Finding your people

August 22, 2018

Golfing with others and groups

Meeting and playing golf with people is an essential part of golf. Kathy and I make a lot of our tee times as two players and the course leaves the other two spaces open for anyone that wants to play. When we first started playing golf, we didn’t want to play with others until we got “good enough”. And now when I invite people to come play golf with us, they almost always say, “I’m not that good or I am not “good enough” to play with you”. What I say to everyone and what I wish I knew when I started is, none of us are professionals, all of us are good enough to play with someone else. Golf is designed for players of every level to play together. We learned this along the way by joining golf groups in the different countries that we have lived. We have met and played golf with scratch golfers and 36 handicappers, and we have had a great time with all of them!

There are a lot of different groups of people that play golf. And a lot of the time groups are always looking for new players. There are ladies groups, mixed groups, Wednesday groups, and retired groups…. you get the idea. You can find a group by asking the clubhouse what groups play golf at the course you want to play. Or you can ask players if they are in a group and have space for you. Or if you are a good organizer, you can start a group of your own. There are things that make these groups great to join. Sometimes you play a different course every month. Or you get to be part of great after-golf events. I have been asked to help in some pro tournaments as a volunteer and got to play in a few pro-ams. I have even had the opportunity to be part of large fund raisers.

Because we move routinely, we are always looking to join a golf group. A golf group offers opportunities to play golf on a regular basis and gives us a chance to get to know the members away from the course as well. We have been part of golf groups in Hawaii, Singapore, Indonesia and Prague. Each group has provided us with something different and not to mention we now have life long friends from each place.

Golf groups have taught us many of golf’s fundamentals – how to keep score and golf etiquette to name a few.

First and most important is how to properly keep score. When you play with other people in a group you trade score cards at the first tee and you keep another players score while keeping track of your own score. You have to pay attention to the strokes of the other player and know what counts. You have to know how many strokes were played and how to count penalties. Then at the end of each hole the player says the score and you need to mentally confirm the score and write it down. Or, challenge the score and be able to say why. Score is documented the same regardless of the level of the player – we keep score the same way the pro players do. And at the end you both sign the card in agreement and turn it in.

You will learn golf etiquette. Golf has many written rules but, just as important are the unwritten rules, or etiquette. Some of the etiquette that you have to pay attention to is being sure to not step on someone’s putting line, limit moving during a swing, and of course no noise while other players are swinging.

You get to see players of all kinds. I love the ones that sandbag the most. You know the one. They say their handicap is 18 and they shoot an 85. Now if you understand handicapping, you know that would have to be one of the best rounds of golf that they have ever played. And when they are playing or turning in their card or even claiming the trophy they just won, they are as calm as can be. If it was me that just shot 6 to 8 shots under my handicap, I would be jumping up and down, telling everyone how great I just played. I wouldn’t be able to contain myself. Then there is the swing coach. This player is about a 15 handicap and has all kinds of tips to make you play better. Maybe your set up is bad or you are not turning your hips. There is the rule guy, the long drive guy and the old player that never hits it long but, is always in the center and on the green putting for par.

But no matter what kind of player is in your group, you will have a great time. There will be good food, good beer, lots of laughs and new friends. Your golf game will get better and you will be ready to play golf with anyone on any course anywhere in the world.