Prepping for A Tournament
Every shot tells a story.
And when the stage is the 38th Annual Fall Charity Invitational at Treetops Resort—a course that demands both guts and precision—every story begins with preparation.
Scratch golfers know the truth: tournament rounds aren’t just about ball-striking. They’re about decision-making under pressure. They’re about shaping shots that matter. They’re about choosing your line, committing to it, and owning the result—good or bad.
So, if you’re planning to bring your A-game (and a few friends) to one of Northern Michigan’s most competitive and scenic team event, here’s how to prep like a player who’s ready to win it.
Practice With Purpose—Don’t Just Hit Balls
Range time leading up to a tournament shouldn't feel like a warm-up—it should simulate decisions. Before teeing it up on the Signature or Premier courses, rehearse situations you’re likely to face:
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Wind-in-your-face wedges into elevated greens.
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Fairway bunker escapes with long irons.
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Par-5 second shots where reward tempts risk.
Don’t just groove your swing. Practice the choices you’ll face at Treetops—especially on holes like #6 on Signature, where a draw over the corner sets up eagle, but a miss leaves you flirting with the treeline.
Why it matters: When you visualize the shot and execute under controlled pressure, you create muscle memory for tournament time. You don’t just know the swing—you’ve already told yourself the story.
Tweak Your Bag for Shot-Making, Not Just Yardage
Tournament prep isn’t just about dialing in distance—it’s about options.
Are you bringing a club that lets you shape a low draw around trouble when the wind kicks up? Are your wedges gapped tightly enough to cover every distance inside 100?
At the Fall Charity Invitational, you’ll see it all—elevated tees, uneven lies, downhill par-3s with breeze in play. You need gear that lets you flight it down, shape both ways, and spin it when necessary.
Pro tip: Ditch the ego-driven 3-wood if it only serves you on the range. Consider a utility club or a second wedge that covers your scoring gaps.
Tournament Time!
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Map Your Strategy—Then Be Willing to Break It
Tournament rounds reward the thoughtful—but punish the stubborn.
You’ll want a plan for every hole. But you’ll also need to adjust on the fly when conditions or match momentum shift. Can you trade the hero line for a safer route when the wind changes? Or better yet—can you see a scoring opportunity when others don’t?
Take Hole #14 on the Masterpiece, for example: a reachable par-4 with trouble lurking short and right. Most lay back. But if you can move it right-to-left and catch the downslope, you’re looking at 7-iron in and a serious birdie look. That’s the kind of tournament swing that changes a leaderboard.
Know the Greens. Know the Pins.
At Treetops, your score is written with your putter.
Breaks are subtle. Speed control is everything. And pin positions at the Invitational are tournament-tight—tucked just enough to force a decision. Play to the wrong tier and you’re lagging from 50 feet. Play aggressive and you could walk away with three.
Do this: If you get a chance to play a practice round, pay attention to where the misses go on the greens. A smart miss leaves an uphill 15-footer. A reckless one leaves you staring at bogey.
Play With a Team That Knows Roles and Reads
The Invitational is a four-person team scramble—which means camaraderie and chemistry matter.
Designate a lead-off player who’s comfortable putting it in play. Let your best ball-striker swing last when the pressures on. Talk about reads on the green and wind on the tee box. Great teams don’t just play together—they think together.
And remember: Even a perfectly struck shot means little if no one saw the break on your birdie putt.
Compete for More Than Just Bragging Rights
The 38th Annual Fall Charity Invitational isn’t just another scramble. It’s a competitive, memory-making, game-sharpening tradition—with proceeds benefiting incredible local causes.
The fairways are lush. The fall colors are peaking. The stage is set. All that’s missing is your team.
So start prepping. Dial in your swing. Pick your crew. And get ready to write your own story—one shot at a time.
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