First golf tournament! HELP!!!!?

Question

okay well im 13 and a girl..

anyway my dad is forcing me to play golf even though i hate it and he signed me up for a golf tournament and im kinda nervous cause i dont know all the rules and i dont wanna be embarrassed and im not real excited about walking 18 holes do you get a break?

im kinda good but volleyball is more my sport

anyway.

can you just give me info on what it might be like??

Answer 1

1 - Remember, being nervous or worried about it or wishing that you didn't have to play won't make it all go away.  This is a challenge you will have to face head on.  So why not go for it.  Use your experience playing volleyball and apply it to the golf tournament.  There's more info on the rules if you visit www.usga.org.

#2 - Don't worry about what your competitors are doing in your group, just worry about your own score, and focusing on one shot at a time.  

#3 - If you're worried about the rules, remember you can always ask your playing partners if you're unclear about anything.  If they're not sure, play 2 balls on that hole, mark two scores down on your score card, and ask a rules official after the round before you sign your score card and turn it in.  

At the registration table, you should be handed a rules sheet which will explain the basic rules of the day.  If you're uncertain, don't hesitate to ask.  Take it from an old golf pro, they will be happy to answer your questions.  

__________

This is what the tournament will be like:

- you should arrive at least 30-45 minutes early.  If there's a driving range/putting green, it's best to hit a few range balls and definitely hit a few chips & putts.

- As soon as you arrive, be sure to check in at the registration table, which should be inside or just outside of the clubhouse/pro shop.  

- When it comes to hitting range balls, if you know the course, maybe go thru what shots you'll be hitting on each hole (or at least the first few holes if you don't have time).  

- When on the putting green, you want to try to get a feel for the speed of the greens.  To do this, instead of doing what everyone else does (dropping two balls down & putting to one hole at a time from the same exact spot), line three balls up with one ball 5 feet away, one 10-ft away, and one 15-ft away.  Hit the short putt first, the middle one 2nd, and the long one third.  Do this maybe four or five times, and you should have a pretty good idea what the speed of the greens is.  Practice this on a flatter portion of the putting green if possible as well.

- After the first nine, you should get lunch at the turn before starting the second 9 holes.  You'll get a five to fifteen minute break between 9's at best, and then you'll be teeing off on #10.

- After your round, double check your scores, as well as the person's scores you kept (you generally switch cards prior to teeing off on #1), then be sure that you sign two score cards - your card, under 'attest', and the player's card you kept score for, under 'scorer'.  

I hope this helps, and if you have any other ?'s, feel free to visit my website - www.freewebs.com/egolf

I played in about 150 jr events back in the day, and it's not as intimidating as it seems.  Quiet confidence is key, just like every other sport.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am sorry your father is like that and forcing you to play.  But here is a website with some quick basic rules.  Good luck and I hope someday you will play the game for fun. http://golf.about.com/od/rulesofgolf/a/g...

Answer 3

If you don't want to play, don't play. Talk to someone else other than your dad about the situation.

Answer 4

First, try not to stress out too much.  I know that you are 13 and it seems like it might be the "end of the world" but it's not.  Try to accentuate the positive.  Look at it this way, if you are good enough to play volleyball, you might be able to take advantage of your physical attributes to play better than women/girls who are not as in good a shape as you.

I bet, though you don't mention it, that your Dad plays and is he "perhaps" playing in tournament with you?  If so, understand that he probably wants to share an activity with you and just doesn't know the best way to communicate with you about it.  

I take my niece and nephew out to play and enjoy it immensely.  I have also assistant coached girls' golf team at my alma mater/high school.  Golf can be and IS a lot of fun.  Try to look at the positive aspects about it: outside v in smelly gym; green environment, with birds, animals, scenery v. just 4 walls and a net......you know what I mean :)   Have fun!

As for rules, just take a look at USGA.org