Do you play in tournaments

[NM Golf]

The tournament fields at my course are slowly dwindling in past years. Some courses in the area have stopped even having association tournaments altogether due to low turnout. I am just wondering do you play in tournaments? If not, why not? If you do what do you like about tournament play as opposed to the normal weekend round.

I'll go first:
I love playing in tournaments, not necessarily charity scrambles, (although they are fun) but individual events. I play in 10-15 tournaments a year, and enjoy every one. I like the competition, I think it makes me a better player. I also like the money I win. I have won over $400.00 in Gift certificates in three events this year. It pays for all my gloves and balls.

[lamebums]

Nah, I don't right now, but I certainly intend to when I get a bit better at golfing.

[Double Bogey]

I agree, I will play in them when I get better. I just have to work on my game for the rest of the season. Maybe next year. This is my year to improve I have new irons and lessons forthcomming.

[Guest]

I do play in Tourneys. Mostly for fun.

[Klew]

I originally checked, "Yes, but just in the occasional charity scramble"

but forgot I do usually play in both bro-in-laws member/guest tourneys when they need a "D" player. My handicap usually helps the group

[total consciousness]

I only play in scrambles, not good enough for individual.

[NM Golf]

I agree, I will play in them when I get better. I just have to work on my game for the rest of the season. Maybe next year. This is my year to improve I have new irons and lessons forthcomming.

I hear this all the time. "I am not good enought yet" I tell everyone the same thing. That is what your handicap is for. Just because you shoot in the 90's or 100's does not mean you cannot enjoy tournament golf. I started playing in tournaments as a 19 handicap. We have several 20+ handicaps play in our association. Don't wait, don't be embarrassed to hit bad shots. Playing in tournaments will help you become a better golfer. Give it a try.

[iacas]

Where's the "yes, mostly single-player tournaments" option? I don't really enjoy all formats - particularly the multiplayer scrambles.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

I didn't vote in the poll because my answer is not among the three choices given. I do play in tournaments, but do not enjoy all formats. I dropped out of a golf league or golf club (not sure which it was) because virtually all of the tournaments were, to me, goofy formats. Very few were "regular golf". Although I do occasionally play in a scramble tournament, I don't like to play in more than a handfull of regular scrambles or texas scrambles. The more tournaments I play, the more particular I get about the format and more often than not don't sign up for them unless they are "regular golf".

[NM Golf]

Where's the "yes, mostly single-player tournaments" option? I don't really enjoy all formats - particularly the multiplayer scrambles.

All formats was a poor choice of words. What I meant was tournaments outside the charity scramble type of format. I guess I should have said I enjoy

other types of formats. Any way to edit it?

I didn't vote in the poll because my answer is not among the three choices given. I do play in tournaments, but do not enjoy all formats. I dropped out of a golf league or golf club (not sure which it was) because virtually all of the tournaments were, to me, goofy formats. Very few were "regular golf". Although I do occasionally play in a scramble tournament, I don't like to play in more than a handfull of regular scrambles or texas scrambles. The more tournaments I play, the more particular I get about the format and more often than not don't sign up for them unless they are "regular golf".

I understand that completely. I don't play in any of my clubs "goofy golf" tournaments. And rarely pay to play in charity scrambles, I tend to get invited to play because I can hit it a ways. My favorite format is definately the good old fashioned individual stroke play.

[lamebums]

I hear this all the time. "I am not good enought yet" I tell everyone the same thing. That is what your handicap is for. Just because you shoot in the 90's or 100's does not mean you cannot enjoy tournament golf. I started playing in tournaments as a 19 handicap. We have several 20+ handicaps play in our association. Don't wait, don't be embarrassed to hit bad shots. Playing in tournaments will help you become a better golfer. Give it a try.

Yes, but when you hit the occasional topper or hosel rocket into the cabbage, it'd be embarassing to do that in a tourney.

I've always prided myself on the long ball with my buddies (I am by far the longest driver--but by no means the most accurate... I hit my share of foul balls in the course of a round), and a topper that goes 10 feet is...really, really un-manly.

[Parker0065]

I hear this all the time. "I am not good enought yet" I tell everyone the same thing. That is what your handicap is for. Just because you shoot in the 90's or 100's does not mean you cannot enjoy tournament golf. I started playing in tournaments as a 19 handicap. We have several 20+ handicaps play in our association. Don't wait, don't be embarrassed to hit bad shots. Playing in tournaments will help you become a better golfer. Give it a try

I totally agree with NM Golf! You will learn to play better under the gun by jumping into the fire. Sure it may seem embarassing the first couple times out but believe me, the more times you put yourself in that position, the more comfortable you will become. Set a goal to win your handicap Division and when you succeed it will feel like you just won the US Open! Back when I was less than 1 handicap I use to play about 10 tournaments a year, about half stroke play and the other half 2 and 4 man scrambles. I had some success from 1989 - 1994 winning 6 stroke play events as low gross and 3 Scrambles with my buddies. Although there is nothing more satisfying than winning a tournament outright on your own, I can honestly say I had more fun playing in scrambles with my buddies. Although I remember this one time we had been playing as a team in scrambles for about 5 or 6 tournaments and we had never made a bogey. Well we came to one of the hardest holes on the golf course at Bayonet at Ft. Ord(which is one tough golf course) and after two poor shots and a poor pitch we were faced with a breaking 10 footer for par. All 3 of my buddies just walked up and stabbed at it, stood back and said, OK bud you gotta make this because weve never made a bogey as a team. Talk about pressure,,,lol,,I made the putt and told them to never put me in that spot again! Nowadays my handicap has grown to a 5 due to practice time and I took 7 years off from tournament play from 1997 - 2003 to finish college and start a family. In 2004 I missed that turbulent rumbling in my gut over a 5 foot putt for par and decided it was time to start playing tournaments again. I only play in 3 or 4 tournaments a year. 2 or 3 scambles, and our club championship. One things for sure, after taking that long off from playing in tournaments, it's like learning how to play under pressure all over again. So if you start playing tournaments, don't stop!!

[iammike]

I wish I had the time to play in a tourney sometimes, but I have a hard enough time finding the time to play with my buddies. Most likely even then I'd play in some sort of scramble with people I know. I think I'd have fun playing a singles tourny but if I had to choose my golf this month to be with buddies or a tournament, I'd choose my buddies.

[BritBoy]

I play a few individual stroke play tourneys a year, and I dont mind the occasional 2 man best ball, but I hate 4 person scrambles!!!

[niblick]

Thus far all the tournaments I've played in have been scrambles. I work in the construction industry, and my company participates in several every year.

There is a club up here that sponsors a huge series of tournaments though, and I'm dying to get involved. I really think the competition in an individual tournament would do me good as a player.

I've recently starting suggesting to my buddies that we play skins or nassaus or something to make it interesting. Most of the guys I play with just go out and see what they can shoot... I find having something riding on the game, even if it's just a few dollars, really helps me focus.

[Fourputt]

I play in as many as I can in my Men's Club. I also play an occasional tournament away from my home course. I like tournament play because it really inspires you to focus better, at least for me it makes me bear down and play each shot like it's the last one I'll ever make. Most of my best golf has come in tournament play. My lifetime best score of 73 (1 over par) and my first hole in one both came on the same weekend in my club championship in 1989, and most of my below 80 rounds have been in tournaments. My best round in the last 5 years was 3 weeks ago in a club singles handicap match... I shot an 81 and beat my 3 handicap opponent 3 and 2. He shot one better than his handicap, while I bettered mine by 6. I hadn't scored lower than 84 all year until that round.

For those who say they aren't good enough... baloney!! Most handicap club tournaments are flighted, so you are usually competing against players in your own handicap range. In team based formats, the teams are either matched up by team total handicaps, or they too are flighted so that the team handicaps are in the same general range.

For those who have had sour experiences with sandbagging in less formal tournaments (like charity or company outings), you don't see as much of that in club events because a good club will have a handicap committee that oversees such issues, and players who transgress are dealt with promptly.

[NM Golf]

I play a few individual stroke play tourneys a year, and I dont mind the occasional 2 man best ball, but I hate 4 person scrambles!!!

I agree with you on the two man best ball format. It is one of my favorites. You're still playing your own ball throughout and recording a score, but you still have your partner you can hopefully rely on when you have one of "those" holes. I really prefer tournaments where you play your own ball.

Yes, but when you hit the occasional topper or hosel rocket into the cabbage, it'd be embarassing to do that in a tourney.

Yes it is, but if you think the so called "good" golfers don't do that sometimes you're wrong. Man if you're waiting until you stop making embarrassing mistakes on a golf course to play in a tournament you'll never get to play. We all make those mistakes. I saw our defending club champion last year hit a shank dead right into a ravine. I was 3 under in the club championship after 13 holes and forgot how to play golf. I ended up shooting 77. I chili dipped, shanked, hooked, and sliced my way to a whopping 8 over in my last 5 holes. My point is, and the reason I started this thread is to try and get people to join their clubs and start playing tournament golf. I think golf needs it. I also believe if people give tournaments a try they'll enjoy them, regardless of skill level. I just hate to see golf associations having to stop holding tournaments because of low participation. Remember golf and sex are two things you don't have to be good at to enjoy doing.

[lamebums]

Eh, ok, fine, you've sold me. I'll check out the club's tourney listings.