COMMUNITY

Now that I've read your responses and know that you've had your experience, I couldn't have made any better suggestions. I was concerned about my 'opponents' when I should have just played the course like any other round. Golfers are always trying to beat their best as it is. Maybe a suggestion is to get a fresh lesson a month or two before you compete. The recency of learning with a few 'practice rounds' will help your confidence and improve your score. Now that I've bettered my last few months, I have to be better to keep up with my handicap.

I hope you had an enjoyable time because if not for big money, it's all about the fun competition.

play the golf course not the leader board and take one shot at a time

1ST Thing Stop Thinking...Start Practicing...if you have a chance play at the golf course and work on your Course Management..On the day of the Tournament,don't Think,swing,score,outcome,etc...just Focus on your good swing and enjoy.Play well & have FUN!

Ok now that its over I want to thank you all for the input. It did help even though I had problems putting it into practice. Especially the first day. This is a social network I do enjoy!

You need to commit to the process each shot. By focusing on each shot and not worrying about your score you will find that once you add them up that you will do alright.

Thank you for all for your input. As my scores showed couldn't get my mind clear the first day and struggled in parts the second day. But, it was a good experience. Though I must admit after day one I was ready to hang it up. I hadn't played that bad since the first year. I do know my handicap is influenced by the hard fairways at Stoney Ridge due to the heat. Lower than it would be playing normal courses. But neither here nor there I sure screwed up my game not being able to clear my mind.

You have all put down very good ideas and thoughts. Of all of them for me just clearing my mind so my body could do what it knows to do was the factor. When I did then things were so much better. Need to reinforce swing thought which is a simple one "Swing thru to pose". Yep the pose part is because I don't swing thru fully. When I do then things are much, much better.

Overall, a very good learning experience with some really good shots made on Sunday that told me I could get to playing better as I play more tournaments.
Thanks again and hope to hear more

My first tournament was weird. It was a junior tournament at an executive course in June 09. The night before and morning of I was really nervous. Shaking all over the room, talking a lot, that sort of stuff. Then once I got to the first tee I calmed down and was not nervous at all. I hit my 1st drive great with a 3 wood 200 yards (for me even today that's good) right down the gut. Every tournament since then I've been nervous on tee #1. Single most nervous I've ever been was in August 10 for my HS tryouts in freshman year. Maybe most nervous in my whole life actually. Skulled my tee shot 30 yards and felt an awful feeling afterwards, then made a 9 to open. So long story short, if you calm your nerves you'll do fine. If not, it'll be a long round. I just won a 9 hole HS tournament last week getting my first junior win, like Racer said it was a focus thing and cooling the nerves when I knew I had a shot.

Well, I played in the Nature Valley Open in Houston at Redstone. I researched the course.. I knew the players in my field. I even knew the past winner vs their handicaps. My handicap was an 8 at the time. Turned out the course was the Members course...not the TPC course.. so.. the research was out the door.. But I played well until I shot an 8 on a hole. I warmed up but not to lose focus on rhythm and pace.... the most difficult thing for me was keeping my score as well as keeping and being aware of all the other scores because.. some people in my group I was suspect of shaving a few... I didn't plan for that.. Next time I will...

I play a lot of tournament golf and I can tell you this-stay focused on your own game. Don't get dragged into what the other guys in your group are doing. In other words if they are playing poorly or playing great it doesn't matter, just play the course. I know this may sound unfriendly to some but I do not spend a lot of time looking for other players shots. I watch their shot and if I can help locate an errant shot I will but I will not go trudging through the brush and woods looking for it, it will wear you out and break your concentration on your own game. Here is another tip I can give you, on the first hole go with the club you are most accurate with, hitting the first fairway will relieve a lot of tension and set the tone for the rest of the round. I will sometimes tee of with my three wood which I know is straight and accurate especially if I am not feeling great about the driver, and don't worry about who hits the longest tee shots, that will send you down a path you don't want to be on.

Great topic. I played my first tourney last year. It was my city amatuer championship. It is a 54 hole tourney with a cut after 36. I practiced pretty hard for a few weeks prior and got pretty excited about my chances to have a solid finish.

It all went out the window on the first tee! I was super nervous, which really shocked me. I have played at high levels of sports in my life and never been as nervous as i was that day. I couldnt do anything right. I proceeded to shoot an 85.

The second day was a lot different. I was more at ease and just having fun. I shot a 74 with no birdies. I ended up missing the cut by 3 strokes.

The only advice I can give you is to try your best to stay relaxed. Try not to think about the tourney itself, just your round.

The first one and most every one I've been in. I've been very nervous. 3 foot putts feel like 15 foot putts. Scrambles you can just let it fly, Now every shot is big, you don't want to let the other guy or guys down. Be competitive but not anal, Good Luck! relax and have fun and you will have a good round.