When playing, do you prefer............

[birdieman]

Definitley prefer playing with lower handicap players. Best scoring I've done is with players off +2 h'cap. Didn't get intimidated at all, just watch and learn, they often don't outhit you they just are machine-like in not making any mistakes and putt extremely well, unlike me

They also know exactly where to stand when you're playing, not move about when you're putting, mark their golf balls, repair divots and pitchmarks, know the rules really well and best of all they nearly always play quickly (helped of course by being able to hit it straight generally).

That is not having a go at higher handicap players that's just how I've found it to be.

Very good players often (not always) take your game up a notch.

 

[EchtLoon]

Definitley prefer playing with lower handicap players. Best scoring I've done is with players off +2 h'cap. Didn't get intimidated at all, just watch and learn, they often don't outhit you they just are machine-like in not making any mistakes and putt extremely well, unlike me

They also know exactly where to stand when you're playing, not move about when you're putting, mark their golf balls, repair divots and pitchmarks, know the rules really well and best of all they nearly always play quickly (helped of course by being able to hit it straight generally).

That is not having a go at higher handicap players that's just how I've found it to be.

Very good players often (not always) take your game up a notch.

I don't care at all who I play with as long as their etiquette is good, and they don;t play at the pace of a snail.

That said, I totally agree with birdie here. Many years ago (20-ish) my boss at the time, who was an ex-club champion of one of links municipal clubs in Aberdeen - a decent achievement - encouaged a number of us, who were all low teens to mid single digit players, to play in the winter alliance.

To explain, the Aberdeenshire Winter Alliance is a series of weekly midweek open tournaments open to anyone including professionals over the winter period, but generally club pros and very low amatuers.(Paul Lawrie teed it up on more than occasion)

Next season proper, I hit 9 for the first time, which I attribute wholly to the fact I subliminally picked up stuff from playing with predominantly better players all winter.

 

[Imurg]

Prefer slightly lower than me as it means I have a chance of keeping up with them. But if they're too low, trying to match them screws me up.
Playing with any handicap who's having a really bad day messes me up too. 28 or 8 if they're really hacking it around it affects my game.

 

[rgs]

I dont mind who i play with provided they are good company and decent people.
I do enjoy playing with a number of our single figure handicappers who are great blokes and a joy to play with.

Our lowest handicapper and myself have discussed teaming up for the doubles matchplay this season. This has given me a confidence boost if our lowest handicapper considers me as a worthy companion in a doubles event.

 

[clubchamp07]

I play with 2 different guys on 2 different days of the week. 1 guy is off 2 and the other is off 26. I find there is more craic with the higher handicapper. The low man hates getting beaten and hates anyone to out drive him. The higher guy just laugh's whenever I hit a good one because he can only dream about shots like that.
I really dont mind who I play with as long as their good company and a bit of craic out of them.

 

[haplesshacker]

I can only say that I prefer playing with those better than me. I've not yet met anyone worse to play against.

 

[answers70]

At its heart, golf is a solitary sport (you versus the course and all that) so it is not like, say tennis where it definitely helps your game if you play against somebody slightly better than you. Disregarding the 'company' point for the moment, I haven't found any difference in my game if the other guys shooting straight at the pin or spraying it all over the place.