Playing Golf 'With' a friend

[HickoryShaft]

@ 6inchcup
So it's ok for your friend to cheat when it benefits you. Winning the club pairs,entering pairs comps all over the country etc. But when he's playing against you it's not. A bit of a double standard? In my book it makes you a cheat as well!

I had to re-read 6inchcup's post again to double check but having done so there is absoluetly nothing in there that even comes close to suggesting he accepted cheating when playing in the pairs comps with this guy. From his post I would assume he would have the same attitude if he felt it had been in his benefit also and would not accept it. To pull someone up for cheating is a hard thing to do but should be done (it can be done in a way that suggests they were wrong rather than a direct accusation) and to challenge one of his best mates in this way shows he understands and believes in the rules.

I think you post is out of order Tig !!!

 

[londonlewis]

Two sides to the story I guess.
It seems that when this chap did speak the OP wasn't happy with what he said, but then he also wasn't happy when not walking side by side down each fairway.

Yes he was giving advice and it was unsolicited which can be annoying but is it a reason to not play with this chap again?

So he strode down the fairway ahead of you. On a power trip? maybe. Wanting to avoid slow play? maybe.

I would recommend you talk through with this person and maybe tell them some of the things that you aren't a fan of on the golf course. To throw away what could be a good golfing friendship with an existing mate seems a little rash to me. Guess it depends how much you enjoy each other's company.

Give it another go but let him know your frustrations. If he fires back at you and gets defensive maybe it's a sign you should play golf with someone else. We all do things that wind other people up, sometimes we just didn't realise what they were.

 

[Tignanello97]

@hickory shaft
Point taken. I re-read the post and there was no suggestion of accepting any cheating.
6inch please accept my apologies. You were right not to accept it from your friend.
Tig

 

[Vincent Gary]

I play with people who choose to walk on and not talk, if their in the zone and shooting a good score why not? i wouldn't want to stop it, in fact i'd welcome it. For some its passion rather than ego that takes over.

Other people i play with like a chat and some banter and that's equally ok with me, each to their own i'm easy and don't expect to talk if my playing partner is in the zone.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm with Doon on this, is it mixed foursomes? 4 Ball? foursomes or greensomes?

If I'm to be contentious (rare for me I grant you ) I would bet that if a player talks about a 'pairs' competition then he is actually talking about 4BBB - simply because he is ignorant of the other forms...

 

[Foxholer]

I played for years with a friend,we had golfing trips abroad played in pairs comps up and down the country we even won the clubs pairs on 3seperate occasions over the years,but after we played against each other in a county knock out comp and I refused to turn a blind eye to him cheating(improved his lie) we have never spoken or seen one another since,I even invited him to my sons engagement but he never replied,sad but his choice.

I trust you would have pulled him if he'd done the same thing as your partner!

 

[6inchcup]

I trust you would have pulled him if he'd done the same thing as your partner!

yes I would,what would be the glory in winning by cheating,I hope this was a one of by him as he was a good honest guy,but I never took any notice if he was on the opposite side of the fairway,so he could have been doing it for years,I will never know now.

 

[Pitch Perfect]

Once again thanks for your replies guys ! Some interesting and insightfull viewpoints. Yes golf may well be an 18 hole reflection of life with all its aspirations, near misses and occasional triumphs or perhaps it is just a game with a club and a ball !
I think there may have been an element of the 'mental game' going on here, which on reflection I find thought provoking rather than the more obviously feather ruffling ! I am sure this is just a facet of the game to be delt with like any other.
My only option now is to steadily become a better player, offer him another game at my club AND THEN WHOOP HIS ASS !!

Pitch Perfect

 

[The Fifth Eagle]

So here's what I'd have done - by hole 3 I'd be giving him advice - about his game, course strategy, etc. if he can do it, so can I. If he moves off before me I'd remind him of the risk of being hit with the ball, and I'd take over the honour once or twice to play him at his game.

 

[sawtooth]

If I'm to be contentious (rare for me I grant you ) I would bet that if a player talks about a 'pairs' competition then he is actually talking about 4BBB - simply because he is ignorant of the other forms...

Is it because 4BBB is more common than the other formats? It might go without saying.