Playing with other golfers can be a lot of fun — but it can also be a little intimidating at times. Any time you tee it up with golfers you don’t know, you might be the best player in the group … or you might be the worst.
Being the best is certainly more comfortable, but how do you handle it when you’re actually the worst?
This happened to me recently. My son was scheduling a practice round for a tournament and asked if I’d like to join. Any opportunity to play with him, I’ll take.
As it turned out, the “regular” golfers we were scheduled to play with didn’t show. So I found myself playing with three of the top juniors in the country. It was a bit intimidating, but still a lot of fun.
Here are a few suggestions if you ever find yourself in a similar situations
1. Don’t play slow
This is rule number one. If you can do this, you’ll be just fine.
You may be hitting more shots than they are, so efficiency is key. Move quickly to your ball. Choose your club promptly. Keep your setup and routine simple and consistent.
You can also anticipate what club (or clubs) you might need and grab them as you return to the cart. You won’t always know exactly what you’ll need, but when you do, this small habit can save valuable time.
2. Know when to pick up
If you’re not in a tournament, keep pace with the group. That might mean occasionally picking up your ball and moving forward to stay in position. There’s no need to hit several extra shots while others are waiting.
The same goes for putting. After your first putt, you might choose to pick up to keep things moving. You may not post a “true” score, but you can still enjoy the experience of playing alongside better golfers.
3. Choose the right times to socialize
One of the best parts of golf is the people you meet. A fun round often comes down to good conversation. Just be mindful of timing. Waiting on the group ahead or walking off the green toward the next tee are great opportunities to connect without slowing play.
4. Keep trying
Throughout the round, simply do the best you can with your own game. Ideally, you have a basic understanding of your tendencies and how to make small adjustments. Use the on-course experience as a chance to improve and self-correct. With the right mindset, you might even finish the round playing better than you started.
5. Use it as motivation
Playing with great golfers can be incredibly inspiring. They often make the difficult look simple.
In my years of teaching, I’ve noticed that the best players are usually the ones who work the hardest. It looks effortless because they’ve earned it.