Tournament Golf, how do you deal with the nerves?

[jshots]

This past weekend was my home courses yearly amateur tournament. Coming into this weekend, I was playing the best golf I've ever played. But thanks to nerves, Saturday I played the first 5 holes at 6 over and finished at +9, and yesterday I played the first 5 holes at 7 over and finished at +10. It seems i'm terrible at dealing with nerves early on in the round.

How do YOU deal with the nerves that tournament golf brings?

[inthecup]

I also have problems with nerves.  The best way to deal is to embrace it not to worry about it.  Go slow breath deep.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Play your game and don't pay any attention to what the other golfers are doing.

[xSmithy]

I used to have a problem closing out rounds etc when I had a score going and found it was because I was counting my score in my head and psyching myself out if you will, now I try to just take it one shot at a time and not get ahead of myself - maybe you could apply the same principle - just focus on making a good swing (i know this is widely touted but if you can fully immerse yourself in it it really pays dividends).

I've never had a problem starting well but my course starts with 2 par 5's that are usually down wind and I hit the ball pretty far so they are good chances for me, still I've got a plan on where I can hit the ball from the tee to give myself the best chances and know where I can't miss it, then I just go and try to make good swings, I think this is also important especially at the beginning of the round when you're still warming up.

Finally, I heard of a pro who suggested playing the course 3 holes at a time, setting yourself a target of how many shots you wanted to use per each 3 holes and then executing it, for example at my course I want to play the first 3 holes level par, 2 par 5's which are birdie chances down wind and then stroke index 1 par 4 in to the wind. I'll set myself the target of 14 shots for the first 3 holes whether this comes as birdie par bogey, 3 pars, 2 birdies and a 6 or whatever, anything better is a bonus but won't effect the plan I have for the next 3 holes, once they are gone they are gone - same goes if I play them worse than I planned to; this is another technique to set yourself mini targets which if you immerse yourself in properly can eliminate or reduce nerves which can become overwhelming.

Cheers,

Smithy

[ejimsmith]

Originally Posted by xSmithy

Finally, I heard of a pro who suggested playing the course 3 holes at a time

the latest golf digest has this tip in it, and i think i'd like to use it.   i get too caught up thinking of previous holes, or thinking ahead to holes coming up.

[xSmithy]

Originally Posted by ejimsmith

the latest golf digest has this tip in it, and i think i'd like to use it.   i get too caught up thinking of previous holes, or thinking ahead to holes coming up.

I think it is very beneficial, too many times I have had a decent score going, thought about it and began to think too far ahead and hit my tee shot in trouble and ended up blowing up, similarly if I've had a bad hole and I get hung up on it more often than not I'll follow it up with another, that is golf and why I love it so much, peril is everywhere and you have to be mentally strong throughout. Especially when you get to a mark like ours, it is the beginning of having to play well consistently throughout a round, bad holes just don't cut it anymore, you have to begin limiting the blow ups. I played a comp last week where I had 13 pars and shot +8, 3 double bogies! It seemed like every time I thought about having a good score going I did something stupid and made double whereas when I just got immersed in the round and took it 3 holes at a time I had made 6 consecutive pars before I realised where I was, infuriating but great at the same time!

[xmanhockey7]

I embrace the nerves. I don't really feel nerves unless I'm coming down the stretch and I know I'm probably in contention. I love getting that feeling. Tiger and some other guys call it their drug.

[onesome]

I think you have to put yourself in a real positive mindset, if your at a course you have played before only visualize the good shots you have played on the holes your about to play and once you get near the end convnce yourself that you will do as well as you always did before. I think if you can't keep from thinking about more than the shot you have in front of you the best thing to have is a positive mindset.

[Divotmaker77]

I have defeated myself before a round even started by treating it differently than when I play a normal round.  By that, I wake up earlier, stretch more than normal, hit more balls during warmup, think about it wayyyy too much and by the time I am on the first tee I am shaking like a leaf.

Last year I changed my mindset.  Woke up at my normal time, did not do anything different than when I play a normal round, hit a few range balls, spend most of my time on the practice green and make it fun.  Listen to fun music on my way to the course and try to relax as much as possible.

Its all a mindset issue and those who can ease their nerves the most are better off.  Making the round an event in your mind only makes it worst.  Everyone including the Pro's are nervous on the first tee, but its all about being as calm as you can.

[LovinItAll]

The first real tournament I ever played in was our club championship years ago. There were about 15 guys hanging around #1 when we teed off. I knew them all, but I swear my hands were shaking so badly I didn't think I'd make contact. I did, but I snap hooked the ball into deep woods by OB stakes I didn't even know existed, and I'd played that course a thousand times before. Dude I was playing against had striped his drive and had about 120 in. I could tell my poor shot really injected confidence in him. I somehow punched out to about 150 and ended up making par. He hit the green and 3 jacked. Don't know why, but my save completely deflated him. I had him 6 down at the turn and started thinking about the next day's match. After that, I'm not sure I made anything better than bogey. Went into extra holes and I lost the match.....that blew sooooo bad! Lessons learned: - Don't get cocky - Don't let one bad shot/hole get to you - Don't get ahead of yourself --or-- One shot at a time!