Golf tournament! help me!!!

Question

im gonna play a golf tournament, the first one ive ever played in my life. its a full course thing (18 holes) and the most i have played is 9 holes. im just really nervous that i s***w up in front of everyone since i have only been playing for a month now. any ideas on how to keep my nerves down during the tournament?

Answer 1

After playing the game for only one month, you are not ready to play a tournament.  But hopefully the other players are of a similar skill level and things will be even.  You do not have much experience to draw on, but the key to staying calm in tournament play is to play shots that you know you are capable of.  Don't try to do anything too heroic, as that is when disasters set it.  If you have one favorite club that you can hit consistently (even if it is just a nine iron), you might consider hitting that three or four times to get to the green and then putting out.  You will probably score better than hitting wild shots with the driver and long irons that you haven't mastered yet.  Have fun, your first tournament is not life and death and no one can expect you to do too much with only a month playing the game.

Answer 2

First of all...Enjoy it!!!  Your fear will take away something very special that you deserve...enjoyment...I know that you want to do the best you can, and in this case...your just doing 9 holes twice at one time.

The toughest hurdle, is yourself...you...

You have a swing and it doesn't matter if your just starting...you still have a swing...STAY WITHIN YOUR SWING...your natural reaction is to try to go beyond your ability, in order to avoid embarrassing yourself, but in doing so, you will end up doing just the opposite...

Remember...it is better to go 50yds in the fairway, than 75yds in the rough...stay within your given talent, and use it to your advantage...and when your putting...your going to over gun it...so...pretend that the hole is only half way than the actual distance to compensate the urge to hit the ball.  

Final thing...enjoy the now...play in the now...and live in the now...be of good cheer no matter what...for your stress will filter onto others, that is not deserving of it.

Answer 3

A guy that I know played on small tours around the country for a while....great potential (still a great player) but had terrible nerves. He would take 3 cans of beer to the 1st tee, drink them basically as fast as he could, one after the other and then tee off.  The alcohol would take effect soon and he would actually be more calm and free swinging. You really have to mentally prepare yourself while at the same time....just be carefree and pretend you're on the driving range. Best of luck!!  

Answer 4

Once the other guys miss a shot you will feel all better.

Answer 5

You have to start sometime so why not now? The more you shy away, the more difficult it will be  when you decide to compete. Hey ! If Jack Lemmon could do that every year in the AT&T pro -am and never win, give it a try, You may like it. And if you are taking too many strokes, pick up and go to the next hole.

Answer 6

You really shouldn't be playing in a golf tournament after only playing a month.  The pressure will get to you and you will play your very worse.  For beginners like you, if you want to play in a tournament, get 3 of your friends and play in a flighted scramble, lot's less pressure when you have 4 shots to pick from and it more fun.  Leave the individual tournaments alone for a year or so.