In this video, Neil Tappin and Alex Elliott discuss the pressure of competition golf.

10 Tips To Handle Your First Competition

Compiling a good score when you have to is one of the greatest challenges golf poses and every player, at times, struggles to play their best when the pressure is on. That's why we have put together this list of 10 tips to handle your first competition. Alex's advice should help you score your best when it matters most.

WATCH: 10 Tips To Handle Your First Competition

**This video was shot before the UK went into lockdown**

NEW FOR 2020 – FEATURED PRODUCTS

Golf Monthly is partnering with Titleist and FootJoy as our official golf ball, golf bag, footwear and apparel partners for this year.

Shop the featured FootJoy footwear and apparel worn in this video:

• Shop FootJoy Men’s shoes
• Shop FootJoy Men’s shirts
• Shop FootJoy Men’s pullovers/mid-layers
• Shop FootJoy Men’s jackets/outer-layers
• Shop FootJoy Men’s trousers
• Shop FootJoy Men’s gloves
• Shop FootJoy Men’s belts & accessories
• Find out more about the featured Titleist golf balls used in this video Discover Titleist Pro V1x balls
• Find out more about the featured Titleist golf bag used in this video Discover Titleist Stand Bags

10 Tips To Handle Your First Competition

10. Have a stock shot

Many believe having a stock shot is reserved for lower handicappers but that should definitely not be the case.

Having a shot that you know you can turn to, and know you can produce at any time is a very powerful thing.

9. Clean your clubs after every single shot

It is a simple tip but important nonetheless because a dirty club and dirty grooves can drastically affect how the ball comes off the club-face and therefore where the ball ends up.

Just using a towel to wipe the club after every shot will be sufficient.

8. Scorecard preparation

The first things to get right on the scorecard is to make sure the name, date, competition and your handicap are all correct and filled in properly.

Another thing to prepare for is stableford competitions. We recommend looking at the stroke indexes of each hole and marking down all the holes you get a single shot or if your handicap is higher than that, marking down where you get two shots.

This can not only avoid confusion during and after the round, but it can also change how you tactically play the holes where you get more shots.

7. Avoiding three-putts

Three-putts can kill all momentum in your round and a common problem people fall into is being too aggressive with the first putt. This then leaves a knee-knocking three-footer coming back.

A common method we use to avoid these putts is to try and get the ball inside an imaginary bin lid.

6. Warming up

We all know the importance of warming up so go and research a few good stretches to get mobility through your body so that you are ready for exercise.

Then if you hit a few golf balls, don't treat it like a practice session. The purpose of those first few balls is to get ready for the round and not to tinker or change anything going on in your swing.

In an ideal warm-up session Alex recommends stretching, putting, hitting a few wedges, mid-irons and then lastly hitting five or so drivers. Then head to the first tee.

Another tip is from a mental standpoint just see the warm-up as exactly that. Just because you hit a bad drive on the last shot before you tee off does not mean anything.

5. Pace of play

Where you put your bag can have an impact on your round especially in terms of slow-play.

Additionally being wary of the best place to put your bag can stop you from feeling pressure from the group behind and can help you be prepared for the next shot rather than having to rush to the tee and not concentrate fully.

4. Course management

If you want a good first round in a competition then course management is huge. Most courses have a course guide or a visual image that you can look at, and a lot of people have GPS devices too.

A rule of thumb is to look at the visual of the hole to scope out where the trouble is in terms of bunkers, water, trees and so on.

Then think about whether you have a shot on the hole because this could change the way you play the hole.

In terms of pin placements, a colour coded system is the best thing to use. Green is a flag you can attack, amber is one that you feel is accessible for your game and shot shape, and finally red is one best to avoid going at.

Knowing where the trouble is and avoiding it can help you keep the big scores off the card.

3. Swing thoughts

If you are new to the game it is likely that you may have a lot of swing thoughts going through your head but a better way to think of this is as a checklist separated into pre-swing (grip, stance, etc), and then maybe have a couple of swing thoughts in terms of the backswing.

Of course every golfer is different but what should be common for everyone is simplicity. Keep things simple for yourself to avoid confusion on the course.

2. Alignment

Put simply a lot of peoples bad shots and bad swings stem from bad alignment, so having a routine to stick to on the first tee and every shot throughout can be pivotal to a good round.

A tip Alex recommends is to visualise two alignment sticks, one in line with the ball and target line, and the another parallel to that for our feet line. Then make this part of every shot you hit.

1. Filling in the scorecard

After the round has finished you must make sure the gross score is correct for each and every hole. A tip here is to sit down with your playing partner and go through every hole checking you both have the correct score in each box.

If this is all correct, you then must make sure you AND your playing partner then sign the card.

Don't forget to follow Golf Monthly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more golf content.

Win your choice of gear from golf’s biggest brands across 18 different categories, worth around £7,000

Win American Golf's Most Valuable Prize!

To enter simply go to americangolf.co.uk/promotions/mvp.html

American Golf is ready to make one golfers’ wildest dreams come true this spring when it gives away golf’s Most Valuable Prize.

In an unprecedented giveaway, Europe’s largest golf retailer will custom fit one winner with their choice of golfing gear from golf’s biggest brands across 18 different categories.

The prize has a price tag of around £7000, and when combined with the complete American Golf fitting experience the American Golf M.V.P is without a doubt, golf’s Most Valuable Prize.

The luckiest golfer in the U.K. will be able to choose any item in each of 18 product categories.

To enter simply go to americangolf.co.uk/promotions/mvp.html and answer a few questions about your game.

The winner will receive one prize from each category plus a custom fit experience like no other, as American Golf’s top fitting team help work out the best gear for their entire game.

Will Sturgess, Brand Manager at American Golf commented, “We know how excited golfer’s get over the latest gear and the best technology, so to have the chance to choose 18 prizes across so many brands really will be dream come true for every golfer.

"Add in custom fitting by our expert team, and the winner will know that they have the very best gear for their game, and I can’t think of anything more valuable in golf!”

With the largest range of golf equipment in Europe, American Golf will kit out the winner with their ultimate prize.

The winner will walk away with brand new Driver, Fairway Woods, Hybrids, Irons, Wedges, Putter, Grips, Balls, Gloves, GPS/Rangefinder, Golf Bag, Trolley, Shoes, Base Layer, Sweater, Apparel, Outerwear/Rainwear, and Travel Cover.

Each category will be custom fit to perfectly match the winners’ game and deliver a prize that combines a price tag of around £7000 with the priceless knowledge that their (brand new!) golf bag is full of the best gear to get the most from their game.

American Golf’s M.V.P. really is a prize and an experience that lovers of golf can only dream of.

Simply visit americangolf.co.uk/promotions/mvp.html to take the first step towards being the envy of every golfer in the U.K. and becoming the lucky winner of American Golf’s M.V.P.

Terms and conditions can be found when entering the competition.

We've teamed up with Titleist to offer six of you the chance to test and take home a brand new Titleist Golf Ball plus a free round of golf at a top Suffolk Golf Club

Golf Monthly has teamed up with Titleist, the #1 Ball in Golf, to offer six lucky readers the chance to be part of the pre-launch seeding process for an upcoming release.

You'll undergo a detailed ball fitting and education session in the morning with one of Titleist's ball experts, followed by lunch and the chance to test the ball on the course in the afternoon at Ipswich Golf Club in Suffolk - all for free!

This once-in-a-lifetime event is taking place on Monday September 11th (exact timings TBC) and places will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

The six golfers selected will have the opportunity to test a brand new, soft-feeling performance ball before anyone else in the UK (and to take some home after), lunch and a round of golf testing the new ball over Ipswich GC.

As per usual, you must be willing to take part in Golf Monthly filming, and ideally will be the type of player who prioritises soft feel and a good value price point, but who still wants to play a reputable brand.

If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please email joel.tadman@timeinc.com with the following details, putting ‘Titleist Golf Ball Trial’ as the subject line.

Name Forum name Home Club Handicap Which ball you currently use Why you currently favour that ball

Entries close at midnight on Monday the 4th of September, with the six chosen contacted soon after.

Good luck!

We've got a pair of VIP tickets, a camera and season passes to the the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open at Birkdale to give away...

We've got a pair of VIP tickets, a camera and season passes to the the 2014 Ricoh Women's British Open at Birkdale to give away....

Simply click here to enter the competition

You could win a £1,000 voucher to spend on any England's Golf Coast Experience package

To celebrate the world’s best players visiting the region in consecutive weeks for The Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale, followed by The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, England’s Golf Coast is offering one lucky prize winner a £1,000 gift voucher to come and experience the true test of championship golf. With packages starting from £150 per person there is plenty of room in the budget to invite a couple of friends to share in the experience.

The Prize

One reader will win a £1,000 gift voucher to use towards any England’s Golf Coast Experience package. The full details of the prize are as follows...

- Three rounds of golf on the courses of your choice - Two nights’ B&B accommodation at the hotel or guest house of your choice - Packages are available from October 13 to November 30, 2014 - Packages must be booked direct with England’s Golf Coast

How To Enter

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, all you have to do is visit www.englandsgolfcoast.com/prize-draw

Entries close on July 31 with the draw being made on August 5

Terms and Conditions: The closing date for all entries is July 31, 2014 with the draw then being made on August 5, 2014. The winner must be available to take their prize between October 13 and November 30, 2014. Full England’s Golf Coast terms and conditions for this competition can be found on the website. Golf Monthly competitions terms and conditions: prize details correct at time of going to press. All prizes are non-transferable and must be accepted as offered. Employees of IPC and its subsidiary companies, their families, agents or anyone connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter. Only one entry per person. Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties; any such entries will be invalid. The promoter cannot accept responsibility for entries that are incomplete or delayed. The winners will be the specified number of winners and/or runners-up drawn at random after the closing date. Some competitions will be decided by a judging panel. All winners will be notified within 28 days of the draw. Winners must be prepared to co-operate with any publicity arising as a result of winning the competition. A list of the winners can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope specifying the name of the competition to Golf Monthly, Marketing Department, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. No correspondence will be entered into. The decision of the promoter in all matters is final and binding. The promoter is Golf Monthly Magazine, IPC Media, 7th floor, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU. Entry implies acceptance of these rules.

Courtesy of VisitScotland and GolfBreaks.com you could win:

• 1 day general access tickets for 4 people to the 2014 Ryder Cup
• 3 rounds of golf in the Home of Golf – including a round at Turnberry in Ayrshire
• Chance to win £1,000 worth of prizes for your team in a Ryder Cup style competition – play for your country!
• Accommodation for 4 people for 4 nights
• Goodie bag for each person worth £500

10 runners up will also receive a pair of general access tickets.

To enter the prize draw, simply go tovisitscotland.com/golfmonthly