Learning how to play tournament golf...again

[twisted5ltr]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Well, there's no better feeling than playing well in tournament play. Conversely, it's is extremely humbling to work hard on your game, think you're ready...and then go out & post an 87...when you're carrying a 4 handicap. I've been there. You want to crawl into a hole, especially when they post that score up there for the world to see.

Heh, for years I had what I would call my 'tournament swing' - a truncated, sped-up version of my regular swing - no flowing backswing, no pause at the top...just a lightning-fast Zorro slash. That's what tournaments will do to you. You will get out of your comfort zone real quick...sometimes on the first tee. Your flaws get magnified real quick. And your swing gets real quick...real quick.

And when the wheels get wobbly, and they will, your mental discipline is critical. Slooooow down, breathe, one shot at a time.

Should you successfully navigate those self-induced hazards, then yes. There is nothing more satisfying to hand in your signed card sporting a 71 & see your name placed at the top of the board. I've been there too. You just stand there and smile...you've defeated your toughest opponent. Yourself.

As I mentioned in another thread, I am a drummer since I'm 8 yrs old--now 38--and everytime I played in front of more than about 10 people I was nervous more specifically like 200+. One thing I remembered that really helped me was that as what I would consider a (low handicap drummer say close to scratch) there were still some things taht I knew I needed work on. but other things I knew I could do blindfolded, one hand tied behind my back, I thought just do those things and nail it. If you dont venture out and try something your not ready to do with confidence don't and you (most likely) wont screw it up. Many shows came and went after that and went off without a hitch, i realize golf tournaments are physically a different animal, but my focus here was just on the ecxitement aspect or anxiety of performing into front of people you feel like are staring at you thinking that they know you are about to screw up--even tho theyre not--Hopefully when I am ready to play tournaments I will be able to use this advice on myself once again . . . I hope it helps someone else . ..

[Unforgiven93]

People always have said this, but it has almost been the opposite for me.  I have a tendency to focus more and play better because of it.  In a tournament this last summer, I had been playing really well over the last two or three weeks, some of the most confident I've ever felt with the game, anyway, I was even through the first 5 or 6 holes, then I took a 9 on a par 4.  My playing partners knew I had been playing well, they had seen my scores from the previous weekends tournament, one of them looked at me and said "Golf sucks, doesn't it?" I looked back at him and said "Eh, lotta holes left." I ended up playing a few under par the rest of the day and winning the tournament.  If I'm ever a golf coach I will tell that story a lot I bet .

I just think you can't let it get in your head.  I know I can be as good as anyone on the course on any given day, so I just go out and play and let the good shots roll.