How should i prepare for Club Champs

[mikeybusa]

It is exactly a month and desperate to do well

I am a two handicapper but have always failed in club championship. Along with one other member i have been shooting consistently the lowest scores in club competitions. What do you guys think i should do over next four weeks to prepare?

I have never greatly enjoyed the range mainly due to fact they are all on range mats by me. I work eight till 5 each day with it light till 9 so gives me some time- perhaps three evenings a week and one day a weekend. Would you guys focus on ball striking for next couple of weeks then home the short game?? What should I aim to be getting out of my trips to course, putting green?? Or would a new custom fit driver be the answer to enjoy the honeymoon period over the competition :beach: ?

I think I may have overplayed before them in last couple of years trying to remove all swing flaws and just made it worse.

Any help gratefully appreciated

[mikeybusa]

meant to say if there is already post covering this sort of thing then can i get the link please

[Ducky]

I would focus primarily on your short game (if that is your weakness). Because no matter how poorly you strike the ball, your short game can always salvage a good score.

 

Also, don't stress yourself out over previous poor performances. Enjoy your rounds and let good golf take care of itself.

[MHLY01]

Its all mental, just relax. If you are a 2, you know what you are doing.

[BILL12x]

Is it stroke play or match play?

 

Practice your short game and tempo. Have a plan for how you should play every hole and stick to it. If that means 3 wood on #4, DO IT! Don't change your mind by thinking, "I'm hitting driver well today, so I'll hit that so I can have a wedge in instead of 8 iron." DON'T DO IT!!!

 

Have a plan and stick to it. I won both our stroke and match play championships this year and I am FAR from being the best golfer at the club, probably not even in the top 10. I did it by following the plan and working on short game. Fairways and greens, no overswinging, (which is VERY hard for me).

 

Good Luck!

[mikeybusa]

cheers for advice. is stroke play. short game is strength as certainly dont strike it like a two handicapper more like 15. as short game is strength should i remain focused on improving it as is my best part or work on my weaknesses such as long irons although generally if driving well dont have to hit too many of these unless windy.

 

I think need way to maintain my tempo in the real thing

[jeffy]

I doubt you'd make much progress doing any work on you're long game, unless there is a specific problem that could be corrected in a lesson or two. You're not going to overhaul you're long game in a month. Otherwise, work like a demon on your short game and course management.

 

BTW, if long irons are a problem, why not replace them with hybrids?

[Prefontaine1550]

i would also sure up greenside bunker play a few days before the tournament. i had a friend lose the CC because he left 3 in a greenside bunker on 17 once.

[hattrick3518]

kinda on the same page here, i have my highschool tryouts monday morning, and my club championship monday afternoon! but i think im just going to take it easy and just play my game, dont get stressed out

[emc]

Practice practice practice on having a stock tee shot that will get you in play about 240-260 yards out. Make sure you can play the shot with ease when called upon, and just focus on keeping the ball in play. Keep the short game sharp and if you're going to the range only focus on tee shots and 7 iron down to sand wedge shots. Anything longer than that distance and play for the middle of the green

[jcjr34]

I would say to practice that short game and putting till you drop as the greatest percentage by far of strokes are taken at 120 yards and in.

Also, develop your mental self to trust your swing (especially during the match) and stay in the present on every shot. If you haven't done so already, get the 'Golf is not a Game of Perfect' CD (or book if you're a fast reader) and listen to it a few times.

[spearfish]

I have a similar story. Played of scratch for a while now and crap myself in the club champs.... until last year.

 

I actually stopped range practise and relaxed leading up to it. Took an ipod on the course with me and played each hole at a time. Just marked my card and didn't think about my score until I tallied it at the end..

 

As others have said, you need to get your mindset right. Do some chipping/putting, but remember you're not going to improve your game within a week. You're already there, rely on your swing and just play it smart.

If you do your head in on a hole, walk away from the triple/double bogey you had and start fresh.

 

When it comes to the match play (after you qualify in the top 4!). Again, just rely on your previous experience, play it smart. Don't go for it. But once you're in the lead, attack, put the pressure on your opponent. A string of birdies and good up and downs will put doubts in their minds.

 

 

Good luck!!!

[danielscho]

Hi I play off 3

I myself have had 3 concecutive 2nd place finishs in my 36 hole club championship.

here's what i do the in the last week leading up to it.

Practise my putting, bunker play and short feel shots around the green.

Mainly my putting, dont put too much emphasis on holeing putts ( if you miss this will lead to doubting your self) just work on you stroke , strike, roll and distance control.

The final 2 days before i dont even touch a club Just kick back and relax, as i feel muscle memory is your greatest allied in golf. THIS WILL SHOW YOURSELF THAT YOU TRUST YOUR SWING.

The morning of the comp make sure you hit a few balls to a specific target at different yardages, to get some feel for the conditions of the day.

lastly on the putting green before you go out put to a tee peg not the holes if you can hit it, that makes the hole look like a bucket.

And lastly Trust your game and you gameplan

Most of all enjoy it.

Hope this helps you out

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

[dachtor]

I would definately spend a lot of time working on short game. Putting, chipping, bunker play and don't forget those 50-100 yard shots which are critical on par 5's and on holes where you missed a fairway.

 

As for long game, I would spend a lot of time on tempo and recognize that you really aren't going to make dramatic changes to your swing between now and the club champ. Play with the game you’ve got, which must be pretty good if you are a 2 handicap. I would also work on some low punch shots with a predictable ball flight to be used in cases where you missed a fairway and need a safe layup shot (under trees perhaps).

 

Lastly, and I'm not sure anyone mentioned this, I would spend some time mapping out a strategy. Tiger does this before every tournament. I would map out a strategy for each hole that eliminates as much trouble as possible. Identify the birdie holes and the holes which typically cause problems for you. Where do you want your tee shot to land? Is that different depending on the hole location? Where do you want your approach to land for a front pin vs. a back pin? Where should your misses be for those pin positions? What spots should you avoid at all costs? Are there holes where you need to discipline yourself? For example: a short dogleg par 4 where you love to hit driver with a big cut, but would usually be better off hitting a rescue club. These split second, emotion driven decisions can sometimes ruin a round. I would develop a game plan and stick to it no matter the outcome of the previous holes. Especially on the first day. At the end of day one, you can evaluate the results and revise your strategy based on the outcome of day one. And no matter what, don’t ever give up. I can’t tell you how many tournaments I’ve played in where a few bogeys down the stretch when I thought it didn’t matter really ended up costing me.

 

Good luck. BTW – My 54 hole CC is in a month too, so I need to use my own advice (and that of everyone else). Good post!