Dr. Robert K. Winters
Sports Psychologist
Sports Psychologist and Performance Consultant
Dr. Robert K. Winters is the Resident Sport Psychologist for David’s World Teaching Headquarters located at the ChampionsGate, Florida facility. Dr. Robert K. Winters is an internationally renowned sport psychologist; author and professional speaker who brings 45 years of golf knowledge via playing, coaching and scientific research into assisting players achieve peak performance. His educational and playing background combines scientific research, applied coaching and playing perspectives, and a simple, yet positive approach that creates a teaching perspective unlike anything found in the golf world today. Dr. Winters provides a unique approach to mental skills training that anyone from a beginner to tour player can implement and use to create long-term golf improvement. His ability to provide the latest scientific research and apply it in a simple fashion helps to augment David’s vision of holistic training with a modern, 21st century-approach to learning and retention. Because of his tremendous success with golfers of all levels, Dr. Winters is recognized as one of golf’s foremost authorities in golf psychology, putting psychology, sports vision and golf performance enhancement.
Academic Education
Dr. Robert Winters completed his Ph.D. degree in Sport Psychology at the University of Virginia located in Charlottesville, Virginia. His doctoral training focused on performance enhancement and confidence development while also having major support areas of educational research and counseling. His doctoral dissertation (Ph.D.) focused on creating a laser learning program for developing proper putting aim and the effects it would have on overall putting aim, confidence and actual putting performance.
He completed his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in physical education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. While completing his bachelor’s degree, Dr. Winters competed for the Cardinal golf team where he was selected as a captain during his senior year. His Master’s thesis (M.S.) investigated the effects anxiety and stress have upon modern golf performance and how golfers can overcome those counterproductive forces.
Dr. Winters has also been involved with perceptual and optometric science in association with Dr. Herbert Price of the Price-Shepler Sports Vision Center and spent several years engaged with sports vision research working with Olympic, collegiate, and junior athletes. The culmination of this work led to many important teaching changes in putting and golf instruction. In addition to his sports vision training, Dr. Winters also became certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in the State of Indiana in emergency medical procedures.
Authorship and Publications
Dr. Robert Winters is a popular motivational and educational speaker as well as an established author. He is the author of “Mistake Free Golf – First Aid for Your Golfing Brain“, The Ten Commandments of Mindpower Golf”, co-author of the books, “The Mental Art of Putting: Using Your Mind to Putt Your Best!” and Golf Fitness and is the co-author of two audio-cassettes, “Great Putting – Right Now! and “Golf Confidence for Women.” He is also the co-author of an audio CD specifically created for young golfers entitled: “Golf Confidence for Juniors.” Dr. Winters is also the creator of a computer CD entitled “Putting Genius” that places the learner in an advanced mental state. Dr. Winters was also the mental game consultant for NBC Sports Network and the internet family for NBC golf.com. Dr. Winters is currently a contributing consultant for The Golf Channel, Golfweek and Golf International Magazine.
Coaching Education
Dr. Robert Winters has a long history of coaching golfers and being instrumental with working with a number of collegiate teams as a sports psychology consultant. During his time at the University of Virginia, he was the Men’s Assistant Golf Coach for seven years. While he was at the University of Virginia, Dr. Winters devised mental training regimens which helped a number of players attain All –American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. He is also one of the four original Golf School Directors for NIKE Golf Schools and US Sports Camps. He has been a Director of Golf for NIKE Golf Schools since 1994. He has been Director of the NIKE Golf School at the Boca Raton Resort and Club School in Boca Raton, Florida, The University of Virginia Golf School, and currently conducts the NIKE Golf Schools at Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Dr. Winters is going into his 14th year as the Sport Psychologist for the Leadbetter Golf Academies.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
Dr. Robert K. Winters has been a national advisory member of the National Association of Golf Coach Educators and is a member in good standing with the American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and several national sport psychology associations. He is also a special contributor for the Price-Shepler Sports Vision Center in Indiana. He has presented specific golf research to the World Scientific Congress of Golf Trust and is involved with several scientific projects specific to sports education and training. He is also the mental game consultant for the Future Collegiate World Tour, The Hurricane Golf Tour and the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour.
Performance Enhancement Services
Dr. Robert Winters brings 30 years of consulting experience to golfers around the world. Dr. Winters has coached NCAA Division I, II, and III teams as well as NAIA and a host of high school and preparatory teams. His clientele have included NCAA Individual champions, High school and state champions as well as British and US Amateur Champions over the past five years. He also has a wonderful history of working with the best touring professionals in the world. His consulting family has included the likes of Brian Gay, Lee Westwood, Ian Leggett, Steve Marino, Brian Davis, Arjun Atwal, Justin Rose, Michelle Wie, Julieta Granada, Rachel Hetherington, Hee Young Park, and many more touring golf professionals from around the world. Dr. Winters has a mental game philosophy of “creating a personal approach and viewing psychological training based on a human being model. That is, everyone is different and each golfer will require different needs to meet their goals and ultimate performance standards. He is especially skilled at helping golfers learn about the mental game via a “hands-on” approach and developing physical competence and a cognitive understanding of the mental basics. Based on his golf background of 40 plus years as a former collegiate and touring professional golfer, collegiate golf coach, physical golf instructor and sport psychologist, Dr. Winters offers any golfer a unique view of how to develop mental and emotional toughness. The mental toughness training programs will be custom tailored to deal directly with specific personal and group issues.
Golf instruction with Dr. Bob Winters
When he’s not busy instructing players on the finer techniques of golf, Dr. Winters can occasionally be found sharing his expertise online. Below are just a few examples.
• Dr. Winters Official Website
Currently, Dr. Winters helps Leadbetter Golf Academy students tackle the mental game of golf in order to achieve peak sports performance at LGA Headquarters at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida. Learn more about his golf psychology coaching, “Mental Toughness Training.”