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One of Bermuda's major Amateur golf tournaments is just around the corner. All of you who are serious about your golf had better get your entries into the BGA Secretary fast.

You don't want to miss out because you waited until the last moment to enter.

I love tournament golf. Tournaments provide us with the opportunity to put ourselves under the gun to play and perform when it counts the most. Some say that life without stress would be boring. That may be stretching it a bit but I get the point.

The quality of our performance matters most when in fact it actually matters.

In about three weeks time, the Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championships will be played at Tucker's Point.

This is one of Bermuda's major golf championships and every amateur golfer who meets the qualification standard should be looking to play.

There is a Men's and Ladies' Championship, with Men contesting their event over 72 holes and the Ladies over 54 holes.

It is Bermuda's flagship stroke play event and the divisional winners will be the Stroke Play Champions for 2009.

While there can be only one winner, tournament golf enables each and every one of us the opportunity to put ourselves to the golf stress test.

Setting benchmarks

Every golfer sets benchmarks and goals for themselves. Some of us will be trying to break 90, or 80, or dare I say break 70 every time we play.

Yes, as tough as breaking 70 is, some of our younger players will be looking to do exactly that, as they try to put into play what they have been working on in practice.

And they are very capable of doing that and it is fun to be part of a tournament where that is happening.

Here's a "duh" comment for you: a tournament is not a tournament without players.

I'll take that "duh" comment a step further: a major tournament is not a major tournament without the major players.

I'm not building a rocket here with these comments so there is no need for you to get your passport and suitcase out.

However, what I am saying is that it is equally important for those of us golfers who fall within the normal two standard deviations of the mean - in other words, most of us - to play in our tournaments, as it is for our so-called better players to play.

A tournament is not a tournament without players and a major is not a major without the top players.

So, to use some Bermujan verds, you hear where I'm coming from and you see what I'm saying.

Golfers, come on out in June and play in this important event. Put yourself to the golf stress test.

See if you can break 90 every day, or 80, or get two birdies per round, or whatever it is that sparks your flame. After all, it's why Tiger Woods plays the game and wouldn't we all like to be a bit more like Tiger.

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