I have played many rounds of golf with players with varying degrees of skill.  As my game has improved, so has the number of questions on how to play a particular shot or what is  wrong with my swing or what is the best equipment to buy!  Well the challenging aspect of advice is knowing the person to whom you are providing your years of wisdom.

Today I was playing with a friend of mine who is an excellent athlete.  Golf is his 4th or 5th sport.  He has the basics down and if he really devoted some time to practicing could be a single digit handicapper.  As we proceeded around the course, I watched and noticed a couple minor challenges that could be easily corrected.  Now here comes the dilemma.  Should I say something or not?

I choose to not say anything until the 15th hole when he opened the conversation to a point where injecting my observation was timely.  I explained about weight shift and keeping your weight inside your stance during the entire swing.  He gave it a try and immediately had success.  His immediate question was why did I wait so long to tell him!  I explained that there are three types of people, those who really want to know and would openly accept advice; those who ask for advice but have decided that change would be too difficult; and those who ask for advice, but really don’t want you to give it.  My experience is to wait until asked and enjoy my round of golf.

Today was fantastic on the course and I shot one of my best rounds of the year!  I was one over par and had a chance to shoot under par.  The company as fantastic, the course at Laurentide was in awesome condition, and the weather was perfect.  I am a grateful golfer.

So, is giving advice on the golf course a good idea or a bad idea?