Golf is a contact sport. What I really mean is that golf is becoming a social contact sport that provides the opportunity for everyone to meet new people. Sometimes this experience is very positive and others….well, not so much. If you have ever walked on to a golf course looking for a game, chances are you were put into a group of unknowns. After the initial pleasantries are exchanged, the real challenges of playing golf with strangers commences.

After watching all the swings off the first tee, everyone is sizing up their group. Not just focusing on results, we look at how they swing, how they react, and of course the results of each swing. We are all searching to see if our little jaunt on the golf course is going to turn into a long excruciating day. Over the years, I have experienced this scenario many times; however, I have also been pleasantly surprised at the fun had by all with other groups. There are many factors to determining the outcome of playing golf with strangers and we can all control the outcome regardless of the playing level of our group.

There are two very important aspects of our game that will make playing with strangers easy and enjoyable. The first is our attitude. Many golfers forget that although we have high expectations for our game, we do not have to make excuses for mishits. We do not have to justify our shot choices. We do not have to explain every minute detail of why we are not playing to our potential! Instead, I recommend that you fire and forget. Hit your ball, accept the results, smile and move on. The last thing any stranger wants to hear is the whining and complaining of from their fellow playing partners. Stay calm and play on. Keep your negativity to yourself and put on a happy or at least a calm front.

The second aspect to always remember is golf etiquette. Yes, this is very important for the golf guidelines that everyone should know and understand. This is where playing with strangers goes off the rails. Plenty of amateurs do not know or understand what golf etiquette entails and as such, this lack of knowledge can cause friction within the group. Here is a short video on some great golf etiquette tips:

Golfing with strangers can be a challenge. After years of playing with different golfers, I us my above two points as the foundation to being a good golf partner. It is not difficult, but sometimes we get engrossed with our own thoughts and forget about the people around us. I have done this myself earlier in my career, but now, I focus on being calm and relaxed with a healthy dose of golf etiquette to beat back the challenge of playing with strangers.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!