<p>OK, this is just for fun. Temps here are in the teens, so I feel entitled …</p>
<p>An old friend and golf partner has invited me to Florida for a few rounds of golf. The flight’s cheap and the lodging’s free … but I need a bit of encouragement because he may be the WORST golf partner on the entire planet. Now I’m not talking about the hand wedges from sand traps, or the “I’m taking a mulligan” each time a tee shot sails OB … or even marking down a more favorable score than earned a couple times each round. No, those l can live with … even if it means hearing “I’m low score again!” at the end of each round. But the swearing and lack of consideration for the other players has finally worn me down. I mean, is there anyone else who has a WORSE playing partner?</p>
<p>My ex-H He would yell at ME when HE hit the ball way out of bounds and lost it. Every time we played. Many other bad behaviors on the course as well… I have heard it said that you ought to play golf with a potential spouse before committing to marrying them. Wish I had!</p>
<p>honestly when I play golf with people I don’t focus on what they’re doing. I focus on my own game and don’t really care if the others in my party take tons of mulligans, change their scores, etc. (well unless we are playing for money of course :)). If I were you I would just try to game the game lighthearted…have a bunch of beers with the person and some fun conversation…who cares about his game just have fund and focus on your game. :)</p>
<p>IMO:enticing temps and low fees ARE NOT WORTH IT.
It does not sound to me that the prospective golf partner’s foibles are easy for you to overlook.</p>
<p>I’m not a good golfer, and didn’t begin playing until I was an adult. </p>
<p>It is remarkable how much the game reveals. There is the fellow who always thinks that whichever ball is in the best position is his. Note: I said “is” his…not “could possible be” his. When it isn’t, you’re left with the impression that he somehow believes you’ve invented some new method of cheating undetectedly. </p>
<p>I played a round once with a twosome who clearly played a lot more often that I did. They were much more accomplished, although far from great… probably low double-digit handicaps at best. We got near the end of the round and they told a joke that was designed to embarrass me for not tending the pin, in a situation where I don’t think my approach was close to the hole all day.</p>
<p>I think in golf, there are those who are expert about the game from experence, and those who aren’t. And then there are those who have personality issues and those who don’t. Its a delicate balance. Not to be overly negative, but there is some chance you’ve been invited because you’re the only one who can tolerate him. Only you can decide if its worth it.</p>
<p>Not a problem with this guy. He speed-walks to the pin and yells at whomever’s due to hit “We’re all waiting on you.” Sometimes drives off with the golf cart while the rest of foursome is still putting out. Plays Winter Rules all year around. I could go on … and on … and on. Dadx is right on point … no one else will play with this guy.</p>
<p>I don’t golf but my H is an avid golfer who has played since he was a kid. He never plays more than once with someone with poor golf etiquette. Although he is an accomplished golfer, he doesn’t mind playing with someone who isn’t as good as he is but he will not tolerate someone who has no manners on the course.</p>
<p>Don’t go. A round of golf one afternoon locally may not be foolish, but to spoil your time in Florida with this jerk… The costs of being with him outweigh the money saved.</p>
<p>It seems that different people have different golfing styles- gender related at the risk of sounding sexist. My H doesn’t understand the social aspect of golfing, and it is true that men often go out to hit the ball but a group of women will slow the game (and irritate the men behind them) by also having conversations…</p>
<p>We haven’t golfed in decades. I started golfing when my then boyfriend first took me. In medical school a group of us (women) jokingly decided we would work only on Wednesday afternoons when all of the other doctors were out golfing… In my area golfing is cheap and employees at all levels of the hospital staffs often join summer leagues.</p>
<p>I do have a former playing partner who was worse however… Hit his drive in the ocean at #8 at Pebble Beach. Sat there steaming in the cart for a few minutes - then ran around back, grabbed his driver out of his bag and threw it into the ocean… too bad he reached into my bag instead of his…</p>
<p>Having to hit 3 woods all the way home… painful…</p>
<p>scualum - Pebble Beach … lovely place. Some (other) friends and I played there one gorgeous afternoon, back when it was affordable and the short rough was about three feet wide. Played good … scored bad. Only lost one ball to the rocks. Wonderful day.</p>
<p>It surely is. I wish I could arrange just 4 holes of golf with a potential hire that claims golf as a hobby in lieu of a formal interview for assessing character traits.</p>
<p>My dad would probably say I’m the worst golf partner ever. When I was a teenager I would run up the fairway to see where my ball landed, and I’d drive the golf cart at places where you weren’t supposed to, lol. Now him and I just stick to driving ranges, haha! I do remember my grandfather looking like he was going to throw a club one time when we went about ten years ago. My BF golfs religiously (if its above like 30 degrees, he’s on the golf course every weekend), and he said he won’t go with me and a couple of girls at work because he doesn’t want to be expelled from the golf course for taking so long, haha! I don’t think he’s so worried about me but the other girls that want to go have never golfed before.</p>
<p>People you don’t want on a golf course…my parents.</p>
<p>They took up golfing when my dad retired. They took some lessons, but never played with other people before. As retired people they got discount to play at some pretty nice public courses. </p>
<p>First time out, my mom packed some food because they didn’t want to spend money buying food. Few holes in, they came to a very pretty spot, they just got their food out and had a picnic. Meanwhile, people behind them were waving heir clubs and getting angry. My mom said to us, “I don’t know why they were so upset, we just wanted a break, if they were in such a hurry, they could have just gone ahead.”</p>
<p>My BIL, who is an avid golfer, was on the floor laughing. He had to explain to my parents of some rules on the golf course. He said to us siblings, “I could just picture these little old Chinese couple putting a blanket down on a golf course to have a picnic. Other golfers were probably wondering, what the heck…”</p>
<p>OP, are you taking a poll here? My vote is definitely “Don’t go!” Life is too short to put up with that sort of nonsense. It’s called a game for a reason – it’s supposed to be fun!</p>
<p>Newhope, don’t go. It’s not worth it. Maybe if NO ONE will play with this boor, he’ll finally mend his ways. Or maybe not - boors never realize THEY are the problem.</p>
<p>I don’t usually golf, but our family went to a par-3 course a few years ago. Partway thru my son hit a bad shot, yelled, “Damn!” and threw his club on the ground. A few minutes later I asked him, “Why do you play this game?” He replied, “Because it’s fun.” </p>
<p>“… hit a bad shot, yelled, “Damn!” and threw his club on the ground.”</p>
<p>Lafalum - If your son is looking to expand his repertoire of epithets, I’ve got just the guy for him. A few years ago we were playing one of those nice northern Michigan courses … the ones with vacation houses along the fairways … and my playing partner’s swearing was so bad that a couple of Mom’s moved their children inside while we played through. No, I’m not making this up.</p>
<p>If anyone here wants a funny golf read that reveals the inner demons in all of us on the course try “Who’s Your Caddy” by Rick Reilly. He is a SI writer who caddied for a number of golfers(Nicklaus, Daly, Bob Newhart, Trump, et al) for one round. The chapter caddying for Deepak Chopra was particularly hilarious.</p>
He would yell at ME when HE hit the ball way out of bounds and lost it. Every time we played. Many other bad behaviors on the course as well… I have heard it said that you ought to play golf with a potential spouse before committing to marrying them. Wish I had!</p>
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