Good to hear about your experience. I played in a couple WI state ams back in high school and learned quite a bit. Oftentimes I felt like I had a leg up on the competition, considering I had competed all spring at high school tournaments and the state am was only a few weeks after that season ended. For a lot of the players there, it was likely their only tournament of the year.
I didn't always play my best (a few good rounds, a few salvaged rounds, a couple blow up rounds), but enjoyed the opportunity each time I teed it up. Most of the challenge is in your head - whether it's having to watch a fellow competitor play especially poorly, you starting to make some birdies, you starting to make some bogies, etc, it's tough to keep your head level and not let things throw off your game.
And there's always the players with the awkward, homemade swings that manage to shoot low (a.k.a. beat you). They wouldn't know a flat left wrist from a right forearm, but they can put the club on the ball. Knowing all I knew, playing marginally was particularly frustrating. I imagine you had similar thoughts.
Thanks Matt. No doubt that a lot of the challenge in tournament golf is you against yourself. My comfort zone has changed over time with experience (which is to be expected), yet it is still frustrating to not play "like you can" under ANY situation, but that's what make golf such a great game and a never-ending challenge.
This experience was a bit of an eye-opener as far as seeing what I'll refer to as the "Tiger-effect". Sooooooooo many 15 to 21 year olds who all seem to have good mechanics to go along with an obvious training regimen of some sort. Tiger's been in the news for what... 10 to 12 years now??? Kids that were 6 or so when he started to become a household word and made golf "cool" are now in their high school and college years. They're exposed to so many tournaments at all levels and are very comfortable in that environment.
"Homemade" swings at this event were far and few between and seemed to be confined to the "older" set. I sure didn't see many "bent left wrists at impact" anywhere on the range, and certainly not on anyone I played with!
A good friend who was an alternate was trying to get in by waiting on the first tee. He didn't, and was able to caddy for me the first round. He knows my game well and he had some interesting input for me afterwards regarding when and where he could see me get out of my routine and my rhythm. Invariably those occasions are where I made most of my mistakes. That info was invaluable and I hope is something I'll be able to put to use in future events.
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