Golf Buddies

[Diane]

C-Tech's comment about moving away from his golf buddies got me thinking about my own. I play regularly with 3 women and we're about as different as you can possibly get. We get along well and always enjoy each other's company, but if it wasn't for golf, we probably would never have crossed paths. So, what are your golf buddies like - were they friends first and then golf buddies or vice versa? Are you polar opposites or cut from the same cloth? Do you socialize outside of golf or just have a golf and a beer kind of relationship?

[C-Tech]

With me, it is some of each. My very best and first golfing buddy was a customer (and friend) who got me started at the game. He invited me to play a couple of times and I rented clubs, then he asked me to play in a scramble with him and I made the fatal mistake of buying my first set of clubs. My life has never been the same since. Unfortunately, he contracted primary adult liver cancer and died almost 6 years ago.

I moved here shortly after and had to start over developing golf buddies. All my golfing buddies now were acquired on the course, so golf is what holds us together primarily. I have developed a few friends from them with whom I socialize as well, but we still see each other on the golf course much more than off. I am not sure I want golf buddies who are also my primary social friends as well. Too much of a good thing I am afraid.

[PA PLAYA]

When I left Western Kentucky back in 2000, the toughest part of moving was leaving behind a best friend who I basically played every round with each season. We did other things outside of golf, but we basically met each other through a round of golf, and from there our families did a lot of weekend stuff together. His kids and my kids were around the same age, our wives had similar interests and hit it off great right from the beginning, and he and I played hoops, tennis, and golf year-round.

So when it came time to move, it was one of the more difficult things I've ever gone through, he was like a brother to me. We still stay in touch, but I can sense that the years have definitely taken some of the heart out of our closeness, which is normal I suppose.

Moving up here to the Northeast, I knew absolutely no one. Most all of my friends that I have currently, at least the close ones, I've met through golf in some form or fashion. But for the most part, we seldom do things together outside of golf. I love them no less, it's just not the close-knit relationships that I had years ago. And that might have more to do with me than them, as I have tried to spend more time with my kids and family now that I'm older.

[90civicracer]

My main golf buddy is somebody I met at the course. He went to high school with me, but he was 2 years older and we never hung out. I started going to the driving range down at the par-3 course because it's one of the few places around that doesn't use mats, and its right on the river. I talked to him when he was working once in a while, and one day I went there to get in 9 holes and he happened to be just getting to the 1st tee at the same time. He offered me to join him and from there we started playing quite often. If it weren't for golf, I probably wouldn't have met him, and he's one of my best friends now.

[Wazmankg]

My first set of golf buddies as an adult were my bowling buddies, 3 bowling teammates who also golfed. My one actual pre-team friend who got the team together was not a golfer. We all became friends and enjoyed socializing, playing cards, shooting pool , etc. Unfortunately our significant others didn't feel the same about each other for various reasons so we pretty much just bowled and golfed together. That fell apart after 15 years when we quit bowling and the others(who weren't as into golf as I) quit the game. I didn't play much for 5 years until 1999. My wife had finally found the church home she'd been searching for. I'd gone with her at least once or twice at all of the previous places she'd tried but had really given up on all that. She told me, I've told them all about you and this one and that one golf and they really want to meet you. I figured what the heck. Long/short I found my faith amongst the most loving group of people I'd ever met, became a Christian and gained a few great golf buddies in the bargain. Some have moved away and I'm down to 1 there and 1 I'm working on. There's a moral in there somewhere I guess.

[Darth Fader]

My oldest and closest friends dont play golf at all,all the people i play golf with i have met through golf,with them it does tend to be a game of golf and a beer afterwards,we generally only socialise at golf related events,i have made some very good friends through golf and we are all mostly the same standard and share the same sense of humour,likes and dislikes,probably why we get on so well.

[Dormie]

ZERO dependable golf buddies for me right now. It all came crashing down in the last year or two.

My best friend played a big role in getting me into golf about 10 years ago. We played a lot together and his father played with us too. Great times. But my friends game was never great, and it went from bad to worse. So he started playing less and less. Now he has 2 small children...he's done with golf.

Along game golf buddy #2. He was a college roomate who happens to live in my neighborhood now. He took up golf just after I did, and he was as serious about it as I am. We played all the time and had great competition. I am a consistant 5-8 shots better than him, so it always worked out great. We could handicap our matches to perfection. Well, last year his game went south and he had a hard time getting it back. He went from a mid/high-80s shooter to just under 100. So, I figured this would be the year we get his game back on track and it will be back to normal. Not so fast. He and his wife are buying a house that he openly admits will leave him no extra money for golf or anything. Nice. Smart move. It's just the way he is. A couple of his close friends just bought new houses and he feels the need to keep up. Yeah, I'm venting now...

My closest current resemblence of a golf buddy is a guy that I work with. We play together most every Friday afternoon in the summer because we get out of work at noon. He's great, fun, competitive, and plays very well. He has 3 children so there's no chance to get him out on a weekend.

So I am basically on my own on the weekends now. Like I've said in other threads in the past, it gives me a lot of options. As a single, I just call wherever I feel like playing that morning. But I need some competition....

Probably time to join a club soon....

[stlcard_25]

The only people I ever play with are friends from high school. I don't have any "golf buddies" I met at the course or through any other channel. But mostly anymore my only golf pals are me, myself and I.

[stlcard_25]

Originally Posted by Dormie

ZERO dependable golf buddies for me right now. It all came crashing down in the last year or two.

My best friend played a big role in getting me into golf about 10 years ago. We played a lot together and his father played with us too. Great times. But my friends game was never great, and it went from bad to worse. So he started playing less and less. Now he has 2 small children...he's done with golf.

Along game golf buddy #2. He was a college roomate who happens to live in my neighborhood now. He took up golf just after I did, and he was as serious about it as I am. We played all the time and had great competition. I am a consistant 5-8 shots better than him, so it always worked out great. We could handicap our matches to perfection. Well, last year his game went south and he had a hard time getting it back. He went from a mid/high-80s shooter to just under 100. So, I figured this would be the year we get his game back on track and it will be back to normal. Not so fast. He and his wife are buying a house that he openly admits will leave him no extra money for golf or anything. Nice. Smart move. It's just the way he is. A couple of his close friends just bought new houses and he feels the need to keep up. Yeah, I'm venting now...

My closest current resemblence of a golf buddy is a guy that I work with. We play together most every Friday afternoon in the summer because we get out of work at noon. He's great, fun, competitive, and plays very well. He has 3 children so there's no chance to get him out on a weekend.

So I am basically on my own on the weekends now. Like I've said in other threads in the past, it gives me a lot of options. As a single, I just call wherever I feel like playing that morning. But I need some competition....

Probably time to join a club soon....

Hey Dormie, I moved this post over from another thread for you...seemed like perhaps just a mispost there.

Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you, except I don't really have the option of joining a club.

[Shelby]

My main buddy used to be a terrible golfer (120's), but after we played together 8 years ago he was determined to get better. now he shoots about 82. I think he has a second mortgage to finance his golf lessons, but I'm impressed.

Mu golfing friends were always friends first and then we started playing golf.

[RoyalWulff]

All of my golf buddies are guys that I work with, one of them was a friend and hunting partner before we started playing golf. My best friend also works with me and we knew each other at work but became friends by playing golf together. We also do things like play poker and pool, off the course as well and our wives get along together well so that helps.

[Bigvivec]

As you already know, I am like a golfing Bedouin...a nomad who traverses the course alone with the sole company of my trusted caddy...

No golf buddies here...

[Diane]

I just got home from playing with 2 of my 3 favorite golf buddies and once again I realize why I like them so much. We compliment each other's good shots and make excuses for each other's bad shots - "must have been the wind" or "the sun was in your eyes". We laugh at each other and ourselves. I think they really enjoyed watching me spray myself with mud on the 7th today - they know how much I hate getting dirty.

[Dormie]

Originally Posted by stlcard_25

Hey Dormie, I moved this post over from another thread for you...seemed like perhaps just a mispost there.

Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you, except I don't really have the option of joining a club.

Huh? Where did I post it? It's in the thread I meant to post it in... What the?

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Dormie

Huh? Where did I post it? It's in the thread I meant to post it in... What the?

It was in the Food thread - were you hungry when you were writing?

[Paka]

Right now, my only golf buddies are husband and family. When I was younger, one of my best guy friends growning up was my golf buddy.

I sometimes look around on the golf buddy sites, thinking it might be nice to get to meet some people and maybe have new golf buddies, but I'm a little leery of it and am happy enough playing alone or with the hubby, or anyone I'm randomly matched up with.

[C-Tech]

Since I started playing golf, I have found myself without golf buddies three times through different quirks of fate. Each time, I went to several of the local semi-private courses and told the starter I was a single and looking for someone to play with. i must have enjoyed rounds with 10 or more different groups before finding one where I fit it.

Actually, it was a pretty cool adventure each time. I met a lot of people and ended up getting what I was looking for eventually. You just have to take a chance sometimes, people can surprise you.

Since I am moving again, I will be doing the same thing is Tucson for some period of time. Rather than bemoan the fact I am a loner again, I will view this experience positively and I am confident I will end up with another group of friends to play golf with regularly.

[Diane]

Originally Posted by C-Tech

Since I started playing golf, I have found myself without golf buddies three times through different quirks of fate. Each time, I went to several of the local semi-private courses and told the starter I was a single and looking for someone to play with. i must have enjoyed rounds with 10 or more different groups before finding one where I fit it.

Actually, it was a pretty cool adventure each time. I met a lot of people and ended up getting what I was looking for eventually. You just have to take a chance sometimes, people can surprise you.

Since I am moving again, I will be doing the same thing is Tucson for some period of time. Rather than bemoan the fact I am a loner again, I will view this experience positively and I am confident I will end up with another group of friends to play golf with regularly.

C-Tech - how was your road trip with the boys?

[C-Tech]

Originally Posted by Diane

C-Tech - how was your road trip with the boys?

Thanks for asking, Diane, see the "What did you shoot today" thread for a recap.

[Leaguegolf]

Originally Posted by Diane

I just got home from playing with 2 of my 3 favorite golf buddies and once again I realize why I like them so much. We compliment each other's good shots and make excuses for each other's bad shots - "must have been the wind" or "the sun was in your eyes". We laugh at each other and ourselves. I think they really enjoyed watching me spray myself with mud on the 7th today - they know how much I hate getting dirty.

Not the outfit matching golf shoes!

[Diane]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Not the outfit matching golf shoes!

Shoes, pants, shirt - I'd post a photo, but given that I was covered in mud, it would probably get deleted.