Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
As a junior, aged around 14 /15 virtually all the people I played with were off lower handicaps than my 20. One, a couple of years older, was off scratch & club champion. A number of, but not all, senior members would play with the juniors & take an interest in their development. I was always included, in spite of my high handicap & I'm sure it helped me improve. I remember one incident, playing in a fourball against an irascible senior member, when I knocked my tee shot onto a 290 yard par 4 & holed the putt for a 2, nett 1. I won't repeat what he said.
As a result of this experience I have never been unwilling to play with people worse than me. Provided they have good etiquette & don't spend an age looking for lost balls I'm happy to play with them & don't let it put me off my game. I'll give advice, but only if they want it. I'm happy to sign up for competitions with people I don't know & have made a few friendships as a result.
We all have to start somewhere & discussing this the other day, my friends & I agreed what a difficult game golf is at the beginning. New starters need all the encouragement they can get.
As a result of this experience I have never been unwilling to play with people worse than me. Provided they have good etiquette & don't spend an age looking for lost balls I'm happy to play with them & don't let it put me off my game. I'll give advice, but only if they want it. I'm happy to sign up for competitions with people I don't know & have made a few friendships as a result.
We all have to start somewhere & discussing this the other day, my friends & I agreed what a difficult game golf is at the beginning. New starters need all the encouragement they can get.