Preparation for big Competitions

Just something I'm wondering about, as I've got my first 36 hole open competition next weekend at an away course. Plus today have had it confirmed I've made it into the 36hole stroke play final for club champs in August then finally got my accepted email for the local open held at my home course in july.

So in all got 3 biggies in consecutive months. Now I was wondering how everyone prepares for these. Should I do anything different to normal prep work, had a couple of iffy scores lately seen me drift up a shot, should I let this affect my prep or go about things as normal.

Any advice or ideas of others routines would be greatly received.

Don't wear yourself out on the range beforehand. 36 holes is a long time and you need to be able to keep focused throughout. My best tip would be to get any range time you think you need out of the way a day or two beforehand. Just allow yourself about 10-20 balls prior to each round - literally warming up and no more - spend more time messing about on the practice green - especially at the away course. Otherwise - treat it like any other medal ( this would be my normal routine anyway ) and get a good night sleep beforehand!
P.s always clean your clubs before a medal!

Just do everything you would normally do in terms of routine and daily activities. I think to change would cause undue tension and worry.

just do yourself, i think you only neen do something your normally do. and you can show wonderful perofmance. believe yourself.

Don't turn up hungover.

cain89 wrote:just do yourself

Isn't that sort of thing meant to be avoided before any physical exercise? I certainly wouldnt recommend it as part of your warm up routine at the club.

Diggers

I heard that tour de france type riders are forced to have a five knuckle shuffle before racing as sexual tension can impact their performance.

Considering how narrow those bike seats are Mac I suppose you dont want to have bulging love sacks.

So avoid a quick ham shank and do everything else as normal sounds good to me!

Just a quick one on course management based on one at course I've never played this weekend. I've managed to snaffle a freebie there this friday afternoon to get to know the course, anything in particular people look at when trying to devise a strategy for away courses other then the obvious things like angels of attack and safe misses!

Angels of attack? Where are you playing, it sounds divine!

Playing a Sene Valley down on kent coast. I merely mean angles best to attack flags from! Or safe places to miss with minimal consequence.

When you get to the greens take note of what areas around the greens would be impossible to get up and down from no matter where the flag is. This may not always be evident from the fairway and can help determine shot shape into the greens.

In general make any notes you can about the greens, there may be areas on them where three putts are inevitable.

Determine what par 5’s it is realistic to go for and stick to the plan come the day.

Given the hole lengths and shots required think about the 14 clubs you will pack. Is a 5 wood or gap wedge going to be of more use?

If there are blind shots to greens or fairways take care to note any points of reference to aim at for different areas of the green.

I guess the best thing to do is to think about why you know your own course so well and what advise you would give to someone playing it for the first time. When playing a new course try to work out the same pieces of advice for yourself.

Mac

Pretty much sort of advice I was looking for and duly noted