BBC news journalist and presenter Naga Munchetty tells Women & Golf Magazine how, despite being an avid golfer, she also feels the pressure on the course.
BBC news journalist and presenter and Women & Golf columnist Naga Munchetty is an avid golfer and plays several times a week. Like the rest of us, she can sometimes feel under pressure on the golf course, but she has to deal with it!
''I think that any golfer, be they amateur or professional, is able to fall victim to pressure. How it manifests in your mind is key to the game, swing and attitude that goes out with you on the course.
I recently played in a pro-am and it all came down to the yellow ball. Whenever it was my turn to use the yellow ball, with the idea being that it had to remain in play for the entire round, I was nervous and really felt under pressure. The worst moment was when I had to hit it on the final hole onto the green over water. I did it, despite the fear of a shank appearing, but my sigh of relief when I finally put it in the hole was immense. I had dreaded letting my team down and I took it as a personal battle, when standing over that shot, not to let pressure dominate me. After all, how embarrassing for me would it have been to be a 9 handicapper falling apart over a simple wedge after my team had done so well to keep that ruddy ball throughout the round? I suppose I had conjured up a set of expectations that I believe my fellow players had of me which is not unusual.
Whenever I have been drawn to play a singles match against a higher handicapper, I try never to think about how difficult it will be because I have to give my opponent shots. Instead I say to myself that the shots are being given for a reason and then I’m more likely to par or birdie holes than them. I know of many higher handicappers who dread playing with lower rated players because they think they will annoy them or get in their way. Well that’s an issue of etiquette as far as I can see, not playing ability.''
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