| Preparing to Compete in golf for most people is | | | | 3. Tweak your equipment. Playing your best |
| really fun. If it does not turn out that way for | | | | requires that you feel good about hitting all the |
| you, you might want to reconsider competing. | | | | clubs in your bag. When there is pressure, doubts |
| Preparation for competitive golf isn't like getting | | | | about your equipment get magnified. When there |
| knocked around in preparation for a football game | | | | is pressure, confidence in your equipment also |
| or a marathon race where you need to spend | | | | gets magnified. |
| hours running. It should be enjoyable. | | | | 4. Know the rules. Bone up on two things, the |
| These are some of the things you will need to do | | | | fundamental rules of the game and how the Rules |
| if you want to play your best golf in competition. | | | | of Golf Book is organized so that you can look up |
| If you get really serious about competing you | | | | some of esoteric rules when they occur on the |
| may want to consider all of these suggestions: | | | | course. Some of the rules you should know cold |
| 1. Work on the weak parts of your game. To | | | | are: "out of bounds", "lost ball", "unplayable lie", |
| play well, all parts of the game need to be | | | | "playing a second ball" and "hazards". Be sure to |
| working. If your game is reasonably good in | | | | put a rules book in your golf bag. |
| every respect except that about one-half the | | | | 5. Acquire either a golf range finder or GPS |
| time the ball comes flying out of the bunker at | | | | measuring device. Most tournaments now allow |
| warp speed, I would recommend working on your | | | | these devices. If you do not have one, you are |
| sand game not perfecting a Phil Michelson flop | | | | at a real disadvantage. |
| shot. Under pressure weaknesses in your game | | | | 6. Practice the gimmes. When you compete, |
| will kill you. | | | | those 3 and 4 footers you may have been |
| 2. Practicing versus Playing. How you allocate time | | | | conceding, all of a sudden have a new importance. |
| between the two should depend on what works | | | | 7. Help. Just about every professional golfer has a |
| best for you but you clearly need to allocate time | | | | swing coach and possibly a sports psychologist. If |
| for both. Hank Haney spoke to Charles Barkley | | | | you can find an instructor that can help with your |
| about Tiger's preparation for competition. He | | | | game and possible act as your competitive |
| spends 2 hours practicing, then plays 9 holes, and | | | | mentor, you are in luck. It is great to be able to |
| then spends another 2 hours practicing. He seems | | | | bounce questions off an experienced competitor. |
| to prefer more practice over playing. Dave | | | | Players should do their best to develop a highly |
| Kendall, the director of Kendall Academy, who | | | | reliable style of play. Avoid high risk exotic shots. |
| recently won his 2nd Michigan Senior Open, | | | | Nurture confidence by developing an arsenal of |
| prefers to combine playing and practice. He will | | | | simple low risk shots. Golf preparation is vital to |
| often go out alone on a course and play several | | | | becoming a complete player in competition. |
| golf balls on each hole. | | | | |