Advice for higher hc from lower hc's when paired

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

Im a 20+ HC, but I tend to play like a 18 HC or better at times. I absolutely enjoy playing with better HC's, but I know low HC's dont enjoy playing with High HC's in general...

What pet peeves or dislikes do those low HC's out there have for the high HC's like me....I drive fairly well and usually will be competitive in match play, its just that 4 or 5 holes will blow up to drive my HC to 20. I tend to play better when paired with better golfers.

My pet peeves are playing with someone who has not learned to even hit the ball yet or a person who cant hit at least 100 yds off the tee ...except a woman... and just general bad behavior of course..

as far as rules, I dont know them all yet, but I never improve my lie, ground a bunker or cheat,,,cuz im only cheating myself.

Any advice would be appreciated so LOW HC will want to play with me.

**leo3** · March 15, 2009

#1 Play the proper tee box for your skill level, you are not impressing anyone by playing the blues, then hitting it O.B. all day because you are overswinging.

#2 Don't keep telling me you usually play better or other excuses. Everyone has a different skill level, and we all took time to get where we are now. At one time I was where you are now, I understand.

#3 There are jerks on the course of all hcp. levels, high and low, don't be one, and don't judge anyone solely by their handicap index.

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

#1 Play the proper tee box for your skill level, you are not impressing anyone by playing the blues, then hitting it O.B. all day because you are overswinging.

Thanks, usually I play where my group plays, so when paired with 3 blue players I will ask them where they want me...blues or whites...usually they ask me if the distance is a problem, which it isnt..Or ill play whites with a 3some of whites...I have never played from the tips with a 3some....but probably could on some courses and still score nclose to my avg. excuses are an issue just due to the first 2 or 3 holes and nerves, then I warm up and score a par on a tough 4 or 5 and shut my mouth. I wont judge or try to, but there is a time when frustration sets in,, your paired with a player taking 8 strokes per hole ...on every hole...what would you do? I would go nuts i think, but I wouldnt get mad or hold it against them....

**ks8829** · March 15, 2009

Being respectful to the other players, don't get too upset for bad shots and make excuses, play your game and enjoy the company and most of the time you will end up playing better than usual.

Keep up play and pick up your ball after double boogie especially if you are holding up the group behind you.

**GaijinGolfer** · March 15, 2009

Im a high-handicapper too, but I play pretty frequently with people who are better at this game than I am and Ive never met anyone who looked down at me because I wasnt as good at golf as they are.
Most of them are just out there to have a good time and dont really care how good or bad you are.
So, I say instead of worrying about whether you are annoying a low-handicapper just because you arent as good as they are, I say just go out there, have fun and dont worry about it.
Infact, Id say that if anything, the HCs would be getting annoyed at the LCs, especially if they are constantly offering you swing tips or advice all the time.
This doesnt happen to me all that much anymore because now Im at least halfway decent at this game, but back when I first started playing, I played a lot with my neibor (who plays golf 3-5 times a week and is a single-digit handicap) and he was constantly offering me swing tips and it got really annoying after a while. It got to the point where I stopped playing golf with him because he had my head so full of all these different swing thoughts that it messed me up and I just wanted to get out and enjoy playing golf without having it always be a playing lesson.
Its something that I keep in mind now when I play golf with friends who arent very good at this game. I offer advice if they ask, but I really, really try not to give them too much advice, because I know how annoying it can be.

**Power_fade** · March 15, 2009

The main thing is for a really high handicapper to know when to pick up. If you have somebody that takes three or four times as long to finish a hole as the rest of the group, then they need to just stop. I usually play with a 8 handicap, a 16 handicap, and recently a 36+ handicap, and the latter usually tries to hit from the tips with the rest of us, slices across three fairways, and usually takes five or six putts once he gets to the green. He refuses to pick up. It is soooooooo annoying. Needless to say he isn't my favorite to play with.

riverc0il · March 15, 2009

Im a high-handicapper too, but I play pretty frequently with people who are better at this game than I am and Ive never met anyone who looked down at me because I wasnt as good at golf as they are.

This happened to me last season. Dude kept on suggesting ways I could change me swing to improve. I did get one good tip on a sideways downhill lie that helped. Otherwise, I was very distracted and most of the tips made me swing worse. I wasn't out there to practice but rather to play, so it really messed with my head.

When we were a full hole in front of the group behind us, I suggested my paired partner go one ahead solo. There was no one in front of us, a full hole behind us, the course was pretty empty late season, and we both played very fast (distancing a pair on a cart). He wouldn't have it. Perhaps he thought I was upset because I was playing with a better golfer. But his tips were ruining the fun of the round. I was keeping up fine but just wasn't having fun and was looking for a legit and valid reason to break up our pairing. On the other hand, I played with two other guys last season who were playing from the blues to my whites and two shots better than me on almost every hole. We had a great time together. They complimented good shots but laid off on the bad ones and offered no help. I can dig that.

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

The main thing is for a really high handicapper to know when to pick up. If you have somebody that takes three or four times as long to finish a hole as the rest of the group, then they need to just stop. I usually play with a 8 handicap, a 16 handicap, and recently a 36+ handicap, and the latter usually tries to hit from the tips with the rest of us, slices across three fairways, and usually takes five or six putts once he gets to the green. He refuses to pick up. It is soooooooo annoying. Needless to say he isn't my favorite to play with.

Good thought,,,If I go water or hazard on a drive, drop then go hazard again, then drop , duff, then just have no shot of making a triple bogey, I will pick up....usually that never happens to me,,,I do worse on par 3's with triples on 1 out of every 4 or 5 attempts..but play it out since its a par 3 usually i putt less than 3.

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

This happened to me last season. Dude kept on suggesting ways I could change me swing to improve. I did get one good tip on a sideways downhill lie that helped. Otherwise, I was very distracted and most of the tips made me swing worse. I wasn't out there to practice but rather to play, so it really messed with my head.

I get tips and advice also from time to time, I can accept the help, nobody has badgered me like this....but i know one guy who probably would if we were paired.....he badgered me over a practice putt in his office LOL...and IM NOT A BAD PUTTER....

**Dub** · March 15, 2009

Great thread here.....certainly some great advice for the high hc like me.

I routinely play with much better golfers. The main thing that I try to keep in mind is to play my own game and have fun. I also keep track of the groups pace.....If I am slowing down the group then it's time to pocket the ball.

I don't want to be "that guy" whose burning up strokes and everyones time when a triple bogey hole rears its head. No sense in continuing the disaster. Ball in pocket and then tend the flag for them or pick up their clubs, etc. Keep it moving.

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

Great thread here.....certainly some great advice for the high hc like me.

I have played with a group of 10 -15 hc players and tend to feel they do not enjoy playing with me. im a new golfer, I swing very hard w driver. and will post an 8 here and their, but I might win 3 or 4 holes in a round and take HC in to account and may win 2 more....generally on the long holes...but still get a cold vibe....

**Fourputt** · March 15, 2009

Im a 20+ HC, but I tend to play like a 18 HC or better at times. I absolutely enjoy playing with better HC's, but I know low HC's dont enjoy playing with High HC's in general...

I have no problem playing with golfers of all abilities. All I ask is that they keep up and follow good golf etiquette. If they want help with the rules, that's a plus, but in a casual round I don't consider it mandatory.

If a golfer truly wants to improve, then playing by the rules is an important step in a player's development, and should be considered at some point, but I'm not going to force feed anyone on the subject.

**IcemanYVR** · March 15, 2009

As a lower handicapper, and often playing as a single, I usually get paired with higher handicappers.

I have no problem with anyone's level of play... Golf is meant to be fun, and we all had to start somewhere. Here are a few of my suggestions for playing with better players...

1) Behave yourself, no one likes bad language, club tossing, etc...
2) No one cares how great your clubs are, custom fit, etc... (unless they ask)
3) Don't offer unsolicited golf advice
4) Play your own game (I actually automatically respect someone more if they play their own tees)

Most important, have fun

**goblue107501** · March 15, 2009

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. Dub, fourputt, & iceman pretty much covered everything I was going to say.

The one thing that I will add, and this may sound cocky, but don't oogle over the better players. What I mean is this when a good shot is hit, you don't need to say 'nice shot' or 'good swing' every time. For some reason this really bugs me. I will play with guys that can't hit it out of their shadow so every time I hit a ball in the air I get a 'nice ball'. If you hit the green some think you are ready for the tour. I have hit greens and been totally frustrated because I didn't get the ball in the right spot and guys are just amazed. Meanwhile, I am fuming because I didn't hit the ball as I wanted to. If a drive is blistered down the middle or an approach gets stuck next to the pin, fine, but don't compliment every shot.

**TheNatural** · March 15, 2009

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. Dub, fourputt, & iceman pretty much covered everything I was going to say.

Yes I can see that to be annoying , in fact i caught myself doing that yesterday with a pairing a little too often and i dont like to play with a few people who think im the next Bubba Watson when only a few drives actually look decent....

**Slim 11** · March 16, 2009

i agree with most the comments here. I haven't had problems with higher or lower HCs. I fall in the middle so have been on both sides of the fence.
Just a note for The Natural. You started the thread because you felt a little put off by lower HCs you were playing with (apparently) but then in your next breath you are kind of dogging players worse than you (about taking 8 each hole, etc.).

If you are in a hurry to get through a round don't pair up with anyone, or play ahead of them after the 1st or 2nd hole if forced to pair up. A simple excuse about having to hurry through and not wanting to rush them will do.

**jonanthans** · March 16, 2009

Play your game and know when to pick up. Also, be mindful of proper etiquette, like not talking or moving around during their swings, walking in their putting lines, etc. And the #1 tip, do not try to give them advice! Believe it or not, I have played with several high hcp'rs who have at one point or another during a round, offered some kind of swing tip, putting tip, etc. etc. Good golfers usually arent interested in a tip you picked up from Golf Digest. I dont offer any advice unless asked, and I dont want any given to me either. Just play the round like you normally would play.

**GaijinGolfer** · March 16, 2009

This happened to me last season. Dude kept on suggesting ways I could change me swing to improve. I did get one good tip on a sideways downhill lie that helped. Otherwise, I was very distracted and most of the tips made me swing worse. I wasn't out there to practice but rather to play, so it really messed with my head.

Times like that are when you just gotta stand up for yourself, look at the other person and say, "Hey, how 'bout you do me a big favor and shut the [insert your favorite swear word here] up!"

It may not be the nice thing to do, but you cant always be nice.

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