Watching your friends progress in the game

[RandomRaiderTTU]

I started playing golf in high school though not very seriously. I played up until college when I just couldn't afford to play and really didn't have anyone to play with, so I quit for a while.

Well, out of college, I always wanted to get back into it but never had anyone to go with me. Finally talked my buddies into playing more regularly and now they are hooked.

Well, a milestone happened a week ago. One of my buddies shot a 91, his personal best, and topped me by two strokes. Sure, I had a crappy day and shot 93, but I wasn't that disappointed in it. I had a few 3-putts, some lip-outs for birdie, and two flubbed chips (a rarity for me).

No, I was actually ecstatic for my buddy.

I've watched him go from just starting to get serious about it a year and a half ago, to shooting between 95-103 most days and making some great strides in the game.

I enjoy playing with the guys and even though I'm the better of the golfers by a good margin, it's been a blast to see them improve and just want to keep playing more and more.

Anyone else got some stories about watching their friend progress in the game?

How good have they gotten? Did they pass you up?

(btw, after a full week of him trash-talking, I restored order this past weekend...shot 83, he shot 100. )

[DaSportsGuy]

My story isn't exactly about one of my friends, it's about me. I had never picked up a real golf club until May 19 this year and ever since then I have been absolutely hooked. I absolutely love getting out on the golf course and playing 18. I bought my first set of golf clubs May 19 and two days later, myself and four of my friends were playing 9 holes. I shot a 61 that day and two days ago(my last time out) I shot a career best 40 in nine holes. Most of the time when I play it's with the same two people and they can't believe how far I've come since the first time I played, until now, almost five months later. Next year we're gonna start playing for money!

[jdjanda]

Same story as above, I picked up playing again after 10 plus years off. I have been very serious about improving my game, Last two times out I shot under 110 which is 20 strokes lower than where I started in the summer. The guys I normally play are impressed with the strides I am making. I now play even with one of them but have a long way to go to catch the other two.

[whetstone]

My 7 year old daughter began taking lessons in May, and it took her about 3 weeks to even get the first ball into the air. Fast forward 3 months, and she's playing double-bogey golf from the 100 yard marker. I know there are kids that age who are better, but her progress has been one of the most rewarding things I've witnessed as a dad.
Now, if we can get her 1 and 2 putting instead of 3 and 4 putting....

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

I can relate. Took a friend of mine out who had only ever been to the range twice before but had loved it under my wing. Once he got outfitted he was able to start playing 9 holes after work at least one night a week with me at a local par-3 course I go to.

I let him play his game until he asks me questions rather than just flooding him with advice and it's a great feeling when you say that one thing that clicks in their mind and takes them to the next tier.

He's nowhere near beating me yet, but he hits actual approach shots now as opposed to 150 yd. PW's that couldn't hold a green in a hurricane, and we were playing together when he got his first par and birdie. So I do feel pretty good having seen him improve. Knowing that you've gotten someone addicted is the best feeling of all though.

[wubskis]

I play with a couple different people, but my brother would be the competitive matches I focus for. It's great playing well in front of him, and it's great watching him size up a shot and nail it. We've been playing about as long as each other now, even though he's 10 years my senior, but we're at about the same level, so when one of us makes a breakthrough it's a big thing.

So far, I'm up on putting and chipping around the green, but boy howdy can he get a couple strokes up on me from >50y out. He reaches most par 5's on our local in 2, and nails his longer wedges way better than me.

It's fantastic to see when one of us finally clicks on something and can integrate it into our game. Great feeling!