Stress before rounds

[john]

I just wanted to know if anyone else has these issues. I actually have trouble sleeping before every round. The better I get the more stress I have to play well. For instance I am playing a round tomorrow and I am already thinking about the holes and feeling stressed out. I am not even talking a tournament (I have never played in one), just a normal round.

Believe it or not, once I get on the course and hit a few shots, the stress goes away and I just have fun but the lead up to the round is very stressful. I don't even stress out when I hit a bad shot, as a matter of fact I can put bad shots behind me immediately.

The ironic thing is that I always end up doing well. I guess maybe it is just a confidence level issue.

I am sure it is just something I have to over come and get over. I need a golf psychologist, lol.

[$2 Nassau]

I used to have the dry heaves on the way to the course. Yeah, I know, a little extreme. Even for just a normal round with friends. It was messed up.

Not this year though, I have no stress or anxiety at all before a round. And I'm playing like crap.

[Colinb913]

For the most part, I decide to go golfing on a whim. I barely even have time to get stressed..

But those times I am going to a planned outing or something, I really dont care. I am perfectly comfortable with how I play..

[NI4NI]

I can sometimes get a bit anxious before a round, but it's good ole' nervous energy which takes normally just a few swings to flush outta the system. I am in the middle of my club's two man match play event, and I more calm during these than a causal round (and obviously less than head-to-head matches). Having a partner has a calming effect, even if you're each playing your ball for gross/net. Playing with strangers usually doesn't bother me either - last week, I shot my third best 18-hole round of the season playing with three strangers (scored a 92 from the tips: 70.9 / 135).

[BallStriker]

Stress? Life, work, marriage, mortgage payment, kids....that is what causes stress...........Golf is that LAST thing I get stressed out over.....which actually may be the reason I play to my handicap in tourny situations...

Are you trying to do this professionally?

[CG031]

Lol yeah don't stress golf. especially a casual round.

what would probably help you is if you DID play in tournaments. I've played in so many tournaments and high school golf matches the past 3 years that I view a regular casual round at my club as rather relaxing!

[GaijinGolfer]

I usually get a little anxiety, but nothing that causes me to lose sleep or worry about it all that much.

[MOOCH]

Sometimes I cant sleep because Im excited to play, but stress no way!! Too much fun to be stressed out. Golf is fun!!!

[Kieran123]

I get more excited than nervous. I do get a little nervous when random people are watching me tee off.

[Deryck Griffith]

For me, I can't sleep before a round because I am so exicted and happy to play!! I'm playing this Saturday which is only two sleeps away!! LOL...

[john]

Stress? Life, work, marriage, mortgage payment, kids....that is what causes stress...........Golf is that LAST thing I get stressed out over.....which actually may be the reason I play to my handicap in tourny situations...

I am not trying to do this professionally and I know its a tad silly. As you mentioned, real life is probably more of a thing to stress out about. I guess I just have very high expectations and I am a little critical of myself. I play 36 holes a week and I hit about 100 balls a day. 2 years ago I was shooting 95 all the time and now I shoot high 70's, low 80's and I feel that I worked so hard that I fear losing it.

Believe me when I say though that once I finish that first hole on the course, it is nothing but fun and I am super positive on the course. People make fun of me because I am always saying, "chip and a putt, no problem" and "this is an easy putt (on 20 footers)" constantly. The pre-round stress never affects my game. I guess I just need more confidence in my new ability. I spent alot of time frustrated with the game ;) thanks for the replies everyone!

[john]

For me, I can't sleep before a round because I am so exicted and happy to play!! I'm playing this Saturday which is only two sleeps away!! LOL...

lol, maybe I'm mistaking stress with excitement ;)

[john]

Lol yeah don't stress golf. especially a casual round.

I would love to play in a tournament. I have no idea how to even get in a tournament, hehe.

[john]

I get more excited than nervous. I do get a little nervous when random people are watching me tee off.

hehe, I play so much on my courses that there are no more random people I play with. I have played with all of them. ;)

[Yukari]

Sometimes I cant sleep because Im excited to play, but stress no way!! Too much fun to be stressed out. Golf is fun!!!

I am with you there. I get too excited to play and can't sleep not because of stress. It's like not being able to go to sleep on a Christmas eve because of the excitement.

[Joeyvee]

I get really really excited before a round. Days in advance. and I haevn't had a bad ball striking day at the range in months, but once I hit the course I feel like I've been working on my game so much that I have to put up a good score and it backfires. I have terrible ball striking days, the best round I ever had (lowest score, most fun and most comfortable) was in the afternoon after 3-4 beers with 5 friends who were just looking to kill some time having fun and I had a blast and realized I was playing smarter, striking was great etc..
My friend said it last night "you kill it at the range why can't you hit a shot on the course?".. I dont know. I get nervous and it sucks.

[CG031]

I'm sure they have plenty of tournametns available to you in NY...since you shoot in the high 70s low 80s you should probably go in a few, they'd be fun.

[kpaulhus]

my body usually wakes up by itself, much earlier than normal.