Last Updated on August 5, 2023 by Britt Olizarowicz
The ladies club championship is a big day at any golf club or country club. At one of the clubs I worked at, my lesson book was completely filled for the two weeks before the championship while everyone made last-minute changes to their game.
As stressful and nerve-wracking as the ladies club championship can be, it’s a lot of fun. The chance of winning, the camaraderie with friends, and that competitive edge during a round make it worth it.
If you are trying to decide if your game is ready, or you want to make sure you are taking the right steps to be ready for your ladies club championship, I have you covered.
Why is the ladies club championship such a big deal?
When I was seven years old, I swung a club for the first time, and within about six months, I had already picked up on the fact that ladies’ golf and men’s golf are two different things. Young girls weren’t really into the sport; it was odd that I was.
Equipment was hard to find; even ladies’ tees on the golf course were kind of an afterthought.
Golf has come a long way.
Along the way, competitive opportunities for women golfers have also grown. Playing in the club championship is a great way for amateur women golfers to get the thrill of competitive golf. Also, let’s face it, being given the title of the best golfer at your club is really a great honor.
Is Your Golf Game Ready for the Ladies Club Championship
I’m always surprised by how many women golfers claim they are not ready for the ladies club championship.
This is exactly why the club championship has flights. Depending on the size of your club, there will be a championship flight (which is usually a gross event), and then there are A, B, and C flights where you may even have a gross and net winner.
Your game is likely ready for one of these flights/categories, but here are a few things to consider to help you make your determination.
Skills and Physical Condition
Skills and physical conditioning go hand in hand. A club championship is usually a qualifier, then at least one or two rounds. Some are match-play events others are stroke play events.
You may end up playing a couple of rounds of golf a few days in a row. Just make sure you are ready to hand that.
As far as your skills are concerned, you will want to ensure that you play to your handicap, at least the majority of the time. If you are a 20 handicap and shoot 22 over par one day and 18 another, you are fine.
If, however, you are a 15 handicap who hasn’t played in a year or two and you pick up halfway through the hole or throw out any score over 100, your skills are probably not club championship ready.
The biggest thing you will want is consistency. The number you shoot really makes the most difference in the championship flight.
Course Knowledge
How well do you know the golf course? You may play in the ladies league each week with your friends, but do you know the course? Are you playing it the best way that you can?
Knowing the greens and understanding where to land the ball on your tee shots and approach shots can make all the difference when trying to capture that club championship title.
I encourage you to take a walk around the course and play a round where you focus on the insider or member knowledge that can really play into the round. I did this so much when playing competitive golf, and it’s amazing the way it can change your view of the course.
Tournament Experience
How much tournament experience have you had?
If this is your first club championship, don’t be discouraged; you need to start somewhere.
However, be prepared that tournament golf feels slightly different from a casual round. You have to pay a little more attention to the shots you are hitting, and every shot officially counts.
A tip here is to go out and play a match against a friend before the club championship. Put something on it so you desire to win, whether it’s a glass of wine after the round or $5 make sure you are playing for something.
Handicap Requirements
Some country clubs will have requirements, and your handicap will have to be within a certain range for you to participate in the club championship. Check with your assistant golf professionals and head golf professional to see whether or not you would qualify to play.
If you don’t, let them know you are interested, and they can help give you some steps to get on the path to participate in a ladies club championship at some point.
The Importance of Practice and Training
When you make the decision to participate in your ladies club championship, it’s smart to put together a practice and preparation plan. Most courses will open signup about a month or so before the start of the event.
This is plenty of time to work on your game and get ready.
Don’t Push the Practice
Practice is great, but you can overdo it. If you are not used to practicing at all, add in one or two sessions a week for about a ½ hour each time. Practicing for too long or too many days in a row could actually have adverse effects on your game.
Focus on Specific Skills
Know what you are practicing. Do you struggle with a specific club? Is your short game weak when hitting out of the rough? Find the specific skills that you need to work on and focus on those instead of just hitting golf balls.
In addition, when you are hitting balls on the range, ensure you are always aiming at a target.
Don’t forget to throw a few balls in a bunker and practice some sand shots! If you land in the sand during one of your rounds, you don’t want to be caught off guard.
Do Some Extra Walking
Try to do some extra walking in the days leading up to your club championship. The extra steps are good for your health and mind, and you will have more stamina and strength when you play your official club championship round.
Play A Round By Yourself
It’s amazing how many lady golfers have never played a round of golf by themselves. Get out there and play golf with no socializing or spending time with friends. Get out there and just enjoy some golf on your own!
This is a great way to learn about the course, focus on your game and get to know what type of player you are.
Mental Preparation for a Ladies Club Championship
I can and will do an entire post on mentally preparing for a golf tournament. For now, I’ll give you some top tips to ensure you are ready for the difference between tournament golf and regular play.
- Learn to take deep breaths after poor shots; you will improve your decision-making capability
- Pick a game plan for your club championship round, play it through mentally in your head, picking the clubs and shots that you want to hit
- Stay focused on the goal of hitting one good shot after another, don’t worry so much about score, hit each shot the best that you can
- Know that you will have bad holes, but learn to react to them appropriately so that they don’t turn into bad rounds
- Be prepared to be nervous for the event; it can throw off your yardages and your tempo, take deep breaths and focus on making a good balanced swing
The Day Before the Ladies Club Championship
You may want to save the day before the championship to be a practice day. Take a walk if you can, head to the putting green and get a feel for the speed of the greens, hit golf balls at the range for a half hour to an hour, and then mentally prepare for the round the next day.
It’s always a good idea to pick out an outfit you feel comfortable and confident in. Look at your options and decide in advance.
If you can, do some stretching to make sure you feel good. Also, take it easy on the food and drink the day before. You won’t want to have an upset stomach on the day of the event.
I’ve always enjoyed a salad with some lean protein as a pre-tournament meal. The morning of the event, I focus more on hydration than anything else, but again give yourself a little protein to help you through the round.
Getting the Support You Need
Club championships are fun, and chances are your friends and family will want to be involved in this process with you. Make sure you also seek out the help of a golf professional if you are serious about trying to win the event.
You can use golf technology to help you narrow down any issues that you might have in your game. In addition, golf professionals are a great source of encouragement. They want nothing more than to see you win.
As a young player, one of the most satisfying things for me was to tell my coach that I won. You will experience that same feeling if you have a great coach to help you through this process.
Good Luck, and Let Us Know How You Played!
Hopefully, this information helps you feel more prepared for your ladies club championship. Playing in a club championship is an accomplishment. More women should feel less afraid of these events and more excited to participate in them.
Competitive golf is a unique experience that will help you enjoy the game on a new level.
