Do you avoid "inferior" players

[ManinBlack]

Something in another thread prompted me to think of this. When I was young and off 20 I knew a lot of members off low handicaps, including two scratch players. We all used to congregate on the tee on Saturday & Sunday afternoons and draw for partners. Despite being the highest handicap in the group I was never excluded and actually positively encouraged to join in. One particular member of the group, who eventually was best man at my wedding, was generous with his time & advice to the less able members of the group.

I never forgot this & have made it a rule never to avoid playing with less able members, even if it means a bit more ball searching. However, I expect them to behave the same way as I do if they are likely to hold up the game. Unless it's a competition, if I'm lost, we all have a quick look until the match behind us is almost ready to play & then I'll tell the others to play on while I look for a bit longer. If we're under pressure from a following match & I can't score I'll pick up & expect others to do the same. If the people I'm playing with behave like this I don't care what their handicap is, I'm more interested in how I get along with them socially. Many of the people I enjoy playing with most are much higher handicappers than I am. The beauty of the handicapping system is that it doesn't matter, you can still have a close (sometimes too close!) game.

 

[Albanach]

Handicap is the last thing I think of when organising a game. I don't care as long as I enjoy their company and we can have a laugh whilst playing. There are members at my club with highland low handicaps that I'll avoid as IMO they are personality vacuums.

 

[ManinBlack]

Handicap is the last thing I think of when organising a game. I don't care as long as I enjoy their company and we can have a laugh whilst playing. There are members at my club with highland low handicaps that I'll avoid as IMO they are personality vacuums.

We have them too, call it a "Charisma bypass"

 

[Tashyboy]

Glad I am reading this, you may well be looking for my ball for a good bit up in the north east.
one of the lads whose head went a bit after he finished at the pit started golfing with us. He was struggling to get round in under 100. Got his first hcap a couple of weeks ago ( 24) and he will lower it this year.
He is a good lad to play with though as well.

 

[Stuey01]

Makes no odds to me. I'll play with any ability from absolute beginner to pro with no problems.

 

[Break90]

Purely by chance, and a healthy competition within our regular group, the 6 of us all hold handicaps between 9 and 12. However we welcome players into our group regardless of what their handicap is. Assuming the caveats in the OP are adhered to as far as possible, it's more about the conversation, rapport and the ability to laugh at yourself that matters.

 

[Lambchops]

Handicap is the last thing I think of when organising a game. I don't care as long as I enjoy their company and we can have a laugh whilst playing. There are members at my club with highland low handicaps that I'll avoid as IMO they are personality vacuums.

Bang on mate - Golf is a social game and a great way to meet new people, I don't care if I play with a scratch player or 54hc (as they have here) As long as they are good company and you can have a bit of a laugh its all good - same in competitions - considering you are out for 4.5 hours and need to concentrate on you shots for about 2% of the time the company of the 4-ball is what is important

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Our swindle HC go from 5 up to 24 and will just go in the pot and no issue with who each one plays with

 

[rudebhoy]

As a beginner, it's really interesting to hear what better players think of us.

It always a bit nerve-wracking standing on the first tee with a bunch of strangers who are seasoned players watching you. I never hit a decent shot on the first!

I have played a few games with total strangers who turned out to be low handicappers and I have to say they were all very encouraging and patient with me.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Similar at ours Phil, our "Saturday Group" of about 15/16 of us goes from 4 to 22 I think. We draw groups which keeps it nice and varied from week to week. I would say it's quite nice when a really competitive single figure fourball comes out of the hat but it's never an issue if it doesn't which is most of the time. We're all mates at the end of the day.

 

[louise_a]

I will normally not worry about the standard of my playing partners, although in medals I prefer to play with someone I know will not be spending ages looking for balls.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Haven't met one yet , met plenty with the charisma bypass though!

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Couldn't care less what standard someone is, the only people I avoid are [insert description/expletive as required]. Good company, irrespective of ability, age, gender, background etc. etc. trumps anything. I will arrange to play with similar hcp's for a couple of competitions such as the club champs and scratch cup but otherwise I just turn up for the roll up and play with whomever.

 

[SugarPenguin]

Its good to see people on here aren’t handicap snobs. My regular playing partner is a very similar ability to myself which is great but in our larger group some lads who are 3-7 and then most of them are high 20’s. I really do not have a problem playing with higher handicaps. Its usually much more fun and less serious.
However I must admit, I play much much better playing with people who are better than myself.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Something in another thread prompted me to think of this. When I was young and off 20 I knew a lot of members off low handicaps, including two scratch players. We all used to congregate on the tee on Saturday & Sunday afternoons and draw for partners. Despite being the highest handicap in the group I was never excluded and actually positively encouraged to join in. One particular member of the group, who eventually was best man at my wedding, was generous with his time & advice to the less able members of the group.

I never forgot this & have made it a rule never to avoid playing with less able members, even if it means a bit more ball searching. However, I expect them to behave the same way as I do if they are likely to hold up the game. Unless it's a competition, if I'm lost, we all have a quick look until the match behind us is almost ready to play & then I'll tell the others to play on while I look for a bit longer. If we're under pressure from a following match & I can't score I'll pick up & expect others to do the same. If the people I'm playing with behave like this I don't care what their handicap is, I'm more interested in how I get along with them socially. Many of the people I enjoy playing with most are much higher handicappers than I am. The beauty of the handicapping system is that it doesn't matter, you can still have a close (sometimes too close!) game.

Is exactly how club golf should be. :thup:

 

[fenwayrich]

Not bothered at all, other than I prefer it if people don't faff about, which can refer to people off any handicap.

Our Saturday roll up includes a lad who turned pro last year and plays off +4 with us, a lot between 4 and 12, up to a few high teens and a couple in the 20's. Ages range from 16 and 17 (when they can get out of bed) to 63. We just draw the tokens out of the hat.

 

[arnieboy]

Our group of 20 seniors range from 7 to 28 handicaps and age 62 to 88! It's all very friendly and the banter plays a huge part of our time on the course and in the clubhouse.

 

[North Mimms]

I'm pretty relaxed about hcps (but then I'm fairly middling, not low)
I remember how grateful I was as a newbie when anyone was willing to play with me!

I'm not keen on playing with faffers, but that can come with any hcp.
I don't mind if somone is taking 30 shots more than me to get round as long as they are taking those shots in a timely fashion.

Re: the looking for balls thing.
Whilst a higher hcp player might be more wayward, if a low hcp player is banging their shots out 290 yards (I don't believe in 300 yd drives...) they can be just as hard to locate if they are even a little off line.
Also when you've got plenty of shots with your hcp, a 36 hcp player will often quite happily say, "I'll play another". Someone playing off 6 will understandably be reluctant to squander 2 shots if there's a chance to find their original ball, so will want to take their full 5 minutes.

I really enjoy playing with those who are at the improving early stage. I remember one lady being all pleased when she finally hit a shot into a green that left a pitch mark!

 

[Smiffy]

I'm not fussed who I play with. With my reputation I can''t afford to be.
But my brother was the biggest golf snob I know. Got down to about 8 handicap and hated playing with anybody above about 12.
I haven't spoken to him for the best part of 20 years now.

 

[patricks148]

I'm not fussed who I play with. With my reputation I can''t afford to be.
But my brother was the biggest golf snob I know. Got down to about 8 handicap and hated playing with anybody above about 12.
I haven't spoken to him for the best part of 20 years now.

Smiffy shouldn't that be, he hasn't spoken to you for 20 year?