Drinking on the course

[robertson153]

I haven't seen a thread on this, so forgive me if there is already one. This weekend I played in a 3 day tournament with fellow members from my club. We drive about 4 hours away and stay on this course, have done it for about 6 years now(first time for me). After the 3rd round we play a scramble. My team was solid, but after the turn we where only -4. The team in front of us was -8. So we went in the clubhouse and we all got some beer. After we all drank a few, we started "striping" the ball, including myself. We ended up at -12. Still didn't win but there was no pressure and we were loose and relaxed. I'm seriously considering before a big game or tournament drinking a couple to relax me. Or was it just being down so much and not caring? What is the opinion of the MGS community?

 

 

Blake

[STUDque]

I haven't seen a thread on this, so forgive me if there is already one. This weekend I played in a 3 day tournament with fellow members from my club. We drive about 4 hours away and stay on this course, have done it for about 6 years now(first time for me). After the 3rd round we play a scramble. My team was solid, but after the turn we where only -4. The team in front of us was -8. So we went in the clubhouse and we all got some beer. After we all drank a few, we started "striping" the ball, including myself. We ended up at -12. Still didn't win but there was no pressure and we were loose and relaxed. I'm seriously considering before a big game or tournament drinking a couple to relax me. Or was it just being down so much and not caring? What is the opinion of the MGS community?

 

 

Blake

 

I had a similar experience in our work scramble a few weeks back but we actually won by a stroke.

 

One thing I've noticed from experience is there is a point of diminishing returns when drinking. Either your buzz gets too strong or the sun starts to make you extra tired and your shooting suffers.

 

I think the key is to wait a bit into the round and get some water in you before popping the first cold one.

 

 

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[hckymeyer]

I'm probably a bad example, but I drink early and often and keep drinking.  It's probably a bad way to think about it, but I believe playing while drinking is a skill.  The more you do it, the bigger your "window" of good golf gets.  Don't get me wrong, I've fell out of the window (and the cart) more than once.  But for me golf is just more enjoyable when it's a party atmosphere.  I drink, I play music, I have fun and for the most part play pretty decent golf.

 

Research may say that drinking has an overall negative affect on your game ... https://mygolfspy.com/golfbusters-drunk-driver/... but I like to think I'm the exception to the rule.

[Eseay32]

I love to drink but I can count on two hands how many drinks I've had on the course. So I'm a lame example

 

 

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[Kenny B]

Last weekend we had a group that got their cart, then headed to their car and picked up a big cooler full of beer and one Gatorade.  There is a no outside alcohol ordinance at all of the golf courses, and the cart girl met them on the course and confiscated all of their beer.  The course could have called the cops and it would have been a hefty fine, but they let them keep playing.  Falling out of the cart, then driving home is a no-no.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I don't drink myself so I can't answer from my own experience but I have noticed a few fellas I play with tend to swing freer (is that right, freer?) after a couple but then once they hit 5 or so the game slips again so maybe there's a spot in there that greases the rails just enough? I think the Spies did a study on this not too long ago you might look at.

 

 

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[TBT]

I don't drink all the time when playing but I have noticed that in a tournament atmosphere a few beers can help loosen me up and make me "free swing" a little better.

[yungkory]

My buddy shot 1 under this weekend and drank 8 beers in the process. He got progressively better as he drank.... +2 on the front 9, -3 on the back. He started to become a bit of an ass on 17 and 18, but it was funny. Kept saying, "watch this shot" and then would make a pretty amazing shot, drove the last green just barely on the fringe and rolled his eagle putt 2 feet away for a tap in to seal the under par round.

[STUDque]

......tend to swing freer (is that right, freer?)......

 

 

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Yes. Freer.

 

My buddy shot 1 under this weekend and drank 8 beers in the process. He got progressively better as he drank.... +2 on the front 9, -3 on the back. He started to become a bit of an ass on 17 and 18, but it was funny. Kept saying, "watch this shot" and then would make a pretty amazing shot, drove the last green just barely on the fringe and rolled his eagle putt 2 feet away for a tap in to seal the under par round.

I love that. The phrase "watch this shot" has a 100% success rate for being totally awesome to watch for better or worse.

 

 

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[DiscipleofPenick]

I'll have a beer or two before the round, helps to loosen things up and relax. Sometimes when it's a casual round 3-4 on the course, because as someone else here said there is a window. There's a couple guys in my league this year that go for a 6 pack through 9 holes then the bar afterwards. I don't go for that excess on the course.

 

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[gaussman1]

I don't drink when I'm playing what I think of as a real round, but we do have a Wed night 9 hole league in the summer that shotgun starts at 6 pm. After a full day of work and racing to the course to get there on time I drink a beer immediately upon getting there and get another to take with me down the first hole. It's the only way I can make a swing at the end of the day.

 

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[ddryan]

I suppose it is like anything else- Keep the drinking or smoking cigars, bacon or really anything - in moderation, and know who is in control.  I know (and have experienced first-hand) what happens when the external substance takes over- and that is not a good thing for the game, or your playing partner or opponent or spouse, significant other or anyone else you care about (including yourself).  I enjoy a beer or two during a hot tournament round and it can help keep me relaxed, but I have been with those who don't know their limit and cross it with regularity and enthusiasm!

 

just my thoughts.

[revkev]

The research that I've seen says one of two drinks are okay and may even enhance performance (depending on the person and circumstances) .   After that performance tails off quickly.

 

Scrambles are deceptive - I would be careful about drawing any conclusions from them.  Unless you are always hitting 4th and the guys that you play with are playing like crap there is almost no pressure on you to perform.  Even at that there's normally something in play by the time you hit.  It's not the same as playing your own golf ball all the around.  Likewise with putting, you have 4 sets of eyes and if you are up after the first guy you have a very good idea of how the putt is going to break. 

 

Scrambles are fun, social events.  I try not to play in the them and am never concerned about how my team is doing.  I've actually been on the winning team in a few but you really don't want me as a scramble partner. 

[Spur22]

Used to drink all the time while playing but after 3 or 4 my game goes way down hill. Now only start drinking if I'm playing like crap. Cause at that point it can only help right 😜

 

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[chisag]

... For me, golf is an athletic endeavor. I walk the course with a remote cart to keep me loose and relaxed but ready to attack shots with athleticism. Starting with the lower body, then firing my hips but not too quickly and starting down holding the lag but releasing it with as much speed as possible when it gets to waist high. I could not imagine timing this effectively with alcohol in my blood stream. Fwiw, I don't drink ever after too much thru high school and my college years so I decided to take a break and just never picked it up again. 

 

[Kenny B]

Yes. Freer.

IMG_4279.PNG

 

 

I love that. The phrase "watch this shot" has a 100% success rate for being totally awesome to watch for better or worse.

 

 

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Usually... bad things happen when someone says "watch this" after saying "here, hold my beer".

[STUDque]

Usually... bad things happen when someone says "watch this" after saying "here, hold my beer".

That's what makes it awesome for someone watching (from a safe distance)

 

 

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[yungkory]

Usually... bad things happen when someone says "watch this" after saying "here, hold my beer".

 

 

That's what makes it awesome for someone watching (from a safe distance)

 

 

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LOL! Yeah, except this bastard is really good at the game. State champ, full ride to play in college, etc. Beer for him is like Popeye with spinach.

[Peanut05]

I generally will not drink at all when I'm playing.  There have been a few exceptions, though.  There's a tournament I play every year at my uncle's course.  It's a pretty redneck tournament and it's all you can drink all weekend.  Things get a little out of hand sometimes, but it's still fun to play.  There have been a couple of years that I've played in it that I was playing so bad I just didn't care anymore and stopped at the turn to get a drink or two to finish up with. I won't hit the whiskey until after the round, though. 

[silver & black]

... For me, golf is an athletic endeavor. I walk the course with a remote cart to keep me loose and relaxed but ready to attack shots with athleticism. Starting with the lower body, then firing my hips but not too quickly and starting down holding the lag but releasing it with as much speed as possible when it gets to waist high.

 

That describes my drinking process too!

 

I play better with a couple beers. Unfortunately, there is always too much beer when I play with my buddies. Hot weather and beer just go together..... even though I know it isn't conducive to a good score.

[Rusty1885]

I don't drink on the course although some tournaments that my club hosted they were handing out some smearnoff ice lemonade it was pretty refreshing. Then again alcohol can leads to dehydration pretty quickly so I usually stay away, plus I still have to drive home so usually it's a no no for me.

[TBT]

Dang now I want a beer

[Spur22]

Dang now I want a beer

 

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[PlaidJacket]

I'm probably a bad example, but I drink early and often and keep drinking.  It's probably a bad way to think about it, but I believe playing while drinking is a skill.  The more you do it, the bigger your "window" of good golf gets.  Don't get me wrong, I've fell out of the window (and the cart) more than once.  But for me golf is just more enjoyable when it's a party atmosphere.  I drink, I play music, I have fun and for the most part play pretty decent golf.

 

Research may say that drinking has an overall negative affect on your game ... https://mygolfspy.com/golfbusters-drunk-driver/... but I like to think I'm the exception to the rule.

It's not for me but I actually encourage drinking on the course. Me and the guys I play with always have a few wagers on the game so....

 

I have several friends that like to chug-um down. Especially on the back 9. I've seen very few exceptions where drinking improved a guys game. Most of the time in my experience it usually goes south for them. It's a real shame. Heh! Funny how they never seem to complain that the booze might have caused their loss.

 

Of course if Meyer shows up some Saturday morning I hope he'll let me supply the booze. And I'm not talking about beer. 

[Canucklehead]

One round with my dad last year, 8-9am tee time. Shot a little over 50. At the turn I bought him 2 beer because he's usually Mid-high 40s. Shot 41 or 42 on the back.

 

Personally, I can't drink and do any sports (I grew up bowling and can't even drink and bowl well).

 

To answer the question, probably both. You stop worrying about your score, and a beer loosened you guys up, and your scorecard showed it

 

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[Rusty1885]

It's not for me but I actually encourage drinking on the course. Me and the guys I play with always have a few wagers on the game so....

 

I have several friends that like to chug-um down. Especially on the back 9. I've seen very few exceptions where drinking improved a guys game. Most of the time in my experience it usually goes south for them. It's a real shame. Heh! Funny how they never seem to complain that the booze might have caused their loss.

 

Of course if Meyer shows up some Saturday morning I hope he'll let me supply the booze. And I'm not talking about beer. 

Hey now! That's my strategy too. Not too much getting buzz, but the more they drink the more often the nature calls. It's more distracting than anything else on the course. These guys don't relieve themselves by the trees so win-win for me.

[robertson153]

Let me be clear here. I'm not talking about getting smashed or even really "buzzed". I'm talking about having 3 maybe 4 beer all round spaced out. Just enough to keep you loose. With the weather we have here you better watch out. High humidity and temps can get you dehydrated quick.

 

 

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[ole gray]

Several years back, my red neck buddies and I would hammer down more than our fair share.   Now days a couple here and there will do and a beer or two at the turn.  I will say my driving of the ball is much better with a little swing oil.   

[chisag]

Let me be clear here. I'm not talking about getting smashed or even really "buzzed". I'm talking about having 3 maybe 4 beer all round spaced out. Just enough to keep you loose. With the weather we have here you better watch out. High humidity and temps can get you dehydrated quick.

 

 

... Two summers ago my pard and I got paired up with two guys at George Dunn National that brought a case of beer with them. It was 104* in Chicago with high humidity and I had 128 oz of water with me in stainless bottles and my pard froze 8 16oz plastic bottles. We didn't take a pi$$ the entire round and we drank it all. These two guys were done with their case by the middle of the back 9 and got some more from the cart girl. They never seemed hammered so it must be a regular thing with them but not in that heat. They were pi$$ing about every hole or every other hole. They had to be almost completely dehydrated. I can't imagine how miserable they were later that night or the next morning. 

[Rusty1885]

Let me be clear here. I'm not talking about getting smashed or even really "buzzed". I'm talking about having 3 maybe 4 beer all round spaced out. Just enough to keep you loose. With the weather we have here you better watch out. High humidity and temps can get you dehydrated quick.

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You had no idea what a light weight I am. , aka cheap date.