Good preparation does not have to put you in a perfect state. It gives you a familiar structure for the things you can actually do before a round. You can feel nervous and still begin with a clear next step.
Start by checking the simple things: Is your equipment ready? Do you know when and where you start? Is there enough time to warm up? If something is missing, it is a specific task, not a judgement about your preparation. Take care of what you can do now. A brief overview gives you direction and room to settle in at your own pace, rather than trying to resolve everything at once before the start.
Your playing plan is part of preparation too. What options do your usual club distances give you? Which areas do you want to aim for? Where will you deliberately leave some room? A plan helps you make decisions but remains adaptable: weather, how you feel that day and actual course conditions may call for different choices. Use the plan as guidance while staying open to the situation in front of you.
Choose a simple intention for your warm-up that fits your situation and your coach’s practice task. Notice a target area, play the shot and observe its effect. Explore different lies in the short game and learn how the ball rolls on this green when putting. This gives you information for your round. Warming up does not need to be a test of whether everything will already go well today.
A personal routine brings together a few familiar steps: check your equipment, notice your contact with the ground, relax your hands and choose your first task. You can repeat it and adjust it when needed. “I will clarify my target and make a decision” is an actionable intention. “I must play well” only describes a desired result. The routine gives you a starting point without guaranteeing an outcome.
1. Check what you still need for the start. 2. Notice how you are arriving and choose a small adjustment if needed. 3. Formulate a brief, actionable intention. 4. Begin with your first specific task. Test this sequence in a practice round first. Then look back briefly: What helped you? Which step was unnecessary? What would you like to change next time? A routine can develop along with your experience.
In “My Golf”, you maintain your bag, prepare your next round and take your plan with you as a birdiebook. Audio routines accompany your warm-up on the range, in the short game and when putting. You choose the pace and duration and observe what suits you. Use these tools as guidance for your own preparation. Continue to discuss technical practice tasks and changes with your coach.