Do bad players cause you to play badly?

[Wi-Golfer]

Not sure if it affects my game or not, sure as hell appeared to do that today though. Usually if I am playing with better players I will somehow rise a bit to the occasion & usually play better.

Today I played as a single & had a couple in front of me. I parred the 1st hole & then it got ugly real fast, lost 4 balls due to the massive amount of leaves...you could literally be standing right over your ball & still couldn't see it.

Anyways this couple in front of me was a husband & wife & for some frickin reason which I don't understand because I never asked them, they were playing from the tips, even the women was. Each & everytime they would tee off their balls would go about 50 yds & to the right. The woman was a lot better with her irons than her old man was, he was a major league hacker with the ugliest swing I have ever seen. I actually counted his strokes on 1 par 4 & he had 9 just to reach the green.

Don't know why but they wouldn't allow me to play through, I was walking & they had a cart. I would hurry up & finish a hole, they would see me coming & would tee off real fast, get in their cart & drive the 50 yds to their balls.

I was hitting driver fine & dropping it in the middle of the fairway, but I could not hit an iron shot to save my life. I was getting pissed off with them playing from the tips, was irritated by not playing through, upset with their horrible play & absolute lack of golf etiquette. These horrible horrible people got into my head & I let if affect my game. I stopped keeping score after the 1st hole but if I had to guess I would say I probably had a 65+ for 9 holes....I didn't even finish 3 holes because I was so pissed off. I would hit my ball up on the green & then just picked it up & walked off without even attempting a putt. I even tried to skip a hole but the would just speed up their frickin cart to warp speed & unfortuantely this course is basically a big circle so I couldn't just jump over to the next hole.


They were both newbie golfers, on the 2nd hole their is a flag in the middle of the fairway at the bend of the dogleft left & it's about 150 yds to the green. This guy saw the flag when he was about 50 yds away from it thought it was the green. He chipped up the flag & grabbed his putter....it was hilarious watching him while he looked for the actual green. Plus as they were getting back in their car he was actually putting his brand new golf shoes back in the box they came in.

Overall a horrible rotten 90 minutes on the course, shoulda stayed at work. Please overlook any speeling screwups as I have been drinking since I got home.

[Lil_Huth]

Lol it always feels good to rant doesnt it? I hate when people are just plain ignorant and wont let you play through. There is no need for this lack of respect to people on the golf course.

[Eracer]

Can't blame you for drinking heavily after that nightmare. Rangers - they're like lawyers. You love 'em when you need 'em.

[Fitzpatrick]

I had a day like that at my home course, where I was in a cart and this foursome of maybe-golfed-once-a-decade-ago-and-got-out-again-so-I-have-an-excuse-to-keep-the-clubs golfers were walking in front of me. I was teeing off on the par-3 third as they were teeing off on the par-5 4th. I didn't particularly pay any attention to where they were as I was playing my hole, but after I putted out I looked up and all FOUR of them were still within view of me as I approached the tee (the crest of the hill is about 100 yards from the tee; not much after that, you can't really see anything in your way). So, I drive up to the tee, and they wave at me. Not a wave to play through, but a friendly hello. I wave back, and decide this is a good time to take a leak and get a soda from the vending machine (which is next to the maintenance shed right next to the tee). I get back to my cart and I can't see them. But, there was no one behind me, and it was a nice day, so I decide to kick back in my cart and just enjoy the scenery. A few minutes later, I figure that the group ahead of me should be far enough along that if I hit my tee shot I should be fine. But, just to check, I drive up to the crest of the hill to see where they are. ALL FOUR OF THEM WERE ABOUT 7O YARDS PAST THE CREST OF THE HILL! To this point, from when I teed off on 3, played the hole (bogeyed it, IIRC), waited about 10 minutes or so after that before checking on them, they should have EASILY been on the green. Or at least far enough along that I should be able to hit. So I just wait a bit more, and then tee off. My ball lands about 230 yards out, right side of the fairway. Miraculously, they had made their way much further down the fairway, and I can safely hit a second shot without hitting them. I hit a nice, easy 7 iron, which lands about 30 yards behind them. Nowhere NEAR coming close to hitting them. But apparently, I had angered Brumhilda (the "leader" of this little band; a large woman, looks like Brumhilda from Robin Hood: Men in Tights, only bigger). She comes up to me, 3-wood in hand (I'm about 140 yards from the green, and she was about 110, and she has a 3-wood), and with a straight face tells me that I am being very rude by not waiting until they had finished with the hole before teeing off. Calmly, I explain that there's no reason to wait that long with a hole this long. She starts screaming to me that I have very poor manners and that the rules say that I have to wait till the green clears before teeing off. I said "I'm surprised you know that, yet forget that a round of golf is supposed to take about 4 hours. You've been on this hole for 30 minutes." Changing tones, I ask if I may play through. She whips out a cell phone and tells me that she is going to call the clubhouse and have them remove me from the course. The others in her group are just standing there openmouthed. I say "If you think that will work, go ahead. I'm just going to skip this hole." So I drive away and tee off on the next tee. The clubhouse is right between the 6th and 7th holes, and I stop in there before teeing off on 7 to get another soda. The guy there, who I had made some smalltalk with before I started, gives me a look when I come in, and asks, more curious than interrogative, what happened. I explained, he shook his head, and I went out to 7. When I finished 9 and was making my way back to 1 (nine-hole course), Brumhilda's Gang was just coming up 6. We had our altercation on 4. I had played 5 holes in the time for her group to finish that one, play the next, and start the following. She shot me a look as I teed off, but said nothing.

Worst part was, I had been playing pretty well before the altercation, and played like utter crap afterwards.

[lamebums]

Nope, I don't play worse when I'm playing with hacks. I do it all the time.

However, I do fall apart when playing with someone slightly better than me (3-5 strokes). I'll end up trying harder, and as a result, collapse with an ugly string of bogeys and doubles. Or I'll try to save one stroke and end up losing four or five more.

As to slow play, well, I hate it. Ugh. I can't even count how many times I've been stuck behind a slow group. Usually a foursome, and usually a senior's league, or something. I'm not entirely sure. All I know is when it takes three hours for nine holes...

[Wi-Golfer]

Seems like there have a been a lot more of those types on the course lately...at least since the weather has remained nice & rates have dropped.

I personally don't care if you want to play a 7 hr rd of golf, have fun but don't be an asshat & hold me up because you want to be a prick. Next time I am just going to try my best to buzz em with a drive


Lamebums, this guy was the worst hacker I have seen all year. I mean we all have our moments when shots go bad & even entire rds but this clown didn't have 1 shot that was any good, which is ok if you are learning since we all have been there...hell I still have a mega bunch to learn. But even when I was/am hacking it up, I am not a rude bastard & always allow someone faster to play through. Really messes up your tempo when you have a decent game going & all of a sudden it comes to a grinding halt.

[cypressperch]

cause one to play bad golf? Honestly, the answer is usually, "Yes." If all the players are of fairly equal ability, a sort of rhythm develops, and you get to hit sort of in turn. If everyone plays at a similar pace, you have the making of a very pleasant round provided no one is a loud mouth who talks too much.

If you play with people who have poor swings, DO NOT WATCH THEM SWING. If they take forever to hit, LOOK THE OTHER WAY UNTIL YOU HERE THEM MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BALL.

If at all possible, try to become laid back enough so that all this kind of stuff does not bother you. After a few holes in the situation you described, it was probably time to start playing two or three balls, hit extra shots, look for balls in the rough, or whatever to fill in the time. A beer or two out there might have come in handy.

Cypressperch

[warbirdlover]

I seem to cause good players to play bad...

Actually, I play better with those less skilled then I since I don't feel intimidated at all or pressured to do good.

[Pa Jayhawk]

I usually play better around better players, and worse around players not as good as I.

Pace of play is an entirely different story. I usually play better the faster I play, regardless of who I am with. Likely part of the reason the above statement stands true. Although I have played with better players that are extremely slow, for which I usually play lousy. So pace of play is probably more important than caliber of player.

Although I have had a few really good rounds on really slow days. Usually when I expect it from the start, and I usually play worse towards the end of the round. May be in part to all the beer I drink to deaden the pain catches up to me.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by cypressperch

cause one to play bad golf? Honestly, the answer is usually, "Yes." If all the players are of fairly equal ability, a sort of rhythm develops, and you get to hit sort of in turn. If everyone plays at a similar pace, you have the making of a very pleasant round provided no one is a loud mouth who talks too much.

I truly believe that.
Have had similar episodes on the race track with my motorcycle. I am a pretty good rider but there is always someone better than you no matter what you do. I have been on the track with pro's & they elevate your riding ability just by watching & following them. I have run my quickest lap times at Road America when riding behind those who's abilities on the track are light years above my own.

[SilverUberXeno]

It's not the ability that gets me... here's the tale.

I play most often with my friend Josh who is by no means a good golfer. However, he really WANTS to be. He takes the game seriously, does NOT enjoy hitting bad shots, etc. He plays like he wants to win, though he never does. Frequently shoots 55+ on 9.

I played the other day with 3 guys who were better golfers than Josh, but who goofed around way too much. It was entertaining, but NOT a very enjoyable golf experience. They all shot in the high 40's I believe.

I shoot MUCH better, and enjoy the golf a lot more with Josh. It's the mindset more than the skill level to me.

Good point overall though.

[figjam]

I find that playing with higher handicap players usually brings my game down a bit, particularly if they are new players who don't understand ettiquette. I seem to allow myself to be become frustrated when my playing partners talk during my backswing, walk all across the line of my putt, let their shadows creep into my line of sight when lining up a shot, stand directly behind me on the tee, putt when they are not away, lose their ball continuously, take incorrect drops etc. etc. I'm not having a go at all high handicappers, it's just that many are on high caps because they don't take the game seriously and don't learn the rules or understand ettiquette.

Overall the standard of player doesn't affect me though, as I've had some of my best and worst rounds with better and worse players. I just like to play with people who understand the rules and ettiquette of the game, no matter how igh or low their cap.

[JEFF4i]

It never really affects me, but ranting sure does feel good, and if you hadn't noticed, I tend to rant.

Anyway, my thing is I just focus on me and the ball.

[cypressperch]

I played a lot of golf at MUNY which is now named after the brothers Lionel and Jay Hebert who played at MUNY when kids and went on to win one PGA Championship each (Yes, the Major.). The local legend at that course, however, was Shirley Picard who won several state amateurs and who was unbeatable when in his prime. I got teamed up with him as the B player in a nine-hole scramble. He and I alone shot eleven under par with three eagles and five birdies. That broke the nine-hole scramble record there by a stroke. We missed a five foot putt on the one hole we had to count a par. Everyone figured that Shirley Picard had produced that amazing round. He did, but we used twelve of his shots and thirteen of mine! For example, I drove the short par-four 3rd hole and sunk the thirty-foot eagle putt myself.

Playing with Shirley Picard elevated my game especially when we were on the same team. You have a lot of confidence with a team member like that on your side.

CP

[sssmokin]

The skill of the player I'm with doesn't affect me as long as they move along and don't take 35 practice swings etc. As long as I can play at a reasonable pace, I'm okay. On the other end of the spectrum, I play once in awhile with a guy from work. He's an excellent golfer..........but I never saw anyone as hyper as he is. He walks (more like runs) and I always feel like I'm holding him up from his daily workout. That affects my game more than a poor golfer.