Mitchell Schow: The Right Mindset

2/5/2020 8:37 AM | Men's Golf

By: JT Wistrcill, Athletics Communications

If you want to win at anything in life, you must approach it with the right mindset. Senior golfer Mitchell Schow did just that – and his game has improved in all of the right ways.

Schow grew up in Ogden, Utah, which is where he would first fall in love with the game of golf. He would frequently go play with his family or just on his own.

“The game of golf has been in my family for a long time and it is something that I grew up around,” he said. “My home was five minutes from the golf course, so I would ride my bike over there all the time and play.”

His family may have introduced him to the game of golf, but his bond with them goes much deeper than the sport.

“My family is everything to me,” Schow said. “It doesn’t really matter what I do, they have always supported me.”

Day two of the 2019 PAC12 golf championships at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon on April 23, 2019 (Eric Evans Photography)

Unfortunately for Schow, he soon would have to come to the support of his father as their family went through one of the toughest times of their lives. Schow’s father was diagnosed with stage four melanoma when Schow was only 18 years old.

“It was a pretty tough time that me and my family went through. It was something that you don’t want to go through, but it makes your life completely different and changes your perspective. You try to see the bright side of it even though it is hard, but there is always something positive that can come out of it.”

It was that positive mindset that helped Schow get through this hardship – and today his father is in remission. As Schow grew, so did his game, and he soon realized he had a bright future ahead of him.

“When I was 12 years old, playing in junior tournaments, I’d hear people say ‘oh he’s going to play DI,’” Schow said. “Being 12, I had no clue what that meant, but looking back it was nice to hear people say that. That’s when I felt I could play at the next level.”

Schow wanted to take his game to the next level, but the winters in Ogden made this difficult. Schow however, wasn’t going to let a little snow stand in his way.

“I would go to the range and hit out of a garage and into the snow, but I always struggled with my putting and short game,” he said. “So, I ended up drilling holes in the basement of my house and put in a putting green on the carpet. It helped me improve a weakness to my game and stay sharp throughout the off season.”

Schow’s training and preparation helped him to have a successful career at Park City High School, becoming a three-time 3A state champion. All the success made Schow a sought-after recruit, but in the end, there was only one college that stood out among the rest.

“There were other schools on my mind, but once my dad got sick, Utah became important because I wanted to stay close to home,” Schow said. “Once I got here, I realized it was such a great school and this is where I belong. I love it here and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Once Schow arrived on campus, he quickly realized he would have to up his game if he wanted to play.

“Freshman year was crazy for me,” he said. “I came from high school thinking I’m good at golf, and then I got a big life shock. I realized that I needed to change some things, so I started working out and lost 30 pounds my freshman year. I started to gain some muscle and I think that affected my game quite a bit. It helped me build my confidence and helped me realize I couldn’t play the same way I played in high school to have success at this level.”

Schow would compete in all 13 events for the Utes his freshman year (2016-17). He tied for the team lead with two top-10 finishes and was the only Ute to record a top-five finish.

He credits his hard work in the weight room to his improvement, but also looked to the coaching he received from head coach Garrett Clegg and assistant coach Chance Cain.

“They’ve helped me a lot with course management, eliminating simple mistakes, my yardages, and so much more. The start of my freshman year, I thought I had it all figured out, when in actuality I had no clue what I was doing. I was a little hardheaded. They helped me a ton and without them, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in right now.”

Schow went on to compete in seven events during his sophomore season (2017-18), maintaining a 73.5 strokes per round average while posting nine round of par-or-better. He wrapped up his junior season (2018-19) with nine events under his belt, with seven eagles on the season, which tied for 16th nationally to earn 2018 Utah Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year.

After his junior year, Schow decided to lock in and spend the summer focused on his upcoming final season. He played in local tournaments and got into a routine of working out and training.

His hard work payed off in the early portion of this season as Schow’s 71.2 strokes per round average is the lowest of his career. He also leads the team with two top-10 finishes through the first five tournaments.

“I didn’t play well in the first tournament and then the second tournament came, and I played really well,” he said. “From there, I just kept the train going and I’ve been feeding off the momentum, so I’ve been trying to stay consistent and figuring out what works best for me. My mindset has changed a little bit being a senior, because I know this is it and I want to leave it all out there.”

Mitchell Schow, Utah Golf September 3, 2019 in Salt Lake City, UT. (Photo / Steve C. Wilson / University of Utah)

Over the years, Schow has enjoyed his time on the course, but the strong bond he has created with his team has been just as important.

“It is basically a brotherhood with my teammates,” Schow said. “I’ve formed relationships that I’ll have for the rest of my life and that will always be special to me.”

Golf has made a lasting impact on Schow’s life. Going into the second half of his senior year, Schow plans to keep his trademark positive attitude through whatever may happen.

“In previous years, I thought golf was my whole life and if golf was going wrong, then my whole life was wrong. That has changed where now golf is just a part of my life, but not my entire life. My golf game is going to be good, because it is just another day of my life.”

When Schow’s time as a Ute comes to an end in the spring, he will begin the next phase of his golf journey competing on the Latin America Tour in South America. One thing is for certain when it comes to Schow’s future on and off the course – he will attack it with the right mindset.