Whether you are playing golf with friends or participating in a big tournament with prizes at stake, it’s possible to suffer from nerves on the golf course.
You may be playing in a local or regional tournament, which offers a big prize for the winner and feel nervous. You may be playing with friends and stood on the first tee with a group of people watching on and feel nervous.
It doesn’t really matter what the situation is, some people get nervous when playing golf, especially when other people are watching. If you are one of those people, we have some great tips on how to overcome nervousness on the golf course.
Firstly, it’s important to understand you will probably never fully remove the feeling of nervousness when playing golf. There is a difference between feeling under pressure when playing a vital shot to feeling nervous when playing a round of golf. What you must do, is learn to manage the nervousness and turn it into positive energy.
Never underestimate the power of breathing when playing golf. Taking a minute to breathe deeply and allowing oxygen to enter your body is a great way to calm the nerves. Your body performs at its best when it is oxygenated and a great example of a professional player who does this before stepping up to the ball is Jason Day.
If you are feeling nervous about playing golf, especially in-front of friends, take a couple of seconds to step back and think about why you are playing the game. We all want to play brilliant golf but when playing with friends, the main factor is enjoyment. You are out there, in your free time because you like playing golf.
It may sound simple and even a little silly but if you take time throughout the round to have a laugh and joke with your friends, especially when you make a mistake, you will feel all the better for it.
However, if you feel you just cannot shake off those nerves when playing golf, it’s time to embrace them.
To do this successfully, you must first admit you are feeling nervous. It’s no good trying to be cool and confident in-front of your friends to try and cover up the nerves you are feeling. The longer you do this, the worse your nerves will become and the more difficult it will be for you to cope with them.
Instead, start by replacing the word ‘nervous’ with the word ‘anxious’ as this sounds better and has a more positive slant to it. Talk to your friends before playing and tell them you are feeling a little anxious but you are ready for the challenge ahead.
Doing this will immediately put you in a good frame of mind. You have admitted you feel anxious but have accepted the challenge on the golf course. This has completely changed your mind frame from negative to positive.
If you are a nervous golfer, why not give it a try?
