Medal

[Deleted member 1740]

I'm playing in my first medal comp today and feeling quite nervous. Is there anything i need to do apart from play great golf, i don't want to look like a complete fool so any advice would be great. My h'cap is 24.

I played yesterday with a mate played pretty well until the 17th went OB off the tee played 3 duff shots then 2 putted then bogeyed the 18th and ended up shooting a 94, so i played to my h'cap which isn't bad

 

[KeefG]

A couple of valium tablets about 30 mins before kickoff should suffice to ease the nerves

Seriously, just try and keep calm, dont rush yourself and play your normal game!

Good luck fella!

 

[MVP]

dont get nervous on the course mate


save the nerves for when you explain to your mrs that you got a hole in one and spent all ya mortgage money on beers in the club house!

 

[bobmac]

I'm playing in my first medal comp today and feeling quite nervous. Is there anything i need to do apart from play great golf, i don't want to look like a complete fool so any advice would be great. My h'cap is 24.

Firstly, allow youreslf to be nervous, its natural so dont try and fight it.
Dont forget, this is a hobby, so enjoy the good shots and when you make a mistake, remember, no-one dies. (think doctors, surgeons)
Tell your playing partners this is your first medal and they should help you round, they certainly wont think worse of you when you duff one. Watch how many they duff
You will make mistakes and you will hit some good shots so just balance them out and remember the happy times.
Good luck mate and the next time you play a medal it wont be your first time.

 

[vig]

1st tee is always the worst.

Take a few deep breaths. Take a club that you are confident in. Swing easy, don't try to impress everyone with how far you can hit it. It's better on the fairway 100yds away than still on the tee or OOB.
Play your own game. Once you are under way, the nerves should subside.
Use your handicap

 

[Smiffy]

My advice?
Don't try any "Seve" recovery shots if you find yourself in big dooh dah. A 3 wood out of 2' deep rough might get you a pat on the back from your mates if it comes off, but the likliehood is it will put an 8 or 9 on your card. Play within yourself. If you mess a shot up, make it your number one priority to get yourself back into play with as little damage as possible. If you have 150 markers at your course, make them your friends. If I am struggling on a hole, I will look for them as a kind of sanctuary because I know that the green is makeable from them for me. It's called course management and a medal competition is the one competition where it will make the biggest difference.
Good luck

 

[KeefG]

Once you are under way, the nerves should subside.

The first time I played a competetive game against anyone was a matchplay game a couple of years ago.
My heart rate fluctuated between that of someone who had just ran the London Marathon in record time (usually when I was about to hit a shot) and that of somebody about to have coronary heart failure (usually after seeing said shot topped about 30yds in front of me).

It was horrible but I really really loved it and got a massive kick out of it.

Competetive golf is sooooooooooooo different to friendly golf!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Thanks for the advice fella's i've took all the advice on board, hopefully i'll post a respectable score and all will be good.

Although i'm nervous i've got confidence in my game and i'm really looking forward to it.

I'll update you all when i return.

 

[Smiffy]

Although i'm nervous i've got confidence in my game

I'm glad you have, 'cos we haven't!!


Just get out there and enjoy it.
You could be at work

 

[Yerman]

Take a few practice swings to loosen up, but accept you are going to be nervous, you cannot switch it off, and learn to play nervous. As your confidence grows the nerves lessen. Would also high recommend "Zen golf" -best and only golf book you'll ever need, OMmmmmmmmmm

 

[Herbie]

Everyone suffers nerves in different ways, Im terrible off the first. Just accept it and should you duff the first shot, dont worry about it as it is better to duff the first, than it is to duff a comp winner on the 18th. getting a poor shot through nerves out of your system early helps you to settle, then again, getting a good one off the first helps you to feel better also.

Go onto every tee with only thoughts of making your own shot, if you go on the tee with any other thoughts(however small and insignificant) it could affect you.

Some golfers like to chat and jest even as you step on the tee (this is deliberate by some just to place other thoughts in your head), you have to shut them out and focus only on your job of striking the ball, one shot at a time.

When I play friendly golf I allow these thoughts in, but when I play a match I make everything and everyone disappear from my mind every shot. MY shot is MY time and no one else is invited.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Probaly way too late and I hope you have had a good day and enjoyed the thrill of a medal but my main advice would be to treat every hole as a par 5. What you lose on the longer holes you get back on the par 3's and short 4's and if you can shoot level 5's it'll be 90.

Let us know how it went

 

[golf_bug]

If you have already played - how did it go?

My advice to you would be to go out and play as many medals as you can. Thevery mention of the word 'medal' used to make me play like a baboon with a spoon. But play in enough and you will get more used to the mental side of 'competitive' golf. I came 2nd in the last one I played in, and would have won it if I hadn't have missed a 3 footer on the last......doh!
Just try and enjoy it. Know your limits and play the course. You have a handicap for a reason so use your shots wisely. Better results will come in time I assure you.

 

[bignev]

I agree with Smiffy on our course we have marker discs in the fairway at 200, 150, and 100, I like to look for the 150 then I know Im within range. If I put my drive in the doodoo I aim to get back on the fairway near that mark and no heroics.

 

[steveyjd81]

Whenever I play golf all I want is the chance to be nervous, cos that's wot its all about, playing great shots under pressure!

I love getting nervous cos it means I'm doing well

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Firstly, Thanks for all your advice and views fellas its much appreciated.

I had an absoloute nightmare today and nearly walked off soaking wet after 6 holes but i kept on at it.

I started off on 1+2 bogey bogey then a d.bogey on the 3rd par 5 + 4th par 4 then came nightmare par 3. Its 205 yds long loads of rough on left and right, tee shot hooked left into rough so played a provisional only to mishit it and goes left just in the rough but ends up with an awful lie.

At this point i was thinking 4th shot play safe no "seve" 3 wood so played an iron and ended up in rough on the right and lost the ball. So back to the tee to play my 6th shot and after a decent strike the ball ended up rolling down a ditch had to drop a shot, chip on then 2 putted and ended up with a 10 .

By this time i was already soaking wet after the 2nd as it was chucking it down with rain and not a happy chappie. After a couple of decent holes parred last 3 i ended up shooting 109 gross 85 nett

Anyway, i learnt a lot about comps today and i just hope i don't have another round as bad as this.

 

[Herbie]

Firstly, Thanks for all your advice and views fellas its much appreciated.

I had an absoloute nightmare today and nearly walked off soaking wet after 6 holes but i kept on at it.

I started off on 1+2 bogey bogey then a d.bogey on the 3rd par 5 + 4th par 4 then came nightmare par 3. Its 205 yds long loads of rough on left and right, tee shot hooked left into rough so played a provisional only to mishit it and goes left just in the rough but ends up with an awful lie.

At this point i was thinking 4th shot play safe no "seve" 3 wood so played an iron and ended up in rough on the right and lost the ball. So back to the tee to play my 6th shot and after a decent strike the ball ended up rolling down a ditch had to drop a shot, chip on then 2 putted and ended up with a 10 .

By this time i was already soaking wet after the 2nd as it was chucking it down with rain and not a happy chappie. After a couple of decent holes parred last 3 i ended up shooting 109 gross 85 nett

Anyway, i learnt a lot about comps today and i just hope i don't have another round as bad as this.

A lot of golfers (though they may not admit it) make mistakes as you did on a lay-up shot. One reason for this is that mentally thinking lay-up reduces the focus unless you create a specific target and shot in your mind as you would if taking a shot to the flag over a pond and bunker onto a green with steep slopes off. I will wager you didnt give your lay up shot the same level of importance or concentration, most golfers dont in my view, including myself from time to time and frame of mind can account for lots of lost shots in golf.
Give every single shot the same level of concentration and shut everything else out. Not easy in the conditions you had, nor is it easy after a couple of cock ups, I know because it happens to me still, after 30 yrs of golf.

You have had an experience you have learned from, embrace it,and use it, dont allow it to make you feel bad, just keep plugging in, try hard to focus and it will happen.

When you do have a great comp round you will be thankful the bad ones helped.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I wouldn't worry. I had an 8 in my medal and I was lying 3 in the greenside bunker. Thinned the bunker shot OB. Dropped (plugged of course) hacked it out and two putted.

I think you can put a lot of it down to nerves, your expectations and most importantly the horrible weather. It isn't easy in pouring rain and the secret is to be patient, swing smoothly and if possible stock up on towels and gloves.

A lot of your field will have played just as badly in the conditions and the most important thing is that you played on and didn't NR even when you had your nightmare. That is great to see. Stick with it it does become easier.

 

[Imurg]

I had an 8 in my medal and I was lying 3 in the greenside bunker.

Which hole was that Homer??


StuartC

Don't sweat it matey!
We all get days like these. Be content that you were actually playing. Now you know what medals are like, next time you can relax more and burn the course up!

 

[Yerman]

Its all good experience, if it was easy it wouldn't be worth the bother and the nice thing about golf is the worse you are the more shots and practice you get. HNJ is right -focus with every shot, and one shot at a time. But keep at it and good or bad -enjoy your golf..........