You must understand that it is your mind that will have the most to do with how you play in a big match and navigate 18 holes. Avoid new or different things that will distract your mind from your normal routine. Easier said than done-but when you head for the first tee, don’t even consider the eventual result of the round. Consider the shot at hand.
Playing any given hole correctly, within your personal capabilities and to a strategic plan is just common sense-yet its strange how many conflicting little voices one hears during a round of golf. Are you going back too much on the inside?—aiming correctly?—do I have the right club?—why was the wife in a bad mood this morning?—a good golfer must learn to switch off all those worrying voices. Golf course management is about keeping a clear head and thinking correctly on how best to play the hole stretched out in front of you.
You should try and make a clear plan in your mind of how you would like to tackle each hole and then stick to it. Golf has been compared to the game of Chess—‘one well thought out move at a time’ –for example; if there’s a par 5 that you have no hope in reaching in two, then say to yourself hit the fairway followed by a good solid 2nd shot—on the green in 3 -then two steady putts—with luck maybe just one will be required!
If there’s a particular difficult hole to play, then so be it, and make a solid bogie and move on—no big deal and don’t allow your ego to get in the way of making a good respectable score. Try to keep those human emotions under control and not to get too excited -or too depressed. A round of golf will deliver all of life’s normal ups & downs, so be prepared!