What makes a good golfer!

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

Hi Tee,
I would think you handled it quite well. I would say this guy was so bored with his job that he found this to be an outlet for boredom. Tell me, are you a member of this club? If so you would be quite within your rights to complain him to his employer.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

As for the guy watering the greens, he was just doing his job, while doing what he was probably told to do, and when. Perhaps weather conditions dictated the schedule he was using. Letting you get a head of him was good thing on his part. Where I play they take very good care of the greens, with extra effort during the warmer months and when what you discribed happens to me I tend to take a break, and let the greens keeper get in front of me. It is harder for me to catch him on the next green, while being easier for him to stay up with me when he is behind me. What ever it takes for the both of us not to be butting heads on each green. I golf alot in the early morning hours, and always find some fairway/greens work going on in front of me. I find it best to let them get out of the way. This is the best way for me to avoid any negetive mental issues that might effect my game. Besides, I am never in a hurry to stop "relaxing" while on the golf course. JMHO....GJS

[Teevino]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

Hi Tee,
I would think you handled it quite well. I would say this guy was so bored with his job that he found this to be an outlet for boredom. Tell me, are you a member of this club? If so you would be quite within your rights to complain him to his employer.

Hello Robert, No, I'm not ..... yet.. If it had continued though I would have used my cell to call the clubhouse and complain.. Fortunately he stayed back on 8 and 9. And was not to be seen on the back nine. Thank goodness!

GolfjunkieSr,, As you stated, I did just that (relaxed and let him finish so he could move on the the next green. I almost never get in a hurry on a golf course unless someone is pushing me from behind. And it was a beeyutiful day yesterday), as you will find in my post. But he nevertheless found a way to be there when I got to the next green. It was almost as if he did not want to bother the foursome in front of me but took great liberty in disturbing my play. Also, as I stated, I respect what greens/fairway keepers do, but green fees are not cheap. I am not only paying for the privilege of playing there but also for a certain consideration when I am on the course. Just as they expect that of me when on their course. They have rules and ride the course enforcing them. It seems to me that anyone working on a golf course would be trained to be very considerate of the paying golfer/customer. BTW, the time it takes for one golfer to putt out a green (even me ) is minute compared to the time it takes to water down a green. Less than a minute, two at the most, for him to stand back (way back ) and let me have the green.

This guy just seemed brain dead to my very existence and would not go away even after my initial attempt to let him do his job and move on or when I first let him know he was disturbing my play. Serenity now, serenity now .. Interestingly enough, I actually played some pretty good golf in the midst of this disturbance. Maybe I should go back and thank him,, hmmmmm.. LOL.. .. I really do try to be a good golfer in all respects, but come on, enough is enough already .. If you haven't noticed yet, I am a very autonomous person ..

[GoNavy]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

Well my two cents for what it is worth, a good golfer is pleasant to play with, doesn't lose his temper, plays for the love of the game, obays the rules, not because someone might see him, but because they are part of the game. Doesn't matter if he shoots 65 or 90. Now I have seen some pros that while technically some would consider a good golfer, I do not, Curtis Strange (there are other) comes to mind, followed him at the Kemper years ago, watched him cuss about every shoot, treated the fans who came to see him like dirt, walked by three small kids wanting autographs, after the round mind you, and just walked by, told the kid to get a life. I have seen people throw clubs, blame everyone around them for distracting them, not good golfers. I myself once threw clubs, I think I became a good golfer, when I finally quit doing that, and started playing for the love of the game, oddly enough my scores got better, and people wanted to play with me. I enjoy the game much more now.

[james.welsh]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

The greenskeeper incident reminded me of a similar situation a few weeks ago. Only this time they were fertilizing the greens. It wasn't as bad as playing on a wet green though. Except for the fact the greens had tractor tire marks across them when we got up to putt. And the fertilizer stuck to the balls.

That's what you get for playing out of prime time I guess.

[Hannu]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

Hi GoNavy,

I'd like my every shot to be perfect - and I find a fault in every shot. I need to fix this.

Your reply reminded my about "killing your darling". It is a saying used in making movies. If you try to make it "perfect", you want get anything done. You have to do with the moment and use the situations that came the best possible way.

I will try to use this in golf. There just isn't any perfect shots! Ball goes where it goes and that's where you play it from. Sometimes you are lucky - and if you play on fairway and not on woods, you probably get lucky more often.

[BrianW]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

There have been some well thought through postings to this thread, well done all. Here are a few thoughts that have helped me over the years:

"If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter as there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself"

"It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice"

"Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story"

"If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise"

Best regards
Brian

[LowPost42]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

because i say what I think which gets me into trouble sometimes
Rick!

I'm sure you've heard this one from your parents: It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Sometimes you lack tact, Rick.

Now, back OT.

I think a good golfer is one who plays off a single digit handicap. One that can stay focused on the task (shot) at hand. One who can get up and down like crazy.

I think the latter two creates the first point.

[jcbdb]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

The one thing that comes through in the majority of these responses is RESPECT.

Respect should be shown for those you play golf, those you don't and in all honesty everyone you come across on a day to day basis.

Demonstrating respect and self awareness will benefit anyone in not only their golfing life but in their working and personal life as well.

A good golfer also shows respect for the course they are playing (that means replacing divots and pitchmarks!).

Nice to see this thread Rick, you obviously have a talent for golf having watched your videos and have the potential to be a great player. Just make sure you are someone people want to play golf with.

Always think about what you are going to say, your audience and how they will receive it. Then if you are unsure, either think how you can re-phase it or don't say it!

Anyway, if you are ever unsure if your comments are going to p** people off then drop me a line BEFORE posting!

Cheers

Dan

[dannyra]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

My view of a good golfer.

Someone with integrity. Plays the game by the rules.
Plays consistently and scores consistenly...(low handicap).

Now there are many good golfers I don't care to play with, but that doesn't mean they are not a good golfer.

A lot of these posts talk about being a good person on the course, not neccesarily meaning a good golfer.

Now being a good person on the course:
1. Ready to play when it's there turn.
2. Plays quickly to get out of the way of players behind, but does not hit into players in front.
3. Banter is freindly if any banter, can be quiet but shouldn't be negative.
4. Doesn't make swing critiques unless asked.
5. Lets in more players into group if room, even if they don't know them.
6. Helps search for ball.
7. Uses good courtesy etiquette especially around the greens.
8. Doesn't allow poor play to take away from them as a person.
9. Accepts winning and losing gratiously.
10. Most importantly buys me a beer after the round win or lose.

[aftford]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

.
10. Most importantly buys me a beer after the round win or lose. [/quote]

I find this is the most important trait in a adult good golfer

cheers.

Great thread ricky

[Ian Hancock]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

HI all,

I thought about this thread while playing golf on Sunday, and I thought that there are many golfer out there who need to look at this thread.

For thoses of you who may be interested read on:


My regular partner who a few of you may know plays to +2, he was away playing for Staffordshire, my other pal way away on business in Thailand (jammy person)...........I put my name down with two guys, one I had played matchplay against a few years ago and a new member as it turned out.

OK so we teed off one of the players had a double bogey on every hole upto the sixth, being a decent fellow I just played my own game and waited when I had to, on the sixth he hit driver........big mistake, I'm clearly a better player and I'm hitting 3 iron to lay up and an 7/8 in (usually) he wacks his ball over the next fairway into the rough. I walk down and start helping him look for his ball, he turns around and SNAPS my head of with "you carry on my rounds F***** now" so I continue, he now got a NR for the whole round.
The second guy who is playing ok until the 11th, bering in mind we now have a grown man sulking who is playing with us. On the 11th the other guy has a triple bogey, then a quad bogey on 12. He is now sulking and hit his trolley at least three times...................Do I laugh at this madness or just keep my mouth tightly shut.....the latter I think.
By the 14th he is now in the green side bunker....after 4 attempts he lashes at the ball sending it 80+yds into the woods, throws his club again his trolley and declairs he not looking for his ball so carry on..........with several added swear words.

So I now have two guys not speaking and only me still playing for my score for the last four holes, needless to say I am now going off the boil abit with the distractions and mowning...........then my blood start to boil as he waits for the group to tee off before putting on 17....(like it matters now).......thats a bit unlike me but I have had it by this point.

I shot an 83 which I am proud off under the circumstances although I have now gone up (.1) due to these two inconsiderate chaps.

Just thought I would share that with you.


Next time my mates are away I think I will go shopping.


Thanks for reading my soap box.


Ian.

[Teevino]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

What a story Ian,, I'm afraid I would not have handled myself as well as you. I would have eventually had to tell the both of them to "bugger off".. I have never had such an experience I think because most strangers I'm teamed with are better players, so I'm usually asking forgiveness for my errant play. The gall of some people is just incredible. Have I ever thrown a club,, yes. Have I ever cursed profusely,,yes. But I never carry it beyond that point through the rest of my round and I never make someone else the brunt of my frustration. Sounds like you had two really "Bad golfers" on your hands that day.

Rule #56: never take yourself too seriously and your perspective on life (and golf) will stay pretty even..

[delboy159]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

I must admit I think the last few posts are on the ball. I have actually refused to play golf with a close friend of mine because it generally takes about 2/3 holes for him to get into a massive sulk. As I'm a beginner (was even more so when I last played with him) it really ruined my round and affected my game. I don't even mind someone going silent because they have hit a bad shot, but within 20/30 seconds you need to shake it off...

Anyway, a good golfer - in one sentence - to summarise the sentiment of the post------

"a good golfer is a person you like playing a round of golf with"

[Teevino]

Re: What makes a good golfer!

Anyway, a good golfer - in one sentence - to summarise the sentiment of the post------

"a good golfer is a person you like playing a round of golf with"

Good post delboy. Now that about sums it up for me.

If I don't enjoy playing with them, then I can become someone they don't ever want to play with again. And we are both better off for the experience. At least I am .