Does "competitive" need to be "offensive"?

[No Mulligans]

I think golf is a good test of ones character.

For me, one of the goals of golf is to be polite, friendly and have fun.  If I can do that while having one of my worse scoring rounds then I've passed the test.  I refer that attitude as the "Zen of Golf".

[Lihu]

I think golf is a good test of ones character.

For me, one of the goals of golf is to be polite, friendly and have fun.  If I can do that while having one of my worse scoring rounds then I've passed the test.  I refer that attitude as the "Zen of Golf".

I need to become a Zen Master of Golf, then.

I'm in a slump. . .

[Playah]

This. I know people who do stuff like this all the time and I let them know that I am on to it. Another thing that happens this time of year is looong shadows in your line of play. Most of it is inadvertent, but not all of it.

Agree. The easiest way to deal with d bags trying to move before you hit is just back away and go through your pre shot routine all over again. Do that a few times and they will get the message.

[flopster]

Wow, that's a skilled club. What is the highest indexed member?

+3.4  I think it drops off a bit from there to +1 or so but then there are a lot of guys right at zero.

[flopster]

I've known a few players with rather poor skills who were still quite intolerant of those who played worse than they did, so it's not just the low handicappers who sometimes exhibit this trait.  I think that we all need to step back occasionally and remember that we all had to start somewhere.  For most of us, golf had a slow learning curve, in part because we had to learn in our spare time, putting work and family and life in general ahead of golf.  To then reach a point in that cycle and look down on another player because they haven't reached your lofty heights indicates to me a high level of hypocrisy.  I feel that one has to look at it from the viewpoint of how he would feel as a 25 handicap if a 3 handicapper suggested that the course should bar anyone above 15.  I've actually heard such things suggested, and not all in jest either.

I do feel that there are courses where a beginner doesn't belong, not only because he may have difficulties with pace of play there, but simply because it won't be much fun shooting 9 or 10 on every hole, and losing a couple of dozen balls in the process.  It is great that there are courses for all levels of players, and it's good that most beginning players realize that it's more fun to play a course that mostly allows them to continue play after their bad shots, as well as after the good ones.

I've been as low as a 10 handicap and even then I didn't like playing on courses that were what I considered overly penal for slightly errant shots.  I'm fairly certain that I've never played a tee set that was rated higher than about 130, and I don't feel like I've missed a thing.

100% agree, also the 130 slope part is spot on, the forward mens tees at my home course are rated 131, and when we ever see a group of very new golfers the marshals have to pay extra close attention to these groups to make sure they keep up, personally I don't think this course is a good place for beginner golfers to play, the mid tees have a recommendation of 4.6-12.1 and of course the forwards are 12.1 and up but honestly I wouldn't recommend anyone over an 18 should play here you will just have a frustrating long day.