What tournaments should you play?

[Rickles]

I love playing period but I really love competition. Last year I played in my city championship, (I had an honest shot and finished top ten.) the state mid-am, (I had a shot at qualifying but had no shot at contending.) and my state am. (I only tried to qualify because it was at a course I play a lot and I still had no chance against the college boys, Jordan Speith won two years ago) All of that was leading up to this question? What tournaments do you think a player should play in? Should it be only those one can contend in? Should it be anything you have an honest shot at making the field in? Or should it be anything your handicap gives you a shot at even if to qualify it would require a near career round? For instance, I tend to want to make fun of the guy I played with in the state am qualifier who couldn't break 90 who was suposed to have a handicap better than 5. What do y'all think?

[RookieBlue7]

Some guys crack under the pressure. Course handis and tournament handis are exclusive of each other. Never know until you try though. I say play any of them you want and can get in. Testing yourself gives you the only real answers.

[hckymeyer]

Here is my perspective...

 

Play in every tournament and qualifier you possibly can if you really want to be a better tournament player. Nothing else can recreate the same mental toughness that you will need to succeed. Doesn't matter if you have a shot at it or not, you will still gain from the experience. Plus with any sport one of the best ways to get better is to play with/against people that are better than you. It will make you humble, and you can learn a lot just from watching them.

 

As for making fun of the 5 handicap guy who didn't break 90, I would suggest not doing it. We've all been there and had off days and I would hope that nobody would treat me in that manner.

[JBones]

I'm up for playing in anything I possibly can. I can beat guys in tourneys that beat me every other day, because I just play it as another round. Playing with better players can only make you better, so go for it. You obviously have the mental aptitude to play tourney golf and to me that's 95% of it. I just look at it this way, whether I win or lose, in gonna go home and get hugs and "I love yous" from my three princesses.

[sporto98]

I play in anything I can afford and have time to. unless I clearly have no shot at making my money back, nobody likes to donate.

[westy]

It's a tougher question the lower you get - not counting me in this! playing off 9 I'm not eligible for many comps anyway and even the mid handicap comps can see a 9 hcp balloted out if numbers are high. But the really low single figure players have to consider a lot more than a player like me.

 

At the Same time I've caddied at open qualifying for pro's who have far less chance of getting through than some of the 1 and 2 handicappers. Crikey there are some club pro's I know I'd beat 7 out of 10 times - you'd be gutted if you got them in a pro am team!

 

It's still sport and should be fun; so I tend to make a decision based on the course, the field and the state of my game. Don't like to pay out to play an awful course, against a field of county players when I'm shanking the ball all over the place.

[Rickles]

Thanks for all the great comments guys. As usual you all have good comments and perspectives. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back. I've been away this weekend. I would like to clarify a few things.

 

1. I agree that the best way to get better in tournaments is to play as many as possible. However, unfortuantely I have very little money. So let me rephrase the question. If you can only afford to play in a few tournaments is it better to play in tournaments where you have a shot at contention or should you try to play the toughest tournaments where you have a greater shot at glory but are less likely to qualify or contend.

 

2. Plesd read my wording about the making fun thing. In my fallen humanity I want to make fun of someone, However I never have made fun of abother player other than the normal ribbing between buddies and I would never kick another player when he was down. In fact, in a tournament qualifier I try to make things as comfortable as possible for my playing partners. I honestly hope that we all play well and all qualify. That being said in an actual tournament and especially in a match play situation I want to beat the tar out of the oposition.

[hckymeyer]

Thanks for all the great comments guys. As usual you all have good comments and perspectives. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back. I've been away this weekend. I would like to clarify a few things.

 

1. I agree that the best way to get better in tournaments is to play as many as possible. However, unfortuantely I have very little money. So let me rephrase the question. If you can only afford to play in a few tournaments is it better to play in tournaments where you have a shot at contention or should you try to play the toughest tournaments where you have a greater shot at glory but are less likely to qualify or contend.

 

2. Plesd read my wording about the making fun thing. In my fallen humanity I want to make fun of someone, However I never have made fun of abother player other than the normal ribbing between buddies and I would never kick another player when he was down. In fact, in a tournament qualifier I try to make things as comfortable as possible for my playing partners. I honestly hope that we all play well and all qualify. That being said in an actual tournament and especially in a match play situation I want to beat the tar out of the oposition.

 

Both very good clarifications

 

With a limited budget I would tend to play more in tournaments where I had a shot. Mostly just to get the highest chance to play more golf. Nobody likes wasting money, so I would pick the ones where there is a higher likelyhood that I would get to play more rounds. That being said it still might be worth the experience to pick one tourney a year that falls into the "harder" bracket just for the experience. Or if one is at a course you really want to play and wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

[apprenti23]

Hosted a two day tournament at my facility this weekend...

 

Had a guy who shot 122-137 for a smooth 259. It was a very generous 259. To get him around the golf course he wasn't playing stroke and distance and he was running to and from his ball- quite the scene.

 

That guy should not play in tournaments! He had a great time at the event and we had a nice little chat after the tournament. He was very appreciative for help.

[Rickles]

Both very good clarifications

 

With a limited budget I would tend to play more in tournaments where I had a shot. Mostly just to get the highest chance to play more golf. Nobody likes wasting money, so I would pick the ones where there is a higher likelyhood that I would get to play more rounds. That being said it still might be worth the experience to pick one tourney a year that falls into the "harder" bracket just for the experience. Or if one is at a course you really want to play and wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

 

This is pretty much the way I have been doing it. Thanks for the input.

[Rickles]

Hosted a two day tournament at my facility this weekend...

 

Had a guy who shot 122-137 for a smooth 259. It was a very generous 259. To get him around the golf course he wasn't playing stroke and distance and he was running to and from his ball- quite the scene.

 

That guy should not play in tournaments! He had a great time at the event and we had a nice little chat after the tournament. He was very appreciative for help.

 

Wow. That certainly puts things in perspective.