How have you guys fared playing tournament golf? How do you prep for it? What do you do that differs from your casual round? I will share some of mine but the one thing I can never get over the is the first tee gitters.

Just remember that unless it’s match play. Everyone else is so worried about their own game, they’re barely even thinking about you.

Kind of a humble brag here...but just recollecting on some of my more memorable wins and/or times I played my best and there was a recocurring theme: I won state in High School, won 2 College tournaments (along with a school record in one of them), and a really big 2 man best ball event that has tons of d1 college players. All 4 of those events had something in common: The week leading up to the tourney, I spent an enormous amount of time on the short game. We had a short range at our course, and I hit 50-75 yard pitches until I couldn't anymore....followed by chipping around the green from all sorts of lies, different clubs, different trajectories. And then putting from 8 feet and in. When I happened to hit an errant tee shot and needed to punch out...or missed a green. I got up an down every single time. I hit a lot of wedge shots close and made a lot of birdies in those events. First tee jitters will always be there...but they go away when you start making birdies. 😅

Haven't competed in about a decade. Remembering my university tryouts, dry mouth, shaky hands, block two OB, nice 5 off the tee to get your inner competitiveness going. If i ever wanted to compete nowadays, take a small CBD oil dose and you will feel zero nerves lol. Helps with that first tee jitter.

Don’t let dphatt fool you, I’ve played in mid-am events with him and he pipes the first tee ball every damn time. I have a 3/4 bunt cut swing I use off the tee when the stakes are real. It’s low, it always cuts, doesn’t look sexy, but it’s a fairway winder every time. Another thing I’ve noticed is I hit the best approach shots when I’m down in a match. Just that extra level of determination to really focus on hit my landing spot, especially with my irons is what I enjoy the most. Again that’s a small pull fade that has extra spin on it to control my landing spot into greens. I apply that to every par 3 I play, which is the strength of my game.

Eddie stop telling people I am good. I need to be able to sandbag some people every once in a while

Eddie Another thing I’ve noticed is I hit the best approach shots when I’m down in a match. In the wise words of Big Randy from no laying up... "Bad news is...Tron's not really comfortable until he's down $200". lolol (3:25)

For people who have first tee jitters, I got a recommendation for you. Start an iG live video and hit balls in front of your IG friends, talk about stressful LOL. It was fun though, we will do it again soon.

I look forward to piping one down over the right corner at BPB every time I tee it up there. First tee jitters isn't my issue, it is the chipping yips I have had for some time. I'll shake it for a while, and then the thought creeps into my head and I proceed to blade it from one side of the green to the other. Then the next one I'll stick the club into the ground behind the ball and watch it pop up a few inches and advance a foot ahead of me and settle deep into the rough.

First round where having to keep score was necessary outside of match games. Wasn't nervous, but the one aspect I felt off was over shots that weren't perfectly even lies, having been a range rat for so long, forgot how to hit shots with the ball below my feet, I pulled every damn shot.

Tournament Golf Experiences

Noyes26

maxbianchi One of us can actually be there. The other will be in the basement on his keyboard wearing Donald Ross shirts.

PaulAllenPA

Noyes26 You are pretty sensative for a caddie. usually you guys are pretty tough. Im happy to come play a match. we can just play at the next meet up

Noyes26

PaulAllenPA please give me the dates of which you plan to be at Stonewall. I will be waiting for you on the first tee.

ckay

maxbianchi I'll bring the liquor, you bring the mixers.

maxbianchi

ckay shake and bake

NSiman17

We need an IG live of this shit! @PaulAllenPA I’d like to see some swing videos or are you more comfortable behind the keyboard where no one can see you

DaHOF

NSiman17 I found the swing video online...

Giphy - golf swinging GIF

conorgolf22

Giphy - Bill Hader Popcorn GIF by Saturday Night Live

PureStickGolf

conorgolf22 Giphy - daytona 500 hello GIF by NASCAR

Noyes26

He’s slowly running out of material 😂

Rickyhosel68

I was eliminated from the C flight of my club championship over the weekend. I honestly thought shooting a net 74 was going to be good enough but this good ol boy dropped a net 72 on me. Guess I'll be using the regular parking spots for the next 12 months while define my game.

PaulAllenPA

Rickyhosel68 Keep your head up! You'll be in the B flight next year for sure

PureStickGolf

Rickyhosel68 Giphy - Joining Welcome Home GIF

Benzo

Rickyhosel68 damn C flight gets a parking space?

Rickyhosel68

Benzo yep. It's painted in a sandy color in the parking lot.

Sak

I just got back from the VSGA Sr AM at Birdwood (UVA's home course). Shot 73+70=143 (+1) during qualifying which was good for T11. Got matched in the first round against the 2019 VSGA Sr Stroke Play champ who hits it a long ways. What was a sloppy match through the first 14 holes suddenly turned into a great one when we both birdied 15 and 16 and made great pars on 18 to go into extra holes. Unfortunately, I lost on the 20th hole to a birdie. Last year, I lost in the first round to when my opponent made a 25 foot birdie putt to win the match.

I hate losing like this for the 2nd straight year but pretty happy with how I played down the stretch for all 3 days this year. Some great players left in the quarterfinals tomorrow.

dphatt

@bogeysandbeers and I taking home the W today at the state one day Fourball at The Suburban Club.

DaHOF

dphatt yeaaaaaah buddy! Well done gents!

Jake

dphatt @bogeysandbeers Congrats guys!

conorgolf22

dphatt congrats!!!

PureStickGolf

dphatt smoked them! Good job guys!

Jaybananapantsarthur

great job carrying dphatt to a win @bogeysandbeers

bogeysandbeers

Jaybananapantsarthur you know…people always look at the physical but I brought it hard with the mental today 🤣

dphatt

At the beginning of the year I told @bogeysandbeers that I would like to him to start playing in some legit events to see where his game was. I think at the beginning of the year his handicap was at 8-9. He has been playing with me a bunch and he has been picking up things here and there. He is now a 6 and I said let’s play in the State one day Fourball event at The Suburban Club, a Tilly deign that I have also never played. Joe came off a horrific round yesterday so I wasn’t sure what he expected today. I allowed him to tee off first so he didn’t have any pressure if I hit a wayward shot. Playing from the tips on a wet course was not easy and the rough was US Open long. Joe kept the ball in play pretty much all day. He made some clutch pars that freed me up and he birdied a par 5 on the back. I played pretty well today shooting 67 on my own ball with one bogey. I also birdied the last two holes to secure the win. I was happy for the win but I was more happy that Joe was able to notch a State event win under his belt. Team Tees&Coins takes home the W

Noyes26

dphatt damn look at those baby greens

TFixer5

dphatt @bogeysandbeers Congrats fellas!!