How to help a struggling golf buddy

[shortstop20]

You know I'm not so sure about that. One of my buddies has some pretty epic meltdowns, of course it comes at the price of seeing the rest of us in tears of laughter. He once had to call "fore" for a THROWN CLUB, because it stuck in his hands and went straight left of his intended target. He also threw a wedge off a canyon cliff once, it must have sailed 100 yards. We all had swollen faces from laughing so hard.

The main issue I have with it is when people let it effect the rest of their round and make cynical comments to their playing partner because they're made that they're playing bad. There's no reason your playing partner should have to take heat because you're pissed at yourself/your game.

It sounds like your friend doesn't do that though, which is good.

[PlacidCasual]

420 . . . . . . . . .

Shocked you're in HI.

Seriously though, after 2 years I threw my first club the other day. The rest of my foursome was behind some trees so I just let go. Of course, it just went high enough for the marshall pulling up in his cart to see it and he gave me a dirty look. Of course our cart had run out of juice, and the only solution was for him to trade with us on 8. I'll never throw a club again. Some of us just have to embrace the fact that we'll always get caught and look like D-heads.

[Amofada]

Let the guy vent his frustration and talk about it later. Nothing is more annoying when you're struggling than a guy telling you how to behave.

[buckeyeben14]

Golf if such a love-hate relationship. I golfed with him at the course we are members at and his swing was back and he was excited about playing for the team and in the tourney. I dont understand how this happens in golf because he literally was at rock bottom. I bet if we were keeping real score for him he would have gotten a 130. But then last night he got an 88. Hopefully he can stay confident about his game and keep with it through tryouts and the tourney. Im sure he will have more awful rounds, just like everyone, but hopefully its not as bad.

[Leftygolfer]

420 . . . . . . . . .

Now that is my kind of solution.

[ERdiesel]

Let the guy vent his frustration and talk about it later. Nothing is more annoying when you're struggling than a guy telling you how to behave.

Agreed, but throwing clubs is a level far beyond simple venting. I vent on the course with a few choice expletives after a bad shot, but that's all. Who gives a crap about the club thrower, but it puts EVERYONE around him/her in danger, who knows how and which way a club will bounce off the ground when thrown........or whatever. To me that is unacceptable behavior on the course and if i was paired up with anyone who did that consistently, we would have words. And if it was a "friend" of mine, well we would just be friends off course, and on course, he would have to find a different playing partner.

[Sucka27]

The main issue I have with it is when people let it effect the rest of their round and make cynical comments to their playing partner because they're made that they're playing bad. There's no reason your playing partner should have to take heat because you're pissed at yourself/your game.

Yeah I agree with you. The guys I play with have all been close friends for 15+ years so we know how to push buttons and when to hold back. We all know that we're just making it worse for ourselves when we act like 2 year olds out there. If someone started making it uncomfortable for the other people they'd pretty much get kicked out of the group, but that hasn't happened in a long time.

[DaSportsGuy]

Can you give us an update on him? Has he made any improvements or learned how to keep his emotions in check?

[allin]

Actually pretty good advice, we rarely realize how we look to others.  He may not like what he sees and begin to moderate his behavior.

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

Suggest tennis...

I don't think he needs you to tell him he is miserable but when it gets to the point where one has lost all emotional control on the course then you really have bigger issues than golf to worry about. I can't see any coach on any team putting up with this kind of behavior so you need to be frank with him and tell him to get some lessons or that you will no longer be playing with him.

[Shorty]

With some of the things about his game, my question is "Why would he expect to hit it any better?"

If he is doing everything wrong, what else would he expect?