Libre
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2007
- Messages
- 185
- Reaction score
- 107
- Points
- 293
What if the guy you usually play with - your golf buddy - whom you sincerely like (except for the following) - normally takes at least 2 or more mullies per round? Not only that, he brushes away putts of 2 feet. And he nudges his ball around all over the course. A few inches to a few yards. And he "forgets" about wasted strokes, penalties, whiffs, etc.
I do none of these things. I have this weird idea about the nature of golf - that it is a game that makes you pay for your mistakes. Last round, I was first up on the first tee - a par 5. I hit an ugly, worthless, piece of shit drive into the adjacent fairway on the right. My friend hit second - also a garbage drive. The third guy (not a regular - just a guy who happened to walk up on us at the first tee) says, ooh - you were distracted - hit another one. And my friend does! Right down the fairway! Then the third guy also hits one down the middle.
I was steamed. Of course, I could have re-teed. But in the GAME of GOLF, I would be hitting my third. If at all possible, I play my bad shots. I wound up playing the adjacent fairway all the way down - could not get over the tree line. Got a 9 on the first hole.
I walked over to the second tee in silence. I don't know what my friend scored. I consoled myself by telling myself, as far as I'm concerned, he spoiled his round on the first tee. I was still in the game, even with a bad start.
If there are no consequences for bad strokes - if the rules can be ignored - then a golf score is totally meaningless. Golf itself becomes meaningless. It's not a game or a challenge. It's just - as the saying goes - a good walk spoiled.
I didn't want to talk to either one of them for a few holes. I knew I was upsetting myself and needed to cool off. That third guy was very nice - but was also limp backhanding par putts that stopped on the edge - and nudged his ball around on the fairway.
I don't like to be annoyed - I play golf for enjoyment. I chilled out and had a pretty good round after that. I need to just play my own game. I refuse to change. I don't care if I shoot a 110, if that's what I shoot.
I do none of these things. I have this weird idea about the nature of golf - that it is a game that makes you pay for your mistakes. Last round, I was first up on the first tee - a par 5. I hit an ugly, worthless, piece of shit drive into the adjacent fairway on the right. My friend hit second - also a garbage drive. The third guy (not a regular - just a guy who happened to walk up on us at the first tee) says, ooh - you were distracted - hit another one. And my friend does! Right down the fairway! Then the third guy also hits one down the middle.
I was steamed. Of course, I could have re-teed. But in the GAME of GOLF, I would be hitting my third. If at all possible, I play my bad shots. I wound up playing the adjacent fairway all the way down - could not get over the tree line. Got a 9 on the first hole.
I walked over to the second tee in silence. I don't know what my friend scored. I consoled myself by telling myself, as far as I'm concerned, he spoiled his round on the first tee. I was still in the game, even with a bad start.
If there are no consequences for bad strokes - if the rules can be ignored - then a golf score is totally meaningless. Golf itself becomes meaningless. It's not a game or a challenge. It's just - as the saying goes - a good walk spoiled.
I didn't want to talk to either one of them for a few holes. I knew I was upsetting myself and needed to cool off. That third guy was very nice - but was also limp backhanding par putts that stopped on the edge - and nudged his ball around on the fairway.
I don't like to be annoyed - I play golf for enjoyment. I chilled out and had a pretty good round after that. I need to just play my own game. I refuse to change. I don't care if I shoot a 110, if that's what I shoot.