Pressure in competition

[John_Findlay]

Going back to Nairn this weekend to play in my club's annual 5 day Open competition and I have to say the nerves are jangling already.

Great event. 200 competitors from all over the country. 2 rounds of strokeplay qualifying followed by potentially 5 rounds of matchplay. Scratch, low handicap and high handicap sections. Lots of consolation competitions for non-qualifiers too.

Look forward to it all year and I think that's the problem. By the time I get on the first tee the nerves are firmly in place and my mind is off wandering to the 18th green and the importance of the score. Also find it difficult switching to a matchplay mentality from strokeplay. Conservative to aggressive?

Any advice?

 

[par_par_par_treble]

i find it easier to concentrate on one hole or shot at a time in match play, whereas i can sometimes let a score or bad hole stick in my mind in stroke play.

im not sure how much advantage there is to playing too aggressively though (apart from on decisive putts) as a steady game tends to get the lower score for me anyway

 

[USER1999]

Bobby Jones always played 'old man par' in match play, and not the other competitor. Never did him any harm.

 

[shanker]

You're probably building yourself up for it too much. I find that if I play regular competition golf I am less anxious because I spend less time looking forward to the next card-in-hand round.
Your club's Open competition sounds great. Hope the weather is with you and let's hear how you do.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I think there's a few guys from our club going up for it. They go up every year anyway. Keep an eye out for Alex Anderson and Scott Arthur. Say hello to them for me will you?

 

[PaulOHagan]

Haven't got any advice but I’m very jealous- I love Nairn. Open weeks up in Scotland are great - they are such an exciting week and offer players the chance to play great courses for good value- particularly if you progress through to the matchplay stages. I wish some of the top courses in England would do the same.

 

[shanker]

Had a look at Nairn's website. It looks like a terrific course. I'd love to give it a try.

 

[John_Findlay]

Atticus,

We have a programme showing everyone's names and tee times and I don't see your friends' names listed. Are they maybe playing the Nairn Golf Club 4 day Open Tournament rather than the Nairn Dunbar G.C. 5 day Open?

John

 

[John_Findlay]

You're right, Paul. All the clubs around the Moray Firth:- Nairn, Nairn Dunbar, Forres, Elgin, Lossiemouth hold annual 4 or 5 day tournaments and they're great value for non-members. Ours is £80 entrance fee for the week and you're guaranteed 5 rounds even if you don't make the matchplay stages. Great atmosphere, being announced onto the tee and onlookers following you around for the matchplay. Can't beat it.

We have lots of visitors from England who make it a good boys trip away for the week and the clubhouse is usually buzzing. Wish they held these type of events in my new stomping ground in East Lothian

 

[Atticus_Finch]

That might be the case John, because I know for a fact that they are going.(to Nairn) I just assumed....

 

[PaulOHagan]

I've never played Nairn Dunbar - have always been interested in it though. How does it compare with Nairn?


John - Am i right in thinking it must be something that mainly takes place in the Highlands? It really should be encouraged around the UK because as you say there is such a buzz surrounding the events. Carnegie Shield week up at Dornoch is the best week of the year. Its a month away but I've already been looking forward to it since i entered in January - regardless of how bad my golf is its still the best week of the year.

 

[John_Findlay]

Paul,

Very difficult question given the rivalry between the two clubs!

I'm a country member at Nairn Dunbar now and learned my golf there when I was 13 but I'm going to apply for the same at Nairn this year. I always argued ND was more difficult than Nairn (Standard Scratch is 74 against a par of 72) but they're very different courses.

Nairn G.C.is a classic links where you can hit your tee shots into the sea on some holes. Looks-wise the closest comparison I have for Nairn Dunbar is actually Carnoustie because it has trees, whins and gorse in abundance. You need to drive accurately. The turf is more of a mix of parkland and links. ND is only slightly longer than Nairn off the medal tees.

Both are fantastic courses and great tests. Can't fault either. I take my friends to Nairn each year to play both and they prefer Nairn Golf Club. We did Dornoch too this year and I'm sure you'll love the Carnegie Shield. Very jealous.

 

[John_Findlay]

P.S. Yes, it seems to be a Highland thing. Think Granton-on-Spey do a four day Open too.