Am I too competitive?

[swanny32]

On monday I caddied for Daveyck2k in the Volvo Matchplay singles. As all good caddies do, I worked out yardage for him on every shot that required it, but when I was doing it on par 3 tee blocks I found myself not wanting to say the yardage out loud as his opponent would hear so generally just picked the right club for him and told him to hit it. I face the same predicament tomorrow when we play our pairs match.

Am I being too competitive? What does everyone else do?

 

[MKDave]

On monday I caddied for Daveyck2k in the Volvo Matchplay singles. As all good caddies do, I worked out yardage for him on every shot that required it, but when I was doing it on par 3 tee blocks I found myself not wanting to say the yardage out loud as his opponent would hear so generally just picked the right club for him and told him to hit it. I face the same predicament tomorrow when we play our pairs match.

Am I being too competitive? What does everyone else do?

I'd be the same however I might pre agree a distance to deduct from all par 3's. So you work it out at 167 yards, advise your partner to take 15 Yards off what you say and then announce, "it's about 182 from my calculations"

Jesus, now I should start a thread - "Am I to competitive!"

 

[swanny32]

I'd be the same however I might pre agree a distance to deduct from all par 3's. So you work it out at 167 yards, advise your partner to take 15 Yards off what you say and then announce, "it's about 182 from my calculations"

Jesus, now I should start a thread - "Am I to competitive!"

I really like that idea! Gives Dave the correct info and our opponents the wrong info however is it morally right?

 

[daveyc2k2]

There's one problem with that method. At that time of the morning I'm not usually too with it and it will no doubt take around 9 holes to figure out what's going and therefore taking too much club each time. lol

 

[Birchy]

I really like that idea! Gives Dave the correct info and our opponents the wrong info however is it morally right?

Anybody who listens to an opponents yardage and takes their shot to it is a lunatic so i would say no. If they are stupid enough to listen then thats their problem!

 

[AyrshireGolfer]

I really like that idea! Gives Dave the correct info and our opponents the wrong info however is it morally right?

You are only giving your opponent the wrong info if they ask you directly for yardage.

Otherwise they are just ear wigging and taking other peoples information without checking / judging for themselves.

That's what I tell myself at night to help me sleep better.

 

[pbrown7582]

I dont think you are being too competetive, its no different to a putt on the green really you wouldnt go up to them and say half a ball left? we all have the same chance to work out are own distances etc and in a match i would expect to have to do it myself.
good luck tomorrow.

 

[HickoryShaft]

The short answer is yes!

I know games can be competitive but simple yardages should not be an issue. They can work it out for themselves anyway and in the rules it is one of the things you are allowed to share.

I would hold short of announcing (to my partner or the person I was caddying for) that there is a cross wind so aim out left by xxx yards or it needs to land on the fringe to give it a chance of stopping etc but the actual yardage would not be something I would not be concerned about announcing.

And if you are going to say a yardage I would always use the actual one not have a code.

And I very rarely play match play even though I enjoy it so maybe I am too soft and missing the competative bite I need!!

 

[swanny32]

There's one problem with that method. At that time of the morning I'm not usually too with it and it will no doubt take around 9 holes to figure out what's going and therefore taking too much club each time. lol

Lol.....and you're the better one of the two of us at that time of morning! I think the yardage figure stays on display for a short while after so I might just hand the Bushnell over to you to have a look through the lens.

 

[Dave3498]

On monday I caddied for Daveyck2k in the Volvo Matchplay singles. As all good caddies do, I worked out yardage for him on every shot that required it, but when I was doing it on par 3 tee blocks I found myself not wanting to say the yardage out loud as his opponent would hear so generally just picked the right club for him and told him to hit it. I face the same predicament tomorrow when we play our pairs match.

Am I being too competitive? What does everyone else do?

Send him a text!

 

[swanny32]

Send him a text!

Actually, I'm down there tonight for 9 holes, could get some yardages off the whites and write them down as I doubt they'll move the pins or tee blocks before we start tomorrow.

 

[Monty_Brown]

I've played matches for the club scratch team and my opponent has given me yardages from his rangefinder without any request from me. They also explain hole layouts, hidden hazards etc. In the league we play, it's seen as the done thing to give your oppo that kind of information.

Quite classy behaviour in my view and makes for a great match played in the best spirit.

Don't have any issue with you guys being more secretive however, we are all different.

 

[swanny32]

I've played matches for the club scratch team and my opponent has given me yardages from his rangefinder without any request from me. They also explain hole layouts, hidden hazards etc. In the league we play, it's seen as the done thing to give your oppo that kind of information.

Quite classy behaviour in my view and makes for a great match played in the best spirit.

Don't have any issue with you guys being more secretive however, we are all different.

Im happy to tell them where the hazards are and where the green is etc, but whether I will tell them how far the hazard is or how far the green is, I don't know.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

If my opponents are not friendly I used to quite enjoy the 'banter' of foursones.
The secret was to pitch your voice to the level where your opponents could just hear you.
Eg on the fairway 'was that a 5' when you know full well it was a 7 iron.

I used to have a couple of Scratch League partners who were masters of this black art. Making sure your opponents could see what club you were playing then playing a 3/4 shot that looked like a full shot. Then watch the confusion on thier faces.

Like me they only applied it when we were playing unfriendly opponents. [honest]

 

[DaveM]

Does it really matter? They still have to hit the shot. Knowing the yardage does not change that.

 

[Foxholer]

... I found myself not wanting to say the yardage out loud as his opponent would hear...
Am I being too competitive? What does everyone else do?

Yes imo. Distance info is shareable - and should be. Club info is/should not be though!

Mind you, did anyone spot Bubba checking out the club Tiger hit into last hole (8) last night?

 

[duncan mackie]

I really like that idea! Gives Dave the correct info and our opponents the wrong info however is it morally right?

morals don't come into it - you would loose the hole; see d8-1/9

as to your basic question - no I don't think you are being to competitive in not openly sharing factual information that you could share if you chose to. Your choice.

 

[fundy]

I played in the Volvo knockout yesterday at an away course where almost every shot seemed to be a blind one. My GPS chose the night before to pack in meaning I was at a huge disadvantage. My opponent talked me through the layout of each hole on the tee and offered me a yardage form his GPS anytime I wanted it. The game was still ultra competitive and played in very good spirit (I had to call a penalty on myself that he wasnt aware of too!). I came away with the utmost of respect for him, far more so than someone who is trying to hide yardages or talk out loud with fake ones - beat the other guy by playing better golf not by trying to be sneaky - far more enjoyable to win the right way rather than any way! Golf is far more enjoyable when played the right way by like minded individuals imo, play hard and your best but don't do anything just to win, if you do where do you draw the line?

 

[Scadge]

I think you are far too competitive and in danger or being a little bit sad. You're a high handicapper you aren't going to win the open - invest in getting better not more petty - enjoy the challenge of playing your beat game and enjoy the company of the people you are playing. Of course you play to win but how much do you really want to win a tankard or plastic trophy. Get one on line to show the wife and kids rather than being a sad a#€e that not one wants to play. Think of the biggest knob at your club and be the opposite not the same.

Sorry for the rant but there's a good man here asking to be saved.

 

[Region3]

I played in the Volvo knockout yesterday at an away course where almost every shot seemed to be a blind one. My GPS chose the night before to pack in meaning I was at a huge disadvantage. My opponent talked me through the layout of each hole on the tee and offered me a yardage form his GPS anytime I wanted it. The game was still ultra competitive and played in very good spirit (I had to call a penalty on myself that he wasnt aware of too!). I came away with the utmost of respect for him, far more so than someone who is trying to hide yardages or talk out loud with fake ones - beat the other guy by playing better golf not by trying to be sneaky - far more enjoyable to win the right way rather than any way! Golf is far more enjoyable when played the right way by like minded individuals imo, play hard and your best but don't do anything just to win, if you do where do you draw the line?

I would have wrote this, but fundy saved me the job.