We've all been there when our name gets called to the tee having to hit that daunting opening tee shot. It's important to note that everyone at all levels have nerves when they're about to tee off, it's just that the more experienced golfers tend have a process to deal with these feelings effectively. The best way to deal with these emotions all comes down to preparation on not only game day but the practice during the week leading up to the opening tee shot.
The best way to prepare is to have a routine that you go by every week leading up to your round. If your main round of golf for the week is a Saturday, I would firstly have a lesson early in the week (Monday or Tuesday). The day after the lesson I would then go to the range and practice exactly what was taught during the lesson. This would then bring you to Thursday where you could hit a large or small bucket where you would divide the amount of balls into technical and routine based. Technical is what was taught during the lesson and routine based is simply walking up to your ball and just executing the shot as if you would on the course.
On the Friday I would hit a small or large bucket again and simply have the practice as routine based. In a nutshell the closer you get to game day, the more you only want to focus on pre-shot routine. This is because the technique that you applied earlier in the week would have started to embed itself into your swing so now is the time to switch to instinct mode where you can simply walk into the ball and execute. Doing it this way will completely free up your mind and body as you approach the round. Also on the Friday if you can play a few holes to simulate the following day that would also be very beneficial.
On game day you want to try and arrive at the course at least an hour before. Once you've checked in for your round, head down to the range and hit a warm-up bucket for around 15-20 mins. I would then head to the chipping green for around 10 - 15 mins and then putt for the remaining time before having to head to the opening tee. Now when it is your time to hit, you only want to focus on your routine. Ideally during your routine based practice, you would have practiced walking into the ball the exact same way each time, even down to how long it took each time. I would even practice the way you breathe and the way you walk into the shot whether it's fast or slow. Once you're over the ball, you then just want to pull the trigger. However if you want to take longer you can, as long as it's the same as it was during practice.
In conclusion the opening tee shot will become less daunting the more times you practice this scenario during practice.
f you'd like any further help in calming yourself down for the opening tee shot, just contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Coaching Centre.

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