The psychology of competitive golf - question for the mid to low h'cappers
- Thread starter tallpaul
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Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
IM01
Challenge Tour Pro
That pretty much sums it up for me,watch where your ball goes and don't take an age.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
As long as someone is good company, has a good attitude, doesn't spend the whole round swearing, moaning, endlessly telling me they don't usually play like this, or boring me with how good they used to be, knows the basic rules and etiquette and keeps up, then I really don't care what they score or what their handicap is, and none of the above is limited to players of particular abilities.
papyt
Challenge Tour Pro
i'm a low h/c player (6) and in comps. take a different attitude to some on here i'm playing to win or get as close to the top 5 as possible to gain points for the order of merit trophy.To be honest i couldn't care less if the high h/c player in the group is scuffing the ball 20 yds or hacking into the trees it gives me more time to concentrate on my own game and plan my shots,but i don't tend to make idle chit chat or spend time hunting for lost balls with them and i have lost count on how many times i have told them to play a provisional ball if they have duck hooked into the gorse or trees if you play the course enough you know if your going to find the ball or not,social golf is just that social, competition golf is different and i play it as such.
robbest3offthetee
Tour Rookie
Papyt, Would you not feel a built guilty, if everyone in your group is searching for someones lost ball, and your stood in the middle of the fairway doing nothing.......
papyt
Challenge Tour Pro
if in a comp.no,don't forget i'm playing in the comp. as well and do you think its right for my concentration to be broken on every hole,if its in the light rough and i had a line on it then i would direct them but doing a bear grills in the under growth not a chance,and hand on heart how many on here let it get to them and it spoils their game.
Robobum
Money List Winner
Similar to papyt, I could not give a toss if my playing partner(s) are chopping it round all over the show. I don't really watch people take their shot because I don't want to get a picture of poor rhythm or wanky swings. However, I will go in for any ball search and have a good look. That help might start to wain if they continually have no idea where it's gone.
As others have said, be ready to play and think about what you're doing etiquette wise. Overall, make sure you are getting your enjoyment out of it too
As others have said, be ready to play and think about what you're doing etiquette wise. Overall, make sure you are getting your enjoyment out of it too
MadAdey
Money List Winner
I have always found that better golfers will always give you the time of day and will not be bothered about you playing with them. If you are good company on the course, then that is all that matters. We all started golf struggling to break 100, it is just that some of us have the time to improve our games and some do not.
I think the only time that a low handicapper will get fed up is if you are having an absolute nightmare and not keeping up with the pace of the course so you have to start letting group after group through. I find that really messes with your rhythm.
I think the only time that a low handicapper will get fed up is if you are having an absolute nightmare and not keeping up with the pace of the course so you have to start letting group after group through. I find that really messes with your rhythm.
ADB
Journeyman Pro
Does this constitute 'advice'? Just asking as unsure myself.
so if you're on a great score and your tee shot at the last is in the rough, how will you feel when your playing partners stand on the fairway watching you hunt for your ball for 5 minutes? I would be annoyed if you didn't help your playing partners look for their ball as they help you.
tallpaul
Head Pro
Thank you for all the replies. There have been some very interesting and useful comments made.
One theme I've picked up on is 'I don't mind as long as they're good company...'
If a bad golfer has a very light-hearted approach to their poor play, how do you view this? Is it a case of thinking that at least they can enjoy themselves or are you left thinking that, perhaps, they are not taking things seriously enough?
One theme I've picked up on is 'I don't mind as long as they're good company...'
If a bad golfer has a very light-hearted approach to their poor play, how do you view this? Is it a case of thinking that at least they can enjoy themselves or are you left thinking that, perhaps, they are not taking things seriously enough?
chrisd
Major Champion
My sentiment as well Darth - I would always help look for a players ball and would be very peeved if they didn't look for mine, but rest assured you would always get your own back!
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
I think a quote (not word for word) from a book sums it up nicely for me, although it wasn't written about high h/cp's.
"People won't think badly of you if you hit a bad shot, but they WILL judge you based on how you react to it."
"People won't think badly of you if you hit a bad shot, but they WILL judge you based on how you react to it."
Monty_Brown
Tour Rookie
Disappointing to hear of people who won't look for a playing partner's lost ball. To me that DOES smack of people who think they are superior to their playing partners.
You're not playing for your livelihood, so why not help out a fellow amateur to keep their score down. It's great when playing partners play well. Helping them in some small way by finding an errant shot is what helps make this game special. That spirit of fairness and co-operation between competitors sets golf apart from other sports.
At least I though it did
You're not playing for your livelihood, so why not help out a fellow amateur to keep their score down. It's great when playing partners play well. Helping them in some small way by finding an errant shot is what helps make this game special. That spirit of fairness and co-operation between competitors sets golf apart from other sports.
At least I though it did
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
papyt
Sorry but I find your attitude a bit selfish and unacceptable. As Darth said, how would you feel in the example he quoted? I thought golf was all about helping each other out as much as possible?
Sorry but I find your attitude a bit selfish and unacceptable. As Darth said, how would you feel in the example he quoted? I thought golf was all about helping each other out as much as possible?
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
I love playing with golfers of any ability, I enjoy playing with and watching partners so if they have a higher handicap it just means I get to see more shots 
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I don't mind playing with higher handicap players & I don't think it affects my game. But there are a few things that I think they should keep in mind:
1 - as said before don't take too long - it is very annoying when people spend ages aver a shot and then fluff it.
2 - Don't give advice of any kind to anybody, but certainly not a better player than yourself.
3 - Don't say good shot when you can tell that they are not happy (just because you would be).
1 - as said before don't take too long - it is very annoying when people spend ages aver a shot and then fluff it.
2 - Don't give advice of any kind to anybody, but certainly not a better player than yourself.
3 - Don't say good shot when you can tell that they are not happy (just because you would be).
papyt
Challenge Tour Pro
why is it unacceptable,why should my chances in the comp. be jeopardized by constantly looking for balls other players have hit into trouble, and how many on here have got fed up because of it,selfish,probably,but who is more selfish the high h/c hacker who doesn't take the comp. seriously and is just out for a game and a laugh and banter knowing dam well they will not win but doesnt care if he drags his playing partners game down,the worst offenders are the ones who lash at the ball with the driver carve it miles left/right ,laugh and then ask you did you see were my ball went !!!!!!!!!
Monty_Brown
Tour Rookie
That's a pretty big generalisation. There might be some high cappers with that attitude, but in my experience, most high handicappers are desperate to improve and are if anything a bit embarassed to be hitting bad shots, rather than making a joke of it.
New, inexperienced players need to learn from watching better players, and that includes etiquette as well as technique. In your case they are learning that it's ok to ignore you playing partners' shots and only focus on your own game.
That is not spirit of the game that I know and love.
