Before a tournament, a player may approach a golf course with a certain amount of anxiety.

It’s just not usually the player’s home course.

Ricky Jones of Rockland opens defense of his R.H. Foster/Mobil Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament title today against approximately 370 other competitors split into three divisions and spread over three golf courses.

Jones, along with the other Division A players, opens at Rockland, his home course. The group moves to Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton on Saturday before finishing at Bangor Municipal Golf Course on Sunday.

The rotation of courses for Division B is Bar Harbor, Bangor, Rockland. For Division C, it’s Bangor, Rockland, Bar Harbor.

The problem for Jones is that Rockland is not where he has been playing his best golf.

“It seems like the only time I play well is when I play away,” said Jones.

“I think my expectations at my home course are higher,” he added.

Jones believes he can separate his normal expectations from tournament play, though.

“I don’t think I get as frustrated in a tournament as I do on a daily basis,” said Jones. “I think I’m more patient.”

It’s his short game that’s been bothering him, according to Jones.

“I’m not putting that well, and I my chip shots haven’t been as close as I would like,” he said.

Those are the parts of the game that could prove pivotal over the course of the tournament, according to Jones.

“A lot of it has to do with confidence with the putter [and chipping],” said Jones.

Jones made a 20-foot putt on the 13th hole at Rockland last year in the final round and it propelled him to a one-stroke victory over former University of Maine golf teammate Jay Livingston of Orono.

Jones just hopes to get through the round Saturday at Bar Harbor Golf Course.

“[It] definitely plays long when it’s wet,” said Jones.

The forecast is for more showers late today and throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.

Finishing at Bangor could prove beneficial to Jones’ chance of retaining his title.

“Bangor I usually get around in under par,” said Jones of the par-71 layout. “The last few times have been 69 to 71.”

Among his competitors will be a couple of recent winners – Ryan Day of Lamoine (2000) and Bob Girvan II of Kenduskeag (1995, 1982, 1977).

Also, members of the Husson College golf team that went to the NAIA Men’s National Golf Championships will be playing.

Joe Alvarez of Veazie, who was an All-American; Corey Pion of Vassalboro; and Joe Finemore of Augusta are competing.

Other challengers could include 15-year-old Jesse Speirs of Bangor, former Maine Amateur runner-up Greg Hanna of Augusta, and Tom Caron of Bangor.