White Tee Fear

jon25new

jon25new

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Hi I've entered my first comp and now fearing the extra distance going from the yellow to white tees is going to do to my mental state lol

I play off 28 and my 2 main fears are playing with someone who won't be that understanding that it's my first comp and also the fact that my course has a few holes that if your drive isn't long enough it can end in a ditch! I'm really looking forward to the comp and know 99% of my fears are silly but how did people find their first comp?
 
99.998% of club golfers will be fine so don't worry, we've all played a first comp / medal etc.

From a mental point of view, off 28 you can't go up so the only options are stay the same, but have got rid of first comp nerves, or get a cut in which case great. Either way, you can't loose!!

Longer term, depends on the club but ours has no problems if you play whites during social golf so as a result a good number do so. THerefore, I only really play yellows in the winter when whites are removed so medal tees are normal. If your club frowns on general play from whites, perhaps the odd hole on rotation when your playing socially in the evening perhaps maybe?

Re long carry, off 28 it is likely to be a 2 shot hole, is there a short bail-out area you can reach with an iron and really take advantage of your shots rather than mix it with the big hitters?

Simon
 
Oh the nerves of the first tee. Sweetly palms, racing heart. Arms as stiff as a board. Pp's watching, sniggering, can't believe a 28 capper is allowed on the course.....

I'm sure you'll love every minute, good luck :whoo:
 
Don't worry about extra yards, most of the time the distance is neglible.
Played my first offical club medal last Sunday at my new club and it wasn't the white tees that did me over, it was loosing 3 balls in rough despite seeing them land (and bounce) and having to go back and play the shot again and apologising to the group behind for holding them up. Resulting in rushed shots and mistakes aplenty. Luckily i parred 3 of the last 4 holes to finish well which eased the annoyance somewhat. So the moral is, if there's a small chance that you might not find your ball after a shot, play a provisional.
Think i'll stick to Stableford comps for the time being until i improve and enter medals when i can control where the ball is going to land a bit more.
 
I remember my first ever tee shot in a comp' 25 years ago, my legs were shaking inside my trousers.

Good look, hope you do well. Enjoy the experience.
 
davemc1 said:
Oh the nerves of the first tee. Sweetly palms, racing heart. Arms as stiff as a board. Pp's watching, sniggering, can't believe a 28 capper is allowed on the course.....

I'm sure you'll love every minute, good luck :whoo:
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that's the feeling i had for several years - and you forgot the butterflies in the stomach!

With the 1st hole I tend to face for most rounds these days, comps elsewhere hold no fear!
 
I always try and play off the competition tees unless I'm only out for a quick whack around.

Just think that it's better practice to get used to the longer and what you're left with for your 2nd
 
For any hole that you feel is too long just aim to bogey it. There are 2 par 4 holes where I play that I quite happily play as a par 5 (actually par them quite often with this strategy).

Trying to hit the ball harder rarely works so just get it off the tee, forward is good. If your drive won't be long enough to clear the ditch then hit an iron and try to get round about the green in 3 shots.

As for your playing partners I'm sure they'll be nice enough. It's an honour for them to take part in your first comp so don't feel like you're in the way.
 
90% of my casual playing partners who are non members anywhere have the WTF( white tee fear ) .... I refer to it as what the **** ,

I blame it in them not using the white tees enough so you become scared, but the truth is your handicap is based on playing the course at its Full Length. The truth is they are not to be feared, you may have to hit one or two clubs more as second shot but that's about it.

If you can't use the whites in casual play rounds the on the par 4/5's hit less off the tee, this should give you an idea of your landing zones

Tee 10-20 yards back, hit a 3 wood
Tee 20+ yards back, hit a hybrid/5w
And so on.

If we play the yellow tees I don't carry a driver and aim to land the ball where I would if playing the whites ;)
 
dont worry i drive the ball on average about 330yrds and i still worry about the white tees , just remember to use your shots wisely
 
Relax and enjoy. Most partners are fine but as its a comp, if you aren't sure on anything, ask before doing anything, especially touching or moving a ball, just in case. The pressure is off being off 28 and you can't go up so a crap round is just a blip and anything better is a cut. Happy days. Don't think about it and just try and play as you would on a round with some mates.
 
Don't worry about it. What can go wrong, you might duff one of the first tee? So what.

I just played my first medal last weekend and the best advice I could give a high handicapper like myself is just relax, it's only a game. Turn up a wee bit early, relax, sign in and then go and hit a few practice shots (assuming there is a range), relax, have a few putts, relax and mark a couple of balls for id purposes then relax. Make a joke about your handicap with the guys your going round with and relax. Note the subliminal message in there.;)

On the tee, as mentioned don't try and keep up with the big hitters (I used driver once in my first medal) use your handicap and use less club to avoid hazards and stay on the short stuff (that's what your HC is for). Don't go for crazy shots,if your in the thick stuff just knock it back on the fairway, be sensible and keep it simple. Play your own game and not the game your FCs are playing.

Above all else, ENJOY the round, I've never played with a low 'capper that wasn't understanding and hadn't 'been there'.


Another wee tip I got from Monty (via GM mag) is this, if you feel you are tense smile at the ball on address, seriously, I do it on occasion and it does work. :)
 
My place lets you play off the whites when ever you like so, i would try and have a few goes at playing from them. TBH i play very little golf off the yellows once the white tee's go out at the end of March till the end of Oct.
 
When we play practice rounds my friends and I always play off the whites. It works too I'm not worried at all now about playing the comp of the white tees if I don't play well I won't blame it on the tees just my general play.

That being said we have a comp in two weeks off the slates (blues) and that is a bit daunting :D
 
Jon ... its practically the same course , in fact it is the same course just one iron more into the green than usual , nothing else really is different , if the added distance off the tee brings the ditch you speak of into play, either lay up then play over it , or have a go at it and if it goes in it goes in , take your penalty and play on .. only one way to find out if you can carry it or not tho :)

The problem is as per your title a FEAR , its misplaced , there is no reason to fear it , its a game of golf enjoy it and convince yourself your out to enjoy it what happens happens..

You will sometimes find people who are not understanding , they are in every club , most are the opposite tho , you will soon learn who to avoid on the time sheet . we have all been there

Good Luck
 
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