Playing partner dilemma

[Ian]

step 1: find a large cliff (sounds like your new to the area so that may take a while)
step 2: find your playing partner
step 3: tell him you have a present for him
step 4: lead him to the cliff blindfolded
step 5: kick him off the cliff

[Jared]

First of all, kudos for you 20 handicap after playing for a year. Your "friend" sounds like a douche.

If it were me, I would stop playing with him if only because he's a cheater. He is clearly unhappy over your progress, which is mind blowing IMO. Why you wouldn't want someone you introduced to the game to improve is beyond me.

Keep practicing, I bet when you are a legit 12 you will be able to kick the crap out of him, 7 or not.

[Damien45]

It seems to me that your friend is overly competetive and likes having someone he can beat. So continue getting better and whoop dat ars!

Do you usually stick to 9 holes at a time? Seems by your story that you do. Where do you play? I am in Monterey, and have family in Sunnyvale (where I was born). I'd be happy to hit the course with you one weekend that I am up there.

[ZaPPPa]

First of all, kudos for you 20 handicap after playing for a year. Your "friend" sounds like a douche.

Honestly, I am trying to figure out how the online calculation came up with a 20.02 handicap. I think it is closer to 23. Scorecard gave me a 21.8, 20.9 and 28.2 for my last three rounds (23.6 avg).. Unfortunately it does not calculate an overall handicap yet (I guess I need two more full rounds to get that).

On the other hand: In golflink.com it comes up with 19.7 if I add a dummy round (avg 96 for par72) to complete 5 rounds (I have two combined 9 holes in there at a clean 100). Also, I didn't start playing full 18 hole rounds until this year, so I don't have many 100+ plus rounds from the early days dragging me down.

Do you usually stick to 9 holes at a time? Seems by your story that you do. Where do you play? I am in Monterey, and have family in Sunnyvale (where I was born). I'd be happy to hit the course with you one weekend that I am up there.

I used to. We'd play either early in the morning before work or in the afternoon at twilight. Now with the long days I can manage 18 holes before dark on a weekday. I play at Shoreline (Mountain View), Sunnyvale (though I am not too fond of that course) and I practice at San Jose muni. If you're in the neighbourhood, let me know. I'm always game for a round.

[wachesawgolfer]

Simple answer is to expand and play with lots of different people at this point.

[Uber$winG]

ZaPPPa, interesting story…

Your friend needs to seek out a mental health specialist because it sounds like he is dealing with some serious emotional problems like anger displacement and jealousy.

Concerning the numerical quantification of your handicap… I wouldn’t get too wrapped up in that number, especially at this stage in your golfing development.

As you have indicated, you’re analytical by nature. So, the numbers with which you should really concern yourself are the actual golfing/scoring statistics; namely, strokes (of course), fairways hit, GIR, success in scrambling, and the number of putts per hole - per GIR - per round.

But also be mindful of this kind of quantification – as the old saying goes – there are three kinds of lies… lies, damn lies, and statistics.

[Damien45]

I used to. We'd play either early in the morning before work or in the afternoon at twilight. Now with the long days I can manage 18 holes before dark on a weekday. I play at Shoreline (Mountain View), Sunnyvale (though I am not too fond of that course) and I practice at San Jose muni. If you're in the neighbourhood, let me know. I'm always game for a round.

Are you referring to the Sunnyvale course that is off Wolfe? Doesn't that one have large powerline towers running through it? lol

I may be up that way next month. I'd be happy to get some golf in! If you are ever in the Monterey area, hit me up! I usually play at Black Horse / Bayonet.

[ZaPPPa]

As you have indicated, you’re analytical by nature. So, the numbers with which you should really concern yourself are the actual golfing/scoring statistics; namely, strokes (of course), fairways hit, GIR, success in scrambling, and the number of putts per hole - per GIR - per round.

You're right. Scorecard is your friend. I have already identified some interesting things in my game.

Are you referring to the Sunnyvale course that is off Wolfe? Doesn't that one have large powerline towers running through it? lol

No, I am talking about Sunnyvale Muni.. It has a friggin' highway running through it and is on the approach to Moffett Airforce base. Yesterday a C-47 flew over so low I swear I could have hit it with a 9I.

If you are ever in the Monterey area, hit me up! I usually play at Black Horse / Bayonet.

Sure.. It's only an hour away and Monterey is an amazing area for golf.. you lucky bastard.

[Damien45]

You're right. Scorecard is your friend. I have already identified some interesting things in my game.

Yeah, don't cry...but I play Black Horse/Bayonet for $11.....Gotta love being in the Military (sometimes lol)

[ZaPPPa]

Well, I have made up my mind and have concluded that he either has no idea what he is talking about or he is purposefully messing with me.

He's been telling me for months that I fold my left arm almost to 90 degrees on my backswing. I may have done that when I just started, but fixed that a long time ago. At most I have a slight bend at the top (
Also, he keeps telling me I have zero weight shift. Now I wonder how I can stand up on my left foot on my finish and I have 80-90% of my weight over my left knee at impact.

Don't get me wrong, I stopped listening to this guy a long time ago, but today I was watching the McLean video on Ben Hogan and used the sliding glass doors as a full length mirror (works great!) to check some things. I am no Ben Hogan, but my swing is nothing like the guy keeps describing it to me. It's a bit flat and my arms don't turn as far, but overall I was pretty happy with what I saw.

Luckily my fiancee found out this weekend that a lot of her lady friends' boyfriends and husbands golf, so we're going to hopefully set up a weekly golf meeting of some sorts. I guess I'll just have to break 90 without him

[jonanthans]

I cant find my original thread discussing this exact situation, but it happened to me as well. I had just started playing 6 years ago, and the guys I played with had all been playing since they were kids. Like you, I tend to really sink my teeth into a sport when I take it up, so naturally I got better at a steady rate. My friends on the other hand never practice, and it showed. The better I got, the more animosity I could feel from them. Finally it got to the point where I could not enjoy a round with them, so I quit playing with them. I started playing in scrambles and local tournaments, meeting better golfers, and now have a whole new set of golf friends who are supportive and helpful with each others game. Keep up your practice routine and habits, your game will soon overtake his. Won't that be sweet!!!!

[flopdarock]

whether im playing good or bad during a round... i refuse to play with jerks... high or low hcp's... even as a single you'll usually get paired up with someone friendlier than your "friend"

[GoldenBear]

Sounds like he's ruining the joy of the round. Just go ahead and play with your fiancee's friends and get on with it. Golf is supposed to be relaxing, not taxing.