This guide is perfect if you’ve never participated in a tournament before, or, with the current situation, it’s been so long that need reminding! Thankfully, with the end of the pandemic now in sight, getting back to golf tournaments in the next few months is looking increasingly likely.
Keep calm and play on
Make sure you plan out your time well beforehand. To avoid as much stress as possible, look up directions and pack your gear the night before. This will keep your head clear, giving you plenty of space to focus on your game. Be sure to factor in time spent registering and signing in. Getting there in plenty of time means you won’t have to worry about long queues.
Better safe than sorry
Double check if there are any specific rules that the tournament is following and avoid adding unnecessarily to your score over a technicality. Most club tournaments in the UK will follow R&A guidelines but it’s definitely worth having a quick look at the event page where you’re playing.
There is such a thing as too much prep
Sometimes less is more when it comes to training. Don’t let that competitive voice in your head tell you that your best shot at a good score is spending every day the week before a tournament working on your game. Get some good practice in, sure, but overdoing it won’t help you at all.
You'll thank yourself for having taken it easy!
Greens greens greens
If there’s one thing you will definitely want to make sure you know like the back of your hand, it’s the greens. Don't let a trick of the light, or deceptively uneven green throw you off your game. Getting out on the tournament's course beforehand is always a good idea, especially if it’s not at your home club.
Be prepared to wait
Amateur tournaments mean that you’ll often get stuck behind slower, less experienced, or older groups. No amount of tutting, humming or hawing will make it go faster. Watching others and enjoying the atmosphere is all part of the fun, don’t ruin it by moaning!
