Regular golf rounds are for fun, however it is all about prestige on tournaments. We can pretend that it does not really matter but let’s be honest – every success makes us happy, no matter what tournament it is. It is therefore important not to underestimate the preparation. David Carter’s experiences in this regard are priceless. They are useful for both the professionals and amateurs.

When professionals get ready for a tournament, they try to visualise the course at their practice. Unlike amateurs who just carelessly hit the balls on the driving range and copy one shot after another.

“People do not realise the fact that they can play real golf even on the driving range. When they manage to play a straight shot, they immediately feel that they have the game under control. However, when they come to the real golf course, they are very disappointed since they encounter completely different game situations which they need to solve and they have no idea how,” says David Carter.

Play by heart or by a birdie card

So, how can you play real golf from the mat? The English professional recommends simulating the exact conditions that await the player in the tournament in advance at practice. “Every course is different whether you play at the Albatross, Cascades or golf resort Karlštejn. What you need to do is imagine the course in question or take the help of a birdie card and try to visualise one shot after another and one hole after another. Think about where and how you have to play. It is truly amazing how powerful this technique is. Plenty of professionals use this all the time. Do not hesitate and try it out as well, you will definitely appreciate it in a tournament,” he advises.

It is always a bit too late to catch up just before the tournament. According to David Carter it is a mistake made even by some golf experts. They literally exhaust themselves and then there is no strength left for the tournament itself.

“Instead of going to play on the course, players toil it away on the driving range. It is important to play a practice round before the tournament – either on the course if you have the opportunity or you can use the aforementioned simulation on the driving range and then just polish certain aspects of the game which can decide your success,” he says.

How to play a practice round

Your practice should make you feel good and help you succeed on the course. If there is a “tournament” course nearby, just go for it and perform your practice round there.

David Carter says it is not necessary to play a practice round to the fullest. Even a stroll around the course with a putter or wedge can be beneficial for someone who places a greater emphasis on a short game, whereas someone else might prefer trying to play long shots. There are a lot of possibilities.

“During a practice round, it is important to explore different places and situations you might get into. When you play a practice round to the fullest, you may not see all the obstacles you might come across in the actual tournament. Use the practice round in order to gain a greater sense of greens, bunkers and the like. The aim is to observe, understand the course more and focus on multiple aspects at once,” says David Carter.

You can even seek some advice from others in a clubhouse, and ask for instance about the pin positions on the golf course. “Most of the time they will happily give you a piece of advice, rarely are they unwilling to help,” he says.