#114 [Inside the Mind] Chris Petefish: Play Unapologetic Golf and Using Data to Free Yourself from Emotional Decision-making

What do you do when your biggest opportunity collides with your worst nightmare?

For Chris Petefish, that moment came two weeks before Second Stage of Q School—when he woke up unable to get out of bed, let alone swing a golf club. No practice. No prep. Just pain, uncertainty, and a ticking clock on what might be his last real shot at securing status.

Most players would withdraw. Chris got on a plane.

In this conversation, we break down the mindset, decision-making, and mental toughness that carried him from "I might have to quit" to T8 at Second Stage—and eventually to winning on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Whether you're chasing a club championship, a Korn Ferry card, or a seven-figure business year, the principles are the same: expectations, routines, self-talk, and a willingness to play unapologetically free.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The mindset that helped Chris qualify at Q School while barely able to swing a club.
How to turn panic, fear, and "why me?" moments into problem-solving and clarity.
How to identify and dismantle the destructive belief: "I only perform well with my back against the wall."
Why routines, awareness, and data are non-negotiable for peak performance.
How to cultivate a flow state, lower expectations, and raise execution under pressure.
What a bogey-free tournament taught Chris about confidence, acceptance, and fearlessness.
Why embracing—not suppressing—pressure is the key to performing when it matters most.

Get your pencils ready and start listening.

P.P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here.

More About Chris

Chris Petefish is a professional golfer and performance coach based in Georgia. A former Georgia Tech standout, he was an All-ACC Academic selection, All-America Scholar, and winner of the 2018 General Hackler Championship.

Since turning professional in 2018, he's competed on the Korn Ferry Tour and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open. Off the course, he runs Course of Action Golf, where he coaches players of all levels in course strategy, mindset, and performance using strokes gained analytics and mental conditioning frameworks.

His philosophy blends data-driven strategy with mental resilience — helping golfers and high performers think clearly, compete freely, and execute under pressure.

Course of Action Golf

Instagram (@chrispetefishgolf)

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High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching

Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.

He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential.

Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.

Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist

Twitter: @parsoverbogeys

Key Takeaways:

Pressure is not the enemy- you must acknowledge it to master it. Pretending pressure doesn't exist only amplifies it. Naming it neutralizes it.
Your routine is your anchor. Any deviation in your pre-shot routine is a signal your inner world is unraveling.
Expectations kill performance. Preparation builds confidence; expectations destroy it.
Play unapologetically. Fear-based golf leads to steering, tension, and poor decisions.
Confidence and fear can coexist. The goal isn't removing fear; it's performing with it.
Data frees you from emotional decision-making. Golf is a math contest with variance baked in.
Resiliency compounds. Your worst stretches often create the biggest breakthroughs.

Key Quotes:

"When my back's against the wall, that's usually when I'm at my best."
"I'd rather hit a poor shot with confidence than a poor shot from fear."
"The expectations on the course will kill you."
"You can't pretend pressure doesn't exist—you have to acknowledge it to handle it."
"My routine tells me everything about my inner state."
"Golf is a math contest. Trust the numbers, trust your skills."
"Sometimes hitting rock bottom is a blessing—it forces change."

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