TEEING OFF: Take a chance on tournament golf

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This article was published 21/06/2023 (973 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you don’t have an embarrassing golf tournament story, you likely haven’t played tournament golf.

Now they aren’t anything to be ashamed of. Every golfer has hit ridicule-worthy shots and shot ridicule-worthy scores.

Anyone on the fence about playing a tournament, I encourage you to take the leap and put the fear of embarrassment aside.

Why? Because even if the worst happens, you crack under pressure, miss shots and shoot a high score, no one with an important opinion will look down on you. Every golfer has either been there or hasn’t dared to try.

I can speak from experience.

It was the 2013 Golf Manitoba men’s amateur, my first big event and the first-tee jitters hit like nothing I’d ever felt in sports. I sliced my drive 60 yards right of the first fairway at Neepawa Golf and Country Club and everyone had to stop hitting practice balls so I could find mine and sheepishly knock it back into play.

I quadruple-bogeyed the next hole and stumbled to a 19-over 91.

When the official at the scoring table said, “See you tomorrow,” I responded, “Probably not.” I almost withdrew but she talked me into returning.

The next day was no better, on the scorecard at least. I carded another 91 but parred the last three holes. I think about those three often during bad rounds as a reminder to never quit.

I cleaned clubs at a private course in Winnipeg back then and played the first two days with one of our pro shop guys. He was often snarky with me at work but was incredibly encouraging as we ate dinner after Day 2. He knew exactly what I felt.

I shared this story on Instagram Wednesday morning and got a flood of replies.

One shanked a shot on the first tee of their first tournament in front of a dozen people.

One went out of bounds twice on the same approach shot, taking a 10 to derail an otherwise stellar tournament round.

One picked up a gimme in a tournament, not realizing that wasn’t allowed, and did it again 12 holes later en route to their worst-ever tournament score.

And one walked off the course six holes into a professional event after a bundle of big numbers. He still regrets that choice and now stresses to his kids the importance of seeing it through to the end.

Add in the slower pace, frustrating rulings and lack of ability to use a foot wedge or move a ball out of a divot, and that’s probably the worst possible sales pitch on tournament golf.

On the other hand, a simple mindset shift changes everything. Understand this: There’s no such thing as failing, only succeeding and learning.

Tournaments come with nerves and embracing them makes for a unique, fun experience. Birdies and par saves feel five times as good in a competitive round. And perhaps one of the most satisfying feelings golf affords is walking off the 18th green after shooting a solid score in a tournament.

As a former high school and college athlete, golf tournaments bring back the highs and lows of that student-athlete life. I’ve covered four Tamaracks at Clear Lake Golf Course and have seen some of the most competitive players in the masters (50-plus) division, so I know that feeling doesn’t fade.

There are a ton of events happening around Westman in the next few months. Take a chance. Support a club. And remember to have fun.

TOURNEYS: The RBC PGA Scramble returns to Minnedosa Golf and Country Club for a qualifier on July 8. The low net four-player scramble team — and low gross if enough teams register — earn spots at the regional final at Steinbach’s Quarry Oaks in August. The top teams at that event qualify for the national final at Cabot Cape Breton. Register at rbcpgascramble.com … The Reesor’s Glen Lea Ladies Open tees off on July 19 with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. It’s $60 per player with registration closing on July 5. Contact Carol Anne at 204-851-2249 or Betty at 204-570-1884 for more information.

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