Playing in your first golf tournament can be a nervous time and it is natural to feel a build up of tension and excitement. Nervous energy is good but worrying is not and you can eliminate much of the worry but preparing for a tournament in the same way as a professional.
You must know your yardages with each club in the bag if you want to have any chance of competing with the top players. If you are left with a 150 yard approach to the green and you have no idea which club to use for that distance, you have placed yourself at a huge disadvantage.
Know how far you can hit the ball with each club and make informed choices about which club to use for each shot.
Professionals will have a practice round on a golf course before the official tournament begins. If the competition you are entering is on your home course, you should have a good idea of what to expect. If it is on a golf course you have never played before but it is within a reasonable driving distance, why not go and have a round sometime?
If you do not have the time to travel to the golf course, look online and try to get a feel for the course and each of the holes. This will eliminate any surprises when you arrive to play in the tournament.
You should spend some time practicing with your wedges and know what your preferred distance is to the flag. If when using your favourite wedge, you can hit the ball 90 yards with great consistency then try and leave the ball that far away from the pin as often as you can. It’s a nice feeling to see the ball land close to the green but will you feel comfortable playing the shot that follows?
If you can leave the ball your preferred distance away from the hole, you can feel confident you are going to leave yourself a nice putt on the green.
Always try and be aware of your own limitations when playing in a golf tournament. If you have someone in your group who is hitting the ball a long way off the tee with the driver, it doesn’t mean you have to try and compete.
You know exactly how far you are capable of hitting the ball, so why try and compete with someone if you are going to struggle? It will only lead to poor shots and landing your ball in trouble. Stick to your own plan and do not feel intimidated by long hitters in a tournament.
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