Golfweek Am Tour advice?

[anythingfinite]

I just signed up for the local section of the Golfweek Am Tour. Its cheap and a great way to play the uber-exclusive clubs in this area/region.

With that said, I've never played competitive golf in my life...even with my buddies. I'm currently a 7.3, which puts me toward the end of the "A flight" (4-8.9).

Any tips or advice?

[BreakingTees]

Im jealous. I wish there were tournaments in my area. Have fun and good luck!

[davep043]

If you're just starting to play competitively, the most important thing to do is to have fun. Keep your expectations for yourself modest, understand that you'll hit bad shots and have bad rounds, don't let the quality of your performance stop you from enjoying yourself. Look around, the guys you're with won't care what you shoot, they're too busy caring about what THEY shoot. So play at the appropriate pace, maintain a good attitude, and enjoy your days on the courses.

[Pulledabill]

I went in to tourny play last year and was super nervous. I played well and cashed in 3 of 5 I believe. Relax, laugh. and enjoy. Good luck

[TimK1]

Great advice. Nobody cares what you are shooting. I used to be nervous all the time but one tournamnet a guy pulled me aside and said these very words to me. He basically, in a nice way said, I could care less how you play, I'm worried about my own game and nobody else cares either. I was able to relax and just play. It is just another round of golf. The only thing that makes it seem like more is your own head telling you it means more. It doesn't. Your not making your living at it so enjoy it!

I have played in many local district and State Am tournaments. I play seven or eight events a summer. We have a golf channel local tour but not many play in it. They get maybe ten guys a tournament. It was over expensive in my opinion. You end up paying double the amount for basicaly a glorified round of golf on courses I could play anyway. I do maintian my membership on it for a fill in tournament if need be. I like to play a trournament a week all summer but it is mostly on the State Am series which has 20 events all over the state.

 

[zwiggyz]

So if you're below a 4 handicap, where do they place you? Is there a flight that's lower than the A flight?

[LeoLeo99]

I used to play a lot tournaments many years ago. The advice I'd give my younger self it to keep the ball in play and aim for the middle of greens and take your medicine once you're out of position. Once you're out of position or miss a green, make bogey your worst score. Don't try to hit some perfect shot to save par.

Relax and have fun. It's just golf.

[zwiggyz]

Even when my money matches with my buddies get intense, I always remind myself that it's just a round of golf; there are plenty of worse things we could be doing.

[Dashfast]

Is anyone else here in the Chicago chapter? There's some interesting stuff going on at the moment. Basically, if you paid for tournaments for this season, the payments are not valid because the guy we made payments to is no longer involved with the Golf Week Am Tour. So, now we have to track down refunds and re-pay. Also, side note, the Broadmoor season opened for Indy Am Tour was just cancelled. So, waiting on a refund from that as well...

[Bushwood Country Club]

About 15 years, ago I was in almost the same shoes as you. My index was just below 9, and I signed up to begin playing in the Golf Channel AmTour. Here are the things I learned:

(1) In tournament golf, my "9" was not a very solid 9. Playing everything down holing every putt, and playing ROG for every shot led me to understand I was not as good as I thought I was. Pretty quickly, I moved down one flight.

(2) In a tournament, NEVER GIVE UP. In your flight, EVERYONE is going to have a bad hole. When you make a bad shot, (as others have said) take your medicine and play for bogey (or double bogey if you hit one OB). Do not let one bad shot (or two or three) ruin your mood and make you give up. Here is a real life example: In November, I played a GCAT tournament ( I am in the "Hogan" flight - Tournament Indexes 8-11.9). Very rainy, 2 hour delayed start - and on the first hole, a par 5... I made a 10. It would have been easy to quit - but I looked around at the weather, took a deep breath, and said "today, nobody in this flight will avoid a big number somewhere - so do not quit". 4 hours later, I was holding the trophy - I won the flight by one stroke.

(3) Have fun always - some days you will win, some days you will be at the back of the pack. No different that the guys who get paid to play golf.

Playing tournament golf changed me completely, and has made golf 2X more fun than it already was. Nothing compares to having butterflies over a putt that matters, or teeing off 18 knowing you are in the hunt

Good luck!

[anythingfinite]

Hey everyone, thanks for the great advice. I played in my first tournament last weekend and had a blast. I wasn't nearly as nervous or intimidated as I thought I would be. I didn't watch the leaderboards at all bc I just figured I would not be in the hunt. I was leading my playing partners at the turn despite routinely being well behind them on the tee.

 

Standing on 11 tee, they checked the scores and told me that we were all in the hunt for the lead. I played freely after that, but after a bad bogey on a short par 3, I lost my driver for 2 holes and went double-triple to fall out of contention. I am not dejected...I am super energized. I immediately went out and played the next day and played a phenomenal round.

[Bushwood Country Club]

And now you are hooked on competitive golf :-)

[Dashfast]

The new Chicago Schedule looks sweet... can’t wait for it to start. TPC Deere Run is a sweet addition.

[TerpFangolfer]

GC Am Tour went under...wonder if GW will survive?

Hope so! Never played GW - but will definitely plan to in the absence of GC

[Dashfast]

GW is awesome. Played in my first event on Saturday. Really well run - good group out there.

[anythingfinite]

Yeah, I have played in a few tourneys this year and am loving it.

[CollegeGolfer21]

All of these comments and help were solid. I am thinking about playing in some individual stroke play events this year too. I've played in the Nextgengolf City Tour events in the past which have been good since you have a partner and less intimidating, but think I am ready for individual stroke play events now too. Thanks for everyone's help.