Separating Good Players and Beginners

[SavvySwede]

Thank you all for your responses and feedback.  It's kind of a funny predicament.  The two worst guys are the ones that are most upset and vocal about it.  The other two are actually pretty adamant that they would have a better time playing with the guys that they are  friends with and are at the same level.  I have brought those two along several times to play with the higher skilled players and they have said that we take the game too seriously (we don't take mulligans, count penalty shots and gimmes are putter grip length).  Of the higher skill players, there is only one who isn't in favor of mixing up the groups, but he is hell bent on breaking 75 at this course.  The others don't care too much as long as the beginners play quick and pick up after "x" amount of strokes.  In no way did I ever mean to "abandon" anyone.  I remember when I was just a beginner and played with a group of highly skilled golfers.  I was very self conscious and spent the entire round nervously apologizing for every slice, duff, skull, etc.  I have no idea if the people I played with were frustrated or not, but I've always remembered that feeling and honestly thought I was doing them a favor.  The only reason I even invited the 3 other players is that this course doesn't allow fivesomes so I thought it would be better to have 2 x 4's than a group of 3 and a group of 2.  In retrospect, I probably should not have said anything and just let it work itself out on the first tee.

On a positive note, I shot 77 this morning playing with the beginner group. . . Why can't I do that in my money games???!!!

So the two worst players would rather be paired with two people they don't know just to watch them play instead of playing with their own friends? Lame.

[turtleback]

Thank you all for your responses and feedback.  It's kind of a funny predicament.  The two worst guys are the ones that are most upset and vocal about it.  The other two are actually pretty adamant that they would have a better time playing with the guys that they are  friends with and are at the same level.  I have brought those two along several times to play with the higher skilled players and they have said that we take the game too seriously (we don't take mulligans, count penalty shots and gimmes are putter grip length).  Of the higher skill players, there is only one who isn't in favor of mixing up the groups, but he is hell bent on breaking 75 at this course.  The others don't care too much as long as the beginners play quick and pick up after "x" amount of strokes.  In no way did I ever mean to "abandon" anyone.  I remember when I was just a beginner and played with a group of highly skilled golfers.  I was very self conscious and spent the entire round nervously apologizing for every slice, duff, skull, etc.  I have no idea if the people I played with were frustrated or not, but I've always remembered that feeling and honestly thought I was doing them a favor.  The only reason I even invited the 3 other players is that this course doesn't allow fivesomes so I thought it would be better to have 2 x 4's than a group of 3 and a group of 2.  In retrospect, I probably should not have said anything and just let it work itself out on the first tee.

On a positive note, I shot 77 this morning playing with the beginner group. . . Why can't I do that in my money games???!!!

As @mdl said, you k ind of screwed yourself.  I suspect the excitement of being able to get such a great rate for your friends made you not think through the social aspect of it.  I can't imagine why, in this circumstance, having 2 groups of 4 would be better than a 3 and a 2.  At this point the only palatable option I see, and you my not be able to do this, is to rebook as you and the 2 whiners in one group, the other 2 lesser players in a second group, and the three good players in the third group.  Anything else and you are stuck with either mixing the groups or abandoning your vacation-mates.

[dave s]

Ever try to get 8 people to agree on the same restaurant while on vacation?  Never happens.

You did a really nice thing getting the tee times, good rate and organized the outing.  Trying to please everyone is difficult to impossible.  And when you take it personally, it will affect your ability to enjoy what sounds like a really nice outing for your friends.

Enjoy the nice track and golf with your friends.

dave

[MEfree]

Based on your OP, I don't think you are doing anything wrong. You might remind your HC friends that you play regularly with them and point out that it just works better this time for you to join the other 3. Be sure to pack a sweater and jacket- sometimes it dips below 110 in PS in July.

[dfreuter415]

Quote:

I have two different groups of friends that I golf with on a regular basis.  The first group are all experienced golfers with handicaps that range in the mid to high single digits.  We normally play from the blues or the tips depending on the course.  I'm an 11.9 and can keep up with them. The other group of friends that I golf with are basically all beginners who shoot in the 110-130 range.

In a couple of weeks, myself, my beginner friends and our families have family vacations scheduled for Palm Springs . Through a personal connection, I am able to get us a fantastic rate (75% discount) at a very good course.  Including myself, there are 5 of us, so I have invited 3 from my advanced player group to join us so that we have 2 foursomes.

I have decided to pair up the group of advance players and myself in one group and the 4 beginners in the second group.  The advanced players have no problem with this and would prefer to play together as we usually have several wagers going.  However, a couple of the guys that are beginners think that we are being snobs that don't want to play with them, despite the fact that I play with them a couple times a month.  The 4 beginners are all good friends.  The 3 advance players are all good friends.  Obviously, I'm friends with both groups.

View from the outside:

If the 3 better players are just coming for one day, I think you made the right call. There is a sense of excitement by them to be playing together on a better than normal venue.  You stated, "The advanced players... would prefer to play together as we usually have several wagers going." If you tell them that they are playing with golfers that score 110-130, you are walking a fine line of them possibly not coming at all.

Now for the other foursome, you also stated....

The two worst guys are the ones that are most upset and vocal about it (better players playing together).

The other two are actually pretty adamant that they would have a better time playing with the guys that they are  friends with and are at the same level.  I have brought those two along several times to play with the higher skilled players and they have said that we take the game too seriously.

Of the higher skill players, there is only one who isn't in favor of mixing up the groups, but he is hell bent on breaking 75 at this course.  The others don't care too much as long as the beginners play quick and pick up after "x" amount of strokes.

I agree with you and the two lesser players who are adamant that they would have a better time playing with the guys that they are  friends with and are at the same level. Do you really think that the lesser players want to pick up after "x" amount of strokes? That could create a problem.

Again, if you are only playing one round, the 8 of you can have a nice breakfast/lunch together, and then plan to play another time at you home course and have a better ball team event with the 4 better players picking a partner from the 4 lesser players.

Now if you are playing two rounds, it is very easy. One round as you have it planned, and the other round mixing the groups in whatever format you like.

Best wishes on having a wonderful outing.