Look. Tee. Swing. It was the time in which my hands were clammy, my knees wobbly, my knees feeling much like Jell-O and my stomach filled with butterflies. It was time for me to play in a major tournament. While contemplating what todays tournament would bring, I could not stop thinking about the passionate sport I love: golf. I experience a slight nervousness regarding my performance at a tournament that could be instrumental in playing golf at one of my top choice universities.
     One of my fondest memories in my golf career occurred in the summer of 2014 at Rutgers University Golf Course. It was 8:31 a.m. in the morning, and was approaching the tee for an 8:41 tee time. Filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety, I patiently waited for my name to be called. Walking up to the tee, slowly but deliberately, I gracefully placed my tee into the ground with my ball resting on top. I continued my practice routine just as though it were a leisurely round of golf, rather than a grueling competition. Finally ready to hit the ball with confidence and determination, I readied myself to pound the ball in the middle of the fairway. Now I was ready to perform one of the best tournaments I have ever played
     Feeling calm and confident, I was able to prepare myself for 18 holes of golf in a tournament that produced the kind of results that set this tournament apart from all the others. While continuing my rhythm throughout a course that I have never seen before, my game felt comfortable making my way around the course. In the beginning I started off with a bogey but was able to redeem myself on the third hole with a birdie to bring me back to even par. I was on a roll, every hole played to the courses perfection, but still my performance did not live up to my standards as I have always strove for birdies. After eight holes of golf, I was approaching the ninth hole, one that I would vividly remember, a dog leg right par 5, nothing completely different. I hit my drive right down the middle of the fairway as usual. Second shot was just a nice and easy 3-wood to get me about 25 to 30 yards away from the green. As I made contact with the ball, it was great except for the fact that it took a turn toward the trees, and in a panic, I power walked myself to the trees and frantically looked for my ball. When I landed my eyes on it I immediately looked up and saw the slighted opening to the green. I whipped out my 9-iron, ready to punch out and land somewhere on the green. After taking a few extra practice swings, BAM! The ball soared through the air right through the opening and landed about 15 feet away from the hole, making for a remarkable birdie putt. As I started to panicked, I knew that I had to stay calm and hit it as if there was nothing in front of me except for the flag.
       With a few holes left to play, I was tearing up the course, par after par after par along with a few birdies in the mix. With a nice birdie coming off 12 and par for the rest of the holes at 17, where I was beginning to think I was not going to do better than I had previously done the day before. Additionally, hole 17 was the hardest hole on the course. This time I hit the same club, but I did so a lot better with this shot. After playing through that hole and had to save a tough par to finish off my round of 80. It was right then that I knew that I may not have won, but I gave everything both days on the course and left feeling accomplished.
      After debriefing with my competitors and was sitting the car on the way home, I realized the importance of confidence and the role it plays in keeping up with my fellow competitors. I also have come to know that I am as good as the rest of my competitors and thus there is no reason to have anything but positive energy with each hole I play. In essence, each time I play golf I have the time of my life.