Played my first match round...

[Orange]

I work at a golf course and we just started a little match play tourney between all of the employees. I had my round this morning, eager to give it my all. I'm only 20 and I was playing against a guy who was probably 57 or so.

After the first 9 holes we were all tied up. In fact, we were still tied after 17 holes thanks to my 12 foot putt to save par to keep it tied.

So we walk up to the 18th tee box and I'm getting a bit nervous. I've never played in a tournament or anything, not even a casual match play game with a friend or something, so my heart was starting to beat a little bit faster. My opponent hits his tee shot down the fairway and then it was my turn to give it a go.

...

I'll be honest, I was nervous but I wasn't sweating bullets or anything. I tee my ball up and I'm feelin' alright. The 18th hole at my course is actually one of my favorite to drive on - I can usually hit it within 60 yards of the green or so. Anyways, I swing my driver only to be crushed by the fact that I hit my ball off the toe. My ball traveled straight right into the tall grass/forest. So I hit my tee shot again (now hitting three), and I knock about 50 yards from the green. It was all too late though, I had no chance once my opponent was on the green in two. I ended up with a 6 on the hole, he saved par. The worst part is that I had been crushing my drives all day.

Consider me bummed out, lol. Lost my match on the very last hole, but hey, that's the way golf goes sometimes, right?

Sorry for the long rant... just felt like rambling.

[mn723]

You weren't the first nor last to do something like that. Handling nerves (of that kind) gets better with age & experience. I topped my 1st tee shot into the pond in front of the tee box during my 1st match as captain of my high school team. I also shot 87 in my 1st college tournament round after qualifying for the varsity team with a couple 73's.

[markpf189]

I know what you mean, I always play much better when I go out by myself, opposed to playing competently with friends. I'm just so much more relaxed when just playing for fun.

Usually, when playing competitively, my nerves are pretty bad for the first few holes, and then I settle down.