"Golf's Higher Plane" Questions & Answers
What is "Golf's Higher Plane?"
"Golf's Higher Plane" is a new approach to golf improvement that applies the Universal Laws of Life and Nature to golf in a holistic, psycho-spiritual approach. It is designed to help you improve both your golf experience and your ability to score, but take out the word "golf" and the teaching points can apply to any part of your life. Most definitely, I hope that folks will find this all to be an empowering message and have fun!
Does "Golf's Higher Plane" compete with golf coaches and instructors?
No, just the opposite, "Golf's Higher Plane" complements the work that sports psychologists and swing instructors
offer. Awareness of your surroundings and expert feedback is essential
to your progress. The point is that you have to take ownership and
responsibility for what you integrate into your golfing life.
When you ask, believe, and take action, and are ready to receive, the right
teachers, equipment, tournaments, opportunities, etc. will come into your
life. If you are in alignment and ready to receive, they will be there for
you.
While there are many points and several discussions within "Golf's Higher
Plane" that are mental in nature, this approach is the spiritual leg that is
the "glue" or the third leg to form a solid foundation for this 3-legged stool.
By all means, "Golf's Higher Plane" is no substitute, but rather it is now
perhaps your "15th club." It is the 'X-Factor" that takes physical skill and
mental toughness to a higher level.
Why should a golfer, instructor, or coach consider the teachings espoused in "Golf's Higher Plane?"
Life and golf are both operated on three planes, the physical, mental, and spiritual, yet golf has only been taught and previously coached on two planes. All three are integral and totally interconnected, with every physical and mental action validated by the spirit. Once one learns how to better monitor and manage their spiritual energy, the physical and mental sides stand to benefit. Have you ever wondered why some hard-working, positive-minded talented players succeed while many do not? I believe that the answer lies with spiritual management, and predict that future generations will heed and cultivate all three planes.
How does "Golf's Higher Plane" differ from the concept of a "positive mental attitude" or "heightened visualization?"
First, "Golf's Higher Plane" is the application of a much broader concept,
the Law of Attraction, to golf. "Golf's Higher Plane" utilizes both a positive
mental attitude and strong visualization as two of its many components,
but they are just a small part of the process. A positive mental attitude is
always nice, but directed in the wrong area, it can actually be
counterproductive. Secondly, unlike exercising a "positive mental
attitude," I propose illuminating rather than ignoring negative aspects.
Positive feelings are just as critical.
Visualization is one of many Law of Attraction tools, but also by itself, it
will yield only partial and sporadic results. All four steps of asking,
passionately believing, taking inspired action, and receiving in alignment
are all critical to leveraging the Law of Attraction.
Is the Law of Attraction a "religious principle?"
No. I find that it's helpful to simply view it as a Law. Like the Law of Gravity, it just IS. It's not personal. It has nothing to do with being a good person. It has nothing to do with getting rewards or punishments any more than the Law of Gravity means that good people won't fall downward. It's not because we are behaving as "good" people should behave, playing the "I'm a spiritual person" game. It rather relates to our present moment awareness and openness.
You had a conversation with Jack Nicklaus about your teaching points; can you explain his reactions to them?
In November 2008 I had the opportunity to sit down with Jack Nicklaus to discuss my project with him. No, he had never heard of the Law of Attraction, but as I started to review my teaching points with him, he interrupted, telling me that no one had ever in his life told him what I had just said, but that he always privately felt that way. I continued along and he excitedly interrupted me a second time repeating that his career and play had been analyzed to an extreme, but again, no one had ever pointed out to him what I was revealing. Yes, he volunteered that he had instinctively exercised the Law of Attraction, and that he believes Tiger Woods is one of the few modern players to also do so.
How do you evaluate and correlate Tiger Woods with the Law of Attraction?
The Law of Attraction applies to everyone all the time and Tiger Woods is
no exception. The golfer Tiger Woods still remains someone who is to be
admired and emulated. Like Young Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, Walter
Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold
Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus before him, his play advanced the way the
game is played. His approach to the game models "Golf's Higher Plane's"
teaching points better than any of his generation.
The allegations surrounding Tiger Woods' personal life suggest that he
applied the Law of Attraction in many destructive, hurtful ways indicating that the Law of Attraction is still working albeit in hurtful ways. Perhaps his moral compass came askew, but that is his
journey and there are blessings in all if we look hard enough. One thing
for sure is that the situation is another reminder that we admire people in
the public eye for their particular skill, and realize that they may or may
not be respectable roles models in other areas.
Finally, when we engage in judging people like Tiger or his wife, we
embrace their energy and place ourselves out of alignment with being our
"best selves." Rather keep your attention upon what you have to
appreciate and what YOU want to become. Judgment of others or
yourself is a very negative activity as relates to the Law of Attraction.
How does "Golf's Higher Plane" compare to the teachings espoused by the popular DVD/book entitled "The Secret?"
"The Secret" is a book/video product that has raised worldwide
consciousness to the Law of Attraction. While it may be a very popular
work, the subject has been admirably discussed for literally centuries and
has been and continues to be taught by many dozens of other wonderful
Law of Attraction practitioners.
"Golf's Higher Plane" follows the primary teachings explained in "The
Secret" but goes into far greater depth. There is also one major
difference; I believe that the concept that intense wishful thinking, alone,
is not always sufficient to affect meaningful change in many areas,
especially when you want to improve a skill. You must be so intensely
committed to your vision that you also take "inspired action" as well as to
be in alignment with your goals so that you are able to receive. There is
often work involved!
A few feel that the Law of Attraction philosophy seems self-centered and smacks of the greed of getting just what you want. Any comments?
If you perceive it that way, that would be a valid experience and your truth. Certainly, it can be utilized that way. Utilizing the Law of Attraction can be so much more than that, however. It is about letting rather than getting. It is also about allowing the pure energy, love, and intelligence within you come on out as opposed to receiving. This is not about getting from the external world for your enjoyment; it is more about letting or allowing the god-force or genius within all of us surface usually at the expense of our ego. Yes, at the very elementary level, the Law of Attraction can be utilized for material gain. It can also be used for universal joy and gain, if not simply for the self. The choice is yours.
Will the lessons in Golf's Higher Plane assure me nothing but great results?
The good news is that I am absolutely certain that the lessons will offer
you a path to greater growth and opportunity in golf and life, but
unfortunately, the path of enlightenment, happiness, and fulfillment is not
a straight line or a quick fix. Contrast and occasional failure are crucial
elements to longer-term success or growth if you will.
In order to step through new doors of growth, success, and fulfillment,
YOU must be open and willing to forever commit, to take action from a
place of love, joy, charity, and abundance even in your golf game.
What about my golf game, and what about when bad things happen to good people? How do you correlate the Law of Attraction with that?
This question is a fair one, but integral to playing the blame game. One
can turn the Law of Attraction either inward and feel awful about creating
their own problems or they can point the finger of blame outward at tragic
worst possible situations, outraged that someone would "attract" those
things into their life. If you approach this all from a position of self-righteousness,
indignation, or outrage, you will likely attract more of the
same and cloud your perception and stifle your growth! Leveraging the Law oof Attraction is not
about blame.
If you use the Law of Attraction as a personal growth tool to look deeply at
what you have created, you will be able to, indeed, create meaningful
shifts in your life. I work with the Law of Attraction because it expands me,
awakens me, and helps me succeed. I can't force other people or
situations to abide by it. I don't pretend to understand why certain
situations happen, but I know for certain that I can't help anyone at all by
remaining outraged, or by playing small because I feel sorry for them. The
same goes for getting hooked by drama or horror. Ghandi advised that
we be the change we wish to see in the world. Though I don't always
succeed on my time frame, I challenge myself to do this in every situation,
while having compassion for the situations I don't understand.
Blame serves as a deflection mechanism. Self-blame creates a victim
mentality of shame, stupidity, and worthlessness. Can you see how such
would erode one's power and block their growth? We often use deflection
when we're right at the edge of discovering a greater truth about
ourselves.
As for outrage, it creates such a huge barrier that no one, including you
can get past! Outrage might be convenient response at times, but ultimately you miss out on
any growth opportunities. I challenge myself and you to ask more
empowering questions in all sorts of situations. "How did I create this?"
"What were my thoughts?" "What are my beliefs?" "What would I prefer to
create or to believe?" "How can I start to move toward that ideal?" "What
is my target?" I challenge myself to work with self-acceptance and self-forgiveness
while moving towards loving, positive beliefs. The results
have been amazing. And blame has become just a tiresome, old boring
pattern that now gets very little attention.
The game of golf throws reality right back at you as regards blame. No
one else hit your shots but you. When you eliminate judgment and blame
and simply increase your awareness and self-forgiveness, you open up many avenues for
growth.
What is the most important component of the Law of? Attraction?
There are four steps to leveraging the Law of Attraction and all four steps are equally important. Missing any of them will cause one to fall short of fully leveraging it. That said, you have to start the process at the beginning and not skip any steps, so first, you must ask. Without clearly identifying and asking for what you want, you cannot move forward.
What is the most important lesson from "Golf's Higher Plane?"
My, there are many and it depends upon your experience and perspective. For me, it was the realization that by changing my thoughts and beliefs, I could change what I attract into my golf and my life. Discovering that my feelings are the barometer of my thoughts has been a huge tool. When I feel badly about anything, I now know to re-examine my underlying thoughts and beliefs, and that a change is likely necessary. This can be done even in an instant!
How did you come upon this message?
I have been studying human development and self-improvement from
about the same time that I started playing golf in 1962. Interestingly, my
readings and library of both subjects have never connected the two
together in any more than a very vague fashion. As I believe that the
rhythm and demands of golf so closely reflect life, I started to look at
how the great teachers of life might approach instructing a golfer. Then
Tiger Woods came along and so clearly dominated many worthy
competitors in a manner seldom experienced. It was too easy to say that
Woods had a mental edge; it must be more than that. His background as
well as Jack Nicklaus' before him, as I understood them, really reflected
the Law of Attraction in action, regardless of whether either was
conscious of the fact. It was at that point, the Law of Attraction in a golf
context crystallized for me.
I began to reflect upon my golfing life and my life and experiences beyond
golf. Soon I attracted Michele Bowen and Bob Rainone, both connected
with "The Secret," into my life as very dear friends. They both contributed
to raising this to a new higher consciousness within me. Soon other
people, insights, and opportunities just magically appeared seemingly
by coincidence. Very succinctly, it was the Law of Attraction in action
pure and simple!
All of a sudden, it occurred to me that I, too, had been attracting
everything into my life by my thoughts and beliefs. This included success
and failure, struggle and seemingly luck and coincidence. I began to see it
in action everywhere in others in business, sports, relationships, health,
finance you name it. Though my joys and goals had long ago left playing
competitive golf, I realized the power and wanted to communicate it to
others which are my current joy. If it helps others in golf and beyond, my
joys are fulfilled. By what most would term "coincidence," I then attracted
creative resources that helped me take this message further to you.
Everything about this project is the direct result of following the steps.
It's the Law of Attraction in action!
Clearly I want to impress upon you that I am neither a saint nor an expert.
I have made more than my share of mistakes and blunders. And in
hindsight, while I read and understood the Law of Attraction, I did not
begin to internalize or emotionalize it until rather recently and the results
have been amazing!
Rather I delightfully incomplete, and like an onion, peeling one layer at a
time, and now emotionalizing and internalizing these very concepts. Both
my life and golf journey are becoming more and more delightful and
delicious. Certainly, if you are open and willing, yours can too!
What services do you render, Bob?
I offer coaching services not only for golfers, but have long worked with individuals, leaders, organizations, and athletes outside of the golf arena. The approach and lessons I employ are applicable to anyone at any age or in any circumstances. (I find that this is particularly true for baseball pitchers and football quarterbacks who, like golfers, initiate action.)
With my extensive business background, I also continue to consult and speak in business forums with a special focus upon strategic planning, business development, operations, marketing, sales, leadership, and individual and organizational development.
As one of golf's best-traveled players as well as my experience hosting many golf events and competitions as the Executive Director for the Northern California PGA, I also am available to host golf tours or assist with corporate or charitable events.
Do you have any plans to expand your coaching?
While I can only take on a limited number of clients and maintain a healthy quality of life, I am looking to collaborate and partner with like-minded individuals by certifying "Golf's Higher Plane Instructors." In this manner, I can duplicate myself and better share what I hope is an effective and empowering message to many while offering golf instructors and coaches an expanded offering and enhanced credibility. Check out: www.golfshigherplane.com for further details as they develop.
Any parting thoughts?
Golf and life are meant to be joyful. In anything you encounter, when you act from a position of love and abundance, your actions are more likely to serve you than if you are fearful and coming from scarcity. Look for the joy and wonderment surrounding you all the time. Be consciously thankful for each and every aspect you encounter even if it's hidden in stress, hardship, or disappointment. (There is a lesson and a blessing in everything.) That resulting joyful energy will attract more of the same into your golf game and your life. Isn't that exciting?
Testimonials
“The best book I’ve ever read!” Easy to read…keeps your interest – great material to help improve my way of thinking!”
Carol Ladd, LPGA Member
“An extremely powerful, insightful, hopeful message. Your book without a doubt made me ‘feel’ and created a resurrection for me. I would love to put this in the hands of every AJGA player and tell them if you really want to play, ‘THIS IS WHERE YOU START.’”
Tracy Lehnecker, Co-Founder & Vice President of Medicus Golf
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“Love the book!”
Janet Coles, 2-Time LPGA Tour Winner
“Shivas Irons speaks through Bob Fagan.”
Ivan Rodriquez, Avid Golfer
"What better time than now for Robert Fagan's book ‘Golf's Higher Plane.’ This practical guide extends beyond typical golf instruction and its methodologies, it's a guide to attracting a more plentiful life. Ideal for today's golfer, businessperson, and those on a quest to living vibrantly."
Emmy Moore Minister, Northern California PGA Honorary Member & Golf Industry Consultant
“I love it, and I am a great believer in what you profess.”
Hollis Stacy, 3-Time US Women's Open Champion
“An ‘instant ‘Classic’ in the tradition of ‘Golf in the Kingdom’. Shivas Irons would be proud.”
Bruce Strickland
“Bob Fagan shares his expertise and passion for golf along with his belief in the capacity of every golfer to achieve his or her best.”
Patricia Baldwin, Former Editor of “Golf For Women” & “Private Clubs” magazines
"For those not fortunate enough to play a round of golf with Bob Fagan, experiencing "Golf's Higher Plane" is the next best thing. Bob truly does unveil the door to greater happiness and fulfillment in golf...and in our lives. I invite you to step through it with me."
Frank LaRosa, "Golf To Go," ESPN 1320AM