How stressful is tournament play?

[Doppelganger]

I haven't tried it yet (besides a scramble where everyone is cheating anyhow).

 

I'm watching Bubba on TV have a meltdown over an errant shot and I know he's basically always bent out of shape but is that common among amateurs? How often is your group in a tournament just being agitated jerks?

[bigmoneyp]

tournament golf in itself isn't stressful, just understand the rules. if you need to make the cut because you owe people money, need to put food/diapers on the table or pay rent.... that is another story.

[eagle1997]

Playing golf in a competitive setting against the unknown -including against the ones you can't even see - is an awesome feeling.

 

The old adage (that's usually true): Early on, you're never doing as bad as you think, or as well.

 

Another one: You can't win unless you can beat the ones you're with.

 

Faldo and Miller have talked at length about the body feeling different in the heat of battle. Figuring out how to play with that feeling is another learned skill. It's a journey of discovery, one that the vast majority of golfers never even dare to take, which is a shame.

 

Plenty of tourneys out there for golfers of all skill levels. Give it a try, you might end up loving it!

[Kuuuch]

I like what Kevin Kisner said this year. Paraphrasing here but essentially said we could be out fighting a war but instead we're playing golf. Whether that's cga tourneys, a cash game with friends or on tour it's just golf at the end of the day. Crazy things happen in this game. I've felt my game is at 100% and not played well and played in tourneys where I was looking for excuses not to play and ended up playing very well.

 

I also wouldn't say I ever get truly stressed, I leave the ego at the door and just try to play good golf and have fun.

[SNIPERBBB]

“There’s golf and then there’s tournament golf”. -Bobby Jones

 

Most guys are pretty good about it. Rarely does anyone go full chuck-everything-into-the-pond mode

[David C]

Well in medals I've not found it to be that common. I just ignore people doing that. Go and do all that rubbish as much as you like, as long as it doesn't affect me, in which case I'll tell them.

 

The most disruptive I had was an 18 hcp guy lasering everything, including inside 30 yards. Took so long. But our booking system means that you just don't play with them again.

 

In decent standard competitions people are normally oblivious to anything but themselves. Or so it seems to me. Especially if anger is playing someone out of competition, I find it amusing.

 

Just play competitively more often and don't concern yourself with stuff like this, you'll enjoy it.

[MadGolfer76]

I haven't found it to be too stressful, but I don't play for millions either.

[MountainGoat]

Golf has a unique ability to get under my skin. I've had complete and total meltdowns that have left be as humiliated, depressed and embarrassed as it's possible to be. I have been the jerk than everyone talks about. More than once in my life I've had to stop playing because I couldn't emotionally handle it anymore. I've had my income supplemented by golf, but I've never been dependent on it. I can't imagine what that would be like.

[pearsonified]

Tournament golf is stressful as hell if you always feel like you are "barely hanging on" off the tee.

 

If you can pipe it out there pretty straight and know you won't f*ck your round with one shot, tournament golf is a friggin blast.

[Santiago Golf]

Theres golf and then theres tournament golf. -Bobby Jones

 

Most guys are pretty good about it. Rarely does anyone go full chuck-everything-into-the-pond mode

Whats the line Harry Vardon says in TGGEP, There are two types of golfers, ones who face adversity head on and go on to win tournaments and ones who dont

 

Personally tournaments for me can be very fun and enjoyable when my game is on but when its off you dont wanna be in that group. I will often get down on myself because i work hard at it and usually under perform. And normally if im playing bad im not going to talk much. Im going to zero in on goal. Like Francis in the movie, where ge looks at the hole and next thing you know its 4 holes later. Ive had those moments. I will tee up the ball and suddenly im watching it fly down the fairway.

[PowderedToastMan]

It's as stressful as you make it.

[RichieHunt]

Tournament golf is as stressful as you make it to be.

 

What happens too often is golfers get into a tournament and try to play safe and are effectively giving themselves more difficult shots to execute.

 

As far as Bubba goes, I've met him a handful of times and he's always been nice to me and other people. It's just that in competitive golf, especially at that level, it's not where a lot of level headed, logical thinking and behavior takes place. There are only a few Matt Kuchar types out there and the game could drive Gandhi into a murderous rampage.

 

I've seen some pretty crazy stuff in terms of rage on the course and admittedly, I've been one of the perpetrators a time or seven.

 

But for me I try to live by the following rules when it comes to rage on the course:

 

1. Never let it affect your playing partners.

 

2. Don't let it become a habit...as in every bad shot or every bad round or every bad hole or every unlucky break. It's okay for it to happen from time to time, but if it happens every time golf doesn't go your way, you're not a fun person to play golf with.

 

3. Don't let it affect a good round. Bad rounds happen and your temper can flare because of it, but if you let it affect a good round then you're just being an arse.

 

 

 

RH

[dg_1983]

No matter how often I read about it , I just can't get my head around non tournament golf.....

 

Tournament golf is no different from £1 against friends, or playing the course par or playing against your personal best. Try to hit every single shot the best you can and see what happens.

[jslane57]

Tournament golf can be stressful. As stressful as you make it. Richie's rules (see above post) are very good. The thing is, what is a tournament and why is it stressful? Is the Club Championship at your course the biggest tournament you play in? Or is it even bigger than you can imagine playing in? Your first college event? A PGA tour event? A pro-am where you're the highest hcp? All these are so different. Are you stressed because you'd be embarrassed to post an 81, a 101, or a 74? Are you stressed because you want the pro to invite you back? Are you stressed because if you miss the cut you will probably go back to teaching over playing. People love tournament golf because they love this stress, and really love overcoming it and having success. If you don't like this stress, don't play in tournaments. If it were only this simple, right:) When taking first time Pro-Am partners to events at very nice courses, I always tried to keep the atmosphere light. Yet the first time tournament (bigger than just the men's club) player was always stressed. And we've got some great stories of first drives topped so badly the ball went backwards...LOL

[bluedot]

I agree that it is as stressful as you make it.

 

But I think we might be falling into the negative connotation of the word "stress"; stress is tension, and the real question is how you react to it. If you don't like butterflies and all that stuff, don't play tournament golf. If you DO like that stuff, then embrace the nervousness and realize that you life has handed you the chance to play competitive golf instead of a LOT of other scenarios. As someone once said (Trevino?), the trick isn't to get the butterflies to go away; the trick is to get the butterflies to fly in formation!

 

Also, remember that not only are some bad things going to happen to you in ANY round of golf, including a tournament round, but that those same things are happening all over the course to all of the other players as well. Just play the shot in front of you, and count up at the end.

 

If you can embrace (and even enjoy) some level of nerves, and stay in the moment, then you'll find tournament golf to be more mentally tiring than stressful. A typical stroke play tournament round is going to push 5 hours, and by the end of that, you'll be ready for a rest.

 

Have fun!

[pinhigh27]

I've played in a lot of tournaments and the guys complaining about the course and throwing a fit are almost never the ones who win.

 

It's as stressful as you make it. If you're Joe schmo and your life will be no different if you get first or last then it's probably not super stressful. If you're playing for your living obviously a bit more stress involved

[oldschoolrocker]

OP,

Only way to find out how stressful it is for you, and how that stress manifests itself, is to get on the horse and ride.

Having been a recreational golfer for most of my life, a number of years ago I decided to see what all the fuss was about and sort out competitive rounds.

First few times I felt like my legs were jelly, but, the more events I entered, the more relaxed I became, and soon realized no one, other than yourself gives a crap about your swing, or your score.

You want to start really understanding focus, and grinding, stretch your envelope.

It doesn't matter if you're a plus, scratch, or a high handicap, get in the proper flight, or some "honest" handicap games and you'll never look back.

[dornstar]

1. Depends on your game at any given time. If you show up to a tournament a hot mess, it can be unbelievably stressful. If you're in command of your game, then it can be extremely comfortable.

 

2. Depends on the tournament. If you're playing for something like a qualifier for the US Am, there's a lot more pressure than say a tournament at your local course or an am tour tournament. The level of intensity gets taken up a notch as you progress up the golfing ladder.

[finleysg]

The extra "stress" is why competitive golf is more fun.

[Obee]

I have played competitive golf as a stressed-out wreck, and (nearly) completely under control.

 

The former sucks. The latter is so fulfilling that it's hard to describe to those who have not experienced it.

[jslane57]

I have played competitive golf as a stressed-out wreck, and (nearly) completely under control.

 

The former sucks. The latter is so fulfilling that it's hard to describe to those who have not experienced it.

Yes. And the difference between the two is really not that much is it? A little perspective, a little confidence. Many times it is a choice, even thought it doesn't always feel that easy...

[Obee]

I have played competitive golf as a stressed-out wreck, and (nearly) completely under control.

 

The former sucks. The latter is so fulfilling that it's hard to describe to those who have not experienced it.

Yes. And the difference between the two is really not that much is it? A little perspective, a little confidence. Many times it is a choice, even thought it doesn't always feel that easy...

 

Yes, oddly, a big part of it is understanding where the stress actually comes from.

 

I think you read my post on that a while back. That was the epiphany for me.

[lhahn]

I have played competitive golf as a stressed-out wreck, and (nearly) completely under control.

 

The former sucks. The latter is so fulfilling that it's hard to describe to those who have not experienced it.

Yes. And the difference between the two is really not that much is it? A little perspective, a little confidence. Many times it is a choice, even thought it doesn't always feel that easy...

 

Yes, oddly, a big part of it is understanding where the stress actually comes from.

 

I think you read my post on that a while back. That was the epiphany for me.

 

Did a search on some of your old posts and couldn't find it. Mind paraphrasing the epiphany Obee? Thanks =)

[dornstar]

I have played competitive golf as a stressed-out wreck, and (nearly) completely under control.

 

The former sucks. The latter is so fulfilling that it's hard to describe to those who have not experienced it.

Yes. And the difference between the two is really not that much is it? A little perspective, a little confidence. Many times it is a choice, even thought it doesn't always feel that easy...

Ultimately, it boils down to whether you have command of your ball. If you're not in control, you're not going to be confident no matter how much you try to fake it.

 

But ya, the stressed out version of tournaments sucks... big time.

[larrybud]

Even when playing poorly I never would consider it stressful. Nervous when hitting a shot, sure, but I don't consider that stressful, because it's not as if I'm not going to make a mortgage payment because of it.

 

I could see how guys who might be on the bubble of making a living would have stress about it thought

[naval2006]

In my country clubs hold competitions every Saturday and Sunday. Mostly medal competition and often best ball fourball. Some of my buddies play during the week and on Saturdays their perfomance goes down. There's an old saying which goes "the scorecard is a heavy burden for the round". Which to a certain extent backs up the idea that competition is stressful.

 

At club level, 2-3 day Open Tournaments are way more stressful than an 18 hole tournaments, Club Championships (gross, handicap bracket) you feel the most pressure, your game sucks and you've got to learn to play that way or you better chose to stay out. The taste for competition is great, the tension, the pressure, especially when you have to close the deal, are great if you like winning. Defeats are hard, but in the end you learn to lose and when you give your best you know at least you've tried. And as this is golf, sometimes you lose and it's hard.

[MrJones]

Playing in tournaments has been some of the most enjoyable rounds of golf in my life. I'd play in more of them if I could afford it.

[Matchplay10033]

I returned to tournament golf for the first time in 13 years. For me there has always been a cycle. My first ever junior tournament I was super stressed... played horrible.... but then I eventually became calm and confident overtime... Same with my very first high school match... Super nervous and then it became fun... same with amateur golf. The first round of the tournament I was such a mess I was afraid I couldn't even hit the ball. Absolute insane things entered my mine and making a 3 footer felt like life or death. It was around hole 10 that I just sort of calmed down. Day 2 was a blast and even though I sucked it was such a rewarding feeling to get back out there.

[MeikoKaji]

We all take different things from the game. For me, working more hours than an blonde in a chinese whorehouse, i get tremendous satisfaction from being able to do something outside of work, improve and now compete. I have little joy in life and nothing more enjoyable is overcoming MYSELF and achieving what i know i can do and finishing strong for the win.

 

Just thinking about it right now gives me the chills.

 

Nerves, stress, absolutely. The self flagellation and introspection after a collapse. I love it. I am so happy and lucky to be a part of it.