barney_bogey

I play a lot of solo rounds, particularly at my local 9-hole muni, so I've been paired with a wide variety of golfers. Same in league last year. Since returning to the game I have consciously worked on pace of play and ready golf.
My preference would be to play with people at my handicap or better. I enjoy learning from watching decision making and course management of low handicappers, particularly short game and recovery shots. That said, my regular playing partners are mostly higher handicap than me and it's not an issue. 
Really slow golfers and those with a poor attitude do frustrate me. Some people take it all too seriously and drag down the mood in the group. Frequently playing solo makes every round a bit of a pot luck, but so far I've been mostly lucky with pairings.

For me it doesn’t really matter as long as a few things are observed.  Any skill level is fine. I most often play from our #3 tees (of 5) and always encourage them to play whatever tees are appropriate for their game.  Most do, but occasionally one will play longer than they should.  Second, limit time (3 min is fine) looking for a lost ball and never prolong the look to try to find another ball to “break even”.  And finally, play ready golf. 

Much of my golfing has been playing solo. Just a fact of life and it doesn't bother me; I have some definite loner tendencies anyway. When I have been in a threesome or foursome, it seems that there's usually one close to my level and one or two a lot better. Neither one is an issue. When I'm with somebody who really sucks, I have to admit it irritates me, possibly because it reminds me of my own shortcomings.

Unless the golfer is a total jerk on the golf course, I don't care what their handicap is; I just play golf and enjoy the company on the course. 
Yesterday, my best friend and I were paired with two younger golfers, both of whom I estimate were more than 35-40 years younger than us. Nobody discussed what our handicaps were, but I suspect that both of the other guys were 20-30 handicap golfers (my buddy and I are both in the mid-teens in handicap, so we're not the greatest golfers on Earth by any means).  I happened to have a very good round yesterday, shooting 6 over par, which is rare for this 14+ handicapper, but I don't think that the other guys felt uncomfortable or intimidated, although one of the younger golfers started "pressing" because he was having excessive difficulty with his short game.  Still, we enjoyed pleasant non-golf and golf-related discussions and even shared a few jokes.

First choice is playing with someone better than me.  Gives me the opportunity to learn and push myself.
Second choice is it doesn't matter when it's with friends.  It's about enjoying the day and hanging out.  

Do you prefer to play with players of a similar handicap? Do you get intimidated playing lower handicaps? Do you get frustrated playing with high handicaps?
Or do enjoy playing with better players to see the skill level as well as find joy in playing with higher handicaps to watch their journey and joy in hitting great shots?
What's your preference or sweet spot if you could choose your playing partners skill level?

So I see that we have the funny golf stories on here and the stories of arguments but what about the heartfelt stories. Last year in around October we had a really warm day. I randomly picked up a round at Pine Hills CC and was paired with people I had never met. My cart mate was a guy around my age (30) and he was a good player and a pretty good dude to play with. For the front 9 we played with these two 70+ age woman and they were an absolute riot. They gave us some pretty good chirps and absolute spitfires. They left after the front 9 and winked at us to meet them in the clubhouse after we finished the 18. We finished in the dark and figured hey we had a good time let’s grab a drink and food and headed out. The woman were still there and invited us to have dinner with them. They were members and told us all about themselves and how they lived in FL for the winter and their husbands had been best friends before their passing a year or two prior. They told us their life stories and just had a great time with them. By the end of night him and I split the tab for us all and they hugged us and invited us to play the next week with them. We obliged and met up with them. They were shocked we showed and hugged us and gave us gifts and some special stuff there husbands had from the course. By the end of that round they hugged us and had tears in their eyes. I still have that stuff hanging in my golf area at home and still check to see how they are doing anytime I’m there. She told me a few weeks ago we are still their guys and they haven’t replaced us with younger guys yet. 
Never judge the playing partners cause you never know what’s they have been through or are going through.

I've been out 3 times in my bucket hat now. Really wish I had started wearing them earlier. The sun hurts. It destroys skin. This keeps my face from feeling like it's going to fall off when I get home to shower.


Dermatologist approved.

B

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The range was lovely and I didn't see many carts going off so I stole a quick nine. Wasn't going to even keep score but it started off pretty good so why not?

I don't think I missed a single putt inside of 7 feet. Had some driver misses that weren't punished and made some great recovery shots for position with my hybrid. Hybrid hasn't been a confident club for a while now.

4 over for the 9. No birdies. 5/7 FIR but only 3/9 GIR. The scramble was strong today.

Besides two thin shots, striking was excellent. Definitely hitting my irons a bit further now that it's warmer.

I think it's time to look at a spinnier ball. Not seeing much zip.

I'm playing the golf I dreamed about playing last year at this time. Which means more practice, not less. Turns out, playing a whole bunch may have been the difference. Whodathunkit?

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You don't have fun when you are playing?  You can be competitive and have fun at the same time.

Well, I achieved one of my goals today. 
Had an awesome day of golf! It is absolutely, 100% definitely a fluke,  but I finally broke 90!!! 
 

I've been out 3 times in my bucket hat now. Really wish I had started wearing them earlier. The sun hurts. It destroys skin. This keeps my face from feeling like it's going to fall off when I get home to shower.


Dermatologist approved.

B

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The range was lovely and I didn't see many carts going off so I stole a quick nine. Wasn't going to even keep score but it started off pretty good so why not?

I don't think I missed a single putt inside of 7 feet. Had some driver misses that weren't punished and made some great recovery shots for position with my hybrid. Hybrid hasn't been a confident club for a while now.

4 over for the 9. No birdies. 5/7 FIR but only 3/9 GIR. The scramble was strong today.

Besides two thin shots, striking was excellent. Definitely hitting my irons a bit further now that it's warmer.

I think it's time to look at a spinnier ball. Not seeing much zip.

I'm playing the golf I dreamed about playing last year at this time. Which means more practice, not less. Turns out, playing a whole bunch may have been the difference. Whodathunkit?

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2v2 at the club with the guys. On paper we were the favorite by 6. On the course, I've never seen so many fortunate bounces, pin saves, and long bomb putts fall. All against us.

We went into the 18th all square and I hit the drive of the day. Partner pumped a 3 wood to wedge take and we closed the deal with a par.

Bit warm but lovely company.

B

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Outdated? Maybe. But I've never been a reason to get gussied up! People tend to treat you differently when you're dressed well.

I can, however, excuse an untucked shirt on a hot day after the turn..
Cheers
B

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Outdated? Maybe. But I've never been a reason to get gussied up! People tend to treat you differently when you're dressed well.

I can, however, excuse an untucked shirt on a hot day after the turn..
Cheers
B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

2v2 at the club with the guys. On paper we were the favorite by 6. On the course, I've never seen so many fortunate bounces, pin saves, and long bomb putts fall. All against us.

We went into the 18th all square and I hit the drive of the day. Partner pumped a 3 wood to wedge take and we closed the deal with a par.

Bit warm but lovely company.

B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

2v2 at the club with the guys. On paper we were the favorite by 6. On the course, I've never seen so many fortunate bounces, pin saves, and long bomb putts fall. All against us.

We went into the 18th all square and I hit the drive of the day. Partner pumped a 3 wood to wedge take and we closed the deal with a par.

Bit warm but lovely company.

B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

2v2 at the club with the guys. On paper we were the favorite by 6. On the course, I've never seen so many fortunate bounces, pin saves, and long bomb putts fall. All against us.

We went into the 18th all square and I hit the drive of the day. Partner pumped a 3 wood to wedge take and we closed the deal with a par.

Bit warm but lovely company.

B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

2v2 at the club with the guys. On paper we were the favorite by 6. On the course, I've never seen so many fortunate bounces, pin saves, and long bomb putts fall. All against us.

We went into the 18th all square and I hit the drive of the day. Partner pumped a 3 wood to wedge take and we closed the deal with a par.

Bit warm but lovely company.

B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

Went to the club to hit some chips and putt but the range was closed and the greens were being watered. The course was pretty empty due to a mid day tournament so I decided to go out and play 9... That turned into 18.

Shot a personal best of 84! Besides that, I played with the same ball for the first time ever. That's huge to me.

Hit some great chips to save par. Kept the ball in play off every tee box. Made a few bad swings and missed some putts that I shouldn't have but still very happy.

On top of that, met some great guys out there. Someone called me a "good golfer". That's crazy. There's levels to good.

Seems the lessons and constant practice is starting to slowly pay off.

Can't wait to fire a 110 next time out because golf....

Chuffed
B

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Shot an 85. This is decent for my skill level. But the ALMOST factor is killing me. Was at a 33 on the back coming into the last hole, par 5. Decent drive into the fairway, then fired my first shank of the day into the woods. Tricky approach and a terrible putt... Triple.

I almost shot my lowest round and lowest 9 holes. A bogey was all I needed... Sigh.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. At least I'm seeing some improvement finally. Put two 5 irons from about 180 to 6 feet or so. Birdied one and left the other short by half a rotation.

Kept it in the fairway or close enough to it and around the green was money with the 58 degree.

Putting. Specifically lag putting killed me!

Back to the range.

Hit em straight.

B





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'Common' for some unfortunately. I'm glad you avoid the greens and wish more people were like ya. I bet you fix your ball marks too.

B

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Sunflower seeds on the green. What the hell? These things were fresh too so it must have been someone right ahead of our group today.

Also, dip spit on the green. Disgusting.


B

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Outdated? Maybe. But I've never been a reason to get gussied up! People tend to treat you differently when you're dressed well.

I can, however, excuse an untucked shirt on a hot day after the turn..
Cheers
B

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk