How do you prepare for a golf tournament?

[ronaldkuntoro]

How do you prepare for a golf tournament ? To play the best of game of your life?

I don't think practicing at the driving range alone makes any difference to your game.

[CalBoomer]

There is no golfer alive, including Tiger Woods, who has a routine to "play the best game of their lives." The only preparation for playing any round of golf, tournament or otherwise, is regular practice on the weak aspects of your game and some repetition of the stronger aspects. After that, how you play on any given day is determined by your average game and skill level plus or minus random variation and the vagaries of fate. I am not sure how to interpret your comment about the the "driving range" since that's not where I practice my short game. But, if your comment is intended to mean that practice makes no difference, then you are beyond help.

[Fourputt]

How do you prepare for a golf tournament ? To play the best of game of your life?

I don't do anything differently than I do for any other round. If you put too much emphasis on a competition round, all it does is tighten you up and you are even less likely to play well. I just go out and play golf, and like any other day, sometimes I play well and sometimes I don't. That's golf.

[bakalao1]

I don't do anything differently than I do for any other round. If you put too much emphasis on a competition round, all it does is tighten you up and you are even less likely to play well. I just go out and play golf, and like any other day, sometimes I play well and sometimes I don't. That's golf.

That´s absolutely right, I consider myself a good tournament player, and I have learned that the worst thing you can do before one is overtraining or getting obsessed about playing "the best round of your life". I work pretty hard until a week before, and then just try to relax, maybe train one day (four or five days before), but never the day before the tournament. It has worked pretty good for me to get a massage the day before, and getting into the steam room for a while too, that helps relaxing myself and play better than on a regular day.

Also it is VERY important get a good night of resting sleep the night before, that will help you focus a lot better.

[kpaulhus]

I like to color all my Titleist ProV1x's with red and black markers lol. Usually 30 mins 3 times the week before the tourney on the practice green. Chippin and puttin is where its at.

[APowell0057]

what you SHOULD do in order of significance IMO

Get used to the speed of the greens
Work on the short game, mostly around the greens where you'll likely miss your 2nd shots into par 4's or par 3's.
Your golf swing

[IcemanYVR]

How do you prepare for a golf tournament ? To play the best of game of your life?

I don't prepare for a casual round I just go and play. I''ll warm up on the range to see what my swing is doing that day, then hit some putts until tee time.

As far as tournaments go, during the week I'll try and play the course if possible (if it's not at my course). Beyond that I just make sure my short game is up to par (pun intended) and I don't hit too many ball (which I never do anyway) so as not to get to mentally tired. The most important thing I really do that's different is prepare a game plan for each hole and try to stick with it.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Ill try to get out and at least walk the course. I dont really try to map out a gameplan or pick spots because im not going to hit the ball there, anyway. Mostly, i try to identify where not to hit the ball.. Some other things i do is map the greens with a pencil and paper and roll some balls around. Ill step go back about 75 yards and throw balls into the greens at different trajectories to see what will happen. Ill try to identify any big trees or water near the hole because putts will usually break towards them. As far as everything else, ill just get there early, hit some balls on the range and chip and putt until its time to play.

[WUTiger]

Ill try to get out and at least walk the course. ... Mostly, i try to identify

Play a practice round if at all possible. Even upscale courses often permit practice rounds, especially if it's an established tournament. Don't walk onto a strange course and plan to play well.

This is no time to rebuild your swing. If you have a couple of problem areas, such as wayward drivers or weak bunker shots, work to straighten the out. But do not try to switch to StackNTilt the week before the opening round. Also, don't do any heavy practicing the day before the round. Might hit a few 5 irons, and chip and putt a little. But don't hit 400 balls or play 36 holes - don't exhaust yourself before play begins. Playing golf three or four days in a row is fun, but it can be rather tiring. Finally, if you lack tournament experience, don't play to win . Just play the best golf you can each day, and see what happens. Playing well in tournaments is separate golf skill which it takes time to build.

[Zeph]

Nothing special really, just make sure I arrive in good time.

As usual, I got a swing thought or two during the round, and play like I normally do.