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I am playing in several tournaments this summer. I have never played in one before. So I am trying to gather some advice. What should i do to handle the pressure? What should i keep in my bag (what do you keep in your bag? how many balls, how many gloves etc)? How should i start preparing now? I figured their are several people on here that could give me great advice. I also have one more question. Is it legal to carry say a speedstick in my bag during the tournament round(s). Or would i have to keep it in the car. Thanks!

I'm guessing that its prob not legal to carry the speedstik but if it was then its prob considered a club. Just relax and enjoy yourself. The key thing is too just play your own game and to not get caught up in how everyone else is playing the course. Try a squeeze in a practice round as well if its at course you haven't played before.

And remeber have fun and its only a game.

14 clubs only,
same brand and type of ball only. how many? only you know for sure,lol

you will get nervous, especially on the 1st tee, but like Kiwidave said, you must relax, cuz tension is a killer. focus in on the course and what you want to do even though you may not always do it, but remain focused, and did i mention to RELAX? lol.

stagday

Pray on the 1st tee 'please make the ball go down the middle pleaaasseeee!' -usually works for me. hehe

My best advise is to be patient. That's when I get into trouble, the 5+ hour rounds and waiting on every tee sometimes make me impatient on approach shots and around the greens, play smart by being patient enough to avoid stupid mistakes. Another thing would be to make sure you get a good feel for the green speed before the round, confidence that you know the speed can't hurt.

Tournaments are a lot of fun. As far as pressure goes, just remember that you get to play golf that day... it's not like you're getting shot at or anything, you're golfing

Get your mind totally prepared for that first tee shot - practise the specific shot in your warm-up. When you get to the tee, slow yourself down, make sure you BREATHE properly, and relax on the shot. When you see it go up the middle you'll realise it's just another day on the golf course. Go for it...

i would say that you should not expect the nerves to go away. You will feel nervous and if you fight against those nerves and try to make them go away they wont. THen you will wonder why you feel that way and how to get that feeling to go away. The longer that feeling stays the more you fight and the worse it becomes. Accept that you are nervous and that it may not go away. Tiger said after the masters that he was nervous but he lives for moments like that. You are nervous because you care. Most everyone there will feel nervous. You can play nervous and play well, the more you accept that the better you can handle it and the less nervous you will feel. :nodsmiley

As someone else already said, play the same kind of ball and put a special identifying mark on it. A Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Marker is great for this. Make sure you're ready when it's your turn and when someone is on the tee box or putting on the green, don't stand directly in front of or behind them and be still and quiet. You will want them to do the same. The nerves will bug you for a little while at first but then you'll be fine. Just play your game, don't go for the one chance in a million shot, take your licks if you get into trouble and take the shortest, easiest way out of it. Better a bogie than a double or worse. Also, if you have to move your ball marker for someone, don't forget to move it back before you putt. Don't ground your club in a hazard. The list goes on and on but they will give you a sheet with local rules and pin placements. Make sure you read and understand these and ask questions first if you don't understand something. Would be wise to take some time, maybe in bed when it's quiet, and read the USGA Rules of Golf. Don't get too worked up over this. Your first time is going to be a learning experience and a day you will always remember. You'll meet new people who are first timers just like you, so don't feel like you're alone. Best of luck to you and play your best. Please come back and let us know how you did.
Jerry

JUST HAVE FUN!!!! This IS a game, right?

The key is to identify your ball with a unique mark and a sharpie works great. If the tournament doesn't have the "One Ball Rule" in effect then you don't have to worry about same brand and model of ball. We rarely use it as a condition of the competition but almost all USGA and Regional Amateur Associations utilize the rule. It seems like ALL of our local PGA Events use the one ball rule. Know your rules a little and carry a rule book in your bag. One other thing is take care of YOURSELF...carry water, crackers, etc if they won't be on the course for you.

The KEY still remains...HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that is why the pro's don't have their caddies fishing balls out of the water!!!

I do not have tournament experience, but just think to yourself "what would Jon Daly do?" Stock your bag with cigs and liquor. Just kidding of course.

Good Luck, and definitely let us know how things go.

I thought the Speedstick was the kind for under arm odor protection... you know, since we tend to get nervous in tournaments!

I like JC's advice... Have Fun!!

You shopuld try it on the green as well

thanks a lot guys! i had no idea that some tournaments only let you use one kind of ball.

I think you may have misunderstood that post. You can use any ball you want to, even change brands of balls. What you cannot do is change the ball you are playing in the middle of a hole. You must play the same ball from the tee until you hole out, unless you lose it out of bounds or in a hazard or just cannot find it. BTW, if you even suspect that any of these circumstances exist, declare that you are going to play a provisional ball and tee another one up. I have seen people play one ball from the tee and then change balls to hit into the green and putt. This is not legal. Do not do it. I think the poster was really trying to help you by telling you that playing the same kind of ball is a good thing because you know how it will feel and respond to different shots. It isn't law but it is a very good idea. Best to you.
Jerry

I just posted to this thread about this and perhaps I gave bad advice. I am unaware of the one ball rule as you describe it. I have played in a number of tournaments in my area, they are local tournaments and club tournaments, and I have never heard of this rule. Guess I need to do a re-study of the rules myself. I always knew you couldn't change balls on a hole but I never knew you had to play brand X and model. Does this also apply to the number of the ball? Thanks.
Jerry