What is it about your golf buds that makes for a good round of golf?

Assuming you have an enjoyable round when playing golf with your friends or regular group of guys/gals or mix thereof, or just one in particular, what is it about them that makes it a good round for you?

Good competition and good trash talk and laughs. Not necessarily in that order.

Fun, and similar views on competition.

I have always thought, regardless of the amateur sport/game, the disconnect is generally a difference of opinion concerning competition. As an example, I am a 5, I am getting older, and I know my game is on a general trajectory of down. I also know, when I step on a golf course, there is a chance I lose money, and if I do, that’s OK bc I know it’s a possibility.

Then I play with a guy who is a 15 who started golfing 5 years ago. Their game trajectory, regardless of age is expected to improve. Bc of this, they may expect to win, or perhaps the game is too rich for their blood, regardless they start getting pissed off when they are losing and they aren’t fun. No thank you.

In a group of 16 there might be one guy like this, but one is enough.

EDIT: I am not slandering new golfers. It’s the attitude. I have played golf with many newer golfers who have a great attitude toward competition (most all of them). Just an observation about the general cause of the difference, IMO

Comfort.

They don't start crying/whining after bad shots and don't spend 15 mins at the bar talking about what they could've shot.

Ditto to all above, not whinny babies, competitive, a little trash talk, pace of play is good.

Fun, and similar views on competition.

I have always thought, regardless of the amateur sport/game, the disconnect is generally a difference of opinion concerning competition. As an example, I am a 5, I am getting older, and I know my game is on a general trajectory of down. I also know, when I step on a golf course, there is a chance I lose money, and if I do, that’s OK bc I know it’s a possibility.

Then I play with a guy who is a 15 who started golfing 5 years ago. Their game trajectory, regardless of age is expected to improve. Bc of this, they may expect to win, or perhaps the game is too rich for their blood, regardless they start getting pissed off when they are losing and they aren’t fun. No thank you.

In a group of 16 there might be one guy like this, but one is enough.

 

EDIT: I am not slandering new golfers. It’s the attitude. I have played golf with many newer golfers who have a great attitude toward competition (most all of them). Just an observation about the general cause of the difference, IMO

Does CN play with you guys ona regular basis? I hear you on the downward trending game.

I love the competition and especially a little trash talk of my regular group(s). Unfortunately with me moving, I won’t have a group this year.

My golf buddies on the golf course are about as cut throat and competitive as you can get but off the course it’s all love!!

My group...., we don't play for money, or against each other. We all shoot in the mid 70s to low 80s, depending on the day.

We just play for fun, and usually stay after for lunch. We just enjoy the game and being outdoors.

Two guys are in their mid 60s (age) and two in early 50's, so we're not trying to beat each other's brains in.

Hit em good

My group...., we don't play for money, or against each other. We all shoot in the mid 70s to low 80s, depending on the day.

We just play for fun, and usually stay after for lunch. We just enjoy the game and being outdoors.

Two guys are in their mid 60s (age) and two in early 50's, so we're not trying to beat each other's brains in.

 

Hit em good

I respect guys that don’t play for money but it’s just not for me or my group.

Would be like playing poker with friends and using fake chips...just a bit anticlimactic, but heck, one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor?

I don't want to compete against my playing partners, I like a laid back group. I'm competitive within myself against the course, not other people. I also don't like trash talk, I think it's mostly stupid and not funny

We all understand it is a game, it doesn't pay our mortgages and it should not take 5 hours to play 18.

They play ready golf and are laid back.

I don't want to compete against my playing partners, I like a laid back group. I'm competitive within myself against the course, not other people. I also don't like trash talk, I think it's mostly stupid and not funny

If you only compete against the course and not other people why do you carry a handicap?

Fun, and similar views on competition.

I have always thought, regardless of the amateur sport/game, the disconnect is generally a difference of opinion concerning competition. As an example, I am a 5, I am getting older, and I know my game is on a general trajectory of down. I also know, when I step on a golf course, there is a chance I lose money, and if I do, that’s OK bc I know it’s a possibility.

Then I play with a guy who is a 15 who started golfing 5 years ago. Their game trajectory, regardless of age is expected to improve. Bc of this, they may expect to win, or perhaps the game is too rich for their blood, regardless they start getting pissed off when they are losing and they aren’t fun. No thank you.

In a group of 16 there might be one guy like this, but one is enough.

 

EDIT: I am not slandering new golfers. It’s the attitude. I have played golf with many newer golfers who have a great attitude toward competition (most all of them). Just an observation about the general cause of the difference, IMO

 

Does CN play with you guys ona regular basis? I hear you on the downward trending game.

 

I love the competition and especially a little trash talk of my regular group(s). Unfortunately with me moving, I won’t have a group this year.

Yes he does. And yes we talk a lot. I am sorry you are losing your group. It’s always nice to have a group. For me, it’s fun, that’s all I care about and I want everyone else in my group to have fun. BTW, he is still playing good golf, really good golf.

Fun, and similar views on competition.

I have always thought, regardless of the amateur sport/game, the disconnect is generally a difference of opinion concerning competition. As an example, I am a 5, I am getting older, and I know my game is on a general trajectory of down. I also know, when I step on a golf course, there is a chance I lose money, and if I do, that’s OK bc I know it’s a possibility.

Then I play with a guy who is a 15 who started golfing 5 years ago. Their game trajectory, regardless of age is expected to improve. Bc of this, they may expect to win, or perhaps the game is too rich for their blood, regardless they start getting pissed off when they are losing and they aren’t fun. No thank you.

In a group of 16 there might be one guy like this, but one is enough.

 

EDIT: I am not slandering new golfers. It’s the attitude. I have played golf with many newer golfers who have a great attitude toward competition (most all of them). Just an observation about the general cause of the difference, IMO

 

Does CN play with you guys ona regular basis? I hear you on the downward trending game.

 

I love the competition and especially a little trash talk of my regular group(s). Unfortunately with me moving, I won’t have a group this year.

 

Yes he does. And yes we talk a lot. I am sorry you are losing your group. It’s always nice to have a group. For me, it’s fun, that’s all I care about and I want everyone else in my group to have fun. BTW, he is still playing good golf, really good golf.

I’m seeing some FB posts fromt the PGA show from him. It looks like he’s doing well in some type of Ping challenge there.

I’m glad he found his game after he left!

Best thing about my regular group: I can outdrive them all, and they're not people who are terribly serious about golf (keep expectations appropriate with their level of skill/practice).

Worst part about my regular group: They're not people who are terribly serious about golf...

Good guys, but I really wish they were all <5 handicaps and it would be more competitive when we go out. I could take a set of pawn shop clubs and a 30 pack of natural light and still beat them by 5 strokes per side.

I carry a handicap to measure my progress or regression

I can beat them about half the time.

I don't want to compete against my playing partners, I like a laid back group. I'm competitive within myself against the course, not other people. I also don't like trash talk, I think it's mostly stupid and not funny

 

If you only compete against the course and not other people why do you carry a handicap?

Because my goal is to get the lowest handicap I can. It gives me great satisfaction when I get it under 6.0, although it has been a couple years since I did that.

I carry a handicap to measure my progress or regression

I don't want to compete against my playing partners, I like a laid back group. I'm competitive within myself against the course, not other people. I also don't like trash talk, I think it's mostly stupid and not funny

 

If you only compete against the course and not other people why do you carry a handicap?

 

Because my goal is to get the lowest handicap I can. It gives me great satisfaction when I get it under 6.0, although it has been a couple years since I did that.

Fair enough. Although if I weren’t competing against anyone else I think score would be a better indicator for me. Handicaps are designed for competitions. If I didn’t compete I wouldn’t even carry one.

But to each his own and if that’s what you use to track progress I can respect that.

I play with a regular group of guys who have similar abilities so we do get some fun gambling games going. Only thing we disagree on is tee box selection. They are the tips or nothing most rounds.

My men’s league group are all in higher flights than me, but we have a blast. Don’t really do as much betting with them since everyone is worrying about that event enough that no added pressure is needed.

Best thing about both groups is we keep a good pace, have some drinks and always have music going (not a popular thing on WRX but I personally find golf to be way more enjoyable with it)

Non-complainers.

I like the fact that I do not have to cuddle with them when we are done.

Sense of humor.

I hate play with serious drips, although I do enjoy beating them.

Please be cognizant about your pace, I know you’re probably not as quick as I am, but please be ready to hit when it’s your turn.

Everyone hits bad shots, everyone gets pissed, it’s ok, but I don’t want to hear about your blown bunker shot for 3 holes. Let it go.

And finally....

I promise to pay off bets within seconds, when it goes the other way, don’t make me ask.

My group always plays for something. Usually some beers or a low money wager. What's great is that we all talk a world of s***, even though we're all like 18 hdcps. We root for each other to do well, even when we're competing against each other. We have a few drinks try to keep things loose. No matter how we play, we always have a good time. That's all it's about, really, right?

Fast play and sense of humor. Don’t like the trash talking types.

We all usually walk, all lowish handicaps, all like gentleman wagers, show up on time ready to play rain or shine, good conversation and we're mostly friends outside golf

Fast play and sense of humor. Don’t like the trash talking types.

I guess for some of my regular buddies, the funniest times are during good-natured “trash-talking”. Laughs occur in non-trash-talk scenarios, too. I guess my main point is that many of us, when we say trash talking, we are referring to good-natured funny ribbing, not mean-spirited anything....

We have a 4some that have been playing together every Saturday for the last 14 years. After that long we're all like brothers and that's what makes golf fun for us. We're between 52 & 56 now, so if God's willing, we'll have many many more years together.