First Comp

[Basher]

Got my first competition tomorrow!

After a round last weekend where I played really poor I was not exactly looking forward to it. Confidence shattered, felt I was just going to make a fool of myself.

Had a session down the range on Wednesday and tuned up the swing a bit. I felt the ball was going much straighter, not necessarily further.
Diagnosis - Trying to hit the ball too hard, left arm all over the place.

Now concentrating on turning fully with a straight left arm, seems to have improved things.

I think I'll have another session down the range tonight and maybe a short warm up on the practise ground before tee off tomorrow. Is that wise?

I know I wont sleep tonight and I know I'll be as nervous as hell tomorrow but I think I'm looking forward to it. I just hope the weather improves, nothing worse than your first comp in wind and rain!

Any more tips with regard to preparation guys?

 

[TonyN]

Yes warm up definitly, help you loosen up. Be able to rotate further, build up the torque easier and stop you from trying to hard to gain your distance. Plus you get into the grove of things. Try get some chip shots in and some putting too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Definitely warm up before you go but don't use it as a range session and try and change anything. Just loosen up and see what shape and how you are hitting it and accep that is your swing for the day.

The more you try and think about complex swing thoughts the more you won't be able to make a smooth rleaxed swing and that will have a negative effect on your game.

I'd try and hit a few putts as well but again don't worry too much about trying to hole everything. You are trying to get a feel for the speed of the greens.

Not sure it'll help but I normally arrive about 70 minutes before my tee time. I'll slowly get ready and check in at the pro's shop to pay my entry fee and pick up my card. I'll make sure I put my handicap on (saves being DQ'd later) and I'll normally ask the pro what the first names of the guys I'm playing with are if I don't know them.

I'll got to the practice ground and spend 5-10 minutes stretching and swinging a club to loosen up. I'll then hit 10-15 balls with a sand wedge just trying to get a smooth tempo. I'll then hit 10 x 9 iron 10 x 6 iron 5 x hybrid and 10 x driver.

That will normally take me about 20 minutes. I'll then hit a few chip shots from different lies with different clubs trying to pick and hit a specific landing spot. I'll then finish with 10 minutes on the putting green.

I'm normally left with about 15 minutes before my tee time. I'll go back into the locker room. I might nip to the loo and then I'll go through my bag making sure I have pencils to mark the card, sufficient tees and markers, gloves (including spare ones and towels if it is wet) and finally I'll mark several balls with a sharpie pen so I can identify them.

We have to be on tee 10 minutes before our time so I'll go out and meet my partners and swap cards. Then its onto the 1st and away you go.

Don't panic if you start to feel nervous as you wait to go off. It is natural and most players feel some degree of nerves in any competition (it is actually better to have some butterflies). When its your turn just breath slowly and trust your swing. Don't try and do anything different just because it is the first shot of the day or your first competitive shot. Just relax and make a smooth swing.

After that just enjoy your round and don't get too hung up on how you play. If its a good round great but if you start to hack just think of the 0.1 back on your handicap for next week

 

[Dave3498]

Just don't worry about it. It's a game to be enjoyed, not to stress you out.

 

[Tommo21]

Calm down to a frenzy Basher. It’s not your life you playing for. Go out there and enjoy yourself. I personally don’t practice before any competition, I warm up for sure, and I have a good few putts, but that’s it. I do all my practice, quite a lot, between competitions. I turn up in plenty time and more often than not my playing partners are the ones on edge. Be cool, if you play rubbish you play rubbish….. I do at times, we all do.

Oh, be positive, don’t have negative thoughts.

 

[The_Squire]

What are you playing in , the open qualifier ? Calm down, take it easy and enjoy it. Then the next comp your in you can use the experience to your benefit and you will be fine.

Good luck, I hope the weather is good for you and you have decent company.

All the best

The Squire

 

[Gizmo722]

Good luck buddy,i find that not taking any notice of your score helps,easier said than done for sure but if you can do that it prevents you thinking the dreaded '' i need a four here to get back on track etc''.

 

[Glenfish]

1. ENJOY IT!!
2. DON'T PRETEND TO BE EXPERIENCED!
3. ENJOY IT!!!

Come on mate, don't worry about it, if you do then you won't relax and play well, its important to remember why we all play this game after-all, for PLEASURE!!!

 

[stevo]

Just relax and enjoy the game it will be the first of many..

 

[barb]

Hi Basher
Hope you enjoy your comp tomorrow and have better weather than today, good luck and let us know how you get on
Barb

 

[theeaglehunter]

Homer loving the routine....very professional! I may have to steal a few ideas.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Cheers for the positive feedback. Its all about getting there in plenty of time to just take thing easy and relax before you start. If you have time to hit balls and aren't rushing it is so much easier to get into a nice tempo which you can take out onto the course.

It also gives you time for the important things like a pit stop before you go out and for the little things like housekeeping (making sure your card has the right handicap etc, you know the comp format and handicap allowance) and to make sure you have the essentials (water, tees pencils et al) and to mark a ball for recognition purposes.

Just something I have always done. Got it off to a fine art now.

 

[Basher]

Many thanks for the positive replies, especially Homer - excellent advice.

Well, got there in good time just as it started to rain. Got my card and found I was playing a 2 ball as the 3rd had cried off.

Had a good few pitches and putts to get warmed up. Checked my kit and went round to the 1st to meet my partner 10 mins before lift off!

With the introductions out of the way we exchanged cards and at last I was on the 1st tee!

Focussing on the game I just relaxed, swung and hit the ball. 1st tee nerves out of the way we were off.

Unfortunately the weather worsened, the rain pelted down, but we carried on and to be honest I hardly noticed!

I was particularly pleased with my driving from the tee which improved as the round progressed. The wet conditions made putting difficult as the greens were starting to get very, very wet.
At the turn the rain got heavier, it was at this point that I realised I badly needed a new waterproof jacket as I was beginning to feel wet.

We played on until the 14th. At this point the course was almost empty as most had abandoned their game.
We agreed to play the 14th. When we got onto the green it was obvious that play would be difficult owing to standing water. At this point we too gave in to the weather and headed for the clubhouse to get warm and have a well deserved drink. A N/R I'm afraid

A shame we didn't get to finish our round, but on the good side, I have now played my first comp (albeit shortened) I've also made aquaintance with a new golfing friend who certainly encouraged this newbie to competitive golf and gave me confidence in how I played.

Hopefully the next one is played under better weather conditions.

In't golf brilliant!!!!

 

[shanker]

It's a pity that Basher didn't get to complete his first competition round. I'm sure the build-up will help him next time round.
Also, have to say that Homer's advice is sound. Even for a friendly round, get there in good time, hit some balls, make sure you have everything to hand, tees, pitch-mark repairer, marker, pencil etc.
The game's hard enough as it is. Don't arrive late and find you haven't a marker in your pocket when you have to mark your ball on the first green.

 

[Tommo21]

Well done Basher........not as bad as you thought. Now get some sleep.