August 2008
Going from junior to amateur golf by Nick Dougherty
Be prepared - the step from junior golf is a huge one. Suddenly you are competing against a much broader range of ages and therefore a larger and more competitive field. You need to be as ready as ever with a plan in place.
Youth golf - with unions realising the demand for competitive tournaments for players aged between 18 - 21, youth golf is improving. The Faldo Series is an example of this with its 18 - 21 section. These events are an obvious starting point in your amateur career.
County golf - remain involved with county matches and training. Aim to become the top player in your county, therefore becoming well known, whilst also gaining crucial tournament experience.
Junior golf - make the most of your experiences in junior golf while you still can. Working hard now, learning from your experiences and taking in all the advice you are given will set you in good stead - you will reap the rewards later.
PR - build a relationship with the media now. Contact your local paper and inform them of all your results. You will soon become well known and doors will begin to open for you. Also inform the Faldo Series staff of your performances and results - they can help generate publicity for you, just as they have for me in the past.
Practice - to pass on advice I have received from Nick Faldo regarding practice, quality is better than quantity. Simply hitting hundreds of balls with no aim or goal is totally ineffective. As is not spending your practice time constructively - if you are losing concentration, go and work on another aspect of your game. Finally, don't neglect your short game - to quote Nick Faldo: "the ability to turn three shots into two is what makes or breaks a score".
Be yourself - to be successful, you must be your own man or woman. Don't be influenced by your friends and tag along with them; remain single-minded and do your own thing. Don't be afraid to tell your mates you need an early night as you have an important tournament the following day and you want to give yourself the best possible chance of winning. They will respect you for that. It may be a sacrifice now, but it will be of huge benefit in the long run. As a friend once said to me, "If it is to be, it is up to me".
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