So, I'm officially drawn in this weekend's Club Championships

[Aztecs27]

10.56 on Saturday with two guys I've not played with before.

Now it's a "reality" I'm starting to brick it.

Beforehand my thoughts were "it's just another round of golf, I've got no chance of winning, no point worrying about it" and I was fine.

Now I'm actually drawn to play my thoughts are "If I play well, I could win, but what happens if I hook one OOB off the 1st tee? I hope my putting goes ok, as it's been really poor recently. And what happens if my swing doesn't show up? And is it really wise choosing the biggest comp of the year as my 1st competitive golf in over 12 years? AARGGGH!"

Wish me luck!

 

[One Planer]

You'll be fine once you settle into your match.

3 wood off the fist and just play your own game.

Best of British fella.

 

[Aztecs27]

You'll be fine once you settle into your match.

3 wood off the fist and just play your own game.

Best of British fella.

Funnily, I'm more confident with my driver off the tee. If anything I'll probably take my 2 iron. Whites are pretty far back though and you ideally need to get infront of the two big trees on either side of the fairway about 220 yards from the tee to give you any kind of second shot (it's a par 5)

Cheers though, I'm sure I'll be fine

Just hope my putting stroke turns up, then I'll have a chance, no matter how bad I'm hacking from tee to green.

 

[Robobum]

Aztec, the way you are looking at it is exactly why you see so many high scores in big comps. It's amazing how many scores in the 80s you get from Cat1 golfers on club champ days.

Ask yourself what makes it any different to a normal medal?? Trust me there won't be any spectators and the cameras definitely won't be turning up. The only thing may be a few harder pin positions and an extra foot of speed on the greens.

Just go about it as you normally would, if you are a lastminute.com player who handbrake turns into the car park 30 seconds before you are due off then do exactly that. Don't do something different like an hours warm up on the practice ground if you don't normally do that.

There will be many players who basically eliminate themselves by doing soemthing out of their comfort zone. Just go play, what's the worse that could happen?? .1 back??

 

[Aztecs27]

Aztec, the way you are looking at it is exactly why you see so many high scores in big comps. It's amazing how many scores in the 80s you get from Cat1 golfers on club champ days.

Ask yourself what makes it any different to a normal medal?? Trust me there won't be any spectators and the cameras definitely won't be turning up. The only thing may be a few harder pin positions and an extra foot of speed on the greens.

Just go about it as you normally would, if you are a lastminute.com player who handbrake turns into the car park 30 seconds before you are due off then do exactly that. Don't do something different like an hours warm up on the practice ground if you don't normally do that.

There will be many players who basically eliminate themselves by doing soemthing out of their comfort zone. Just go play, what's the worse that could happen?? .1 back??

Very true and thanks for the tips. I'm certainly not going to head down there hours early. I might turn up 10 minutes earlier, as I hate to play rushed and would like to get a few practice putts in. But I made the decision to not bother warming up on the range and just do my normal pre-round stretches.

I'm sure I'll be fine and I actually thrive on competition, so who knows I might go out and shoot 19 strokes under my handicap

The fact that it's a two day event eases things too. If you have a terrible first day, you have a chance to turn it around.

I'm really looking forward to it, but I've always been a "failure" when it comes to competitive sports, despite the fact I love competing.

It would be nice to actually (one day) win a biggy and get my name immortalised on the Club Championship Winners plaque.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Good luck buddy, enjoy the experience and play to keep a good score going.

I need to learn to hit other things off the tee so I will be going out and doing 9 holes without a driver every now and again! It does help I am told!

I am too driver reliant which means I do get into trouble as I can only get it going straight 2/3 times and sometimes I run out of fairway!

Wish you the best pal and I hope to see you at a forum meet soon!

 

[john0]

And is it really wise choosing the biggest comp of the year as my 1st competitive golf in over 12 years? AARGGGH!"

I think you already know the answer to that question my friend

 

[Aztecs27]

And is it really wise choosing the biggest comp of the year as my 1st competitive golf in over 12 years? AARGGGH!"

I think you already know the answer to that question my friend

You always know what to say to make a guy feel better, John

 

[john0]

I try my best

Dont worry about it, at the end of the day what's the worst that can happen, you get .1 back. Like others have said, dont think of it as a big comp just treat it as any other round and enjoy it rather than put pressure on yourself

And remember, theres always someone who shoots a worse score than you....unless you come last that is!!

 

[granters]

Aztecs i was in EXACTLY the same situation myself last year! I think i hit a 93, but having played off 5 before this wasn't what i'd hoped for.

Anyway as i got used to competition play again i learned to turn up at least an hour early. During this hour i-

- spend 20 or 30 minutes hitting balls , but NOT working on anything, just loosening off with nice smooth swings.

- spend another 20 minutes on distance putts, specificly on distance control, don't worry about holing them!

- lastly, 10 minutes from 5 feet, concentrating on the stroke more than anything.

Then 5 minutes doing some more light stretching.

By the time you're on the 1st tee you are absolutely prepared and ready for the challenge. Beleive me, it made a massive difference to my starts in competitions. It used to take me 6 holes to get going.

Above all though- enjoy it!

 

[Aztecs27]

I try my best

Dont worry about it, at the end of the day what's the worst that can happen, you get .1 back. Like others have said, dont think of it as a big comp just treat it as any other round and enjoy it rather than put pressure on yourself

And remember, theres always someone who shoots a worse score than you....unless you come last that is!!

I'm actually really looking forward to it, just a bit apprehensive, I'll be fine though. Not really sure what time I need to be there and how it all works, so I'm going to head up the club thursday night for 9 holes and get the low-down on what the crack is on Sunday.

Hope the blokes I'm drawn with aren't utter knobs. Got drawn with some right charlies up at a society day at Beau Desert the other week. Put me right off my game

 

[robbest3offthetee]

AZ,You will be fine mate,Take whatever you feel comfortable with off the first,dont forget its all downhill from the tee,so driver may bring the ditch into play,a little course management goes a long way,enjoy your round and hope you play well,all the best.....

 

[Aztecs27]

AZ,You will be fine mate,Take whatever you feel comfortable with off the first,dont forget its all downhill from the tee,so driver may bring the ditch into play,a little course management goes a long way,enjoy your round and hope you play well,all the best.....

The ditch? into play from the whites? Are you Timgolfy in disguise? It's downhill but that's an almighty thwack to get it all the way down there!!

 

[Oddsocks]

Aztec, the way you are looking at it is exactly why you see so many high scores in big comps. It's amazing how many scores in the 80s you get from Cat1 golfers on club champ days.

Ask yourself what makes it any different to a normal medal?? Trust me there won't be any spectators and the cameras definitely won't be turning up. The only thing may be a few harder pin positions and an extra foot of speed on the greens.

Just go about it as you normally would, if you are a lastminute.com player who handbrake turns into the car park 30 seconds before you are due off then do exactly that. Don't do something different like an hours warm up on the practice ground if you don't normally do that.

There will be many players who basically eliminate themselves by doing soemthing out of their comfort zone. Just go play, what's the worse that could happen?? .1 back??

I really like this advise.

 

[robbest3offthetee]

When i played there last in the npgcc,we were announced onto the tee,never been so nervous,so hit my 5 wood and wasnt far short of the ditch,so yeh,with the driver it would come into play for sure,downhill,firm conditions...

 

[Tommo21]

Aztec, the way you are looking at it is exactly why you see so many high scores in big comps. It's amazing how many scores in the 80s you get from Cat1 golfers on club champ days.

Mmmm, well....this is the top 16 after first Q at my club.
Craig Johnstone
69 0.8 Lowest Gross
Ian Gordon
71 3.3
William Reid
71 1.0
Christopher Ratcliffe
71 2.0
Stewart Watters
72 3.6
K. Auld
72 5.0
Stuart Blair
73 2.0
Chris Mackie
73 1.6
Douglas Elms
74 2.4
Kevin Connachan
75 0.5
John Hall
75 0.1
Brian Fairgrieve
75 6.9
Ben Varndell
76 8.1
Iain Wyper
76 6.4
Robert R Cochrane
76 2.5
Harvey Thomson
76 5

 

[Aztecs27]

When i played there last in the npgcc,we were announced onto the tee,never been so nervous,so hit my 5 wood and wasnt far short of the ditch,so yeh,with the driver it would come into play for sure,downhill,firm conditions...

Well I think I've hit a driver off the tee every time I've played it any half never got closer than 40 yards short of the ditch...Not a big hitter y'see.

Fair play if you (nearly) got there with a 5 wood though.

Better not be raining at the weekend. I hate the rain

 

[robbest3offthetee]

Iknow mate weather has been poor the last few weekends,handicap creeping up 0.1 every time,hopefully the weather is going to get better,so we can enjoy it a bit more,enjoy sat,let us know how you get on ok...

 

[Aztecs27]

Will do.

And don't panic, I'll try and keep the posts short

 

[Swinger]

Best of luck, Just enjoy the game and the extra pressure of the situation.

All part of the learning curve.