Steve has high hopes for his golf game, but are they justified? After a couple of rounds that promised more than they delivered, he and Andy unpack the good, the bad and the ugly of chasing improvement.

From a frustrating competition round interrupted by an unexpected family distraction to signs that some swing changes are finally paying off, Steve reflects on the importance of fundamentals, emotional resilience and not letting a bad hole become a bad round. Meanwhile, work on the short game raises an interesting question: is the problem really as bad as he thinks, or is perception getting in the way?

With strokes gained offering some encouraging surprises, the boys explore the difference between knowing something is improving and actually believing it.

Because sometimes the hardest part of getting better is learning to trust the process.

High hopes? Absolutely. And perhaps, for once, with good reason.

Join the fun by entering The Missing Links Yearly Championship to compete with Steve, Andy and other Pilgrims from all across the world. Just join the Podcast Facebook Group to register your interest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799518259034661

If you've got your own tips to improve then we'd love to hear them too! Just hit the send us a text message button or find us through any of the links below:

Contact us directly via email: themissinglinksgolfshow@gmail.com

For more content and to keep up to date, follow the show on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/themissinglinksgolfshow Don't forget to join the members group!

Don't forget to join the private members group to join the conversation.

Follow us on X: @TMLGolfShow https://twitter.com/TMLGolfShow

Or on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/missinglinksgolf/

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Welcome back for Volume Two of the most epic playlist for golfers ever developed!

"High Hopes" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"It Felt Like Golf" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"King of the Handicap" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"Middle-Aged Glory" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"No Finish Line" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"One More Hole" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"One Shot at a Time" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"Stop Thinking" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"The Rules Official" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"The Course That Raised Me" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"Ugly Before It Was Beautiful" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

"Why Do We Do This" written and performed by The Missing Links Golf Show Band

Join the fun by entering The Missing Links Yearly Championship to compete with Steve, Andy and other Pilgrims from all across the world. Just join the Podcast Facebook Group to register your interest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799518259034661

If you've got your own tips to improve then we'd love to hear them too! Just hit the send us a text message button or find us through any of the links below:

Contact us directly via email: themissinglinksgolfshow@gmail.com

For more content and to keep up to date, follow the show on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/themissinglinksgolfshow Don't forget to join the members group!

Don't forget to join the private members group to join the conversation.

Follow us on X: @TMLGolfShow https://twitter.com/TMLGolfShow

Or on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/missinglinksgolf/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Missing Links Golf Show, Andy takes us through a very eventful round at the Wyong Seniors — complete with shanks, cold tops, lightning-fast greens, questionable pin positions, a rather creative cart-path strategy and some seriously impressive recovery putting.

After making some significant swing changes, Andy is still trying to work out whether a disappointing score represents a step backwards or simply another part of the learning process. And that's where things get interesting.

Because while Andy is wrestling with an eight-over 77, Steve has his own update: nine holes, eight pars, one double — and some of the best ball striking he's seen in a while. The strokes-gained numbers aren't perfect, but the feeling is unmistakable: something is starting to click.

We talk about why progress in golf rarely happens in a straight line, why strokes gained is useful without telling the whole story, and why sometimes the most important sign of progress is simply wanting to play one more hole.

There's also plenty of talk about the President's Cup, some sporting heartbreak, and the ongoing quest for middle-aged sporting glory.

And then, appropriately, the Missing Links band closes things out with a new song about exactly what keeps us coming back:

One more swing. One more chance.

Join the fun by entering The Missing Links Yearly Championship to compete with Steve, Andy and other Pilgrims from all across the world. Just join the Podcast Facebook Group to register your interest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799518259034661

If you've got your own tips to improve then we'd love to hear them too! Just hit the send us a text message button or find us through any of the links below:

Contact us directly via email: themissinglinksgolfshow@gmail.com

For more content and to keep up to date, follow the show on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/themissinglinksgolfshow Don't forget to join the members group!

Don't forget to join the private members group to join the conversation.

Follow us on X: @TMLGolfShow https://twitter.com/TMLGolfShow

Or on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/missinglinksgolf/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.