Ever Get Nervous Before Playing Golf...?

[$2 Nassau]

I am always nervous before playing. Not necessarily on the first tee box, or before the first swing, but at home when I am getting ready and also driving to the course.

Not sure what is wrong with me, I'm not talking before a club tournament or anything like that, just your basic rounds of golf with friends.

I dry heave in the car sometimes.

WTF is wrong with me?

[GaijinGolfer]

I kind of get the same way. Im not nervous, I just kind of get butterflies in my stomach. I think its more just the anticipation and the excitment of being able to play golf.

[hungry4greens]

Yep, I get the same kind of butterflies feeling. But I think its good in a way, and besides it beats getting the same kind of nervousness before a job interview.

[1par2win]

I am always nervous before playing. Not necessarily on the first tee box, or before the first swing, but at home when I am getting ready and also driving to the course.

I can understand having some butterflies in anticipation but dry heaves?!? That's a heck of a reaction. My suggestion would be to get to the course early and I mean 2 hours early. See if that helps. Man, hope your alright.

[Ghost Runner]

I rarely get nervous but I definitely have 1st tee jitters if my pre-round range work doesn't feel right.

[CG031]

I get nervous sometimes for sure. Especially when I start off well, which is usually every round.

Almost every round starts off the same, I par/birdie the first few holes, then I start getting nervous, feeling as though it could be a really good round, and I start gettting quick on my swing, do stupid things like pick up my head, etc. and that's when my rounds tend to go downhill.

I get more nervous DAYS before tournaments than I do on the first tee, or during the round, it's really really weird.

[goblue107501]

I am always nervous before playing. Not necessarily on the first tee box, or before the first swing, but at home when I am getting ready and also driving to the course.

Sorry, that made me laugh out loud. Agree with 1par, get to the course a little earlier than normal and hit balls, putt a bunch, just get into the feel for the round before you actually start. Maybe mentally, that will ease the feelings.

I kind of get the same way. Im not nervous, I just kind of get butterflies in my stomach.

Same with me. I get so excited that I am playing since I only get to play once or twice a month at best. Once I get to the first fairway and the round has started, all the butterflies go away and I just have fun.

[Mr. M]

Golf is unique; there literally isn't a sport like it. You are 100% responsible for everything that happens to your ball. When we play golf, we make ourselves available to the kind of scrutiny that doesn't exist with other sports. We are vulnerable.

Even when you play with peers, best friends, that vulnerability, that nakedness, is discomforting.

Look, I teach high school English. Even if a particular class is relatively small and full of kids who are all friendly with one another, the second a student reads something aloud or goes to the front of the classroom to do a lecture, read a passage, whatever...suddenly it's a different ballgame. Those nerves kick in, and kids can get downright spooked. (This is why I rarely have students give presentations or read out loud.)

It doesn't matter who our company is; not having a place to hide is tough sometimes.

[Uber$winG]

I am always nervous before playing. Not necessarily on the first tee box, or before the first swing, but at home when I am getting ready and also driving to the course.

May I suggest some anti-anxiety medication like Xanax.

[iWALK18]

Yeah I get pretty nervous. Sometimes I even have a bit of trouble sleeping the night before. But mostly its excitement, not so much fear. After hitting my first drive, I'm comfortable the rest of the round.

When I played competitive hockey I had a few big games where I felt ill beforehand. I would have to go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face and breath deeply. Once I got on the ice it was gone though. Just the way I'm wired i guess.

[whetstone]

Wow, that's more common than I thought it would be. I just can't imagine getting that jacked up before playing a game that is supposed to be fun.

[alf174]

I am always nervous before playing. Not necessarily on the first tee box, or before the first swing, but at home when I am getting ready and also driving to the course.

For me, butterflies at the first tee if I'm playing a local competition. Or on a blind golf date and she's hot.

[Prairie Golfer]

I never feel nervous. I just assume I'm going to card a 113 and then I'm pleasantly surprised when I play an average 90ish round.

I know if I ever played a competitive round that I'd very likely shoot the 113.

[MSchumacher]

I think if this feeling ever left, I'd stop playing golf altogether.

[TheLauncher]

I agree a lot with what Mr. M says. One is definitely on the spot when playing golf. I find myself succumbing to nervous habits like always smoking on the way to the course (hey it might prevent the dry heaves!) and smoking and drinking on the course. But you have to remind yourself, as I often do, that I play for relaxation and to have fun. I have a other in my life to worry about, golf shouldn't be one of them. Of course personally I always want to do exceptionally well and then the rest of that stuff might not matter, at least for a while.

Anyway, it may be the case for you as it is for me, that if I am relaxed I not only have more fun but score better as well.

[$2 Nassau]

Getting to the course early doesn't help, that would just mean I'd get the dry heaves earlier before I leave for the course. Like a couple people mentioned I think a lot of it is butterflies/anticipation to play. But it goes to the extremes sometimes. LOL

[ArrrrJay]

I am nervous through the first hole usually. Poor tee shot and second shot result, and then I start to calm down. I figure eventually I won't have this issue anymore...

[David in FL]

Not nervous, but after all this time, I still get a little excited before each and every round.