Golf tournaments are not just for professionals. Many golfers participate in tournaments at their local golf club, or in competitions organized among friends, neighbors, and co-workers. On the course or on the range, golfers can do little things to help them prepare for the big moments they will face during tournaments.
Practice Range
One of the best things a golfer can do prior to a tournament is to head to the practice range. Not only should you warm up and stretch your muscles so you are ready to hit the ball, you should work on all facets of your game. Don't just go to the range to bomb away with your driver. Hit at least five balls with each of your clubs, and make note of which clubs you are hitting well. Use that knowledge when you start playing in your tournament, and try to steer toward the clubs you're hitting well, and away from the ones you're not hitting consistently.
Preparation
A golf tournament will likely have you playing on consecutive days. Professional tournaments usually consist of four rounds in four days; amateur tournaments can be more taxing, with players sometimes going two rounds in a day, and four or five rounds in three days. Get to know the course ahead of time, with a practice round a day or two before the tournament starts. Get plenty of rest, and eat correctly before you play, since walking 18 holes can translate to three to five miles. Bring healthy snacks to keep you going during the course of your round.
Understand Your Format
Many tournaments are held in match-play format. In match play, you are playing your opponent on a hole-by-hole basis, and total score does not matter. Don't take unnecessary chances in match play. For example, if you are in the fairway after your first shot and your opponent is deep in the rough after two shots, don't go for the green on your second shot if it is guarded by a water hazard. Lay up short, and go for the green with your third shot. Don't put yourself in a position to blow the hole when playing it safe will help you and hurt your opponent. On the other hand, if you are behind in the hole and you need a great shot to have a chance, don't play it safe. Go for the green and hope for a miracle.
Mindset
Golf is often a game of regret for many players. Instead of thinking about the upcoming shot, they think about what they did wrong on a previous swing. That is exactly the wrong mentality to take into a golf tournament. Think about your upcoming shot, and what you have to do to execute a good shot. When you are on the 12th hole, what happened on the 11th hole is in the past. Don't think about your mistake. Think about what you have to do to hit a good shot.
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