Whether it was slow play, drunken debauchery, club throwing anger, or just poor etiquette… what is the worst pairing you’ve ever had on a golf course?
Worst Pairing You’ve Ever Had?
Agent Jay
Grandaddy Alumni
Worst I've ever had was a slow player. We started timing him from the moment he selected his club, alignment, set up to hitting the shot....just standing over the ball was almost 1 minute.
Me @OITW and @ToddJ027b played with this guy who stopped playing after like 14 holes then proceeded to literally steal @OITW's pitching wedge and try to sell it. :nono: Shocking display.
This year, buddy and I signed up for a best ball event. Got paired with a father and son. The son was a good player, scratch. Wasn't until the 3rd hole where things got... interesting.
The son had to be in his 20s, and him and his father almost got into 2 physical altercations during the round. My partner and I tried to ignore it but as they were yelling at each other while we were trying to hit our shots we had to say something.
Was the worst time I have had on a golf course as well as the most bizarre.
The son had to be in his 20s, and him and his father almost got into 2 physical altercations during the round. My partner and I tried to ignore it but as they were yelling at each other while we were trying to hit our shots we had to say something.
Was the worst time I have had on a golf course as well as the most bizarre.
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- #5
I played with a few friends once and one of them was not playing well and proceeded to let everyone know. Before and after every shot. He was so miserable it permeated through the group and the other two guys said they’d never play with him again. It was just so unnecessary.
- Thread starter
- #6
Yikes! That sounds awful. I didn’t witness it, but apparently something similar happened on a father/son golf trip I was on. Shocking behavior from two adults. They will not be invited on future trips unless this behavior changes.
AND denied even having or seeing the wedge!
As a single I have had the pleasure of all of them not all at the same time though (too bad for me).
Fellow who tossed cookies multiple times (was a buddies brother - we became good friends), he was cool but was having many issues and the bottle was his best friend.
Fellow a couple years who made some pretty violent tosses with clubs - almost hit us once. He calmed down after that - but it was not fun to play that day at all. I played with him again years later - his behavior was much improved but his language was still rather colorful.
Slow play - ugh - I seem to find them almost all the time - heck, maybe I am slow - I never thought I was, but?
Fellow who tossed cookies multiple times (was a buddies brother - we became good friends), he was cool but was having many issues and the bottle was his best friend.
Fellow a couple years who made some pretty violent tosses with clubs - almost hit us once. He calmed down after that - but it was not fun to play that day at all. I played with him again years later - his behavior was much improved but his language was still rather colorful.
Slow play - ugh - I seem to find them almost all the time - heck, maybe I am slow - I never thought I was, but?
I played with a pair of guys a couple of years ago that were nice guys but tremendously slow. We were a threesome in the middle of a bunch of foursomes so keeping pace shouldn't have been a problem. After three holes we were already a full hole behind. I was walking and they were in a cart and we were still falling behind. At the turn they decided they needed cigars which further slowed them down as they had to manage the cigars. I basically spent the round walking ahead finding their balls and trying to hurry them up. It was very painful.
The worst I can remember is when we got paired with a doctor who thought he was a much better golfer than he actually was, and had a terrible temper. Nonstop swearing, slamming/throwing clubs, sulking after almost every shot. The three of us were getting real tired of it and talking about it amongst ourselves - then it came to a head when he missed a putt, turned his putter toe down and swung it like an axe, burying the head clear to the hosel in the putting green. All three of us flamed out on him and told him to get the hell out of our group. He apologized like crazy and started trying to repair the green, but we were done with him - told him to go on by himself, he wasn't welcome in our group anymore. We also called the pro shop to let them know what just happened and pointed him out to the marshal next time he came by.
The next worst was when my buddy and I got paired with a couple of drunk gamblers who apparently had a lot of money riding on their game. They were both pompous, insufferable richards and played so slow that they made Sunday on the PGA Tour look like a lightning fast round. If we so much as breathed while one of them was getting ready to hit a shot, they went ballistic about it and started lecturing us on golf etiquette, how much money they were playing for, bla bla bla. The course had opened up a bit by the time we made the turn, so we told them we'd play on and they could play by themselves behind us.
I've had enough bad rando pairings that I avoid them whenever possible.
The next worst was when my buddy and I got paired with a couple of drunk gamblers who apparently had a lot of money riding on their game. They were both pompous, insufferable richards and played so slow that they made Sunday on the PGA Tour look like a lightning fast round. If we so much as breathed while one of them was getting ready to hit a shot, they went ballistic about it and started lecturing us on golf etiquette, how much money they were playing for, bla bla bla. The course had opened up a bit by the time we made the turn, so we told them we'd play on and they could play by themselves behind us.
I've had enough bad rando pairings that I avoid them whenever possible.
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Playing in the Liberty Lake Amateur tournament a few years ago. I got paired with a player from a local college.
He thought he was God's gift to the game. Lots of whooping it up when he hit a drive and talking crap with his "caddie" who was riding in the cart with him. On a long uphill par 4 he hit good drive down the middle and over the rise and then screams at the top of his lungs...."That's how the big boys do it"! I then hit one down the middle and when we get to the balls, mine is about 4 feet past his. He starts arguing with his "caddie" about getting a bad bounce. The trash talk continued for a few holes. Then on a shortish par 4 he tried to drive the green and promptly hit it waaaaay right and behind some trees. 2 chunky shots later, he is in the trap that guards the right front of the elevated green. 2 shots out of the bunker leaves him a 3 foot putt for a 6. He lips out the putt and then in anger, whacks the bottom of his foot with the putter and promptly bent the plumbers neck of his Scotty Cameron putter to almost 90 degrees. He proceeds to tap in the putt for 7. When his caddie tells him he shouldn't have done that because his equipment was "modified", he completely lost it. He sat down in the cart while I finished the hole and when I walked over to my cart, the guy had his head down and was sobbing. We got to the next tee and he decided to withdraw.
He thought he was God's gift to the game. Lots of whooping it up when he hit a drive and talking crap with his "caddie" who was riding in the cart with him. On a long uphill par 4 he hit good drive down the middle and over the rise and then screams at the top of his lungs...."That's how the big boys do it"! I then hit one down the middle and when we get to the balls, mine is about 4 feet past his. He starts arguing with his "caddie" about getting a bad bounce. The trash talk continued for a few holes. Then on a shortish par 4 he tried to drive the green and promptly hit it waaaaay right and behind some trees. 2 chunky shots later, he is in the trap that guards the right front of the elevated green. 2 shots out of the bunker leaves him a 3 foot putt for a 6. He lips out the putt and then in anger, whacks the bottom of his foot with the putter and promptly bent the plumbers neck of his Scotty Cameron putter to almost 90 degrees. He proceeds to tap in the putt for 7. When his caddie tells him he shouldn't have done that because his equipment was "modified", he completely lost it. He sat down in the cart while I finished the hole and when I walked over to my cart, the guy had his head down and was sobbing. We got to the next tee and he decided to withdraw.
I think I've been very fortunate over the years as nothing comes to mind. I'm sure there's been a couple, but at this time nothing stands out to me. The only thing that would really bother me in a pairing would be the overly slow player or the guy with a sustained temper. I can deal with the occasional outburst since I too am prone to this, but I always settle down as either the round improves or it stays bad and I come to the realization there's no point in ruining my (and others) round over it
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My buddy that used to go on our golf trip. He is not invited anymore. Not sure if he is still my buddy or not. Last year was the final straw for me though. On Friday mid round while sharing a cart with him I decided I was never inviting him again.
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I feel like your leaving something out??? What is it that got him Uninvited???
Et Tu Brute?
Well-known member
My worst ever pairing was probably the time I drank a half a bottle of wine with a huge plate of pasta for lunch, paired up with teeing off 20 minutes later and playing a match for money.
I like red wine, I like golf. I do not like golf after red wine.
Playing at munis you see them all.
One that sticks out was playing with a kid, must have been 15 -16, pretty good golfer. His father tagged along. Had a carry bag with three clubs in it. paid full greens fee but never hit a shot. Took notes the whole time of his son's performance. The kid would have a one foot putt and he would mark it, line it up, go through his routine etc. After a certain point, where he was slowing up play I said something to the father. No change. A year or so later I drop off my son for a high school match and there's the kid. He gets paired up against my son. Parents couldn't watch the match's but I prepared my son for the kids pace of play. Bottom line was my son won and the kid is still slow.
One that sticks out was playing with a kid, must have been 15 -16, pretty good golfer. His father tagged along. Had a carry bag with three clubs in it. paid full greens fee but never hit a shot. Took notes the whole time of his son's performance. The kid would have a one foot putt and he would mark it, line it up, go through his routine etc. After a certain point, where he was slowing up play I said something to the father. No change. A year or so later I drop off my son for a high school match and there's the kid. He gets paired up against my son. Parents couldn't watch the match's but I prepared my son for the kids pace of play. Bottom line was my son won and the kid is still slow.
Playing Carnoustie with my son. We get paired up with another Father/son. Both sons were 18. Father just walks along. His son has a smooth swing....We find out they are from Chicago but the son goes to David Leadbetter school in Florida. After front 9 and both my son and I playing well but other son not so much...He says to my son he needs some action to play well. So they make a 20 pound bet. My son proceeds to crush this kid for the next few holes to close out the match. The kid says double or nothing and then my son crushes him some more. Mean time Daddy warbucks has had back issues and departs. Kid did pay up and was complaining he just couldn't play links golf.
Et Tu Brute?
Well-known member
A local young man qualified for the British Amateur Championship years ago and did not make it to the match play. Didn't play awful in the stroke play rounds but certainly not up to his usual standards and not nearly good enough to advance.
It was his first exposure to links golf and he told me when he got home that he would have to live and play over there for a couple months before the event to fare any better. He was surprised how different playing on a tough links course was to even a really, really tough USA course.
Several over the years, but a brief summary of shut the hell up:
1. I don’t care about the resume of places you played.
2. I don’t care what you “think” the distance is.
3. I don’t care what club you hit.
4. I don’t care if I’m longer or shorter than you off the tee.
5. I don’t care about your career, wife, kids, or your dogs.
6. I don’t care about how you think a putt breaks.
7. Rake the f’n bunker.
8. I have no idea what 13 at Augusta looks like so don’t ask me if I care.
9. My balls are white, round, and come in a pack of 12.
10. I don’t know how many that is for you.
11. I’m not looking for advice.
12. Yes, I’ve “heard the one about....”
13. You can watch the news when you get home. I don’t care about politics.
14. Sure, I’ll bring you a wedge/putter.
15. Yes, the 60 degree. It’s the one that says “Bad Mother F***er” on it.
Have a nice day.
1. I don’t care about the resume of places you played.
2. I don’t care what you “think” the distance is.
3. I don’t care what club you hit.
4. I don’t care if I’m longer or shorter than you off the tee.
5. I don’t care about your career, wife, kids, or your dogs.
6. I don’t care about how you think a putt breaks.
7. Rake the f’n bunker.
8. I have no idea what 13 at Augusta looks like so don’t ask me if I care.
9. My balls are white, round, and come in a pack of 12.
10. I don’t know how many that is for you.
11. I’m not looking for advice.
12. Yes, I’ve “heard the one about....”
13. You can watch the news when you get home. I don’t care about politics.
14. Sure, I’ll bring you a wedge/putter.
15. Yes, the 60 degree. It’s the one that says “Bad Mother F***er” on it.
Have a nice day.
Elbow Jobertski
Active member
I usually enjoy being paired with awful people. Rage monsters, pretentious rich people, people who think I should just go ahead and kill myself because I'm a double digit handicap, etc. I'm a master of the subtle troll and big enough where I'm not all that worried about them physically attacking me. Like when playing with someone who makes a big deal about being good I'll ignore the great shots and complement the mediocre ones. Juvenile, sure, but just a wonderful classic needle.
Given the nature of those I play golf with I'm probably more on the other side of this one. Nothing like being out at the nice resort course with a childhood buddy celebrating that he just got paroled on his felony assault conviction and having some random douchebag lightly tease him about being so pale.
Not that anything bad is going to happen, but that is awkward comedy gold right there.
Given the nature of those I play golf with I'm probably more on the other side of this one. Nothing like being out at the nice resort course with a childhood buddy celebrating that he just got paroled on his felony assault conviction and having some random douchebag lightly tease him about being so pale.
Not that anything bad is going to happen, but that is awkward comedy gold right there.