Shankopotomous

Last week, I played in my 54 hole club championship tournament. This year, I felt ready, but I knew it was going to be intense. I practiced diligently, managed the course well, avoided “hero shots,” and maintained the right mindset for the tournament. This is how each round went:
First Round: I aimed to shoot my handicap and get a feel for the course and conditions. I ended up 4 over my handicap, placing me in the middle of the pack in my flight. I had zero penalties or lost balls.
Second Round: I sought improvement and succeeded, shooting my handicap. Again, zero penalties or lost balls.
Final Round: This is still hard to think about—I completely derailed my chances of placing. The first 5 holes yielded 5 penalties. I ended the round with 8 penalties, averaging almost one every other hole, and scored a 95. A complete 180 from my previous two rounds.
I was perplexed and after licking my wounds, I reviewed the results. I gathered that without the final round penalties, I would have finished second in my flight. Those 16 lost strokes, due to the penalties in the final round, crushed my chances.  But they did not crush my spirit or drive to move through it and grow from the experience. To do this I thought I should first identify consistencies. 
 
There are a few things that I know remain unchanged whether the round is for a championship, tournament or for leisure.  The first is my warm-up routine, this has been the same for many years. Of course, I used my usual equipment (with a minor a shaft change on a hybrid) so my swing would remain unaffected. I even went so far as to not change the balls I have been using so I could depend on the distance, control and spin.  I knew I had to take a stab at identifying the issues that may have influenced the problems I encountered.  
Elements That May Influence Tournament Performance:

Mental Preparation:This is crucial for playing well. Mental preparation impacts every aspect of the game. An amateur might not be mentally ready for the competitive play that tournaments demand. They might not consider the different opportunities a shot choice can create and may develop “tunnel vision” during the round.
Pressure and Expectations: Tournament play comes with higher stakes and increased pressure. The fear of poor performance or the desire to excel can lead to anxiety, negatively impacting performance. While some players thrive under pressure, others may struggle.
Focus and Mindset: A consistent pre-shot routine helps maintain focus and reduce errors. In practice, players often have a more relaxed mindset, allowing them to focus better. In tournaments, however, players, especially amateurs, may overthink and let self-doubt creep in, particularly after making mistakes.
Routine Disruption: Tournament rounds differ significantly from practice rounds. Warm-up routines can be disrupted due to the number of players in the practice area. Changes in rhythm, waiting times, slow play, and different schedules can all affect a player’s performance.
Adrenaline and Fatigue: The adrenaline rush experienced during tournaments can be a double-edged sword. While it can heighten awareness and add strength, it can also lead to fatigue or tension if not managed properly.
Course Management: Thoughtful course management is essential. In practice rounds, players often take more risks to see what they can get away with. In tournaments, however, they may feel compelled to play it safer, which can stifle creativity and lead to more conservative play, losing the risk verses reward aspect.
Negativity: Negativity can ruin a round, whether it’s recreational, practice, or tournament play. It can stem from the player’s own mind or from another player in the group.
I can rule out several elements that could have affected my final round performance, but I did see where I went wrong. Pressure and Expectations, Course Management, and Adrenaline and fatigue were suspected. Now that I identified some things that may have been contributing factors, I asked myself “how do I adapt and overcome?”
Tips to Improve Tournament Performance:

Practice Under Pressure: Simulate tournament conditions during practice by keeping score and setting goals. Hole out every putt, no matter how close. Introduce pressure situations like penalties and tough shots. In short, practice as you play.
Develop a Consistent Pre-Game Routine: Establishing a consistent routine helps with anxiety and focus. Stick to your routine to create a sense of normalcy and control.
Focus on Process, Not Outcome: This can be challenging for amateurs. While results are often the focus, the process is crucial. If you have a solid process, good results usually follow. Execute your game plan rather than fixating on the final score.Prioritize the journey, not just the destination.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Breathing exercises and mindfulness practices can help maintain composure during tough times. Keeping notes and having a good sense of the overall round can also help you stay relaxed. (speaking it into existence also helps)
Negate the Negative: Remove negative thoughts and ignore negative players. Stay within yourself and maintain a positive mindset. Tune out others who react poorly to bad shots or penalties. Think positive, play positive.
Develop Course Management: To improve your game, focus on eliminating poor shot selections. Sometimes, aiming for the safer side of the fairway, away from hazards, can significantly improve your score. Opting for a shot that might land in the trees but avoids out-of-bounds or penalty areas can lead to a manageable par or bogey with a chip out, rather than a double or triple bogey with penalty strokes. Similarly, laying up for an easy up-and-down instead of attempting a risky shot to the green can be a smarter choice. It’s all about balancing risk and reward.

Most likely most of my mistakes could have been avoided if I’d just slowed down and thought about what happened, and the smartest path to recover. Golfers are well aware that the game presents significant challenges, particularly when the pressure is on, but I believe that incorporating these strategies into our “mental golf bags,” will enhance future performance in competitive play. I’ll admit some of these elements and strategies weren’t exactly part of my preparation, but they will be in the future. Golf is also a social sport, and I believe that sharing my experiences is part of the supportive ecosystem where golfers learn from one another.  That is why I would encourage you to look at the insights from this article that you believe will best enhance your game and incorporate them.
It’s been a long journey to get to this point, and I am glad that the club championship is in the rear view. I learned a lot this past tournament and am happy I made the choice to finish the final round instead of withdrawing. Some players did that, but I doubt they learned the lessons I did by sticking with it. I am going to alter my route by taking this new information and strategies and putting them into practice. So, if we meet on the links you might want to bring your A-game, because I’m bringing mine. Happy birdie hunting

Golf is one of the sports that doesn’t figure for a lot of injuries, and that’s great for us older (over 40) golfers. Well, maybe except me… For the last few years, I’ve had some sort of ailment or injury and I continue to fight through them. One year I had a hamstring issue, and it lingered for quite some time. Last year I was playing with the kids and wasn’t paying attention. I stepped right into a sprinkler hole and gave myself a high ankle sprain. I immediately went hit the ground, so fast that my daughter thought I was having a heart attack. This year it’s the dreaded golfer’s elbow. (Tennis doesn’t own this elbow ailment.) Each of these injuries has hampered my golf game, and it’s very frustrating. Just when I am about to hit peak performance my body fails me.
I know some injuries, like the ankle sprain happen, but the ailments should be avoidable right? BUUUTTTT if you’re like me, broken from years of military service and have abused your body, what’s the answer? I am not, and I repeat, NOT eating bananas. Bananas are fruit of the devil!!! (Disclaimer: “Bananas are fruit of the devil” comment is only the view and opinion of this author. No bananas were otherwise hurt or smashed in this production.) Diet does have nutritional values to help alleviate some of these ailments and there are modern medical ways to help guard from them as well, but who wants to pop anti-inflammatories or wear that compression sleeve and forearm band? I like my golfer’s tan and those compression sleeves get in the way of that. Right now, I have one arm that is lighter than the other.
As I get older, I’ve found that most ailments are just unavoidable. It’s just a fact of life that as we age our bodies go through changes. Our muscles change, tendons change, bones change. It’s how we’re built. But I can prepare better, stretching and hydrating help. I can add vitamins and potassium (not bananas!!!). Cut out the “adult beverages” which is no fun, and no smoking (that’s actually a good idea). There’s so much information on the “stuperweb” that a person can become well versed in how to avoid injuries. I am not one of those persons. I don’t know if I am just lazy, or I just don’t think about GTS. (We all should know by now that GTS=Google that S**T) I may have to investigate Yoga, (Yogurt as we like to call it in our family), but I am afraid of farting throughout the whole session. I am an old fart anyway, and that’s enough for me.
I’m not gonna lie, I probably won’t do anything except fight through the injuries. Ask my wife and she’ll tell you; I am as stubborn as they come and just as dumb to boot. She is the type to make the changes necessary to avoid the above mentioned. I am not. I won’t stop playing the game I absolutely cannot live without just for a dumb injury. I would rather forgo my golfer’s tan and wear the compression sleeve and forearm band. Medicated pads fit well under a compression sleeve too. I must come to terms with it. Like we all must come to terms with the declining swing speeds and distance loss as we age. It’s golf, and I can’t or won’t sit on the sidelines, I will be involved and play every chance I get.