I’ve played golf at The Orchards Golf Membership in Washington Township, Michigan, for many events but never had nerves like I did May 3.
I wasn’t having any fun, I was just caddying. My stomach was aching as Tim Atkins, who was at the 11th green, made a 4-foot birdie. Tim has been making birdies for over 20-years, but this one was different.
Technically, he was having a lot more fun with him in order for him to be able to get a spot on the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open starts this week at The Nation Membership, Brookline. Massachusetts.
Even though his spherical was not the best, he managed to make a birdie to get back to five over par. We had some momentum. We weren’t sure he would make it to the finals, or even the U.S. Open. It was another thing to see a median player, who has never played at such an event, finish in a higher tier.
He sank the birdie and gave a small fist pump, looking at me as though he knew what it meant for him. It was one of many ups on our rollercoaster ride day that was full with emotion and exemplified how it was for players trying reach the highest levels.
We didn’t know what was in store for them that morning, from the birdie to the last putt.
Expert players often talk about the psychological pressures, rigors, and stakes of their profession.
It is rare for players with large numbers to be able to enjoy the game to its fullest. A $20 wager with friends for a 5-foot putt should not be placed in same stratosphere as one stroke. This could cost a player $1,000,000 or a major tournament. The U.S. Open qualifying gives only a glimpse at what it looks like.
Amateurs with a handicap of less than 1.4 are eligible for the native qualifiers in order to win a spot to the U.S. Open. They get a glimpse of what it is like to be an expert.
But, how powerful is it? What pressure can it withstand? What’s the opponent really like? I’m certain that most players won’t know the answer. I’m a 7.7 handicap, so I don’t think I’ll ever be able to win.
Tim is one my best college friends. He has a zero handicap. He is a great example of how a weekend participant should look against professionals, amateurs trying this their profession, or faculty players trying to match up.
He is 40 years old and has a job, a spouse, and two young kids. He prefers to live in Southeastern Michigan. He performs the typical dad duties, including dance and baseball throughout his week. He also has a personal member and won the championship again. He does his best, but golf is not his main focus.
Tim is the best person who can answer the question “How does a participant with extraordinary skill stack up against professionals?” I was there when he shot 68. He rarely gets in too much trouble to be unable salvage a spot. He also doesn’t make big mistakes that are costly.
He was a high school competitor, but he has never participated in USGA events. I wanted to see the psychological stress of the opponents. I was unable do it myself so I suggested to Tim that he play in a Michigan qualifier. I would then be his coach.
He thought I was making fun of him at first, but after some discussion to make it clear that he was serious, he enthusiastically stated the positive. The conversation was followed by consternation over the future and the way he would perform.
“What if you don’t play correctly?” He asked me. He asked me, “Will it ruin the story?”
I would inform him that it wasn’t about me. It was more about how he would feel about himself and the implications for him if he didn’t play well. He is a competitor. Although he may not be able to play at this level of play, all participants want confidence in their performance on the course.
I started to think about having fun and explaining that we don’t want the course’s story to be anything but the best. I reminded him that any participant could be qualified just like him and that he did not have an exemption from finals or the exact U.S. Open.
He was keen to take on the challenge, even though the qualifier hadn’t yet started.
My duties as a caddy began before the event. I encouraged him and reminded him about his great participation. Amateurs can register as qualifiers but it is not common for them to make the finals, and then go on to the U.S. Open.
Between 2016-2020, which excludes 2020 due to COVID restrictions, there were 46.605 qualified entries, with 23.687 being amateurs. Only 23 of the 23,687 entries reached the U.S. Open. This is enough to demonstrate how powerful it can be.
He might be able to make it to the U.S. Open, which I was certain of. But who knows, maybe he could shine in the native qualifier to make it to the finals. I ignored the fact that it was rare for amateurs in this event to make a splash. My caddie focuses on the positives.
We had big ideas about what we would do at The Orchards Golf Membership where the occasion might be held, just a few weeks before the event. I stated that I would bring my notebook and take notes about the course and greens. I was thrilled to be a caddie.
Each of us had been substituted. We were all busy with our jobs and knew each other enough to know that our families had taken vacations in Florida the week before.
Tim stated that he has never played golf as fast as Tim. “I get my spherical in just a few days before the event, and it’s a lot faster than I expected.”
Although the competitor within me was upset that we wouldn’t get any complying with ins, I thought this would give an accurate portrayal on what a weekend participant looks at when they are placed in a knowledgeable event.
Although I grew up on a golf course, my only experience as an apprentice caddie was at a local golf course when I turned 13. Caddying wasn’t something that I was interested in. I wanted to do a great thing this time, so I spoke with a golfer Chase KoepkaParticipants’ perspective on what to expect and how to proceed on the course.
“Don’t attempt to do something in a different case than you would enjoy with your friends.” Koepka stated that those who enjoy being taught a putt quickly, and getting the feel of it, don’t need to go through the hole six to seven times to confirm. While they have fun with native qualifying, some guys will overanalyze their situation and eliminate their common. They are limited in their ability to think of more than one idea, and not just hit a shot. Don’t get too excited.
I was unable play music on a Bluetooth speakers or crack any Extreme Noons during the qualifier so I wanted some points. Tim was expected be able to play his recreation.
We chose to fluctuate to heat up on the occasion. It was a contact below 50 degrees with a little wind, rain, and that made it more durable than ever.
With just over 6,900 yards, the course was having a lot fun. As if that weren’t scary enough, many players took pictures in the direction towards the tip.
As I walked through fluctuate, I was able see college baggage. A few men looked the same as Tim, while others looked like they were doing it for a living.
Tim and I have played enough golf together to know how Tim hits the ball, and whether he is satisfied with the result. I would tell him that there was something wrong. He then turned to me and said, “I’m nervous.”
Tim and me have been friends for over 20 years. Tim never said he was nervous while playing on the course. I was clearly nervous and I tried to talk with him about one thing that is common to us all: our children.
Soon, the conversation shifted to golf. He said that he felt like tugging every shot. I couldn’t tell him anything so I decided to continue the conversation. Perhaps the thought would fade just as quickly as he was on the course.
It was still manageable, even though the weather was not ideal. We set out to have fun with two friends, one from Canada and another member skilled, who drove from Sarnia. He stayed in a lodge that night, and was now looking to compete.
Another Oxford newbie was available, who was in a similar position to Tim but was far from being an expert.
We were blessed to have shared the fun with two great men. Tim teed his ball between the gold markers, which were 6 toes higher than the USGA-designated markers. They all agreed that he would be better off teeing at the correct markers. I was not convinced we should overthink points. To avoid making mistakes, we should be able to assume more stability on the next hole.
Tim was nervous but I felt pressured by the caddie. I felt I had an obligation, even if it was a bad suggestion. I wanted him to be able reach the first tee in order to clarify any doubts or points.
He hit it to his left and now he is qualified for the U.S. Open. We had no problems, despite the rain and cold, and his technique was only temporary. We both bogeyed two holes, but bounced back to par on the second.
After an unlucky play resulted in a foul, we doubled our fifth hole. We are now six over after seven holes. I tried my best to keep him mentally awake, but he wasn’t hitting the ball well and we had many unhealthy photos that led to a variety unhealthy scores. I’ve seen him struggle, and he can be found again much sooner than that, so I reminded my friend.
“I do know. Let’s just get up to 9 and then go around and see where it is at,” he said. “I have never completed it but I feel like every shot is possible.”
I knew he was still thinking in his head about that comment so I was still on edge. Despite this, we were now 6 over which helped to ease some of our initial anxiety. We all realized that we could relax and just play golf. We were 6 overs and far from where it was needed to be to move forward.
After six rounds, we knew that the expert with whom we were having fun was 2 under par. He was at one time the most important player, but he collapsed. He quadrupled-bogeyed seven, and bogeyed eight. He went from 2 under to 9 at three over.
After inserting out, he doubled the score and walked away from the course. He said goodbye to the newbie and gave him our scorecard. We never saw him again. I was stunned at the second.
It was impossible to drive all the distance from Canada, pay for a lodge, register worth, and then return after 10 holes. This diploma allowed us to see the power of recreation. Mentally, you can fall into a downward spiral by making some mistakes or making poor choices.
Tim was still following the wrong mental path, but we started to see that the stakes are lower in the current situation. After hitting a super wedge shot to the toes and stripping a drive at 11, I would say he was starting to get into a groove.
He was kind enough to play holes 8-15 at even par. Then, we were at 6 over on our 16th Tee. We had a chance to insert collectively a Spherical.
Tim understood the importance of playing properly. Every participant who enjoys the sport is aware of the emotion that draws them back.
It’s a fastened fight against yourself on course. It’s a contest to improve your ultimate shot, increase the ultimate spherical and show that all the years you have spent, often on fluctuate coaching, can be translated to the course. There are few sports that can make one feel as good as or worse than you.
These positive feelings are similar to photos containing serotonin. The negative feelings can stay for a while, and can trigger a variety of factors. We are about to make the transition, even though we didn’t know it.
Tim and I hadn’t spoken about Tim feeling like Tim was going to pull his photos soon. It was something we had completely forgotten about. I was curious to see how he thought he’d go back as a chicken. What kind is this chicken? Is it a parrot, or a bald-eagle?
I thought we were through the clear. We’d cruise in through the last three holes and be content with the fact we ended up in middle of the pack.
He stepped just as much as when he hit his 16th tee shot, and we debated whether to get which membership. It was a par-4, 372-yard hole. There was water on the left side for the inexperienced and around the inexperienced.
He said, “I’ve been hitting on the driver properly all day.” If I hit the driver, I would give myself an easy shot at driving. “I don’t want water all over me, but. That hybrid will be mine.”
He hit the hybrid, and pulled it to his right. Out of bounds. All those concepts that had been in your mind all day had finally been implemented. If you think of one thing that isn’t being used enough on a course, it’s possible it will happen.
He couldn’t avoid the penalty, and he managed 16 with a three-bogey 7. He stepped on the 17th green, which is a par-4 of 444 yards. He didn’t notice that he pulled his tee shot. He attempted to correct his pull and pushed the next shot to the acceptable, beyond bounds.
We managed 17 holes with 9s, and in 2 holes we went from 6-14 over par.
Tim was crazy and I would see it. We only had one remaining hole, but when Tim gets offended on a green, I tend to be more patient and leave him alone. This was what I attempted to do on my last hole. He was too upset to hit a great shot at the moment, and he pulled out his tee shot out of bounds as soon he got back to it.
He won with a 7-under triple-bogey, and we completed our spherical at 17 over par.
As we walked past the inexperienced, I told him immediately, “I’m proud of you.” “You kept it together mentally. Although you may not be able to manage your score or the outcome, there is a good chance you won’t. However, you still did it.
I don’t know whether it made him feel more relaxed but he smiled and hugged my hand as we walked to sign our scorecards.
Up to that point, I have never felt nervous watching someone play golf. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be a participant or a caddie. It’s exhausting enough to go through the ups and downs of a normal round of Golf. Add in the emotion of wanting to win with your friends and you will be able to move on to the finals. We’ve all been mentally exhausted, frozen, and soaking wet.
After the meeting, we went to lunch at a local eatery. After our drinks were finished, we looked at each other’s sphericals to see if any areas needed improvement. We stopped as fast as we could to 16 when Tim looked at me and said, “Everyone knows the remainder of one of the simplest methods.”
We talked about how difficult it had been to navigate that day, the pressure felt at the start of the spherical, then the transition to comfort or disillusionment. These are the unique battles you have fought within your own mind, and that is what makes golf so special.
Opponents won’t give up even though he took 23 photographs of the medalist who finished at 6 under par. And no matter how difficult it was to endure, he didn’t want it to be the last time we experienced these emotions.
He smiled, and said, “Properly.” “Let’s do this as soon next year as we can.”
