First tournament this weekend

Playing in my first non-scramble tournament this weekend, my club's 2-day open prior to the club championship next weekend. Any advice on how to go about it? I'm going to the range before work every day this week, and I can honestly say I can't remember a time I was striking the ball better, from half-wedges through the long irons.

The only issue I can see going in is I seem to have lost my normal driver swing. Everything feels fine up to contact, then the club feels sluggish and dead, and everything becomes a low hook. My high fade still plays about half the time, but not nearly consistent enough to use. This weekend's tournament is from the white tees, so I can get around fine with long irons off the tees, but if I can play in next weekend's championship from the blues I'm gonna need that driver.

So, anyone have any tournament preparation or time management tips? Or has anyone gotten over a similar problem with the driver lately? lol

Thanks!

I'm very very new to golf. So my advice isn't worth much. But I was having a discussion recently with my pga pro who does my lessons. He struggles sometimes with his driver, often in tournament play.

He said, don't always feel pressured to hit the driver. If you're really scuffling with it, just hit your 3w. Or some other club. Go with a club you know you can hit solid. Be willing to sacrifice distance for accuracy and comfort.

He was really struggling opening day with his driver, decided the next day to leave it out of the bag so he wouldn't be tempted to use it, and shot a 68.

I'll be playing my first tournament too, this Monday, so I'll be watching this thread closely.

Relaaaaaaax.........have fun!

Don't try to play a different game and change things. Play your normal game......

My home course is having their annual club championship in a couple weeks. The entry fee is $100. That includes - practice round, greens fee for 2 day tournament (36 holes), cart fee, and lunch. They want to flight the tournament by handicap which is cool, but I have a good feeling that a whole lot of people will be sandbagging. I'm considering playing in it just for the experience of playing in a true, stroke play tournament. I've played in some best ball team scramble things and I just don't care for them. Any thoughts.....

Relax, have fun.  When the opportunity presents play to your strengths.  Playing tournament golf the same way most golfers play a casual round is a recipe for failure.  THINK.  If you can't reach the green from where you are, don't try.  Play under control.  Lay up to a distance where you have the confidence to play a shot which you are very comfortable with.

If the driver isn't working, this is NOT the time to try a swing change.  Use the driver ony if absolutely necessary, and play something less the rest of the time.  A couple of years after I started playing in club tournaments, I lost the ability to hit a full wedge.... my wedges only worked for short pitches for more than a year.  I loved my 8I, so I started practicing with it, and got to where I could play it anywhere from 145 in to about 40 yards and make just about any shot work with it.  The wedges eventually came back, but I was still quite successful during that period by just not using a full wedge shot in competitions until I figured out what was wrong.

Good luck man. I've never played in a tournament but really want to play in just a local public tourney. Think it would be reasonable to pay the money and play? Obviously I will be near the bottom at days end, but I really have no fear of embarrassing myself. I dont really have much worry about and think it would be fun to be in a completely different atmosphere. Cant hurt can it? I mean its gonna be with a ton of public course regulars.

On that first tee IF you are nervous, take a deep breath and hold it in.. it will slow your heart rate a little so you can calm yourself.  My problem when I'm nervous is I hurry my swing and just try to get it over with fast.  Take your time, you got this.  You've prepared for it.  Just let it happen and have fun!

I'll be playing in my club championship in a few weeks, excited for my first legit tournament, I'm not nervous, what's to lose ?

Sorry to take so long to get back to the thread. Been a crazy couple weeks in North Florida. Lightning took my modem and router out, so I'm just getting internet back. Also, I'd love it if this site had a good mobile app lol.

First day of the tournament, my first full 18 on the track, that course pushed me down, took my lunch money, kicked sand in my face, and said bad things about my mother. I shot a net 95, mostly due to my putting and a Tin Cup moment on the short par 4 eighth, when I dumped four straight three-quarter wedge shots short into the water and then two-putted for a 12.

Day two, I came back a little. Still couldn't figure the greens (I learned later that the guy who places the holes is the same guy that did the job back when the course hosted the Greater Jacksonville Open), but I managed to hit 11 of 14 fairways at least. Still, three-putts did me in, along with a horrific 9 on the par 5 6th, and I shot a net 82.

Mastering this course has become my new sick obsession. It's the kind of course you absolutely must play backwards. My yardage book is starting to fill up with notes, most of which make zero sense when I read them the next day.

So, did you play at Deerwood?

no, Hidden Hills.

I played in my club championship 1 week ago and got 2nd next to a guy who used to be a pro so Im satisfied.  But what really was helping me was straight shots all day.  I wasn't scrambling to get on the green and most of all I WAS MAKING PUTTS.  If I were you putt putt putt putt and putt some more.  Putting is 99 percent of the time a deal breaker.  Making putts over 10ft will save you big time in score compared to alot of players if they are 2-3 putting alot.

My tournament results were 73 first day and 75 second day I lost by 2 strokes as the guy shot a 73 first day and 73 second day.  I was in it until I triple bogied hole 16 on the 2nd day =(

That triple bogey in the middle of a par streak is just deflating. I'm normally a good putter, but I had an off day coupled with diabolical greens, so what is usually a strength became a big weakness. Next time, though, I'll be ready for it.

I get excited just reading this thread. I want to play in a tournament eventually as well and the OB course I play has a home tournament in July & December so I am looking forward to those next year since I don't qualify for this years tournaments, at least I don't think I do.

Tapatalk 2 works with the forum. Not too bad of an app but some of the abilities of the website are not available.