How Much Do You Chat While Playing?

[Advstj]

I usually golf with my dad and sister so there is always conversation going on. If with friends, we talk to catch up but are quiet from time to time. 

[Peaksy68]

I'm always up for a chat, but always stop before someone starts their pre shot routine. Other than to compliment a good shot I try not to talk about golf much. In the bar it's another story, I generally only pause talking to have a drink.

It's not my fault, my mother could talk under water with a mouth full of marbles.

[Peaksy68]

Double post, I must be desperate for a chat

Edited April 8, 2020 by Peaksy68
Double post

[braincramp]

I'll talk as much as the people I'm playing with want to talk. I don't really care to play with people who don't know when to shut up though.

[josmi15]

We quote movies, but with a golf twist. Goodfellas seems to be a favorite.

For example, the scene at the beginning when they grab the mailman “one more bogey shows up on this kids score card and it’s in the Fng bunker ya go”

Stuff like that


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[tchat07]

Depends who I am playing with my father is hard of hearing so we only talk when we are close cant be yelling across the fairway haha. When I play with a buddy of mine we talk golf pretty much the whole time, hes a caddy so I like hearing about his experiences and the occasional suggestion haha. I dont mind playing with someone who likes to talk but I personally appreciate a pause in the convo from the point I'm lining up a shot until after I hit it.

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[chisag]

On 4/5/2020 at 9:19 PM, GB13 said:

As someone who plays as a single quite frequently, I feel my answer varies widely based on who I’m paired with.

As for the social people? I usually find one of two types. (Painting with a broad brush here.) People who chatter incessantly and boast about themselves, and people who want to have a good time with good conversations. With the first type, I’m not very chatty, just the occasional, polite, “Very interesting.” With the second type, I’ll be much more friendly and chat back and forth, inject some good natured trash talk etc... 

 

... Well stated GB13. Playing 107 rounds in 117 days last winter in Phoenix I was paired up with literally hundreds of strangers. I made several friends and we played together a couple times but mostly I was paired up with strangers. I love conversation during a round and am not shy about starting conversations with the people I am paired up with. Maybe because I am an actor and a successful performance depends on really listening and responding. People will always let you know how much they want to talk if you pay attention. Some just like to listen but it is easy to see they enjoy what I have to say, while others make it equally clear they are not up for a lot of talking and a few like no talking at all. I think you can discover all this from the first tee thru the second hole. Of course I stop any conversation once a player begins looking at their shot.

... But even though I enjoy conversation on the course I too hate the selfish chatterbox that talks non stop about themselves or their business. I don't mind quiet or shy players that still smile and talk just a little, but I am a little uncomfortable with people that don't want to talk at all because it feels like I am an intruder since they rarely make eye contact, but thankfully that is very rare. I have found that the vast majority of people enjoy conversation as long as it is interesting and relatable. And never politics.

[RetiredBoomer]

Pretty soon, I won't be able to remember what playing was like.

I play with pretty much the same people, at the same place, all the time, and while my group never shuts up, I'm sure that there are others who stay more focused.

At a club, birds of a feather tend to flock together, particularly in non organized,  casual play.

But right now, I'm trying to maintain hope that we'll ever play again.

[YYCRed]

It's not just you. Everyone is different, so you will find the whole range of talkativeness (is that a word?) in your playing partners. I generally golf with people I know well, so our talking styles are well known to the others. The key thing I find is that you need to pay a little attention to how you interact with new people and how your talking affects the others - and vice versa. Don't be afraid to tell someone that you don't normally talk much as you prefer the quiet to focus on your game. It might help a bit.

[ZenGolfer]

Not much, usually.  Im usually pretty quiet and reserved on the course.  Im there to play golf, not to socialize.

[Rickp]

We picked up a new guy for Monday group and a different guy for Wednesday.
Monday the guy a retired NY cop was a talkative, friendly person he fit in OK.
Wednesday’s guy was quiet 1st couple weeks but this morning I guess he was feeling comfortable and started chirping away, he will also fit in great.
BTW, both guys play ready golf!!


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[Mtbryant01]

It’s all who I play with. If I play with my usual group, we try to focus on the golf round with encouragement on good shots, playful banter/talk through what happened on bad shots. Afterwords is when we talk all things other than golf unless some of us made some birdies/eagles and like to recap it.

If I get paired up with someone new, I get a feel for him/her on the first hole. I’m fine with not talking, but sometimes it eases your nerves getting to talk to someone about a bad shot/good shot.

[release]

Depends on the company and how long we had to wait to tee off.

Small talk is welcomed by me when I'm not in the process of making a golf shot.   However, I had played with company whom deserve nothing else but a "nice shot" once in awhile.  I've had matched up with golfers whom were just a chatter box.... didn't mind that as longs as they kept quiet when I stand over a shot.  Absolutely no noise when I stand over a putt.  

I enjoyed a good casual conversation ( away from Religion, Politics, and subjects that's too personal to be discussed on the golf course ).  Over the decades I had enjoyed the meeting of strangers on the first tee box for 4-5 hours of golf.  Only remembered a couple of cases of unpleasant encounters which I didn't even offer to shake hands after putt out on the 18th.   I like that better than playing with the same group of golfers every week.

Perhaps, I would enjoy golfing with the same group of guys when I get to a point not able to remember names...................

[Sox Fan]

Playing with people that can't keep their mouths shut is the absolute worse.

[SlowNLow]

I talk mostly to myself, the only honest conversation going on... if there is anybody else there then It varies, frpm the,genteel small talk w the unfamilar people to cut throat insults from the beloved family members, the better we know each other, the fiercer it is.

 

[Guest Delete]

I usually can't shut up unless someone is in the tee or putting. Everything else is fair game. 

My favorite is yelling "FORE" for my playing partners as public humiliation when they hit their shot onto another hole. 

[SlowNLow]

6 minutes ago, TimoTe said:

I usually can't shut up unless someone is in the tee or putting. Everything else is fair game. 

My favorite is yelling "FORE" for my playing partners as public humiliation when they hit their shot onto another hole. 

I think you have created an entire thread, "When to yell fore, when not, why, why not, premature fore yelling, etc...." There is a whole science to it.

[Guest Delete]

10 hours ago, SlowNLow said:

I think you have created an entire thread, "When to yell fore, when not, why, why not, premature fore yelling, etc...." There is a whole science to it.

My rule is if the ball is headed away from the hole we are playing or at the group in front = loud and obnoxious "FORE" to add public humiliation to the mix. 

My playing partners know I'm paying attention,

[aerospace_ray]

When I am in a walking group I speak when spoken to. But in a cart I do have casual conversation. Also, if I am playing in a scramble/best ball tournament there is way more conversation for obvious reasons. IF on a rare occasion I get grouped with an obnoxious type, I distance myself as best I can. 

[Jwhite86]

I'll usually have a short chat to start the round, but I'm generally pretty quiet and don't reveal a lot when playing.  Usually just comments about how I'm playing or how they're playing, if they're playing well.

[Middler]

On 5/9/2020 at 1:52 PM, release said:

I enjoyed a good casual conversation ( away from Religion, Politics, and subjects that's too personal to be discussed on the golf course ).  Over the decades I had enjoyed the meeting of strangers on the first tee box for 4-5 hours of golf.  Only remembered a couple of cases of unpleasant encounters which I didn't even offer to shake hands after putt out on the 18th.   I like that better than playing with the same group of golfers every week.

The league I play with has a short list of rules. But “no talking religion or politics” is one of them, and IMO it’s a very good idea. The few times anyone I’ve played with in league seemed to be straying to either topic, another player will politely remind them “no politics or religion.” Fortunately I haven’t run into many players who want to go there.

[dlow206]

In life, I am not a super talkative person. But in golf, I tend to talk more than I normally would, especially when I can tell that someone I am paired up with is into golf equipment, like if they have the latest equipment, aftermarket shafts, etc. Every person I have been paired up with lately has a 2020 Scotty Cameron.

[release]

20 minutes ago, Middler said:

The league I play with has a short list of rules. But “no talking religion or politics” is one of them, and IMO it’s a very good idea. The few times anyone I’ve played with in league seemed to be straying to either topic, another player will politely remind them “no politics or religion.” Fortunately I haven’t run into many players who want to go there.

Many of friendship and marriage had run into rocky ground over those type of topics of discussion.

I go to golf course to get away from the daily grinds, not to be immersed back into it.   The rule makers for your local league had good foresight of keeping the harmony between the members.   The toy has to be removed, if kids can't play well together with it.

 

[Guest Delete]

On 5/21/2020 at 10:30 AM, Middler said:

The league I play with has a short list of rules. But “no talking religion or politics” is one of them, and IMO it’s a very good idea. The few times anyone I’ve played with in league seemed to be straying to either topic, another player will politely remind them “no politics or religion.” Fortunately I haven’t run into many players who want to go there.

It's a great way to get someone of their game so best avoided if you have any respect for them. 

I like to talk religion and politics while keeping judgement out of it. Being open minded to other's viewpoint helps me understand the world better. I know when to let it go because some cannot discuss politics, they can only judge and rant. 

[PDT816]

We play with a large group of other members (men and women) and most are pretty comfortable having conversations even while putting or hitting the ball.  There's usually music blaring in the background as well.  As long as you expect it, as a ongoing conversation, everyone does it.  Making an unexpected sound like throwing your club in the bag or unzipping something loudly during someone's swing will get your throat slit and thrown into the hazards however.

You'll also never hear positive reinforcement for your ball in-flight either.  It's always 'get in the water' or trap, etc.  A few of the ladies started it all, but it turns out golf is more fun when you voice what your really thinking.

Very polite with strangers across the board of course.

Edited May 29, 2020 by PDT816

[xOldBenKenobiX]

It all depends, I try to talk very little, but most of my partners are chatter boxes, so I got no choice but to talk with them, the great thing about walking is that most of times they go off to find their balls as I walk to mine so no talking.

[MrBandit]

Funny to read this post, i'm a quite golfer, occasionally get into some conversation but mostly am trying to enjoying the round. I save all the talking to after the round with a tasty beverage. BUT i have gotten paired with some talkative individuals, to the extend I had ask one guy if he need it some Oxygen because I wasn't sure he was getting any with as much talking he was doing. 

 

 

[TR1PTIK]

I'm naturally a pretty quiet guy and keep to myself, but am happy to strike up a conversation depending on who I am playing with. In casual rounds it really doesn't bother me if someone is chatty unless they repeatedly talk during my swing or are obnoxiously loud. There have been plenty of times where I've practically carried on a conversation while swinging, but in those cases I'm normally the one talking. Unless riding in a cart with someone or walking alongside them, there really aren't a lot of great opportunities to have meaningful conversation on the course.