I know you're out there......

[phillygolf]

Ok...

I have a question. This requires ego's checked at the door.

Whom here - and let's be honest - worries while playing? Whether it be about people watching you and embarrassing yourself or missing that 4 footer to tie the nassau on the 17th.

Come on...I know you're out there.

[alex_chung]

I worry about everything from wondering about leaving the iron on to oh noooo the club captain is watching me hit this shot to does my bum look big?
I have to admit it used to be worse but I have realised that everyone is in the same boat and we are all worried about making a mess of things on the course. I am less of a worrier now and whilst I still get nervous I am more in control of it. Still make a mess of it though.......
Alex

[Martee]

I worry. About the shot at hand. Maybe worry isn't quite the right word. Now if I have a couple of bad shots in a row or as what usually happens withmy putting I burn the lip, lip out, etc. Then I become the mental midget on putting.

My last full round I used 42 putts (real putts, not the ones just off the green were not included). My average for the past 20 rounds is just a hair over 36 putts and I wonder why my handicap doesn't drop....

I worry cause the stroke is good, the results are that it just doesn't drop. And then I worry.

[singlecoil]

I think "fear" is a better word. Fear of missing that 4 footer or fear of choking in front of your peers in a tourney or fear of hitting it OB or whatever. Overcoming fear is the hardest mental part of the game. I think that anyone who has ever played in a tournament at any level has let fear, whether in the form of worry or doubt or just nervousness, creep into his or her game. I try to beat it by playing as many tourneys as I can and puting something on the line every time I play so I can trust my swing in any situation. Like they say the hardest shot in golf is 6 inches between the ears

[Matt]

I used to worry...but then I realized that I had no reason to worry. I went through a rather large funk several years ago where I found it very difficult to play tournament golf. This was due to a poor experience in my first Wisconsin State Amateur at age 17.

I shot 76-75 (par 70) the first two rounds to make the cut on the number. Throughout the third round, things just didn't feel right. I remember holing out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the ninth hole, then the trouble started. I hit a good drive down the 10th and...shanked my approach. Shaken up, I go to hit my third from about 60 yards...shank. 11th hole I hit a good drive and shank a wedge under a bush. 12th hole I hit a driver off the heel and into a lake. I started that back nine with scores of 6-7-8. I somewhat got a hold of myself, then shanked one on the par-3 17th. I recall birdieing the par-5 18th - my caddie asks me, "Are you going to lay up?" I said, "Are you kidding? I'm not going to hit two shots with irons into here. Give me my 3-wood." I hit it up there and made birdie to finish off an 86. Shot 83 the final round, scared over each shot.

From then on for several months I was literally frightened in tournament golf. Practice rounds I was fine, but it was always in the back of my mind what had happened and how quickly it could happen again. Now, I'm pretty much over it and try to simply have confidence in my procedure. I think to myself, "Matt, you're a 1-handicap. You can play golf. Now go out there and do it." A lot of this game is mental no doubt, and having confidence in your stroke pattern and ability to play the game will allow you to overcome a good deal of anxiety.

[12 piece bucket]

I'm a golf chicken! I don't get to play enough to develop trust. So I turn into a little girl.

If I go out and just act like a goofball, I play pretty good. But if I "try" look out . . . THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!! Run Forrest! Run!

Bucket (chicken)

[deckhead]

Ok...

I have a question. This requires ego's checked at the door.

Whom here - and let's be honest - worries while playing? Whether it be about people watching you and embarrassing yourself or missing that 4 footer to tie the nassau on the 17th.

Come on...I know you're out there.

The times that I get "worried (nervous)" is when I am in an intense situation for the 1st time. (1st tee of a big event, first 2 putt to win a tournament, ect) But that's what I live for, the "butterflies", and it is especially satisfying to "come through" when it's crunch time. Just my 2 cents.