The Golf Friends You Want to Have

I used to play golf for the competitive element. I loved testing my skills against other players, feeling the pressure of trying to hold a score together when you know you are not at your best.

There were also the days when everything went right and the challenge was to see how low I could go. 

I used to love opening up my shoulders and giving it the full treatment with the driver. If I tried that now I fear that I might be heading straight to A&E.

So my motivation for playing the game has changed. Of course I still like to win - it’s just that it’s something that doesn’t happen quite so often now.

What gets me out of bed is the people I now play with. So here’s the big question - who are the golf friends you want to have?

The Perfect Partner

This is the person who has a totally legitimate handicap but is fully capable of playing to a score that is several shots better. And he or she is the golfer everybody wants to partner when schedules are announced for pairs knockout competitions, Texas scrambles and team stablefords - and the one you want to avoid at all costs in the singles knockout.

The Motivator

This is my favourite golf friend. We all have days where we just don’t feel it. Your mood may be a little bleak or your golf swing may be out of sync. It is on days like this when you treasure being able to play alongside the club golfer who knows EXACTLY what to say and when. This is somebody who will instinctively know when they should keep quiet - and when is the right time to crack a joke or make fun of a situation. They are like gold dust!

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Mr Helpful

We have all played with high handicappers who insist upon telling us what we are doing wrong. You should NEVER take swing advice from these people. However, friendships with good golfers who can really help you are something to be celebrated. I regularly play with two such golfers and they are a delight. They will not offer advice unless you ask for it. There is something rather heartwarming about being able to solve a problem for a playing partner or opponent.

The Grocer

There are some golfers who will always dig into their bag on the 10th tee and produce a wondrous array of chocolate bars, biscuits, health bars. When you play with The Grocer you know that you will never go hungry.

The Barman

Chocolate bars, biscuits and health bars are all well and good but there are times when you want somebody to produce a hip flask on the 10th tee if it is a cold winter’s day - or a cold beer in the height of summer. Keep on the right side of this one.

The Organiser

We all need one of these in our circle of friends. This is the guy who always books the tee-times, the trips away, the competitions among friends. He makes sure everybody gets where they need to be on time and collects all the money in advance. And he does it all because he loves doing so.

Gadget Man

We all know at least one of these - and they are to be kept close. You know the sort I am talking about. He always has a new set of clubs. He has just bought the latest ludicrously expensive remote-controlled electric trolley, costing as much as the car that you drive. He also has the latest GPS device - and that means that if you are too tight-fisted to buy one yourself (guilty as charged, m’Lord) you can always ask him how far you have to go to the flag. And the best thing is that Gadget Man quickly gets fed up with his latest purchase and will either offer it to you at a knockdown price or, even better, give it to you free of charge.

The Banker

I no longer carry a wallet. If I want to make a purchase I use my phone. So why would I want The Banker in my group of friends? There are always going to be times when you either forget your phone or forget to charge it and the battery runs out. The Banker will always have cash and will be able to bail you out when you have just ordered a round of drinks and realise that you can’t pay for it.

The Chauffeur

You don’t need me to tell you how expensive it is to run a car - fuel, insurance and maintenance costs have all gone through the roof. This is something I have become more acutely aware of since retiring. So imagine my joy when one of my fellow club members told me that he would happily pick me up and take me to the golf club, as well as to away team games. And flatly refuses to take any contribution towards his petrol costs. Don’t worry - I will buy him a golf gift for Christmas that he doesn’t really want!

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