Level of Play in Foursome

[wrx_junki]

The level of play in my foursome pretty much dictates how I play. This is sad but the inevitable truth for me as of late. Most probably due to lack of mental strength to persevere and focus when playing with the lesser skilled players. As of late, I have been playing with some very young kids that have USGA handicaps of 0-5. Whenever I play with them, I play extremely well but when I play with others of lesser skill, I tend to play horrendously. I know it mainly has to do with focusing since I play very well when we play two man best ball and scrambles. How do you stay focused if your setup with a foursome where two are first time golfers?

Another side factor is speed of play. The faster I play, the better I play. Lingering around the tee box or an approach shot for 5+ minutes does not help me at all.

[goblue107501]

That happens to me all the time. About 2 months ago I played with 3 guys who are nice players and good friends, but they play so much they don't really care about score. They just go out to have a good time and hope they hit some good shots along the way. I was happy to only make a bogey most of the time, I just couldn't get into it.

About a month after that I played with a different 3 guys who are good friends and also great players. We had a small money game going (just quarters) for skins and best ball switching off partners. I had one of my best rounds in a long time and got my butt kicked. I only lost $1.25, but it was the fact that I shot 76 and the other guys were 70, 72, 73 made me feel like a complete hack. I was embarrassed to make a bogey.

[enis750]

That happens to me all the time. About 2 months ago I played with 3 guys who are nice players and good friends, but they play so much they don't really care about score. They just go out to have a good time and hope they hit some good shots along the way. I was happy to only make a bogey most of the time, I just couldn't get into it.

i wish i had that feeling

all of my playing partners are a 18hcp or worse for me to fully concentrate and have a good round, i need to golf w my wife (which rarely happens) or get out by myself and get paired up w complete strangers-this way it feels like tournament play to me (no idea why, but it does) i have one buddy that is about a 10 or so and he is good to play with, except when i am golfing great and he isnt...then he pouts and does stupid crap - like just walking up to his putt and whacking at it i need to join a league or something

[Yukari]

I use to have the same problem. And a lot of people told me to play with a better player if I wanted to get better. While that is generally true, I found that once I started to focus on my own game, it didn't matter who I played with.

Of course, it took me years to realize that I needed to focus only on my game and forget about others. I think that is what separates a "good player--i.e., consistent player" from the rest. Ability to focus on one's own game regardless of the surrounding.

[PiKapp23]

It's funny because I am seldom affected much by my foursome golf mates - either with how they play or their speed. If anything I often seem to play better when they are playing badly just because I tend to focus on my game more, but even then it's not much of a difference. This past Sunday the golfer who is about the same level as me that I was riding with shot 103 (probably 10 strokes worse than I've ever seen him play) and the other two guys who are lesser golfers (about 18-20 hndcps) shot a little high and I still played right at my level (+8 on relatively long and difficult course).

[Macmike2112]

Yeah, when I'm playing with my buddies I'm like 50's (9 holes)

When I play by myself, I tend to focus tons more and am mid 40's.

It seems to just be mental and wanting to play well and not just mess around.

[DavidFehertysBike]

The level of play doenst really effect me too much in terms of the final score. The guys i often play with on weekend rounds have handis of 11, 15, and 22. Not exactly a threat to me in a skins game, lol. I just do my own thing and shoot the shit with them during the round. I notice though i do concentrate more when i play with better players. I tend to relax a bit around mid and high handis.

[enduro]

My theory on that is when you're playing with bad players you just see bad swing after bad swing and it gets in your head. And with good players, you see good swing after good swing.

[wrx_junki]

I need to strengthen my mental focus so that I can play well no matter who I am playing with.