Are You a Good Playing Partner?
Well, let’s dive in.
The Wrong Way
First, you decide to play from the wrong set of tees because your last practice session was inspired by Scottie Scheffler’s foot action. Your first tee shot? Lost. Breakfast ball? That’s gone too. Finally, your third ball scuttles up the fairway… leaving you 250 yards into a par 4 because you teed off from the wrong tees. Your caddie suggests a 6-iron to leave yourself a manageable 100-yard approach. But no—you pull out the 3-wood and slice it into the rough. In frustration, you drop another ball, only to see it follow suit.
Eventually, you skull a 6-iron down the fairway, wedge onto the green, and three-putt for a solid double bogey.. (You even lie about your score:)
On the second tee, you whip out your phone to check your trading platform—it’s been 20 minutes, after all. Surely, your stocks will lift your spirits. Throughout the round, you’re in a rush, always ahead of your playing partners. When you finally reach the green, the caddie gives you a line on an 80-foot putt with 10 feet of break. You hammer it off the green and blame the caddie: “That line didn’t break at all!”
You barely talk to anyone in the group. You don’t take in the scenery or enjoy your surroundings, nor do you encourage your partner or playing partners. You’re playing terribly, hating the course, and everyone around you feels miserable.
Surely, people like this don’t exist… or do they?
The Right Way
Here’s what could have happened instead:
You recognize that you’re in your 70s. You’re here to enjoy a great time with your partner and friends. You’ve never seen this course before, and you know it’s tough. But today isn’t about playing perfect golf; it’s about soaking in the experience. So, you opt to play from the forward tees.
You arrive to the course in good time, you have time to loosen up, have a quick coffee and a few putts.
Your phone goes on airplane mode—you want to immerse yourself in the moment. The weather is perfect, and you feel grateful to be here. Before heading to the first tee, you spend a few minutes chatting with the caddie, putting them at ease. They’re experienced, and you know their guidance will be invaluable.
As you step onto the first tee, you feel relaxed and excited. Your tee shot isn’t perfect—you scuttle it down the fairway—but it catches the downslope and rolls an extra 60 yards. Had you teed off from the back tees, you’d be left with a 3-wood approach. Now, you’ve got a 9-iron in. Things are looking up.
Your partner hits a stellar approach shot. “Great shot, honey!” you say, and she smiles back. You’re in the moment, fully engaged. You eventually make a solid par, and the positive energy carries into the next hole. The group’s vibe is fantastic.
When you face that daunting 80-foot putt with tons of break, your caddie gives you the line. This time, you trust their advice. You visualize the putt and make a smooth stroke. The ball climbs the slope, tracks toward the hole, and… it drops in! Cheers erupt as you high-five everyone in the group.
The Takeaway
We can’t always control how well we play, but we can control our attitude and approach. By easing the pressure on ourselves and creating a positive environment on the course, we create space for true enjoyment. We also have a responsibility for being a good playing partner, we can still get joy out of encouraging others and enjoying the conversation in between shots.
First, you decide to play from the wrong set of tees because your last practice session was inspired by Scottie Scheffler’s foot action. Your first tee shot? Lost. Breakfast ball? That’s gone too. Finally, your third ball scuttles up the fairway… leaving you 250 yards into a par 4 because you teed off from the wrong tees. Your caddie suggests a 6-iron to leave yourself a manageable 100-yard approach. But no—you pull out the 3-wood and slice it into the rough. In frustration, you drop another ball, only to see it follow suit.
Eventually, you skull a 6-iron down the fairway, wedge onto the green, and three-putt for a solid double bogey.. (You even lie about your score:)
On the second tee, you whip out your phone to check your trading platform—it’s been 20 minutes, after all. Surely, your stocks will lift your spirits. Throughout the round, you’re in a rush, always ahead of your playing partners. When you finally reach the green, the caddie gives you a line on an 80-foot putt with 10 feet of break. You hammer it off the green and blame the caddie: “That line didn’t break at all!”
You barely talk to anyone in the group. You don’t take in the scenery or enjoy your surroundings, nor do you encourage your partner or playing partners. You’re playing terribly, hating the course, and everyone around you feels miserable.
Surely, people like this don’t exist… or do they?
The Right Way
Here’s what could have happened instead:
You recognize that you’re in your 70s. You’re here to enjoy a great time with your partner and friends. You’ve never seen this course before, and you know it’s tough. But today isn’t about playing perfect golf; it’s about soaking in the experience. So, you opt to play from the forward tees.
You arrive to the course in good time, you have time to loosen up, have a quick coffee and a few putts.
Your phone goes on airplane mode—you want to immerse yourself in the moment. The weather is perfect, and you feel grateful to be here. Before heading to the first tee, you spend a few minutes chatting with the caddie, putting them at ease. They’re experienced, and you know their guidance will be invaluable.
As you step onto the first tee, you feel relaxed and excited. Your tee shot isn’t perfect—you scuttle it down the fairway—but it catches the downslope and rolls an extra 60 yards. Had you teed off from the back tees, you’d be left with a 3-wood approach. Now, you’ve got a 9-iron in. Things are looking up.
Your partner hits a stellar approach shot. “Great shot, honey!” you say, and she smiles back. You’re in the moment, fully engaged. You eventually make a solid par, and the positive energy carries into the next hole. The group’s vibe is fantastic.
When you face that daunting 80-foot putt with tons of break, your caddie gives you the line. This time, you trust their advice. You visualize the putt and make a smooth stroke. The ball climbs the slope, tracks toward the hole, and… it drops in! Cheers erupt as you high-five everyone in the group.
The Takeaway
We can’t always control how well we play, but we can control our attitude and approach. By easing the pressure on ourselves and creating a positive environment on the course, we create space for true enjoyment. We also have a responsibility for being a good playing partner, we can still get joy out of encouraging others and enjoying the conversation in between shots.
The benefits of being a good playing partner are far greater than you might expect. You may get to develop deeper connections with people. It may lead to possible business oportunities off the course and the best one is that it will help keep you on a more even keel, giving you a greater chance of playing some good shots.
If you’re not playing for the joy of it, then you’re missing the whole point.
If you’re not playing for the joy of it, then you’re missing the whole point.
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