Do playing partners affect your game???

[ethandelacroix]

I'm sorry to start this thread of so glum. But I played Watson's Glen on Sunday hoping for it to be a good round. I had just worked on this new grip where I was hitting my ball super clean and deep. I had also played Deer Creak 2 weeks ago and shot a very nice 86 with a good friend of mine who had shot a 84.

So on Sunday we had 2 groups of 3 going out,the first group likes to smoke on the course while the group I was stuck with didn't. With them being all my highg school friends I didn't mind playing with the other twosome at all. The problem I encountered was that the 2 I was playing with didn't really take the game seriously. Like talking before people hitting, and making comments such as I'm getting bored, or the worst one guy after every shot whether it was a chip from one side of the green to the other would clean his club with a brush, then a towel, then stick his stupid head cover on, then put it in his bag and walk the 15 yards and pull out the same club.

Regardless I felt I had no rythm at all and my attitude turned into a I don't care round.

I really hated this because I was playing weel at the start and really I wasn't mentally there after the turn.

So sorry for my sob sorry but how important is it that you play with playing partners that are as good, better or take the game as seriously as you???

Sorry for the vent, work just woke me up...

[el tigre]

So sorry for my sob sorry but how important is it that you play with playing partners that are as good, better or take the game as seriously as you??? Not important to me at all. Frankly, I don't know very many people who take the game as seriously as I do.

I think there are two "mental aspects" to EVERY round - what happens during your shot and what happens the rest of the time. Ideally one should never affect the other and that is what you should strive for. Easier said than done.

During your shot you need to be totally focused on what you are doing and basically "in your own little world". So the only thing that bothers me is someone talking to me after I have started into my pre-shot routine. I have learned through trial-and-error that when that happens, stop everything and start over again. Most people get the hint pretty fast.

The rest of the time on the course is either someone else's turn or socializing. If I have a few laughs, great. If they're jerks, then I just concentrate on enjoying "my game". It really doesn't matter that much to me what other people do on the course, as long as they play "ready golf" and do not deliberately affect someone else's enjoyment of the game.

[tjhayko]

I actually do get affected when I people I play with are complete idiots. Doesn't happen very often, but it can and does make a difference.

[alien270]

yep i get affected as well.

[PsiJon]

While perhaps very "un-Zen" of me, I am also affected. However, it's not always negative. Most of the time, ppl are just fine.

Inconsiderate and *very* slow players definately reduce my performance/enjoyment of the game as I become too concerned about our group holding up the pack and irritating others.

Conversely, friendly and competent players can often really help my game. By the end of the first hole, you know whether you're in with a good group or not. That helps me relax and focus on the game. Also, as I'm relatively new to the sport, I like to watch players better than me and see if there's anything I can learn.

Fortunately, so far it seems there are only a few really bad apples in the bushel.

[Greywolf]

Slow play is about the only thing that bothers me, I hate waiting on those in front of me or playing partners. You can talk, laugh, do whatever you want but play fast.

[BdaGolfer]

Luckily enough most people I play with are nice enough to spend a few hours on the course with and enjoy the game, those that aren't I can just ignore. What can affect me is the really bad/slow player - you know, the one who makes you wait 15 minutes between each of your shots because he can't decide whether he likes topping or shanking better :mad: I played a round like this recently at Whirlpool, and bogeyed 5 of the first 7 holes out of boredom!

Usually I can adapt to anything, as long as there's some rhythm to the game, otherwise I can get grumpy :D

Alan

[hammer]

The people I play with definitely affects my game. Both good and bad. I always play better when I am with people that are better than me and suck it up when my partners suck. I play with one other person most often and whenever he plays like crap and does nothing but complain my game goes down too.

I have been fairly lucky for the most part and tend to get paired up with tolerable people. I actually have enjoyed the company of many of the strangers I have been paired up with over the years. If I get paired with people I don't like for whatever reason I will play horrible. It seems like every thing they do throws of my game. Slow play kills me the worst and people who take 5 minutes to hit a ball drive me nuts. However, people who don't know when to stop talking or moving are really bad too. Drunks are the worst cause they have no respect for anything. I try to block it out but it doesn't work. Once its in my mind its not going anywhere.

Its not really a question of taking the game seriously for me cause I play to have fun. Bad partners affects my ability to have fun. I can play with someone who shoots 120 and not worry about them as long as they abide by certain common golf rules and their not a complete a-hole in general.

[Big Shooter]

When I play(ed) for money (albeit small amounts), that's what had the single-most negative effect on my game.:mad:

Some guys "need the juice", not me.:confused:

The one thing that always bothers me, is the (somewhat superstitious) belief that no one should walk in your line on the putting green...when my Dad does it, I have to bite my lip...after all, he's usually paying!:rolleyes:

[iyell4]

some peeps like to talk about the weather or current-affairs, or current golf news during a round to to fill in the gaps.

i have a buddy who loves to 'trash talk' ... you'd think we wuz playin' pick-up bball down at 'the projects' (u know, cement court, chain link fence, hoop w no net bolted to the side of a brick building).

he thinks it's a great way to 'bond with the boys'. i think it is just irritating.
He consistently shoots between 105 and 120. But he'll trash-talk a scratch player because he thinks he's being friendly and jovial.:(

(of course if you ask him to tone it down, it just fuels him, he'll say "Am I gettin' to ya? Huh!?? Huh? I'm gettin' to ya. I'm takin' u to skool on this par-3. "

[sharkhark]

(of course if you ask him to tone it down, it just fuels him, he'll say "Am I gettin' to ya? Huh!?? Huh? I'm gettin' to ya. I'm takin' u to skool on this par-3. "
Holy crap! Why do you play with him? Dump him in the woods.

Yeah I am like most, play down with worse players, better with same.

Golf has a rhythm, if that rhythm is slow play, or someone taking a million shots to get in the hole, that's the rhythm I end up playing like.

[Big Shooter]

Golf has a rhythm, if that rhythm is slow play, or someone taking a million shots to get in the hole, that's the rhythm I end up playing like.

Aye man, you like da riddim, and you from Kingston man!:D

[ethandelacroix]

All these comments are validated. But I think the thing that bothers me the most is that I get out of rhythm. It's hard enough to get it, but when you are playing with people who are talking trash, trying to find their ball in the fescue for 10 minutes and complaining how bored they are... Yes it does get under my skin.

In truth though other than etiquette they feel that they too paid the same money as you so they should be abole to act however they want. And that is such a bad attitude.

And last but not least when I'm playing with good players, it makes me really want to play and focus even more so that I can keep up with their pace...

Man I wish that all people can play courteous whether or not they are a scratch golfer or a duffer...

[Faemow]

Hey guys if you played with @ssholes that never stopped smack talking etc. Do you think it would be rude if i pulled out my mp3 and just got into my own zone? I've never done it before b/c I would think that I'm being an A-hole to them as well. but thing is, if I can get into my own zone by listening to music, how bad could that be?

At the range i'm blasting some Linkin Park, just to get me hyped up for the game. Just not thinking about the game but thinking about the rhythm and momentum of the club with my body etc. I find if I talk too much on the course, i'm not really focusing on the game cuz i'm busy sociallizing. So my idea, less talk better golf.

[Focker Singh]

I do get a little nervous when I play with very good players or complete strangers. I guess you can call it an intimidation factor. After a couple of holes though I can settle down and relax better. In fact, I find I play a lot better when I play with people who are at a higher level than myself. I just find the flow of the game and even find myself learning a few things too from my partners. Its sad to say though, none of my friends can beat me so I have no problem playing with them. :rofl:

[Big Shooter]

Do you think it would be rude if i pulled out my mp3 and just got into my own zone? I've never done it before b/c I would think that I'm being an A-hole to them as well. but thing is, if I can get into my own zone by listening to music, how bad could that be?

At the range i'm blasting some Linkin Park, just to get me hyped up for the game. Just not thinking about the game but thinking about the rhythm and momentum of the club with my body etc. I find if I talk too much on the course, i'm not really focusing on the game cuz i'm busy sociallizing. So my idea, less talk better golf.
Hey, it worked for Richard "Disco ****" Zokol back-in-the-day!!!;)

[Greywolf]

Hey, it worked for Richard "Disco ****" Zokol back-in-the-day!!!;)

It did but he was not wearing the walkman because of obnoxious playing partners. :)

[Harry]

It used to. I also try to zen out when playing. Also, if there are several of you, you can always suggest keeping it quieter until the person hits. Usually people will take more notice of the game once they know they have to concentrate to keep quiet!! ... "Okay guys... let's keep it quiet while I hit the big one!"... next thing you know... everyone is trying to out hit you with concentration.

[Faemow]

i think it does...playing with guys who aren't serious about the game will make me lose focus. My string of pars would end up a string of bogeys. However this past weekend I went to practice my shortgame at Bathurst Glenn and I was paired up with Racmbs. What a nice guy:clap: , he has a real passion for the game. So when he was sinking his pars and his chip-in birdie, I was rite behind him shot for shot, getting my ball inside his. Although i beleive he finished the round even par, I was only a few shots back. Too bad I screwed up his name at the end, sorry stev...i mean scott. :p. So my point, I play a lot better with guys/gurls that play good and arn't @ssholes, and vice-versa.:help:.

PS: RACMBs I want a rematch!!! :wink:

[ethandelacroix]

I just played DC South last weekend with one of my good friends who loves golf, and these two newbies that we got paired up with.

I have to say that these were the 2 most courteous playing partners we have ever played with. They didn't spend 10 minutes finding their balls, playing mulligans on every drive, and would only really talk to us while we were waiting on the green.

It was great we would talk about yardages, and what clubs we would use. But never a slow moment, wherre I felt that they were messing with our rhythm.

I actually shot an 86 I think which I'm ecstatic with since it's been my 4th below 90 round in a row.

...and to Greenie, oh yeah I have a friend like that who bowls every ball but yet, will count your score for you whether accurate or not. Those are the playing partners where i carry my own score card and since most of their balls go left I'll be sure to be playing draws instead of fades.

Miles