help for blobby ?

Greeteings all. I'm a new golfer (been playing obsesively for six months), and i can't relax and play well when playing in competitions at my club. When i'm on my own or playing with friends i regularly shot in the low to mid 40's over nine but in competition i usually blow out to 105+ over eighteen. This ugly turn of events is really bugging me to the extent that i am beginning to dread my mid-week and friday games. I know this is probably a mental thing and i've read a couple of Rotella books, and using his advice on the course but it has'nt seemed to help much. Everyone says that i am a natural golfer and all i need to do is hit the ball (just do it, as you american's say), and my handicap has come down from a 36 to a 22 but i fear that it will go back up again if i can't get over this competition thing. Any suggestions would be greatly appereciated.

Unfortunately there IS a difference between social and competitive golf, even if "competitive" is a weekly club competition. The difference is really outcome-based because by now you've work out each shot has an outcome and the outcome is reflected on the scorecard. Whereas when you're playing a social game, the results are far less important in your mind.

There's no other way but to find a "something" that helps you ignore the outcome-based thinking... it's still golf and it's the same course, the same scorecard, same golf ball, same clubs ... so what's different?

I'd suggest you forget about the competition, forget your partner if you're play a betterball compo ... play your own game and play the course as you see it.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)