Getting Paired up: Good or Bad?

Our course normally avoids pairing up golfers, so it is quite common to see two or
three two-somes out at once, even if it is packed.

I don't talk much when I play, no matter who I play with. I am probably not an
ideal playing partner for most.

I've always said playing bad golf isn't a crime but playing slow golf oughta be. So I don't care if you're gonna shoot 110, just do it in 4 hours or less.

Supp

A very good summation of most of the Golfers I have met.

I have always tried to extend a hand to anyone I have ever played a round with.

Almost without question, that extension of friendship has been rewarded beyond expectations.

I often play as a single, so I enjoy the opportunity to play with others. One course that is five minutes from work though I've learned is not an ideal place to get paired up at, as it's the Florida State golf course, and it attracts a lot of "tourists" who are in town for a game, or whatever and haven't played golf in a year or more, but since they are passing through town they figured what the heck. I had one couple I got paired up with by the starter that thought a Saturday at 1:00 pm on a packed course was the perfect time to play their first round of golf. After holding up about 20 people on the first hole they finally got a clue and let me and everyone else play through. But that's Seminole for you. Lots of college students who drink beer and ride in the cart, where the golf is just a bonus. The course is really slow because of this, and I've mostly avoided playing it for this reason.

However, anywhere else I play is another story. Several local courses I'm often paired up and I usually enjoy the experience. Like mcavoy said, talk all you want, enjoy yourself all you want, but no matter your score, please play ready golf and keep your pace of play up.

I did have one unusual experience a month or so ago at one of the better courses here in Tallahassee. Southwood has members, but does allow public play, and when I get a deal there I'll tee it up. Well, one Sunday afternoon I ended up playing the back nine with two buddies who talked and talked and talked the entire back nine. I was paired up on the first tee with another guy, and because of pace of play we ended up as a foresome. But the guys we started #10 with just couldn't say enough about anything and everything. I'm fine with that honestly as I'd rather have Lee Trevino than Jason Dufner playing with me. But it did get a bit wierd by the 14th hole or so when the guy flat out bluntly said, "Geez, my game sucks so bad today, probably because I'm spending too much time admiring this guy's swing." He was talking about me I guess, but that was awkward. I was actually playing pretty good - one of my mid 70'ish rounds where I was GIR every hole and missing birdie putts.

But you do meet all types on the links. I guess variety is the spice of life, and it does beat playing alone.

Bankshot

I often walked on as a single. It's fun to go out with friends but sometimes I just don't have time to hang around before and after the golf round.

Out of the 3+ decades of playing this silly game, I had only encountered a few times which I felt out of the place.

One time was a bout 22 years ago got paired up with 3 young men, They had suggested to me to joint the twosome ahead as soon as we had teed off and out of the sight from the club house. I guessed they want to smoke a doobie or something like that so I happily obliged.

Another time we got paired up with two Middle Eastern looking golfers riding golf carts and they told us they don't want to play with someone walking. Now, the other golfer, Bruce was a 2 handicapper, and Bruce told them we will not slow them down, plus the course was pretty packed so no where to go faster. They refused to play with us so we went ahead of them. This was just after the 9-11 incident so Bruce's comment was, he would act nicer if he looked like those two guys......... Anyway, after a few holes these "golfers" kept hitting into us while we were waiting for the group ahead to clear the greens. Bruce finally turned around and yield back " if you hit into us again, I'll tee up your ball and hit right back at you ".......

I would say, 90% + I would meet up with total strangers and had a good time on the golf course.

I've always been a single. I always would get paired up even as a 10 year old kid....never bothered me. Now I have a group of guys that plays every day and go out with them. Been doing it for years. Maybe because I'm older, but if we see a single coming, we'rd like " oh crap"....

Our course had a lot of shit golf, blue boys and general pains in the ass. We kid around when the pro comes up to us and says " can u take Mike with u? Great guy, ...."

We call it Carl's kiss of death.

mcavoy

Hey! I think I shot 110 at Pala Mesa this past summer. I tried to play fast, but all the slow pokes ahead of us made it impossible.

I can cite a couple of instances over the many years I've played where I had a regrettable experience being paired up with strangers. That's pretty good,especially considering that I'm embarking on my 25th golf season this year.

I spend most of my time these days playing at my club with regulars that I've hooked up with over the years, and that's my preferred golf experience really. But looking back on it, had I not embraced the experience of playing with someone I didn't know - I would never have found regular playing partners who would eventually become more than just playing partners, but lifelong friends.

Mattyv As I recall, we got put out right behind the last group of their mens club (50 strong or more that day) and they were playing a scramble.

I've been on courses where they haven't paired up anyone and I've had a string of singles and twosomes waiting behind us. We let some through, but every time you do, it adds time to your round. And while you're waiting for the one you just let through get out of the way, the next one has caught up. After a few, I usually end up ignoring them. I don't want to turn my 4 hour round into a five hour round.

For many years I would often play as a single and get paired up with others. Today I am a member at a club and have a regular group. But, in some ways I miss meeting new people as a single. Over the years I have been paired up and played 18 with a number of interesting people. In 2009 I played with Calvin Borel and his agent a few weeks before Calvin rode Mine That Bird to win the Kentucky Derby. In the mid 1990's I was paired up with 3 of the members of Sister Mary Three at Seneca in Louisville and on the course they got a call that a recent release had just gone platinum. Got invited to dinner after the round, a great party and tickets, etc. for their local gig. Years before that I played for several years with a couple of hockey players I was paired with at Milham Park. They played for the Kalamazoo Wings and we had a great time. I gave them my number and was delighted that I ended up playing with them probably 10-12 times before I moved to Kentucky. Over the years I have been paired with an LPGA player, an opera singer performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York that year, a club pro and his friend only to see the guy won a local tournament that weekend ($15,000) and a host of other interesting people.

Have I played with a few jerks, of course, but it always reminds me to behave and don't ruin another players round when my game is in the toilet. In some ways I always enjoyed the mix of people I got to play with as a walk on, but it is also fun to play with a regular group and not worry about getting out.

Hoss7504

The " blue boys" are what we call the knuckleheads that have never even sniffed at the 80's but have to play the blues because the white tees are not challenging enough for them.

Typhoon Oy. That's another thread altogether there.

I'm used to slow play so the fact that someone takes 4 shots to get to where I'm hitting my second shot, thats life. I figure it'll be over soon. I know I never look pissed or give anybody any crap because part of me feels like they feel bad holding ME up.

I just walk slower so they don't notice or see me standing there with my arms folded. 2.5-3 hr round is 9 holes at my course....not 18. I really don't like taking a cart and that is one reason... can't control the pace...walking I can and it really doesn't screw up my game that way.

DC300 you and me have the same attitude and game. Oh, and it's 2 hours or less with a cart baby.

Typhoon

One of the guy I know took golf carts to jump all over he golf course playing whichever hole is open. Typically at the twilight rate, the all you can play deal. He'd be on #3 , then jump over to #11 then other holes which was open.
Sometimes he didn't even finish with the approach shots to the green, he'd teed off then pick up his tee ball and went straight to the next opening hole.