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My brother's played it before; as a 13 HC, his first round was an impressive 120. I'm a bit nervous
Nevertheless, I keep telling myself there is no golf hole in the world I can't play for bogey, and that's my only target. Added to this, though, is that I don't deal with the 'pressure' of playing/playing with my brother very well. I never have done. It's a mental thing I have to get over, and today I'm determined to see that distraction as a positive thing - something for me to master and pass.
Leaving at 7am, so had better get skates on... More news later, but it'll be from my phone, so it probably won't be one of my usual 'Ulysses'-style missives...
I'm sure you're both right. I can't shake the element of competitiveness and don't want to - that's what being brothers is all about. Even so, you can't play competitively against someone who's not following the rules of golf.
I can't totally get my head aroud why he's such a specific challenge, and in a way, that's great. In a way, it very much isn't. The reason I lose against Mike is purely mental; I know and recognise that. I just don't seem great about doing anything about it, even when I recognise it...
I'm back in the 'I love golf' zone, which, at least, is great. I just have daemons in my head I need to exorcise
Tip 1 A Shoulder to Cry On
As a 14 capper - not - your bro WILL have a blow up hole. When he does be with him shot by shot sympathising; point out that the "kick was unlucky" or "that shot deserved better", tell that "its only one hole" and "don't let it ruin your round". This works particularly well if there was an element of bad luck and / or your tee shot is sat in Position A on the fairway.
Tip 2 The Kindly Educator
Get a copy of Golf Rules Quick Reference Guide [look on Amazon] which is a particularly good format for slipping in your golf bag, and pull it out at the appropriate moment. Not to chastise you understand but to help "Mike, I thought you'd like to know xyx so that you avoid a 2 shot penalty". It's important that this is pre error so that you are helping not being a nitpicker.
They say golf is 90% mental so ignore the demons in your head and start playing mind games with his.
When I read my comment and your first paragraph above, I wondered whether I'd explained what I wanted to; I suspect not. What I meant was, the fact that Mike provides such a problem and a distraction to me more than anything else in golf is one more challenge to overcome, a bit like my pull problem (golf and women) and my right leg flex.
I like your solutions very much, except I showed him the page in the rulebook I always carry (can't believe some golfers don't!) about the plugged lie rule, and he refused to read it or accept it. I guess, at the end of the day, there's only so much you csan do with that...
But your premise about playing with his head - I like..! *evil chuckle*