For some, the words “join us” offer a chance to speed up play. Get in front of a husband and wife or parent with young players. Avoid conversation with a stranger and thus not worry about how others perceive your game in all its glory and imperfections!
For me, I recognize it as a chance to meet someone new. We already have something in common, and that’s golf. We’re out here to enjoy ourselves and hit a little white ball around a beautiful, park-like setting. You never know who you’ll meet on these occasions; it could very well be your next best friend – or your next foursome, as they’ve just lost a member due to illness, relocation or passing on to a favorite golf course in the sky. It’s a crapshoot but, more times than not, a fun and enjoyable way to spend a few hours with a new friend. Check out two of my favorite stories from when I’ve accepted a “join us” request. I hope after you read them you’ll consider doing the same. Better yet, you’ll ask them to join you!
Story #1: For me, golf is all about the social aspects of the game. Sure, I want to play well and improve year to year, but I find that my best, most memorable days happen when I meet someone new on the course who loves the game as much as I do.
One time, I met three guys playing golf on a Saturday morning at Tri-Mountain, a course located in Washington state. These three guys typically always had a fourth and always played together on Saturday mornings at this same course. Members of their Men’s Club, they were very competitive and loved to enjoy a cold beer during and after the game. My kind of people! We hit it off immediately and started to plan golf outings together as a twosome, threesome and foursome. I met at least four other future golf buddies thanks to these guys. To make a long story short, they all became great golf pals and we’ve already shared hundreds of rounds together over the past five years. We’ve traveled to golf destinations all over the northwest and western states, including Mesquite last year (see our group photo at Falcon Ridge). In fact, these guys are all coming back next April – only this time we’ll be playing three courses in Southern Utah and two in Mesquite, Nev.
Story #2: My second experience provides another reason why you might consider joining that stranger or having a stranger join you.
I was playing as a single at The Palmer in Mesquite, Nev., about a month ago. I was playing pretty well that day. I considered just playing by myself so as not to mess up my mojo. I came up to a slower-moving foursome. The course was wide open and it was late in the afternoon. When I approached them on the next par 3, a sun-glassed gentleman asked me the question in a very different way that I won’t soon forget: “Would you like to play through or join us? We have beer!” Guess what I said? “Absolutely! But you’re already a foursome.” They all said it’s wide open today – you should join us. We’re a lot more fun than playing alone. I couldn’t say no. I joined them and had a fabulous time! After they saw me hit a few times, they challenged me to a best ball game. The four of them against me. I lost by one stoke but had a ball! We drank a few beers, shared some laughs and exchanged contact information. I had to take a photo of these guys. As you can tell from this photo, we had too much fun! Pictured left to right: Dennis and his newly wedded wife, Kathy, Scott and Lynette. Come to find out that Dennis, the sun-glassed gentlemen on the left, joined Lynette and her husband two years ago under similar circumstances, and now they make it a point to join each other when visiting from Jackson Hole, Wyo.
I have so many other stories I could share. You probably do, as well. Unfortunately, I have found that when I play where members outweigh guests, they tend to avoid the “join us” approach. They rush to play faster or say, “Why don’t you go ahead.” I would like to challenge my readers to join a group or have a stranger join yours. You could be introduced to their daughter/son or a friend of theirs that becomes your next wife or husband. Who knows?
This game called golf offers so many opportunities to grow and develop into better players, people, friends, colleagues and parents – spending time enjoying the great outdoors with those who share a similar love the game. A game that emulates life in so many ways.
With the holiday season upon us and a New Year just around the corner, give “Join us” a chance and be prepared for a richer and much more fulfilling golf experience. Hope to join you on the links!
