Golfers vs. People Who Golf

[Lefty22]

First I guess I make up my own game. Therefore, I am not a golfer or a person who plays golf. I am just a person who plays a game accepted by millions of people as golf.

Once again I think you are taking this out of context saying that you don't play "tournament golf" and then citing the rules that let people concede stroke to you like you are competing in a match play event against them. If you are then rock on and I agree with you, but if this is just you and your friend and then you get paired up with two other guys on a Saturday I don't agree that anyone can concede you a stroke if you are playing stroke play.

In the text you posted I think that is the way you would record handicaps in a match play pairs event. If player A's partner won the hole with the 2 then their groups wins the hole - can't really record a "won the hole" for a handicap calculation so that's when this other stat comes in with the X. If player A is going to keep an individual stroke count score for the day (no longer match play or teams - now players A and B) he has to hole out no matter what. Pretty sure you're getting that incorrect. I feel that these statement are trying to apply things like ESC and such to your actual card and not just for handicap purposes. Once again - I think you're just supposed to play it down and hole the thing out then let the software sort it out on the back end when you record the round. It takes all of three seconds to go ahead and hole out.

[Leftygolfer]

There is nothing that makes me a better person because I play golf by the rules. But if you cheat at golf maybe you would cheat in other areas of life? To play by the rules and except the really bad breaks and police yourself takes something. It doesn't make me a better person but makes me a better golfer and able to play a competitive round just as fast as a casual round.

I am also not referring to people who are not skilled. You should not play by the rules if you can't break 100. If you can't hit a decent shot from a good lie you have no chance from bad lies. But there are many who shot in the 80s (Like my buddy) that still cheat.

I enjoy playing. I play in a league that are all people who play golf. They are good guys, bad golfers. My partner has yet to break 50. Do I care? No. I know he likes playing with me and I like playing with him. I am nothing but patient and don't give advice. I should win the low gross award and I am in the lead. I am also the only one in the league who plays the ball down. I know I am at a disadvantage but I can't turn in a score if I don't.

Maybe I am one of "those" people but I am happy that I play by the rules.

[dansensel]

"4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes
A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.)
There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation.
Example 1: A and B are partners in a four-ball stroke play competition. On a hole on which neither player receives a handicap stroke, A lies two, 18 feet from the hole. B lies two, 25 feet from the hole. B holes a putt for a 3. A picks up on the hole, because A cannot better B's score. A records X-4 on the scorecard because 4 is A's most likely score."

I am starting to see that in a standard round, I should not be taking "gimme" puts, but since you have to turn in your card for every round of golf that you play, regardless of matchplay or stroke play to establish a handicap, then conceded strokes can be counted in a stroke play event if for some reason you picked up. Note the the above example is just that, an example. That means that their are other situations where it could arise.

However, after further research i did find an R&A; rule that says that a gimme put is grounds for a DQ.

I will concede that putting out is the correct thing to do. However, I am going to take a gimme put inside of 12 inches, and if you don't like it you can protest my score when I turn it in.

[dansensel]

There is nothing that makes me a better person because I play golf by the rules. But if you cheat at golf maybe you would cheat in other areas of life? To play by the rules and except the really bad breaks and police yourself takes something. It doesn't make me a better person but makes me a better golfer and able to play a competitive round just as fast as a casual round.

you aren't one of THOSE people until you start yelling at your partner for not following the rules and you split the pairing and go play by yourself.

[rckwd]

I think some people take the game so seriously that they dont have fun. But I at least try to keep a good pace to keep the game going, I think sometimes it helps to forget about a previous bad shot if you dont take the time to think about it. I just hit bad shots sometimes, golf is not a game of inches but a game of fraction of inches, just a little off is the difference in a good shot and a terrible one, missing the sweet spot, getting under the ball or topping it doesnt take much. Most of the time im trying to see where the ball is going to go before I hit it, i.e. I dont keep my head down, especially if Im playing alone as there is nobody else to watch the ball for me.

I agree.....you know Greg, the unfortunate thing is, in golf, the better you get, the better you want to be, the better you get the better you shall become...and the "BIGGER" golfer you become, the bigger golfer you are to everyone else. The lower you're handicap, the higher you think of yourself, therefore the people that dont score as well becomes "lower class". It doesnt matter whether you are on this board or at your country club...thats the way it is.

[Lefty22]

"4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes

I'm sorry dude - I'm not saying I'll protest anyone's score for their own handicap - or worse yet say anything about it during a round (I play my rounds against the golf course) - I'm just saying that is the way we are supposed to play the game. I see these guys on TV just know in all these short putts like it's muscle memory and you don't get that by picking them up regularly - it comes from familiarity on the course.

I just want to be able to putt out and play my 20 yard duff off the tee without having to have someone say "hit another one - it's OK!" - this thing goes both ways. I've hit some of the best iron shots of my life immediately following my worst tee shots and I think that's the kind of thing people miss out on if they start modifying the game. Hit 'em straight...

[Leftygolfer]

I agree.....you know Greg, the unfortunate thing is, in golf, the better you get, the better you want to be, the better you get the better you shall become...and the "BIGGER" golfer you become, the bigger golfer you are to everyone else. The lower you're handicap, the higher you think of yourself, therefore the people that dont score as well becomes "lower class". It doesnt matter whether you are on this board or at your country club...thats the way it is.

What? Your saying that the more skilled you get at a game, you suddenly must be an arrogant person. I know if I got to the point of playing well that I will not look down on people who haven't had the time or wanted to put in the time neccessary. That is a very sweeping generalation of people who are good at golf.

[TN94z]

I agree.....you know Greg, the unfortunate thing is, in golf, the better you get, the better you want to be, the better you get the better you shall become...and the "BIGGER" golfer you become, the bigger golfer you are to everyone else. The lower you're handicap, the higher you think of yourself, therefore the people that dont score as well becomes "lower class". It doesnt matter whether you are on this board or at your country club...thats the way it is.

OMG!! I 150% disagee with this and this is right up there with one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. I don't know if you have a chip on your shoulder or what but this statement is absolutely ridiculous man Way to set a stereotype So what you are saying is that when you get to a 4 or 5 handicap, you are going to look down on all of your friends or family that are 20 handicappers?

[rckwd]

OMG!! I 150% disagee with this and this is right up there with one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. I don't know if you have a chip on your shoulder or what but this statement is absolutely ridiculous man

This also applies to Lefty...

Truth hurts huh? Why do you post your handcap? Why do I post mine? Think about it...it doesn't take psy101 to figure this out...or am I talking to children(that in it self should get another immature, uneducated response.)

[Bump-n-MI]

or am I talking to children(that in it self should get another immature, uneducated response.)

Huh? The only "uneducated" thing here is you grouping and stereotyping. You don't know me so you have no right to make "uneducated", presumptuous accusations. You act as if every decent golfer flaunts their ability and looks-down on folks that are not as good. Sounds like you need to spend more time getting to know some of the people you are lumping together. I think you may be surprised.

[iacas]

I agree with these people:

What? Your saying that the more skilled you get at a game, you suddenly must be an arrogant person. ... That is a very sweeping generalation of people who are good at golf.

OMG!! I 150% disagee with this and this is right up there with one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

And I'll leave it at that.

As for "golfers" versus "people that play golf," I know which one I am, or which one I like to feel like I am, but I couldn't care less what anyone else is. If someone's a good guy I'll play golf with him. Frankly, unless your name is Tiger Woods, there's always someone out there who will probably view you as "a guy who plays golf" rather than "a golfer." I think some people here would do well to remember that.

[TN94z]

This also applies to Lefty...

So now, you are saying that I think high handicap players are a "lower class" than me? Do you know me? We post our handicaps because it is a great accomplishment and a way to measure progress. I guess self-conscious people like yourself look at that differently. Uneducated and immature is the statement you made earlier. It is actually people like YOU with these ridiculous mindsets that ruin the meaning of golf altogether. You have been wathcing too much tv.

Well, I am done responding to you because you have just proved your incompetence and you can argue until you are blue in the face, but it won't take back that your statement is ignorant and shows your true character. I'm sorry but what an idiot!

[billm408]

I agree.....you know Greg, the unfortunate thing is, in golf, the better you get, the better you want to be, the better you get the better you shall become...and the "BIGGER" golfer you become, the bigger golfer you are to everyone else. The lower you're handicap, the higher you think of yourself, therefore the people that dont score as well becomes "lower class". It doesnt matter whether you are on this board or at your country club...thats the way it is.

Gotta disagree here. I think some people may tie their own self image to their golf game and may even judge the character of others by theirs, but it has not been my experience. The best players I know don't think what they do is very incredible or even special. But they think hitting a baseball 400 feet is, or playing the solo to Stairway to Heaven is.

The old saying that "sports doesn't build character it reveals it" holds true IME. Painting all good golfers with the same brush is a gross generalization that doesn't apply to 90% of the people I know. YMMV. As to the OP, people who "golf" don't bother me a bit. I chose to play by the rules. As long as we're not gambling, I don't care what rules anyone else chooses to use.

[Leftygolfer]

I just think that mindset is unbelievable. The best player I have played with was a +2. It was about 4 years ago and I was really playing bad at the time. I know I didn't shot under 100 and he shot a 70 which really should have been a 67 or 66. It was so easy. Back to the point, he was also one of the nicest guys I have ever played with. He was never snobish or showed frustration. He was a total stranger and we just got paired together as 2 singles.

I add on to groups all the time. I have also played with people who were total a*sholes who couldn't break 90 if there life depended on it.

You think because I worked hard and I am better than most I have this mindset I am better than them. My partner in my league is a war hero and a terrible golfer. You think it really matters that I beat him by 20 shots for 9 holes? I have tons of respect for him and other people.

Skill level and attitude have nothing to do with each other. Sure there are people who are the way you say all "good" golfers are. But to say it has anything to do with there skill level is just dumb. What a blind way to think. I crush people in my league but on 18 they tell me how much it was a pleasure to play with me and I say the same. And guess what, I mean it.

Open your eyes.

[Phil McGleno]

Truth hurts huh?

When you start speaking something resembling truth, perhaps we can answer the question!

Why do you post your handcap?

Clearly not for the reasons you seem to think.

or am I talking to children (that in it self should get another immature, uneducated response.)

There's nothing immature, in my opinion, in pointing out what a giant something you've been here.

[iWALK18]

As long as people who golf know what they are, there isn't really a problem...

I had a horrendous situation with some "people who golf" who thought they were golfers. I was paired with these 3 old guys who at first seemed pretty chill. I was given and picked up a 2.5 foot parr putt... something I wouldn't normally do but I felt like I was playing in their group, "when in Rome" etc... BIG mistake. One of the guys who didn't give me the put started going on about how "You gotta make those, gotta make em" after it was HIS buddy who gave me the putt. So i re-placed the ball, and sank it. The worst part was I had to make it "Because its for par", as if that should have any bearing on that sort of thing.

Now it was annoying that I had to hear about it for the rest of the round EVERY time someone had a putt inside 6', but the real horror ensued when I missed a 3 footer on 10. These guys thought it was their duty to teach me about golf i'll tell you what... And after hearing about one guy's even par 9 holes last weekend, and having to endure watching him hit shots 45* offline... I wish I had not played that day.

[Brakkus]

For me personally I have found that it's as simple as playing in a foursome or a pair.Everytime I have played in a pair the golf seems to automatically take on a more serious edge.There's focus to the game.

In foursomes it seems to lean toward more jesting,everyone cracking one liners and laughing at poor shots.Annoyed me at first but I actually relax now in foursomes as I know it's almost impossible to concentrate without being called too serious.

I love to get better at this game and knuckle down with less playing partners but if there's a whole bunch then I switch off and go for shots to extend my reportoire of play while making the score strictly second place.

For everyone else here then pick which one that helps you the most as a golfer.Nothing wrong with being competitive,but not everyone is.

[DJYoshi]

An even better way to tell - when they carry and extra ball in their pocket. It's almost a single motion from duffed tee shot, hand in pocket, and ball reloaded for the mulligan.

I carry an extra ball in my pocket. if I hit a shot ob, then I don't have to go into my bag to get a ball. I can just drop if it's allowed or hit a prov or 3 off the tee if need be without wasting time going into the bag..opening the box...and getting a ball..putting the box back... but I've always carried an extra ball in my pocket.

as for gimme's...anything that can be tapped and isn't questionable.. like 6" - 1 foot...that you can just tap the ball in with any club in your bag..i'll give that to people if they want it.... I play into the cup.