Jerks you get stuck playing with...

[LBlack14]

GOOD MAN!

Hey ZombieGolfer,

[alf174]

I put a great deal of blame on your host. I've invited guests to my club who are still learning. If someone asked to join our group or "play a game" I'd politely decline in order to protect my guest. Also, I typically will schedule a tee time which I know will give my guest(s) some extra time to play without being pushed from behind.

I agree. IMHO, the host should have kept the OP (and all guests) in his group as originally invited.

[wachesawgolfer]

Seems to to me you should have stood your ground and played with the group you were supposed to play with. I am surprised your host allowed such a switch given your poor level of play and your belief you cannot improve. Most people who play golf have some sort of match or bet going on, that just seems to be normal among golfers. If you shoot 67 a nine, there is no way you can enjoy the competition, which is what golf really is about for most players. Are people jerks because they challenge you to play better? I don't think so. Its difficult to find people to play with if you just want duff it around for fun, with no real aim to score lower. Solution is to sell the clubs or play late in the day when most medal and match play is over.

[Zombie Golfer]

I did talk to my friend, that evening actually. Apparently, when they got to the 18th tee, the jerk was waiting there for them, wanted to know what to do about the scores. The jerk's son had left on the 11th hole in pain, which was too bad, he was a nice guy. My friend said everyone was rather curt with him, and the member who had invited us to play more or less told him to F off and get lost.

Gonna go play tomorrow with this same friend again, I enjoy playing golf with him. He regularly shoots in the mid 70's and he tries to help me when he can.

[iacas]

The jerk's son had left on the 11th hole in pain, which was too bad, he was a nice guy.

That's the first time that's been mentioned, and frankly, it strikes me that you're changing your story (even without explicitly "changing" it). Something just smells funny, but I'll leave it at that.

Look, you started off calling the guy a jerk and a "goof" and you continue to do so. He may have been one, but your continued abuse of a guy who isn't even here to tell his side of the story is adding to the negative energy in the world and is unwarranted. Stop. You've gotten your answers.

[lynchjo]

It's unfortunate you got stuck with such an a**hole...it's guys like that who ruin a beautiful time out on the golf course. He more than likely has issues with himself, not you.

“When two opponents meet, the one without an enemy will surely triumph.”
--Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

[iacas]

Someone once asked Arnold Palmer if there were any players he didn't particularly like to play with, or if everyone was pretty cool. He replied "I'll tell you what, there's *******s on every golf course."

[dayll]

Zombie- You showed great restraint - I would've gotten in his face. (I'm much braver now that I'm old.) I'm a Tonawanda guy, long removed from Brighton & Eggert - go Bills! -Dayll

[flap]

It never ceases to amaze me that most golfers don't play the course.It is not a team sport it should be you against the course when your a newbe.When you get better than play teams or politely say "I play against the course not people thank you".I have never found a ass hole course just people.

[easygrip]

I usually play with a circle of about 5 different guys, all with handicaps of 12 or lower including a scratch and a 2. None of them are rude or anything but encouraging to me. I will pick up if I ever get to double par, and if I ever birdie or par, they act like I won the Open. They will always point out good shots, and save any instruction for after the round. Behavior like this is inexcusable. Unless your'e on a tour, anybody who sides with this guy needs to re-evaluate their priorities in life. Golf is a game for most of us. A way to relax, get outside, exercise and enjoy being with our friends or family. Some of us don't have the time, the means, or the talent to play as well as we would like to. If you don't like playing with high handicappers, thats fine, but if you get stuck with one, there's no reason to act like a jerk. You can always be civil and accomplish what you want. If slow play is the issue, whats wrong with "Hey man would you mind picking up if you hit double par, so we can keep moving?" That would have accomplished the desired goal and I bet you would not have had a problem with it. If the problem was your scoring, then this should have been taken care of from the outset, and I blame your host for this. If I ever witnessed my son treating someone he just met like this on a golf course or anywhere else, I assure you that he would wish he hadn't!! I applaud your restraint.

[BaronV]

As a fellow high-capper, my group has at times been paired up with better players (we’re in the mid-20s ‘cap) and none of the better players ever continued to give us “lessons” on the course. One time a guy told my friend a “tip” and that was it, I never like it when people try to give advice that is not asked for, in life, work or golf. If your playing for fun, score doesn’t matter. If you’re keeping up with the pace of play the other guy should keep his trap shut since it’s your game and you just happen to be playing at the same time as him. If he couldn’t take your playing style, maybe it should have been him who left and not you.

[greenail]

I got stuck joining a 3some with a guy who hit every third shot out of bounds, we had open holes in front of us from 4 on, and a group pressing us from behind. The ranger was following us the last 4 holes, and I have to say it was extremely frustrating and made it difficult for me to stay focused on my game. On the flip I've had rounds like that but at some point people need to just pick up.

I also got a bit irritated at the fact that they all seemed to play stroke and distance when OB (we have a ton of OB on the course) and though it kept the pace from being worse, I realized that it was not fun watching them cheat throughout the round.

Our round wasn't that far over 4 hours, I urged them to pick up the pace throughout, but a 4:10 round feels a ton longer when a 4some of seniors is pressing you the whole time in 103 degree heat.

So i guess the question is when do you pick up for a high capper, i think 2xpar is ok especially if there is no bet, but 2x par on each hole is still a ton of strokes. I hate to say it but this leads to another thread:

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2859

One question for the OP, what tees did you play from and please don't say blue.

[jowlar]

I know what you mean about getting stuck playing with jerks. I once had to play with someone that was a terrible golfer and when I tried to help this person I was yelled and cursed at. This continued throughout the round. Unfortunately I did not know this person would act like that on the golf course when I married her.

[ham_man]

I once had to play with someone that was a terrible golfer and when I tried to help this person I was yelled and cursed at. This continued throughout the round.

Unless someone solicits your advice, never, under any circumstances, dispense it. This is especially true for friends and family members...

[StrmStlkr]

Yeah, thats one thing that I have learned. Tried to teach a girlfriend how to play tennis once... Once. Never again.

[BaronV]

I know what you mean about getting stuck playing with jerks. I once had to play with someone that was a terrible golfer and when I tried to help this person I was yelled and cursed at. This continued throughout the round. Unfortunately I did not know this person would act like that on the golf course when I married her.

Been there done that, learned just to keep the mouth shut if I want to still be able to get dinner at home without a fuss.

[Shindig]

Yeah, thats one thing that I have learned. Tried to teach a girlfriend how to play tennis once... Once. Never again.

There's a recurring advice column in

Golf Digest about relationships and golf. In one of them, a guy wanted to get his girl into golf. Stina Sternberg's advice was something along of the lines of get her fit for clubs and a lesson; you're doing neither of these for her. Same idea.

[JKilgore44]

There's going to be jerks everywhere in life. Don't let them get to you. Just smile at them and keep doing what you do. I average around 85 every round and I play with a lot of different people. I've played with plenty of scratch golfers and plenty of 30+ handicappers. You know what the biggest difference is? Those 30+ handicappers don't really piss and moan much on the course. It's actually a little more fun to play with guys like this because they don't freak out about a bogey and it can really lighten to mood. As far as slowing my round goes, I don't let it. If we're riding together (which is rare because I'm more of a walker) I will drop them at their ball and tell them to take what they need, then proceed to my ball and prepare for my shot. If you don't sit and watch someone hack a ball around, it won't really bother you .