Mr Puddle

A well thought out post, with no aggression. Perhaps others could take note. I would love to improve, but am at an age where my golf is likely to go one way. My handicap has risen 3 shots in less than two years, and the WHS has just given me yet another shot back. I actually know people who would give up golf all together if that had happened to them. A guy I play with has just had his handicap adjusted from 22 to 36, but he hasn't figured out yet if he is happy about this or annoyed. To be honest though, he is a pretty rubbish golfer. We played Stableford the other week, and he hadn't managed to get a single point after 8 holes. He gave up and went home, the poor sod. Like you say, it's about what you enjoy, and what you want out of the game. For me it's company, exercise, and fresh air. I have only ever played golf a few times with people who take the game very seriously (both good and bad) and go out of my way to avoid playing with them again. I must emphasize though, even though I don't take the game very seriously, I do believe in good etiquette and respect of ones partners.

Admittedly I don't have a politically correct bone in my body, but the people I play golf with are from the same generation, so we tend to share the same sense of humour. I get the impression humour is very different this side of the pond

Mod note: this topic now exists here: I have read dozens of threads and posts, and rarely read anything funny, which made me think. When I play golf it's generally with blokes that laugh all the way around the course. We constantly take the Micky out of each other, and if we don't play well (which is most of the time) it doesn't bother us. I know a few people who get angry when they play badly, or duff a shot, but I tend to steer well clear of them. You see, I know I am never going to be a world beater, and I know I am never going to make a living from it. To me it's just a game, and if I take it too seriously, I am sure I won't enjoy it. So, what about you?

Go into lockdown and press the pause button, open up and we are back to where we started. The vaccine is a myth, so we may as well get on with it. My last game tomorrow for four weeks

All golf clubs in England are to close for 4 weeks in England as from Thursday 5th November. For what it is worth, I don't believe in any form of lock down, but that's another issue all together. We are permitted to go for a long walk with one member of another household, but we aren't permitted to hit a golf ball while we do it. Please, can someone tell me why or how that makes any sense. What's the situation where you live ?

I agree, Ireland have overreacted to Covid. Lock down for six weeks, then a few weeks afterwards the infection level will just go up again. Nobody will become immune whilst they are stuck indoors, and if the government is waiting for a vaccine, forget it, that's years away. Like you say, a golf course is far safer than a supermarket, but nobody will shut those.

I don't get that. To me the idea of golf is the company and the laughs accompanied by it. In fact, I hate playing on my own, and haven't done it for years. 18 months ago I was playing off of 15, now it's 18, and I am struggling to do that. I don't really care to be honest, because golf doesn't pay a mortgage, and I know I will never be a pro, especially now I am in my 60s. Golfers are very understanding people, and none of them care how good or bad you are. None of them will be laughing at you, and none will be passing judgement. Just go out there an enjoy yourself.

This subject is a bone of contention with me. I shout fore if there is any chance what so ever of a ball hitting someone. I don't know if you do it in the U.S, but many golfers in the UK shout "Fore Right" or "Fore Left". First of all the golfers on the course have to figure out where the call is coming from, then they have to work out if your right is their left, or your left is their right, and that would depend on if they are facing you, or have their back to you. By the time they have figured this out they are laying in hospital waiting for an operation to have a golf ball removed from an orifice. For God's sake golfers, just shout FOOOOORE

Heavens no, we don't let them in the golf carts 😀

That's great. I have a feeling I could play until I am 100 and still not get one. Suppose I have to hit the green first though 😁

I have never played at any club in the where they mind black people playing. At my club we even let them use the same facilities 😁

That's a good post, and very true. Poor pro's just try and teach by the book, without making allowances. A good lesson should help improve your score, not turn you into Tiger Woods

It was in reply to another political post for God's sake

There will be many people who tell you to stick with what you have been taught, and eventually it will pay off, but I won't. There are more bad pros out there than good ones, and the idea that everything you will ever get taught will improve your game is not true. A good pro will look at your age, your flexibility, and natural ability. He will get the best out of you, but will appreciate that you are unlikely to ever become a pro yourself. I have seen quite promising golfers get destroyed by golf lessons, and never be able to get back to where they were. I am not anti golf lessons, but am a firm believer you have to find the right pro, and that isn't always easy

Took it up when I was 57, just after I retired. I wanted male company, wanted to make sure I got exercise, and needed to kill time. The only problem is that I find it a real strain on my body. Elbows and shoulders suffer terribly I'm just thinking what would happen to a golfer who is a liberal at my golf club. I live in an extremely right wing area, if my town was in the USA it would be real Trump territory. Liberals and lefties get served in hot dog rolls here 😁

My advice is, if you decide to shorten the club, shorten from the top

Don't know how true this is, but was told by an experienced low handicapper. The stroke index (handicap) is designed to level things up between the lower and higher handicapped players, and not the order of difficulty. Hope you understand the post, as the terminology across the pond is a little different

Interesting that you call the hardest hole handicap 1, whilst in the UK well call it stroke index 1. A handicap in the UK is what you play off, ie I am a 15 handicapper.

It's not the same in the UK fortunately. Of course, there are a few liberals and non achieving black people who do claim racial injustice, but in reality it just doesn't exist. I am proud of this, and am sure it will continue. Of course, if the US does have a disproportionate amount of black people in poverty, it is important the reasons behind this be investigated, as I would be surprised if it is genuinely down to any form of racism, well it isn't over here anyway. I believe so few people of colour play golf is cultural, and that may never change. Our golf club system also appears a little different to yours. Whilst we have a few council owned golf clubs (municipal) , there are very few left now, as most were sold off. The vast majority are private, however nearly all of them welcome pay and play golfers, as most wouldn't survive without them.

This is always a controversial subject, but it's a bit like driving. I don't bother overtaking a slow driver if I can see there is a queue of traffic ahead. Likewise, I wouldn't bother letting someone through if I know they are only going to get held up by three lot's of golfers in front of me. Unfortunately this is more often than not the case. Of course, none of this would be an issue if people didn't play slow golf, but regardless of rules and advice, we all know that will never happen.

I don't know about the US but that isn't the case in the UK. People of colour have additional privileges, laws, and rights here, and are more than welcome to play golf at any course they wish, and so they should be. My best friend is of Asian decent and stands out like a sore thumb when he plays at my club. Not so much for his colour, but the fact he is the noisiest person on the course 😁

I believe this is an interesting subject, because golf prices around the world differ so much. For example, play in Portugal or Spain and they charge a lot, primarily as they see it as a rich man's sport, rather than a game for the masses. In the UK for someone who lives locally and is under the age of 65, a 7 day membership varies from about £500 to £2000 per year, with an average of about £700/£800. Of course, there are exceptions. Nearly all our courses are privately owned, although the vast majority welcome pay and play members. The normal cost of a round for a pay and play golfer is about £20-£50 depending on various factors, but again there are exceptions. So, what about where you live?

The membership pretty much reflects the population. We have very few people from an ethnic background who live in the area. However, we do have many women, but only a handful of female members. My best friend happens to be of Asian decent, but won't join my club because they insist on him wearing golf shoes, and he doesn't like them. Most proper clubs in the UK insist on the wearing of golf shoes, where I am aware it's not the same in the U.S

I suppose it's the same in the USA, but we presently have all this BLM stuff going on in the UK, so I wondered how diverse people's clubs are. At my club we have a very small women's section, but no black people, or foreign people. How about you ?

Par 4 430 yards. Big hump in the middle that 99% of golfer can't take on. Two off rough to the left on a mound, and a beach which is out of bounds to the right. You have lay up before the bump, and then take a 270 yard shot to the green. It's pretty evil, and most people are delighted with a single bogie