The Worst Playing Partners

[sekrah]

I'm sure this has been covered multiple times over the history of this forum, but I need a refresher after a doozy last night. The playing partner that does not shut up while going out and shooting 52 thru 9.  That was enough golf for me.

 

In a casual round lectures you on every rule for 2 minutes "Can't stand behind another putter until after he strikes it" ... I'm not anti-rules by any means but in a casual round I'll just do whatever the damn well I please.

Knows every Golf Channel tip on the planet "Azinger says that ... blah blah blah." and "You pushed that putt, try breathing deeper"

Has a swing that looks like an unfolded lawn chair.

 

This person is not a stranger either, just a co-worker I drew the short straw on.

 

Is that the Trifecta?   Obnoxious Rules Nazi + Swing Coach + Terrible At Golf.  Just zip your lip already!!

 

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by sekrah

[Blonde Line Lizard]

When I get stuck with Mr. Rules Official, I just keep in mind they are playing for a green jacket and I just play my own game.  

 

I generally don't talk to them, I just keep to myself.

[tatertot]

We were teeing off on the first hole as a threesome the other day ... clubhouse hollers out to tell us to hold on they've matched us up with a single ... the "single" turns out to be a dad with his 2 sons, both under 7, who are both going to "play a little" from the fairways. He told us to play ahead so they didn't slow us down - even though the course was packed and we were waiting on every shot. And then asked to play through on the second hole - even though the course was packed and we were waiting on every shot. After the second hole, they drove off to look for open holes to play ... and we never saw them again.

[ScottF]

I met a guy, Joey, who worked on my office copier who asked me if I wanted to join up with his regular group of 12 that played Sunday mornings and had an opening. I was happy to. I walked but he was in a cart. I was shocked to see him drive the cart up onto the tee, between the green and a sand trap or try to spin doughnuts on the gravel. After the round, one of the regulars invited me back but that Joey would not be asked to return. I barely knew Joey and was happy to be rid of him.

[Ghostwedge]

You hit the trifecta. 

I'll add the guy who wants to know your life history not related golf.

Married, where you from, job history,vacation plans, how many kids, political preference, favorite sports teams, etc.

Ask me ONE of those questions on each nine I might answer you.

Just here to relax and play some good golf hopefully.

 

[MattM97]

I'm mostly a ready golf player as most recreation players seem to be, just makes the round faster. If you're ready take your shot if no one else is or in the way, we know how it goes. 

 

Well one evening round I'm playing with a bunch of singles who are trying to get in a round before the sun goes down. Except 1 guy was just trying force us to stick to the "Who's away plays first" rule but the other 2 guys were just good with ready golf, no one was in anyone's way, we kept a good pace but this one guy was just brutal. We basically told him we're going to break off, he can play on his own and figure who's away solo. 

 

He wasn't too happy but he never caught us, guess he just slowed down but the other 2 guys I played with we just flew through the 18 and got in our round before sun went down. Was a great 14-15 holes with them. 

[RCGA]

The grumpy non-talker

[sekrah]

7 minutes ago, RCGA said:

The grumpy non-talker

 

How would know if he was grumpy if he wasn't talking?

Being paired up with a non-talker is a gift to some of us.

 

[Markrip]

The guy who worries about your game than his. I played golf in Hawaii a few years ago with my nephew and brother in law. There was a single that joined us.. My nephew is much younger so he plays one tee back from my brother in law and I. The single who was older than me plays from th back tees with my nephew. His drives were never close to mine and he barely reached my brother in law’s who is usually about 10 yards shorter than me. The nephew always out drives us. After a few holes he comes up to me and tells me to start playing back where he is. I ignore him. He tells later if I’m not going play back I shouldn’t take any gimmes. At one point he drives over in his cart after I hit a ball in the water and tells me to make sure I count the penalty. I’m not sure why he was so concerned about my score. He never bothered my brother in law who was also out driving him and playing a little better than him. I don’t know maybe we were playing for something I didn’t know about.

[Petethreeput]

Yep, you found the unicorn of the worst pairing.

 

For me, and I am super lucky because I rarely see them unless we are trying a new person out to join the group are these three types of guys:

1.  The not very good guy who gets angry about not being very good.

2. The guy who can't stop talking about the gambling, the guy who tells you over the putt, "This is for $X if you make it..."  That sort of thing.

3. The living in the past narcissist guy.  Constantly telling you about his great shots, or recounting his great hole, or what it was like 5 years ago for his game, and if they are new to the area, how it should be done here based on where they came from.

 

When I go to play golf I want to laugh, compete, and have a good time.  If I lose, OK, if I win OK.  If I don't laugh?  Well that's a crappy round of golf.

[Murphy76]

If you're slow,

You've got to go.

This ain't a show.

If it helps,

Do some blow.

Then eat some crow.

 

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Murphy76

[jordan2240]

For me, I don't care how much you talk about any subject or whether you talk at all, but taking too long to ponder club selection when chances are you could hit the putter just as well from wherever you are is a pet peeve.

[596]

I had to stop playing with 3 other guys after a year of watching and locating all 4 balls on every shot for the full 18 holes.  Nothing against them, I enjoyed the game with them, but none of them could see and 2 of them couldn't hear either. They'd be looking for their ball more then 100 yards from where it went.  I'd hear on every shot taken "Did you see where that went?" I'm patient, but that finally got old.

Edited July 15, 2021 by 596

[doobz]

For me it's people who offer unsolicited advice. Anything else I can deal with.

[Gsea]

9 hours ago, tatertot said:

We were teeing off on the first hole as a threesome the other day ... clubhouse hollers out to tell us to hold on they've matched us up with a single ... the "single" turns out to be a dad with his 2 sons, both under 7, who are both going to "play a little" from the fairways. He told us to play ahead so they didn't slow us down - even though the course was packed and we were waiting on every shot. And then asked to play through on the second hole - even though the course was packed and we were waiting on every shot. After the second hole, they drove off to look for open holes to play ... and we never saw them again.

Thats on the course, single with two kids is a freaking threesome. welcome to growing the game. Get all the money u can lol.

[tatertot]

36 minutes ago, 596 said:

I had to stop playing with 3 other guys after a year of watching and locating all 4 balls on every shot for the full 18 holes.  Nothing against them, I enjoyed the game with them, but none of them could see and 2 of them couldn't hear either. They'd be looking for their ball more then 100 yards from where it went.  I'd hear on every shot taken "Did you see where that went?" I'm patient, but that finally got old.

I hate reading this ... I'm afraid I'm becoming "that guy". More and more I'm turning to my reg playing partner and saying "no clue ... any idea where that one's at." And sometimes they're right down the middle. I've already gone to the yellow ball to help follow in the sky. It helps, but when the eyes start to go, there's not much you can do.

[596]

1 minute ago, tatertot said:

I hate reading this ... I'm afraid I'm becoming "that guy". More and more I'm turning to my reg playing partner and saying "no clue ... any idea where that one's at." And sometimes they're right down the middle. I've already gone to the yellow ball to help follow in the sky. It helps, but when the eyes start to go, there's not much you can do.

I totally understand. It had nothing to do with them as people. I enjoyed the round otherwise.  It was actually exhausting after 18 holes chasing everyone's golf balls for 4 hours.  It made it difficult to concentrate on my game.

[RobotDoctor]

11 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

When I get stuck with Mr. Rules Official, I just keep in mind they are playing for a green jacket and I just play my own game.  

 

I generally don't talk to them, I just keep to myself.

 

In a casual round I play by the rules.  I am posting a score for handicap so I feel it is important to be honest relative to the rules of golf.  In a casual round whether my playing partners do or don't is really of little consequence to me unless it is someone who tees it up in tournaments and plays in the net fields.  Most golfers don't play in any kind of tournament so does it really matter?  No.  Of course there are a few things I will stress.  1) Fix your pitch marks on the green.  If a person doesn't know how I teach them.  When we all do this the greens can recover and are a pleasure to putt on for everyone.  2) Don't walk on my line when I putt.  3) Play ready golf.  When a person is ready hit away.  4) Have fun and enjoy the golfers you're playing with.  That is the most important rule!!!

[RobotDoctor]

2 hours ago, doobz said:

For me it's people who offer unsolicited advice. Anything else I can deal with.

Agreed.  I don't offer anyone I play with any advice, even if asked.  I tell them the result of a swing can be caused by a variety of issues and the best thing to do is take lessons from a good teaching pro.  This way they learn your swing and what is working and what isn't.  I will mention that the course during a round isn't the place to make corrections because a swing change will take time and practice to get it to stick.

[Joe Mannix]

This happened years ago, but I'll never forget it.  Playing 9 holes after work with a co-worker and two (2) of his friends that I'd never met before in one of their once a week twilight things.  FIRST hole....I hit driver/5 iron onto a Par 5....one of the two (2) guys I'd never met before scraped it all over the place, and reached the green in either 5 or 6 strokes.  I'm casually looking over my 30 ft. eagle putt (which I don't have every day) while his buddy is outside of me trying to decide if he should chip or putt....anyway, this jackass rudely informs me that "we play ready golf".....I wanted to club him over the head.  First of all, they may have gotten mad for me....a stranger....playing out of turn.  Second of all, I just waited for you to finally reach the green, so chill the eff out....I ended up blowing it off, because I honestly don't think he knew if I was putting for Eagle or Bogey.

[ChipStrokes]

last week i played with 

 

1. mr. loudly explained the reason for every bad shot (“it’s these new shafts, i’m not used to them” “my foot slipped on that one” “oh man i just got my shoulder out in front of me too far”)

 

2. mr. four different methods of reading every putt (straddling the line, plumb bobbing, crouched behind the ball, walking around the whole putt looking at all angles)

 

3. mr. hit on the cart girl

 

4. mr. talk you through his shot 

 

5. mr. seems to have forgotten the extra ball he hit off the tee and the drop he took because he lost one in the trees when he tells his buddy “bogey for me”

 

plot twist:  THEY WERE ALL THE SAME GUY

 

[bobfoster]

Now and then I finish something I'm doing early, and decide that I can, after all, get a round in. I'm lucky enough to know (and have tipped) enough starters on local courses that I can almost always sneak on as a single. Most of the time it is great - in fact I've made some really good friends, met some great people. 

 

But a couple of times? One word: Drunks. 

 

I do get a but irritated at some of the things mentioned above - unsolicited advice, the Rules Guy, pondering clubs etc. but getting stuck with drunks is a whole different level. Now, I'm not a teetotaler. Don't mind guys having a beer or two during a round. I certainly will at the 19th hole. What I'm talking about here is falling-down-drunk drunks. Last time it happened, I was put with a group of initially friendly guys who's fourth didn't show up. 

 

By the fifth or sixth hole they were well on their way to being blasted (Jack and Coronas). By seven and eight I started getting quite worried. They were not just seriously irritating, they were getting dangerous. One guy completely whiffed on a drive (whiskey isn't really great for the old hand-eye coordination) and just cursed and threw his club into these bushes next to the tee box. Its a good thing no one was there. Then they started getting really aggressive with each other.

 

About halfway down the 8th fairway, I quietly took this path I knew, a shortcut to the clubhouse, and disappeared from the group. (Thank goodness I was walking and didn't need to try to get my bag off a cart.) Went to the course manager and one of his starters, told them a threesome was about to be on 9 heading for the turn, and maybe they should be observed. And maybe, in fact, the local police should be called to help with the observation. Then I headed to my car and bolted. 

 

Well - you asked about our worst playing partners. That's mine - blind drunks on a golf course.

[LUXOR54]

I had a strange experience with some playing partners a few weeks ago. I always play as a single so I get paired with some interesting people from time to time. Fathers Day weekend I get paired up with another random single, and a older man with his 30~ish year old son. This old guy wasted no time, blink and you miss it, tees up the ball and before you know it, it's in the air, not necessarily straight, but speed is of the essence. His son, serial slicer, I'm talking boomerang so hard it's almost coming back. I hit a poor first tee shot, nothing crazy, quickly dropped, finished out the hole. Second hole, everyone was on the green, I was 10 yards off, hit a poor chip short and the old guy immediately said "we're just going to hole out and go ahead, we usually get around here in 3 hours" in a gruff tone, essentially saying you're awful and slowing us down. Was kinda shocking honestly. Was nice waiting for them on every tee shot after that because he was pushing everything, his son was slicing everything and they were sharing a cart, whose slowing who down now, that's Karma. Not to mention i play that course pretty much the same time Saturday and Sunday every weekend, I've never had a sub 3:45 round. 

[Fairway14]

Most irritating is the playing partner who on the green stands within the vision of someone putting.

[mlp021]

17 hours ago, sekrah said:

 

How would know if he was grumpy if he wasn't talking?

Being paired up with a non-talker is a gift to some of us.

 

 

I would much rather play with a non-talker as opposed to the guy who cannot shut up. 

 

My favorite rounds are playing with a buddy, where we'll typically say, nice drive, good putt, want a beer...and that's about it.

[RSinSG]

12 hours ago, 596 said:

I totally understand. It had nothing to do with them as people. I enjoyed the round otherwise.  It was actually exhausting after 18 holes chasing everyone's golf balls for 4 hours.  It made it difficult to concentrate on my game.

I’m old but I just had my eyes refurbished so I can see pretty good. My partner who is older can tell you which bush your ball went in from 200+ yards and can probably tell you the number on the ball😁. Another guy in our group needs to be watched as he misses at least 50% of his drives. We’ve learned to take turns watching him because it speeds the round up. It’s tiring and thus we share the task. I totally understand you describing it as exhausting as I wouldn’t want to play with someone I had to watch every shot. It can suck the fun out of the round. You should look into sharing the duty unless you’re the only one who can see. 

[2_PuttBirdies]

The person who talks too much and stands way too close while doing so.  We're out here on a gigantic golf course...why are you all in my bubble? 

Edited July 16, 2021 by 2_PuttBirdies
spelling

[RainShadow]

14 hours ago, 596 said:

I had to stop playing with 3 other guys after a year of watching and locating all 4 balls on every shot for the full 18 holes.  Nothing against them, I enjoyed the game with them, but none of them could see and 2 of them couldn't hear either. They'd be looking for their ball more then 100 yards from where it went.  I'd hear on every shot taken "Did you see where that went?" I'm patient, but that finally got old.

A year is long enough for that. 

I applaud your patience.

Realize that we may all be those guys someday.........

[Ghostwedge]

14 hours ago, tatertot said:

I hate reading this ... I'm afraid I'm becoming "that guy". More and more I'm turning to my reg playing partner and saying "no clue ... any idea where that one's at." And sometimes they're right down the middle. I've already gone to the yellow ball to help follow in the sky. It helps, but when the eyes start to go, there's not much you can do.

Switch to the red ball, I'm almost blind and can see them for miles.

 

[RainShadow]

1. Drunks

2. Constant talkers.

3. Speed golfers. I'm not a slow player, but the guy that is constantly in motion, and driving their cart ahead while I'm addressing the ball gets under my skin.

4. Person who has to stand directly behind me on every tee shot, even after I've asked them not to multiple times.