Playing as a single joining up - nice story inside

[North Texas]

I'm with all those saying this is the post of the year, maybe ever.

[tatertot]

But how could you work on your game with that old man getting in your way? Hope he didn't actually try to talk to you and ruin your concentration ...

This thread should be required reading for entering GolfWRX.

[farmer]

Good story, great sense of spirit from KJ. We have an 88 year old who plays with us quite frequently. He is subjected to the same bs and barbs as everyone, but returns them with vigor. This kind of stuff is the true spirit of golf, not how far a ball is hit, or even the score. Kudos.

[Forged4ever]

[quote name='KjBowenWRX' timestamp='1402234081' post='9452835']
I have noticed that I play as a single an join a 2 or 3 some a lot..

I really enjoy this as it allows me to play with a ton of different people and of all skill levels. Yes there is a chance of some nightmare rounds but some can be very pleasing.

Yesterday I decide to head over to play the local Par 3 course and when I arrived there was no one on the course except for a very old man on the tee.. The owner comes out an says you may wanna play thru him as he plays VERY SLOW. I told her no worries I am in no hurry. He tees off and she was right.. Very slow.. He finishes the hole and I play the hole.. I walk to the next tee and he just arrived. I asked him if I could play along side him.. He made a face like he was shocked I didn't ask him to play thru.. We played together and we had a great time.. Playing with him prob added 30-40 mins to my round but we both had company..
Turns out he is 83 years old
Has been playing golf for 63 years!
He lost his wife and has no one to play with.

At the end of the round the owner came out with tears in her eyes and told me that he plays there 3 days a week for over 4 years and no one has ever played with him. They always play thru and that what I did was an amazing gesture.. I told her in my eyes that's in the spirit of the game and why we all play.
She refunded me my greens fees and said that with what I did that earned me a free round.. I went in and the old man bought me a drink.

I truly love this game and I think I will be doing even more rounds as a single lookin to meet some amazing individuals
[/quote]Through 6900+ posts on another board and whatever I have here, and this is THE BEST story that I have ever read on any board.

I am normally not at a loss for words, though there are no words for certain actions-

This is one such action!

Well Played Bro!

Very Well Played!

YOU are why this is the greatest game on earth!

Have a great season

My Best,
Richard

[PapaJohick]

very classy. I am like you and play a lot by myself and look forward to being paired up. I always ask to play with than through when/if I catch up to others. It just makes this game even better to have some good company and get out to play the best game/hobby there is. kudos to you sir

[Daniel Eason]

What a wonderful post.

You probably have prolonged his life by a bit purely by giving him the happiness and company for a round.

This guy has seen the all time greats in golf, surely worth a round a beer to sit along and listen on that alone.

I played a summer competition two years ago playing a random draw, one of the guys was on a cart as he was in his late 70's, the other similar age...was I bothered? No, it was an honour, I had no qualms and they actually made me feel less image conscious about my game, they were a great laugh and I won the competition!

What course was this out of curiosity.

[thedillz]

Absolutely a great story and you are definitely the kind of person I would like to play a round of golf with... and buy you a beer after.

Thanks for sharing this with us and giving many of us a good reminder on selflessness and perspective.

-D-

[mwkbmw]

Thanks for sharing. Well played, Sir.

I am truly amazed that none of the speed freaks have ruined the thread busting your balls for not cursing the guy out and starting a slow play thread on GolfWRX.

[Smiller1172]

Very cool story!

[Sanzabar]

Thanks alot for sharing this.

Really shows that we should all put things into perspective. Slow play is acceptable.

[grumpy84]

This is pretty awesome. Good on you man!

[Rangeballz]

I just joined the forum yesterday, and what a great first story to read! Well done, sir.

[Ajlepisto]

Honestly I think sometimes we are so focused on pace of play we don't slow down and just take it all in.

I'm definitely guilty of that. And I bet there will be a time in my life when I'm old and wished I had someone to play with. I hope someone like you comes along.

Kudos to you.

[duffer987]

Good stuff OP

[diehllane]

I feel like I must be a terrible person since this thread didn't get me emotional at all.
Nonetheless I gave the OP a like.

[asommers14]

I love playing as a single and being paired up. Sometimes it can be a headache but the majority of the time it goes great

[The Golf Father]

This game is all about personal challenges, but is great because of the SHARED experiences that we have while playing. Kudos to the OP for making the game of golf better for all of us.

[okieboy84]

That's a really cool story. It's definitely something that you and he will never forget. Well done man.

[Bingo1976]

Several of my best friends have come through being paired up randomly - golf is a great way to establish frendships.

[PutterHo]

Awesome story ..... Thanks for sharing!

[sertshark]

My friends and I have different schedules, so it is hard to get together to play. So, I have no problem getting out there and playing as a single, because I have had so much fun getting paired up with people. The unfortunate thing is there are those rare occasions when pairing up with people is not so much of a fun thing. Usually though, within a few holes they realize I am no threat to their ego or their schedule, and after the pride settles we have some great conversation.

I love playing with "older" gentlemen, whatever age "older" may represent. It seems "younger" people are a bit more concerned with "score". The older gentlemen are much more concerned with enjoying the moment. Funny thing when you think about it - If you are practicing to get better at something, thinking too much about the goal is a setback, where staying within the moment allows you to get much more enjoyment out of the process....

I love how the older guys pause to look around the scenery for a moment, as if to acknowledge we are all only here for a fleeting moment. If they crank one way left, they act as if that is simply the hand they are dealt. Younger, less patient people are preoccupied. They are already thinking about the crap they have to do when they get back home. They get pissed off because that duff shot just ruined their chances at breaking 90. I am so guilty of that....

I cannot tell you how many retired people I have been paired up with, and each of them was a lesson in life. The only negative experiences came from being paired with a few younger people, who were impatient and seemingly more interested in their own agenda. Funny how we are presented with so many lessons in life, and it us up to us if we chose to learn from those lessons. There is so much to learn from golf, and there is even more to learn from the people we get to meet while playing it. Unfortunately, most of us hurry through our lives too fast, and we don't seem to notice the things that remind us that we are only here for a moment. So, we should savor each and every shot. I notice many of the older gentlemen I have played with walk the course with that very attitude, and something tells me it is a lesson to learn from.

[Beastmode Broker]

thats a fantastic story
I bet you made the man's day/week/month
good on you dude, the world needs more golfers/people like you

[DatSliceDoe]

Great story. Good for you OP!

We truly need to work on teaching people coming to the game, young or old, what the game is truly about: character, and this story is full of it!

[RandomGolfGuy]

That's awesome great story. Definitely could use more ppl like you with a similar perspective and love for the game.

[lesterclim]

Great story, Ken! Thanks for sharing. Definitely a Chicken Soup For The Soul (For Golfers) story!

[pbfoot]

Very cool, I play as a single a lot and enjoy getting paired with different people. Best was last summer when play was slow around 7 I joined up with the course's former super and a pro who, as it turned out, was playing a practice round before heading to Muirfield for The Senior Open (made the cut too). I'm not going to claim that older folks' slow play isn't a bit frustrating sometimes, but so long as they keep it moving its worth it. At least they (usually) aren't asking me for swing tips after every tee shot!