Luck

I'm writing this because I have to. I've played golf with my Dad for 25 years and we have been having this argument for the last 15 years or so. It's about luck in golf. According to him, golf is a lucky game. You can't get a good score if you don't get lucky breaks. How you play or hit the ball as no meaning. Luck decides what score you get.

This is what he says:

Golf is a lucky game
Any Pro needs luck to win a tournament.
Good scores are just the result of good luck
Bad scores are just the result of bad luck.
He has a handicap of 21 because "he isn't lucky enough as a person" to play golf.

I think all of that is utter rubbish. Of course you get lucky bounces or unlucky bounces but at the end of the round it evens out. Anybody can play well, hit the ball great and get a great score without any luck at all. On the other hand it is rare to get a bad score due to bad luck alone. I've had lucky holes and good breaks but it's not the sole deciding factor on what your score will turn out to be. Of course blaming bad luck is an easy excuse for bad play and you see alot of players using this.

As you can imagine my Dad's theory is really annoying me and often off- putting on the golf course. He usually drives and shouts "That's right, get in the bunker". Then you get a rant about been unlucky etc only to find the ball didn't go in the bunker. I do iron shots that finish 3 feet away and all he says his "that was lucky, because the ball could have bounced sidewoods. You needed that bit of luck for your ball to finish close"

As I've already said this argument as been going on for more than a decade and I'm finding it really annoying.

As anybody got any comments about this ?

I'll be really interested to read them.

It's funny isn't it? How the good players get all the "luck" and the bad players no "luck" at all? I think you've answered this argument already in your own mind and I agree with your thoughts. It's a concern that you find this off-putting; does it affect your performance at all? If you're not playing your best as a result of the antics of your playing partner then that's not good for your game.

Errr...good luck

Paul

It's kind of like the hole-in-one theory: Bad luck causes a golfer to put balls in the trees, traps, long rough, cart paths, whatever. But it's pure skill that drops an ace.










Whatever.

While I believe in 'luck' on the golf course, per se (having seen some strange happenings), I don't think luck is the be-all and end-all to good scores. I don't think luck has anything to do with my hitting GIR's and dropping putts. I don't think luck has anything to do with me blocking or pulling my driver, leaving me in a FW bunker. I think luck may play a part in having a ball head towards a stack of birches, only to bounce it's way out, or to find a place that gives me a look at the green - that's luck. As for hitting GIR's, FW's, and dropping putts? That's skill. The ability to hit the ball cleanly and consistently, and to be able to depend on a certain ball flight.

Tell your Dad that you're tired of the old excuses, and could he either a) get more creative with them, or b) get some new ones.

Happy Golfing!

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Paul

I get put off in every round.

It's hard to concentrate on your shot when your playing partner is moaning all the time.

I've often hit bad shots on purpose just to shut him up. It's sad but true. He's moaning about his luck, I hit a bad shot and he shuts up.

This story is true. Last year on the 18th green, I have a 6 foot par putt for a gross 71 (I think) which will (a) get my handicap down (b) win the medal:
As I'm stood over my putt, he is shouting at me, saying that he isn't going to play in a medal again because he doesn't get any luck etc. He doesn't even stop moaning as I putt. Luckily I hole it.

Funny thing is If I moan at all, he complains about me.

I think in the 25 years of playing golf with him, I might have enoyed one or two rounds.

Stop playing with him?

Luck certainly has a bit to do with it. Like the other day I hit a pw left of the green it hit a tree on the left side bounce to the right and landed on the green and left me a 3 foot putt for birdie.

But to rely on luck is a bad thing cause you don't always get the good bounces.

Tell him the more people practice the proper tech the luckier they seem to get.

Try this

When he hits a bad shot DONT say "bad luck" say "what a **** shot"

Being lucky in golf is like being lucky in love. Funny how the ones who work on it seem to get all the luck .

Played this morning and it was the usual stuff. It is EVERY round, and I mean every round. Thing is he doesn't see his good breaks and he gets plenty of them. Today one of his drives hit a bush and got deflected back onto the fairway. He didn't make a comment while every putt that lipped out was of course UNLUCKY.

It really is very boring.

Kiwi mentions << Being lucky in golf is like being lucky in love.>>

I'm waiting for any luck in love, I probably use it all up playing golf !

Would you accept any other playing partner behaving in the same way or would your dad be the same with different partners?

I think you need to address it with him albeit I cant imagine that being the easiest conversation.

A few years ago I had to have a similar cofrontation with my elder brother when we ended up playing for the same football team - it had got to the point where neither of us was enjoying playing as we spent more time squabbling over each others errors.

Long term it has worked out much better for us both but he aint ever coming onto the course with me!!

I tend to avoid all confrontations on a golf course.

It's the only time me and My Dad argue. Today when he was moaning about his luck I turned around and muttered something under my breath. It almost started an argument. The thing is If I did tell him off he would tell me to find somewhere else to live. (I still live at home !)

Another thing I hate is when, after he gets a bad score on a hole he says "I'm going home"

Or if I do ever say something back to him, he pretends to go home. He gets his trolley and starts walking towards the clubhouse. This s**t happens quite often. It's depressing because golf is my only really pleasure and I have to suffer this carry-on everytime I play.

I tell him constantly - "It's only a game and you should enjoy it no matter how well or badly you play"

Next time he goes to leave, tell him that you'll see him at home. You're a big boy, old son. Enjoy the rest of your round, and make sure you get home with some liquid refreshment to chat over.

WOw


I think I am turning into your dad. I complain about luck and state I am going home in the middle of a game. I need to stop doing this or stop playing. Sorry that this does not fix your problem but thank you dad for identifing mine before it was to late.

Luck will make a 5 shot difference on any gven course. Skill determines your handicap. You can't be "lucky" and be a scratch golfer. Knowing the distance of your clubs, having deadly accuracy will remove the amount of 'good luck, bad luck' chances. If you are in the middle of the fairway off every tee box, there is no way that luck can affect your result. Sounds liks a bad players excuse to not practice and justify that he really isn't very good.