Work golf but not good

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canadianAg
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8:40p, 3/9/26
AG
Recently moved to a more business development type role where I've now been invited to golf a couple of times.

As the title says, I'm not good and have played very little. Took golf at A&M which helped a lot but have literally played 3 times ever.

What's the best way to approach this as I'm always down to go hang with the guys and build the work relationships, but also don't want to ruin someone's days of golf.
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dodger02
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8:54p, 3/9/26
AG
Keep a good attitude. Pick up your ball early if you have to; don't hold up play. Keep a good attitude.

Pretty much - if you can't play a lick, just don't be a dick.

Eventually get some lessons.
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DannyDuberstein
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9:23p, 3/9/26
AG
If you think you'd like to make it an actual hobby, look for a set of lessons. Weekly lesson + hit the range at least once in between each. It's a commitment but in 6 weeks you can make real progress. You'll still suck badly, but you'll start hitting enough occasional good shots that it will feed the desire to play more and you will improve. IMO anything else is pissing in the wind and ingraining bad habits that will get very hard to break

Until you get better, as mentioned, know when to pick up and basic etiquette (especially on the greens). Whether you suck or are good, always have a good attitude. I don't care if someone is good or sucks ass, as long as they keep up, know basic etiquette, and are fun to be around, it will be a good time. I never care what someone's score is.
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NColoradoAG
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In reply to DannyDuberstein • 10:26p, 3/9/26
DannyDuberstein said:

Until you get better, as mentioned, know when to pick up and basic etiquette (especially on the greens). Whether you suck or are good, always have a good attitude. I don't care if someone is good or sucks ass, as long as they keep up, know basic etiquette, and are fun to be around, it will be a good time. I never care what someone's score is.


This. 98% of the people you play with won't give a **** about how good you are. But you will piss off 100% of people you play with if you get angry when you suck, throw clubs, or treat the course poorly. Pick up if you're over triple bogey, toss it out of the bunker if you duff it more than once, and use drop zones if you hit it in a hazard you're never gonna clear.

If you get the bug take some lessons and practice your short game a lot. Going from someone whos horrible to breaking 100 isn't terribly difficult.
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C ROC N
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In reply to canadianAg • 3:31a, 3/10/26
canadianAg said:
Recently moved to a more business development type role where I've now been invited to golf a couple of times.

As the title says, I'm not good and have played very little. Took golf at A&M which helped a lot but have literally played 3 times ever.

What's the best way to approach this as I'm always down to go hang with the guys and build the work relationships, but also don't want to ruin someone's days of golf.


Where are you located? Always willing to help others learn how to play the game. Currently, helping a HS girls team with the basics, equipment fitting, course management, short game, bunker shots, putting, etc.

If you are in the area, hit me up and I can help with your swing and give you some pointers.

Great way to network and connect out on the course. 4 hrs of unscripted time to get to know people. Not in some meeting room where you hear a scripted sales pitch or prepared speech. Learn a lot about people after a bad shot or a great shot! Patience, bounce back attitude, do they celebrate with you after a win, make excuses for a bad shot, Are they real or fake? Learn a lot about somebody out on the golf course.

Good luck and enjoy
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TMan86
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In reply to DannyDuberstein • 8:30a, 3/10/26
AG
DannyDuberstein said:
If you think you'd like to make it an actual hobby, look for a set of lessons. Weekly lesson + hit the range at least once in between each. It's a commitment but in 6 weeks you can make real progress. You'll still suck badly, but you'll start hitting enough occasional good shots that it will feed the desire to play more and you will improve. IMO anything else is pissing in the wind and ingraining bad habits that will get very hard to break

Until you get better, as mentioned, know when to pick up and basic etiquette (especially on the greens). Whether you suck or are good, always have a good attitude. I don't care if someone is good or sucks ass, as long as they keep up, know basic etiquette, and are fun to be around, it will be a good time. I never care what someone's score is.


This is a perfect summary for your situation. I would add that when you hit your ball in a penalty area, spend 15-30 seconds looking for it. Your playing partners will want to help you look for it…just wave them off and drop and move on. I have a buddy that will look for his ball like it is his lost mother. He will literally find 10 other balls but will keep on searching for his ball until I finally have to yell at his dumb ass. lol
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David_Puddy
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8:37a, 3/10/26
AG
If you're thinking of making this job a career and you're going to be taking clients out on the golf course fairly regularly, as mentioned by others........ GET LESSONS. Not only that, but take the time to practice on the range as well. It will do you wonders for not only your game and the enjoyment of the golf, but your business as well.
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DannyDuberstein
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In reply to David_Puddy • 8:47a, 3/10/26
AG
Yep. And biting the bullet early is best when it comes to lessons. Whatever your potential is, that is not only your best path to getting the most out of it, I can't understate how difficult it is to break bad habits in a golf swing once they are ingrained.
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RooAg
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8:59a, 3/10/26
AG
As mentioned, there are two universal rules no matter how good or bad you are. No one cares about your skill if you follow these rules because golf is an individual game, not a team sport. People don't worry about your score, they worry about theirs. So don't do things that mess up their game. The two rules are:

1. Pace of play - don't play slow, pick up your ball if you are at triple bogey. Don't spend 9 years buying a beer and chatting up the cart girl. Don't spend 9 years looking for a lost ball.

2. Golf etiquette - don't talk while people are swinging, fix your divots on the green, let farthest away from hole shoot first unless they give you the go ahead, don't step in peoples line when putting, rake the bunker if you go in it, don't cry about your bad shots and compliment their good shots.
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hot dog
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9:06a, 3/10/26
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Echoing what everyone else has said already. Get some lessons going, and while you're building up your skills all you have to do is be a good vibes guy. You can shoot a 120 and I won't care as long as you're fun to be around. Follow good golf etiquette and keep up with the pace of play and I think the majority of golfers would be fine having you in a group.
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DannyDuberstein
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10:18a, 3/10/26
AG
I'd add that you'll get a lot of advice to concentrate mostly on your short game. I disagree with that. Short game doesn't mean anything if you can't competently get off the tee and at least in the general vicinity of the green in regulation. You'll be picking up on some holes before you ever get to use it, or it will be helping you close out that triple bogey. Don't ignore it - get lessons on it too and practice (again, don't waste time ingraining bad habits), but your practice should be balanced when first learning the game.
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C ROC N
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10:42a, 3/10/26
I'll add learn the lingo if you haven't already so you know what everyone is talking about.
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lazuras_dc
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In reply to TMan86 • 10:58a, 3/10/26
AG
TMan86 said:
DannyDuberstein said:
If you think you'd like to make it an actual hobby, look for a set of lessons. Weekly lesson + hit the range at least once in between each. It's a commitment but in 6 weeks you can make real progress. You'll still suck badly, but you'll start hitting enough occasional good shots that it will feed the desire to play more and you will improve. IMO anything else is pissing in the wind and ingraining bad habits that will get very hard to break

Until you get better, as mentioned, know when to pick up and basic etiquette (especially on the greens). Whether you suck or are good, always have a good attitude. I don't care if someone is good or sucks ass, as long as they keep up, know basic etiquette, and are fun to be around, it will be a good time. I never care what someone's score is.


This is a perfect summary for your situation. I would add that when you hit your ball in a penalty area, spend 15-30 seconds looking for it. Your playing partners will want to help you look for it…just wave them off and drop and move on. I have a buddy that will look for his ball like it is his lost mother. He will literally find 10 other balls but will keep on searching for his ball until I finally have to yell at his dumb ass. lol

Yes this. Or if you blast your drive way OB right or top the ball 10 yards... just drop with whoever you're riding with. It might be worth noting to not do this if whoever you're playing with is betting with you or competing with you. You don't have to keep score on these holes when you do this. Don't lie about your score for your ego either.
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XpressAg09
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10:01p, 3/15/26
AG
Play bad fast.
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wangus12
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In reply to XpressAg09 • 7:37a, 3/16/26
AG
XpressAg09 said:
Play bad fast.

That's my number 1 rule. If you're gonna be bad, which I am, be bad fast.

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AggieInHouston
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7:37a, 3/16/26
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I'd say the single most important thing is pace of play. Beyond that, keep a positive attitude and don't bog yourself down trying to play well. You won't, and nobody else cares about how you play/score. Work on that outside of the rounds with a few lessons and practice.

Try to have fun! Most people suck at golf anyway.
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Milwaukees Best Light
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8:16a, 3/16/26
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Nothing replaces hitting the actual ball. Get to the range and bang buckets. Go play. Top golf. Simulator bar. Just do something where you hit the ball. The biggest improvement you can make in your game is consistency hitting the middle of the club and the only way to do this is by practicing. A lot. Make a commitment to do a golf activity at least once a week. Twice is better.
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JB93
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6:58p, 3/16/26
Depending on who you are paired with, you could just ask if it's ok if you pick up your shot and play from their ball location whenever you hit a poor shot. Kind of a modified one-man scramble.

Do that tee to greenside then chip and putt out your own ball until you hole out - to give you short game practice.
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Buford T. Justice
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9:56a, 3/17/26
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After one round of golf, I can have a fairly accurate read on a person.

Do they cheat?
Do they care?
Are they solely focused on themselves?

It's pretty telling.
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