It’s Just Another Round

When it comes to preparing for tournaments, many of us will build up the round as being “bigger” or more important than the others. Perhaps this particular event is the “biggest of the season,” and yet what makes it different from any other round of golf? The golf ball doesn’t know whether it’s a “big tournament” or a friendly game with your buddies.

It is human nature to get excited about your upcoming tournament, but the more you build up a round as being more important than others, the more pressure you put on yourself as well. So, be strategic with your preparation but remember, it’s just another round!

Start with visualizing success. Many of our behaviors and actions are predetermined by our subconscious. So, spend 5-10 minutes before each round simply imagining the shots you’d like to hit that day. Imagine yourself on the first tee, shaking hands with your partners, and confidently striking your drive down the middle of the fairway. Visualizing this success before you play allows you to hit the tee freely, remain focused, committed, and manage the ups and downs. The best goals are often the mental ones!

Preparation Before the Big Day

Do you know what clubs you’ll hit off each tee and into the greens and where your targets will be? What are the good misses and the bad misses for each shot? Practice as your play! By that, we mean to keep a legitimate score. Hit our two courses, The Bobcat and The Bear, and play a round like you’re already in the tournament. While obviously, you can’t drop a ball if it goes out of bounds, take a foot wedge, and drag three footers in a tournament. So, play every round like it’s the real deal. Finish every hole, so when you’re in the tournament standing over a three-footer for a clutch par, you won’t be nervous. This type of preparation gives you enough confidence to approach the tee box feeling 100% prepared every time.

Accept that you will make mistakes and overcome challenges. Prepare yourself to deal with the bad breaks, three-putts, and double bogeys. These are an inevitable part of the game, so it’s better to prepare for them than be shocked by them! There’s nothing worse than getting in your head after a double bogey because that’s all you think about every other time you approach the tee! The key is to remain focused, committed, and manage the ups and downs of the round. So yes, celebrate an eagle, but don’t let it get to your head! Each swing and each hole is different.

The Night Before

Take your mind off of golf the evening before the game. Make sure not to have a wild night out the evening before but be sure to let loose a little bit, have a well-balanced meal, and drink lots of water! Most importantly, get lots of rest! We know the nerves may be keeping you awake at night but remember, it’s just another round! Again, many of our behaviors and actions are predetermined by our belief system. So, remember that you have already done your preparation, you have your plan, and you have to do your best to take your mind off of it!

Warm Up With Intention

Before or during any round, tension awareness is key, even more so when playing under pressure. Tension and tempo changes the golf swing more than anything else. Grip pressure, the tension in arms and shoulders, should be an integral part of your pre-round warm-up and then maintaining it during your round. Noticing and maintaining are different from judging and changing. Too many players use the warm-up as a practice session and begin judging their swing and making fixes. When a warm-up is, for the most part, an opportunity to physically warm-up your muscles, find your rhythm, be aware of any tension, and get into “playing mode.” Go through your pre-shot routine and some of the shots you know you will face on The Bear and The Bobcat. Try limiting the number of balls you hit to 26 (2 balls with each club) or 39 (3 balls with each club). This will get you more into the “one-shot mentality,” and you will be less tempted to try and fix your swing. Another component of mentality is to have a solid pre-round routine that gives you enough time to be warmed up and feeling prepared without feeling like you’re rushing to the first tee.

If you don’t know where to begin for your warm-up routine on the big day, check out the list below for a good start:

      Arrive 75 minutes before tee time

      Roll putts on the putting green for 20 minutes to dial in the speed

      Spend 20 minutes chipping and pitching to learn how firm the greens are playing

      Hit the range for about 15-20 minutes but don’t overdo it! Remember our 26 to 39 ball rule

      Putt with one ball for 5-10 minutes, going through your entire routine

      Head to the first tee and crush it!

‘When it’s all said and done, one of the most important things to remember is to have an attitude of gratitude. Golf is a privilege, not an entitlement. Whether it’s the club championship or the US Open’s final round, a shift in perspective can help take some of the pressure off. Be sure to have an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to be out there playing our beautiful game surrounded by amazing people and stunning scenery. Enjoy it and embrace it! After all, there’s always the next tournament!!

If you’re seeking a home with fantastic camaraderie, personable staff and members, elite golf, and beautiful greens, look no further than The Forest Country Club! For more information about becoming a member of our privately owned club, our membership director, Brenda Lanza, is here to help! Schedule your tour today by calling 239-482-1310 or email Brenda at [email protected].