast-tracks your improvementSimple short game alternatives to the 60-degree wedge that will quietly save you strokesHow to manage the tee box and stop giving away penalty strokes before the hole even startsWhy aiming for the center of the green and taking one extra club changes everythingThe counterintuitive mindset shift that may lower your score faster than any technical tip Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (0:32) Tip 1: Minimize Triple Bogeys (1:57) Tip 2: Practice Inside 100 Yards (3:44) Tip 3: Keep the Ball in Play Off the Tee (5:10) Tip 4: Aim Center and Take More Club (6:22) Tip 5: You Are Not Your Score

5 Simple Strategies to Dramatically Improve Your Putting

2026/06/18

If you want to lower your scores quickly, putting is the fastest way to do it. Most golfers lose strokes on the green for one simple reason, they don’t have a clear plan. In this video, we walk through 5 simple strategies you can start using immediately to reduce 3 putts, improve your distance control, and become a more confident putter. If you can control your speed and eliminate wasted strokes on the green, your scores will drop fast. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Strategy #1: Minimize 3 Putts 1:14 Strategy #2: Know When to Putt Aggressive or Conservative 3:21 Strategy #3: Favor the High Side 4:15 Strategy #4: Make Every Putt a Straight Putt 5:35 Strategy #5: Calibrate Your Speed Pre-Round 6:49 Final Thoughts Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Loren Roberts on the US Open Playoff, Bay Hill, and Playing in the Ryder Cup

2026/06/02

Loren Roberts is one of the most decorated players in Champions Tour history, with eight PGA Tour wins and 13 more on the senior circuit, and Tommy Thompson sat down with him for one of the most personal conversations Links for Life has ever had. Loren walks through his unlikely path to the tour, the 1994 US Open playoff against Ernie Els that still sticks with him, and the faith commitment that reframed everything, including two putts, same prayer, two very different outcomes. He also shares what he sees most average golfers doing wrong on the greens, and the one drill that fixes it. What You'll Hear in This Episode: How Loren got into golf later than most and almost became a club pro insteadThe story of selling shares of himself to ten club members to fund his first year on tourWhat it felt like to receive the Bay Hill trophy from Arnold Palmer, twiceThe three-way US Open playoff against Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie, and the prayer Loren said over that final puttWhy representing his country in the Ryder Cup made him more emotional than any tournament winHis number one putting tip, focused on speed over line, and the one-hand drill that unlocks it (0:00) Intro (4:17) Starting golf late, road to tour (10:36) The Bay Hill win that changed everything (18:42) Faith on tour and the Bible study community (22:00) Same prayer, two putts, two outcomes (27:07) The Ryder Cup and playing for your country (39:46) Putting tip and the one-hand drill (44:42) Faith, forgiveness, and a closing life lesson Subscribe to Links for Life wherever you listen to podcasts.

Kris Lynch on Golf Yourself Healthy, Loss, Purpose, and Embracing the Rough

2026/05/19

In this episode, Tommy sits down with Kris Lynch, founder of Golf Yourself Healthy and host of the Golf Yourself Happy podcast, for one of the most personal conversations Links for Life has hosted. Kris shares the story of his son Innes, who was born still in February 2023, and how that loss became the inspiration behind a platform helping golfers use the game as a path to mental and emotional health. This is a tender, honest episode about grief, golf as therapy, and the choice to embrace the rough instead of running from it. What You'll Hear in This Episode: Kris's journey from Scotland to London to Wales and his complicated early relationship with golfWhy Kris took redundancy from an 11-year banking career to go full-time on his coaching platformThe story of his son Innes and the surge of inspiration that founded Golf Yourself HealthyThe Scottish Gaelic meaning of Innes and the symbolism behind the Golf Yourself Healthy logoThe tagline "embrace the rough and cherish the fairway" and what it really meansA PGA study on golf elitism that showed half of UK golfers don't identify as golfersThe HAPPY framework, habits, acceptance, presence, purpose, and your call to actionTommy and Kris on the good hard story and why we often climb someone else's ladder Timestamps: (0:00) Intro & Kris' Story (24:08) Embrace the rough, cherish the fairway (31:32) Living an integrated life (40:52) Founding Golf Yourself Healthy (48:47) The HAPPY framework explained (52:42) How to connect with Kris Resources / Next Steps: Visit Kris at golfyourselfhealthy.comFollow the Golf Yourself Happy podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTubeEmail Kris directly at [email protected] to connect or explore coachingPick up Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf, referenced in the conversation

Wally Armstrong on the PGA Tour, The Mulligan, and Walking with Jesus

2026/05/05

Tommy sits down with Wally Armstrong, who spent ten years on the PGA Tour, tied for fifth at his rookie Masters, and went on to help start both Links Players and College Golf Fellowship. Wally walks through the full arc of his life, from caddying for Gary Player to writing The Mulligan with Ken Blanchard to the moment in 2004 that finally taught him how to walk with Jesus instead of working for him. It's part golf history, part ministry origin story, part invitation into a more present kind of faith. What You'll Hear in This Episode: Wally's path from the Indiana cornfields and an alcoholic home to captain of the Florida golf teamBecoming a "chaplain without a prayer" and getting led to Christ before he even realized itThe origin of the PGA Tour Bible Study and the players who came to faith through itTying for fifth in his rookie Masters after mapping every green by handWhy he calls Jesus the greatest mulligan of all time, and how Ken Blanchard helped shape the bookThe empty chair story and the simple practice that ended 34 years of trying to earn God's approvalTwo practical golf tips from Wally on ball position and keeping your swing on planeWhy he's still planning twenty years out at age eightyTimestamps: (0:00) Cold open and welcome (2:04) Introducing Wally Armstrong (6:10) Growing up in Indiana (8:06) Florida golf and the FCA chaplaincy (10:25) The chaplain without a prayer (13:08) Caddying for Dave Reagan and Gary Player (15:21) Eight rounds of Q School and finishing fifth (22:24) Mapping Augusta for a rookie top five (28:01) Family life on tour in the seventies and eighties (29:20) Founding the Links Letter and Links Players (33:36) Starting College Golf Fellowship (37:11) Writing The Mulligan with Ken Blanchard (42:31) The empty chair and the transforming friendship (47:42) Practicing the Presence of Jesus (52:24) The Course Less Played and building your bag (57:32) Refire don't retire at age eighty (1:00:18) Wally's two golf tips for amateurs (1:03:27) Where to connect with Wally Resources / Next Steps: Visit Wally's site at wallyarmstronggolf.comPick up The Mulligan, In His Grip, and The Practice of the Presence of JesusLearn about Links Players and find a club fellowship near youBecome a member of the Mulligan Club, free, all you need is a need for a mulligan Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Why We're Actually Angry on the Golf Course (and How to Face It)

2026/04/21

Anger might be the single most universal struggle in golf, and most of us are carrying more of it than we realize. In this episode Tommy digs into where golf anger actually comes from, why the way we handle it on the course is probably the same way we handle it everywhere else, and what you can actually do about it before it steals another round. Honest, practical, and a lot more useful than just telling yourself to calm down. What You'll Hear in This Episode: Why golf is one of the best mirrors for the anger we carry everywhere else in lifeThe three faces of anger on a golf course: visible rage, brooding, and the dangerous kind nobody around you ever seesThe real root causes: humiliation, thinking we're better than we are, the desire for control, and using golf to escape problems it was never meant to fixWhy internalizing anger is often more destructive than expressing itTiger's ten foot rule and other practical ways to address and release anger without dragging it through the rest of your roundWhy asking your playing partner a question about themselves is one of the most effective anger tools on the courseHow to tell the difference between managing the symptom and actually addressing what is going on underneath Timestamps: (0:00) Intro: why anger is the most universal struggle in golf (3:28) Golf as a mirror for the anger we carry everywhere (9:24) The three faces of anger on a golf course (11:30) Symptoms vs the deeper issue (15:12) The root causes: humiliation, pride, and unrealistic expectations (20:51) When you use golf to escape life and it backfires (32:32) Practical ways to address and release anger on the course (40:10) Addressing the heart issue not just the symptoms (47:30) Where to start if anger is wrecking your game

Inside the Ropes at the Masters with Robert Wrenn

2026/04/07

Tommy sits down with PGA Tour winner Robert Wrenn, who played in the 1988 Masters after winning the 1987 Buick Open by seven strokes, to share what it was actually like to experience Augusta National from inside the ropes. Robert co-led the tournament after round one, shot the low round of the day, and was later paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round, and he holds nothing back. This is the kind of conversation you only get from someone who has actually walked those fairways under the pressure of tournament play. What You'll Hear in This Episode: Robert's solo practice rounds at Augusta before tournament week, playing the course alone with full access and no crowdsHis 88-year-old grandmother walking the front nine and watching the back nine from a cabin with a cocktailGetting an impromptu lesson from Davis Love Sr. on the Augusta practice tee the week of the tournamentThe birdie on 18 in round one that tied him for the lead and earned him a piece of Masters crystalBeing paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round and the story that had the whole group laughing on the 11th greenThe hidden design details Augusta National doesn't want you to figure out, from grass grain direction to Alister Mackenzie's visual tricksHis one tip for playing Augusta National and why knowing your lines matters more there than anywhere else (0:00) Intro (3:26) Earning the Masters invitation (6:27) Solo practice rounds at Augusta (11:38) Family, the locker room, and the atmosphere (14:37) Getting a lesson from Davis Love Sr. (19:31) Round one: co-leading after shooting 69 (22:41) Paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round (25:07) Hidden design details of Augusta National (53:54) Robert's one tip for playing Augusta Resources / Next Steps: Share this one with a golfer who loves the Masters. It's one you'll want to listen to every year during Masters Week.

What Makes the Masters So Special with John Sabino

2026/03/24

Why does the Masters feel different from every other sporting event? For many people who have attended the tournament at Augusta National, the experience exceeds even the highest expectations. The course is immaculate, the atmosphere is calm, and the hospitality feels intentional in ways that are rare in modern sports. In this episode of Links for Life, Tommy Thompson sits down with author John Sabino to explore what makes the Masters so special and the ideas behind his book, The Augusta Principles. John explains that the project began with a simple question he asked himself after leaving the Masters one year. Why can the world not be more like the Masters? From that question came a study of the principles that define Augusta National. These include attention to detail, respect for tradition, thoughtful use of technology, limited commercialization, and a commitment to improving the patron experience every year. John also shares the personal story behind the book. After being diagnosed with leukemia, he stepped away from his business career and began researching the history and leadership of Augusta National. The project became both a research journey and part of his recovery. Augusta National has spent nearly a century refining the experience of the Masters. The conversation explores how those principles extend beyond golf and into business and leadership. (0:00) Why the Masters experience feels different (2:48) John Sabino’s first Masters and the origin of the book (7:00) A leukemia diagnosis and the journey to writing the book (12:08) What makes Augusta National such a unique place (15:58) Continuous improvement and attention to detail (21:15) Business examples that reflect the Augusta principles (27:29) Favorite Masters memories and practice round traditions (34:14) Civility and trust in the culture of the Masters (36:05) Counterintuitive decisions such as low prices and limited commercialization

Exploring the Role of Play in Golf with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play

2026/03/10

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: CompetitorExplorerMoverDreamerCreatorJokerStorytellerDirector 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

Golf Coach Brian Coleman on the Process Behind Becoming Better Golfers

2026/02/24

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 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

PGA Tour Winner Robert Wrenn on Playing Better Under Pressure

2026/02/10

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 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

Ego, Identity, and Why Golf Exposes What We Believe About Ourselves with Joel Suggs

2026/02/03

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 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

How Do You Pursue Growth Without Letting Expectations Ruin the Joy of Playing

2026/01/27

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 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

How Do You Play Smart Golf While Growing Your Game

2026/01/20

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. What This Episode CoversPlaying the game you have while building the game you wantWhen playing smart helps and when it holds you backWhy range confidence doesn’t always show up on the courseLearning from bad shots instead of getting stuck in frustrationThe difference between reckless risk and purposeful growthHow to practice with intention and bring it onto the course Key TakeawaysYou can’t grow your game if you never try new shots on the coursePlaying smart all the time can quietly cap your ceilingImprovement happens in small, intentional stepsPractice builds skill, but course reps build trustBad shots aren’t failures if they teach you somethingFocus 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 A Simple Way to Apply ThisPick 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. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!