When do you arrive at the course?

IF I have a tee time which is usual but if I do, I prefer to arrive early enough to smack some range balls. Usually a 1.5 hour early. Reality is that I get there 5-10 minutes before I play, which is not great at all. I wish I needed tee times because I would probably warm up better.
 

Depends on the course. At my fave rinky-dink course I walk in without a time, pay and head straight for the first tee. When I play at my parent's club I get there early enough to hit a few balls and putt to get a feel for the greens. At the crowded muni's I get there early enough to check in, fight the hoards of morons waiting at the cart barn, buy my brews and attempt to be waiting in what is always a line at the first tee to wait for the starter to get us out there.

I always get there 1 hour before my tee time. Plenty of time to hit range balls, not too many though, just to loosesn up. And hit the practice green. Relax, grab something to eat and drink.

Being relaxed on the first tee is key. Rushing is not good. And I used to do that all the time, and wondered why my back nine was always better than the front.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motley01 

I always get there 1 hour before my tee time. Plenty of time to hit range balls, not too many though, just to loosesn up. And hit the practice green. Relax, grab something to eat and drink.

 

Being relaxed on the first tee is key. Rushing is not good. And I used to do that all the time, and wondered why my back nine was always better than the front.

 This. Every word of it... Had so many 45+ on the front and sub 45 on the back... If I just hit a small bucket and putted some before a round I come out and get under 90. My last few rounds have been rushed and horrid first 9's. In my last three rounds I have started with an 8, 10 and 9... if I could just card a double on those holes I could have been sub 95 on each round.

Got two tee times this Sunday, 830 and 230... fully expect round 2 to be near 85!

I like to roll in 45 minutes to an hour before I tee. Gives me time to stretch for a few minutes and then hit 20-30 balls on the range and then roll some putts. Nothing worse than feeling rushed before a round.....need to achieve zen prior to striking the first ball!

I usually get there in time to make a few practice swings before teeing off.  Sometimes not, though, and I have to toss it out on the tee box, run up and hit it while it's still rolling.  I play better if I get there early enough to tee it up properly and make a practice swing or 2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Voyles 

 This. Every word of it... Had so many 45+ on the front and sub 45 on the back... If I just hit a small bucket and putted some before a round I come out and get under 90. My last few rounds have been rushed and horrid first 9's. In my last three rounds I have started with an 8, 10 and 9... if I could just card a double on those holes I could have been sub 95 on each round.

 

Got two tee times this Sunday, 830 and 230... fully expect round 2 to be near 85!

Geeezus! Two tee times? In the heat? That's a lot of golf, I could never do that.

Shoot an 85 man, we're pulling for you...

Quote:

Originally Posted by the chunker 

Now that I think of it I always have a way better back nine then front nine, this weekend I may try to get to the course extra early to warm up on the range and see how it goes. Hoping for good results.

Yes get there early, you will be amazed how much better you play on the front nine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmazingWhacker 

I usually get there in time to make a few practice swings before teeing off.  Sometimes not, though, and I have to toss it out on the tee box, run up and hit it while it's still rolling.  I play better if I get there early enough to tee it up properly and make a practice swing or 2.

A practice swing? Oh come on man, just hit the ball. Nobody needs that much time.

For me it also depends on the course...There is a course right off the Air Force base I'm stationed at that if I play there I often times arrive, pay, and hit the links.  You don't need a tee time!  If it's a course that either I'm not familiar with, or have a tee time I like to arrive at a minimum 30 minutes before my round.  This at least gives me time to get relaxed and get a feel of the greens.  There is nothing worse then arriving at a course with a few minutes to spare and being rush to the first tee to start your round.

I shoot for at least an hour early.  The older I get the longer it takes me to get loose.  At the range today I hit the last 20 of the 110 balls in the bucket a lot better than I hit the first 20, so unless it's impossible I feel like i HAVE to stretch and swing before I play.

Whenever I get to the course without even time to hit on the practice greens, I tend to have a pretty poor front 9. I usually like to get there at least an hour before my tee time (15-20 to check in, change and get situated...and the rest of the time to chip and putt a few).

Ideally, 45 minutes early...five to check in, ten to stretch, 15 on the range, 15 on the green. Unfortunately, I've shot a lot of 45s on the front after getting to the course just in time to roll a few putts before heading to the tee. Last time out I shot an eight-over 44 on the front and a one-over 36 on the back. Imagine if I'd loosened up beforehand...