Some golfers I coach adore playing in team events with a particular partner and so many of them wouldn’t dream of making a change. Some knit well together and some even coordinate their outfits to really enhance their team vibes. But how would they feel if their partner announced that they wanted to play with someone else?
This is one of those golf and life parallels where you have to have the skill set to communicate effectively and be open and honest. Keeping quiet and continuing in this golf relationship when one of you isn’t happy can lead to big fallouts down the road. Here’s the thing…
Making that break and starting to play with somebody else can do your golf the world of good. I believe that playing with loads of different people is great for our game. It challenges your ability to focus, to redesign your course management to suit another golfer’s game.
Being more adventurous with the company you keep in pairs competitions will see you explore different areas of the course and also can alter your attitude towards both your own game and that of the person you’re playing with. A fresh perspective can open your eyes and help you lighten up or focus more. Pairing with a low handicap can raise your game and pairing with a higher handicap can see you become more easygoing about your own game and perhaps relax enough to enjoy it more.
Mixing up partners can be great for your golf and for the women’s section of a club
(Image credit: Katie Dawkins)
Mixing up partners more regularly will also help to create a welcoming and friendly environment in a club. We need to make it ok to make a change.
But I do know occasions where a rift in a partnership has caused waves amongst the women’s section at a golf club. They didn’t want to offend, but they did. They didn’t want to upset anyone, but they did. They just wanted to do what was right for their golf, but it wasn’t right.
This kind of fractious event in the world of golf clubs is something that causes a negative atmosphere and I really believe that everybody should be able to have a very open conversation without worrying about being gossiped about.
Club rules could help. Perhaps the same pair are only allowed to enter an event two years in a row, after which they have to choose a new partner? This…
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