Playing under the influence

[Tanky]

I've been struggling to maintain or improve my HCP this year, too many thoughts going through my head, nerves, and me putting pressure on myself to break 10 HCP this year.

CBD oil doesn't work, chewing gum works a tiny bit, but a flask of whiskey or a premixed flask of G&T is working like a charm! I'm down 3 HCP points in 3 weeks! I even manage to be sober before the comp is done....

 

Would love to hear others thoughts on this from fellow drunks or teetotalers....

[ZenGolfer]

I enjoy having a few beers on the course.  I feel like it makes me play a bit better because it relaxes me and just kind of puts me in my happy place.  Beer for me always just puts me in a good place, theres just a fine line between having a good time and getting wasted though.

[gavinski91]

For me it's about finding a balance while still staying hydrated. If the only drink I have cracked is a beer, then it'll negatively impact my play after 8 or 9 holes (sooner if I drink it faster). But if I have a water or Gatorade at the same time, then I can drink from that when my body is telling me I need to drink liquids, and help avoid the negative impacts of beer.

[Tanky]

21 minutes ago, gavinski91 said:

For me it's about finding a balance while still staying hydrated. If the only drink I have cracked is a beer, then it'll negatively impact my play after 8 or 9 holes (sooner if I drink it faster). But if I have a water or Gatorade at the same time, then I can drink from that when my body is telling me I need to drink liquids, and help avoid the negative impacts of beer.

That balance is so key, I always have 2 litres of rehydrate with me too, especially if its above 30 Degrees Celsius...

[pulledabill]

I like to have a beer or mixer on the course as it does relax me. I have a limit and stay under it unless I want to play like crap. Early morning is usually a splash of something in my coffee or a nip off a flask. Again, I have a limit.

[GaDawg]

I don't care to drink alcohol when I play golf, but have played with two different guys over the years that got better and better the more they drank. there motto was drink a beer a hole and take a leak every two holes. LOL

[Chizzle]

If I have a beverage out on the course, its not to calm me or anything for my golf game.  It is purely to enjoy the beverage. With that being said, I'm not a huge fan of drinking because I feel too disconnected too easily with my body.  With my friends that drink and play, its looks like it's a huge double edge sword.  There are holes,typically early, where they play unbelievably but it seems difficult to maintain that balance and they get sloppy.  If it works, it works.

[silver & black]

It's rare when I don't have a few beers while playing. Everyone I play with has beer in the cooler, so.....

As we say... time for a little swing oil!

[russtopherb]

Not a fan for the most part. Alcohol, even a few beers, dehydrates me pretty quickly and I end up with a headache. If I drink on the course, it'll maybe be 2 beers over the course of 18 holes interspersed with a ton of water.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I just can't do it.  Even one beer ( which I can't stand the taste of) will make me play like crap. Only liquid consumed is a Gatorade, lemonade, flavored water, or a soft drink. Now after the round is over that's another story. I'm game then.   

[tony@CIC]

22 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I just can't do it.  Even one beer ( which I can't stand the taste of) will make me play like crap. Only liquid consumed is a Gatorade, lemonade, flavored water, or a soft drink. Now after the round is over that's another story. I'm game then.   

I'm in total agreement with you as well as @russtopherb. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate (note alcohol doesn't). If you're looking to calm nerves on the tee box - there are some great techniques/books on the topic starting with Nilsson & Marriot's books. 

[fixyurdivot]

I don't drink alcohol as a means of helping with my game - but perhaps should?   We celebrate birdies and eagles with a mini-shot of Firebird or other flavored concoctions, and there have been a few rounds where we've put a healthy dent in the jerry cans. I prefer to just drink water and save the beers for post round chatter.  

[Chip Strokes]

i’m not much of a drinker to begin with, so drinking on the course is pretty situational for me. 

i play solo a lot, and try to grab early tee times - i’m really not in a drinking mood when i’m making the turn at 9am on a tuesday. 

but during an afternoon round on the weekend playing with a few buddies, i’m down for a beer or two. 

[heavygolffeels]

I usually drink a few on the course. But I tend to keep them in the cooler if I am playing really well. Once things fall apart, they are like a rally monkey. 

[Kansas King]

I love the idea of drinking and golfing, especially when playing in leagues or fun groups, but my biggest problem with getting drunk is that I generally have to drive home and I'm not willing to risk it for a DUI. If I'm trying to score well I can't really drink more than two beers or I completely lose focus. After two beers, any sense of athleticism or balance I have (there isn't much to start with) is completely gone.

[DaveP043]

In general, I rarely drink alcohol while playing.  There are a couple of situations where I'll have something:  s scramble, which is only about fun, a vacation round where I don't really care, or perhaps a single beer on the 16th or 17th hole.  Its never to calm my nerves, the entire golf course is my happy place, no need to find something to make it any better.  Also, alcohol is never a positive thing for my physical coordination.  I can play acceptably with a beer or two in those scrambles, but not better than when I'm dead sober.  Of course, after I'm done I'll have a few beers.  Lucky for me, my wife doesn't drink.  We almost always ride to the golf course together, I drive in the morning, and she drives home.

As for other people, do what you choose, as long as you don't start to act like a drunken idiot.  And don't drive home.  But I'd ask a question, if you NEED to drink in order to deal with pre-golf stress, when golf is a choice, how do you deal with stress at work, or in your family, things you absolutely HAVE to deal with?  

[Jackal]

I'll have a beer after 9 holes sometimes. I've know a few that played better when they could barely stand up.

One of them said " The golfer I get, the better I drunk"

[tony@CIC]

6 minutes ago, Jackal said:

I'll have a beer after 9 holes sometimes. I've know a few that played better when they could barely stand up.

One of them said " The golfer I get, the better I drunk"

So does he drink to play golf or play golf to drink. Either case hope he has a designated driver to take him home. 

[MNUte]

As no one has made the joke yet from what I can see, and as your friendly neighborhood spider....i mean attorney, please don't drink and drive

 

I don't mind players who drink and will occasionally enjoy a drink with friends on the course. But living in a very hot place during the summers, I just get too dehydrated if I'm not guzzling water and a drink doesn't help. 

[Jackal]

5 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

So does he drink to play golf or play golf to drink. Either case hope he has a designated driver to take him home. 

Most of the time, he leaves his vehicle and someone takes him home.

[JFish350]

Depends on the situation someone mentioned earlier. Vacation round, scramble round, tourney round or just playing round. I might have 2, 4, 6, or 24 depending on the situation. If I am driving home no more than 4. If I start a round with 3 8's in four holes it's on and I'll sleep in the bed of my pickup. This actually happened in a tourney round earlier this fall. I go on a 4 day golf trip with 12-16 players and its a requirement, unless your the guy driving us around or the guy who typically doesn't drink.  For my skill level doesn't change much until I hit 12 or more drinks. Big fan of hydration as well. I tend to hydrate with pomegranate lemonade vodka with a lime, or something along those lines. If I had to wait for a birdie to have a shot, my flask would never be less than full.