open comp goons

heavyballs

I'm sick and tired of playing with people in open comps and scratch cups in particular who feel it's ok to curse themselves from a height because of bad golf.Playes in a scrach cup last week and the one of the guys i played with really put me off my game big time.The problem i have is that most of my friends are high h'caps so i'm playing with randomers all the time.The ? is should i say something or not,you feel if you something there will be tension for the rest of the round,anythere thing that annoys me is people not finishing their rounds because of bad play.
Am I alone in these views? It's putting me off playing opens.

Daithio9

heavyballs wrote: »

I'm sick and tired of playing with people in open comps and scratch cups in particular who feel it's ok to curse themselves from a height because of bad golf.Playes in a scrach cup last week and the one of the guys i played with really put me off my game big time.The problem i have is that most of my friends are high h'caps so i'm playing with randomers all the time.The ? is should i say something or not,you feel if you something there will be tension for the rest of the round,anythere thing that annoys me is people not finishing their rounds because of bad play.
Am I alone in these views? It's putting me off playing opens.

No it's not your place to say anything to them when there are having a tantrum, I agree with you that it is off putting, but tbh it's the luck of the draw who you play with in an open comp.
It's really your choice to play or not and next time you play with some one who is cracking up try not to get annoyed by them, instead add fuel to the fire and openly laugh at them.

Burgerman55

I would not stand for that type of behaviour and would rather pack my clubs up and head back to the car park than playing with such philistines.
Sometimes I feel golf should return to the elitist days, at least temporarily anyways.

f22

Have to admit to having a terrible temper, but to be honest I have really learned to keep it under control the last couple of years. Yes, I still get annoyed but the most Ill stretch to is the odd "f**k* and am very mindful not to put my partners or anyone else on the course off.

I have witnessed major meltdowns and it sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable. If things ever get really bad I would rather leave the course after first explaing properly and apologising to my playing partners.

Have played pretty poorly in scratch cups this year and NR'd pretty early on in three of them. Howrver, I decided to play on in all of them and enjoyed the rest of the games and the bit of craic with my playing partners that I didn't previously know.

It's far too easy to expect too much when you play to decent enough level but if we could do it all the time we'd all be on tour.

f22

On the OP's point of hissy fits and playing partners really getting to him, I can either block them out pretty easy, or if they are being totally silly about things I would have no problem telling them to cop themselves on.

heavyballs

f22 wrote: »

Have to admit to having a terrible temper,

me too tbh but after reading a couple of Bob Rotella books recently i got as bday pressies i'm learning to cope with the temper and reacting to bad shots,'golf is not a game of perect ' is a highly recomended read.In any case I always managed to keep my temper in check when playing in a n open as I beleive your representing not just yourself but your club also in these events.

Burgerman55

True

GreeBo

I get much more annoyed at the people who give up after a few bad holes and dont play "properly" for the rest of the round. Making noise, walking around during someones shot, not making any effort to play better themselves.

Had a case of it on Saturday, he had a bad start and just gave up and was very irritating for the next 15 holes. I was able to block it out but our third was boiling internally at him.

ShriekingSheet

heavyballs wrote: »

I'm sick and tired of playing with people in open comps and scratch cups in particular who feel it's ok to curse themselves from a height because of bad golf.

Very good topic!

I also have played many junior scratch cups and the odd senior scratch this year and you certainly get the odd idiot throwing his toys out of the pram at the first sign of imperfection.

The truth is simple.
(1) There are real reason people make such a song & dance about bad shots is to give the impression to those around them that they are better players and that last shot was a surprising rarity. It's the same as kids in the boys' coming in putting on a faux strop, cursing bad luck and telling all who'll listen the "can't buleeeve I had a f*cking shyte 72...", when in reality, 72 is in their top 10 scores of the season, but they'd like people to think otherwise. Though you can forgive teenagers for such an attitude, it's ridiculous to see it in grown men.

(2) The other factor to take into account is that post-shot anger actually begins before the shot. Guys who place huge importance and expectation on every stroke flip out because of this pre-shot intensity. This is completely contrary to everything Rotella and Harrington openly discuss on a regular basis. It's well documented that the biggest change PH has made to his approach in the last couple of years is to build acceptance into his pre-shot routine. That sounds like a contradiction, as you'd think acceptance would only come when there's something to accept. But essentially, he means that before he hits the shot, his attitude is "wherever this goes, I'm going to accept it, find it, and go through the process for the next shot".

Daithio9 wrote: »

No it's not your place to say anything to them when there are having a tantrum, I agree with you that it is off putting, but tbh it's the luck of the draw who you play with in an open comp.
It's really your choice to play or not and next time you play with some one who is cracking up try not to get annoyed by them, instead add fuel to the fire and openly laugh at them.

As for what to do in such situations, I disagree with the above.

I believe it is absolutely your place to manage the situation as you play. When tantrums are extreme, it's definitely off-putting, no matter how cool your concentration is. It can cost you shots. In my experience, being honest and upfront about it is most effective. I think it's happened me twice this season. In both cases I got in early, and after finishing a hole where clubs had been thrown etc I just said "can you cool it, you're putting me off my game" - it was neither threatening, nor overly polite - just straight. It's always worked for me. The guys are usually out to play well themselves and seem to accept the fact that you're there to score well too.

I accept that people might call this "a confrontation", and it's not everyone's bag. But the way I look at it, it's a genuine point to make to someone, and I've never had a bad reaction. Besides, it's going to happen, and if you can't sort the issue, and other guys in other groups can, over 36 holes they've got a big advantage on you.

Burgerman55

Be careful with confrontation though.
Speaking from experience it is always the final option in my opinion.
In the heat of a golf competition, some people can go a little wack.

f22

Burgerman55 wrote: »

Be careful with confrontation though.
Speaking from experience it is always the final option in my opinion.
In the heat of a golf competition, some people can go a little wack.

Don't worry, Sheet is 6ft 3

Rowley Birkin QC

GreeBo wrote: »

I get much more annoyed at the people who give up after a few bad holes and dont play "properly" for the rest of the round. Making noise, walking around during someones shot, not making any effort to play better themselves.

Likewise, haven't really experienced it in golf but that is a hugely irritating characteristic. A bad start can often be used to focus the mind on a strong finish.

Burgerman55

true