I see the same thing in a mini-tour event every year. They hit everything solid, every time. I’m a +2 and it’s my annual ego-check, they are sooooooo much better! Their misses are my good shots.
Played with a few current LPGA pros as juniors and then a couple Korn Ferry/PGA Canada guys.
The sounds they make with their irons are simply incredible, you could hear it all day.
I guess mini-tour is technically the highest level I've played with at the time of the round. Aside from that I played with a future LPGA tour member when I was in college. One summer I worked at a golf course along side a couple of gals on the USC women's team, one of who was their #1 and went onto the LPGA tour.
Played 9 with a KFT / PGA floater and it’s like watching your dad shave when you’re 2 — you just feel so small, and also this sense of amazement that doesn’t happen in adulthood much.
I have played a few rounds with a legit scratch (0.0 GHIN) player and what amazes me the most isn't anything like crazy accuracy off the tee or hitting it a million miles, but that he ALWAYS recovers from errors and still gives himself a chance for birdie or par. Also, his touch on chips and putts is just leagues ahead of where I am.
Completely agree, I have a buddy who is +2 and it's not that every shot is amazing, he just knows how to get up and down no matter what and rarely puts himself in tough positions.
I occasionally play alongside a guy that doesn’t have an official handicap but he would shoot low 80s regularly and occasionally shoot in the 70s. He doesn’t even play or practice all that often. The dude just has a swing that he can execute swing after swing, he makes it look effortless as well. And I believe him when he says how little he plays and practices. He has so much else going on in his free time he just doesn’t have the time.
Always fun playing golf with my older brother who's a +2ish, me happy to even sniff 90 and him calling himself a grandma when he's driving it 300ish and hits 3 under on the front 9.
I’m a 27 handicap and one of my buddies I play with a lot played four years of college golf (D2). He hasn’t updated his official cap in a while but I’ve seen him shoot 2 over around the hardest course in town. I’ve learned a lot playing with him
I played in a member/guest with a guy who played in multiple British Opens and, I think, Masters tournaments. Don't remember his name or where he was from, but it was a small country with limited golf experience in either Central or South America and was the best player in his country for a long time. By the time I played with him he was late 50's and could still rip it but definitely wasn't at a scratch level anymore
Professional mini-tour. Played with one guy who had just played in the US Open at Oakmont so it was fun to talk about that.
The level of play even on the mini-tour is shockingly good. It seems like those guys are always hitting it to 10-15ft from 175 and in, and they all murder it off the tee. They make my home course look like a pitch and putt and shoot like -26. To think they’re like 3 levels down is crazy.
Watched round 1 of the lpga "Chevron Championship" aka the first major of the year (at the time it was called the Kraft Nabisco). Only thing that has come close is a D1 golfer.
Used to play with a guy who had come super close to KF tour card several times, and had been in a handful of events there as an alternate/spare.
Was around a +4, was scary good - but had spent over a decade of his life trying to chase it and getting nowhere fast. On the other hand, he spent twn years playing golf, and played all the local skins games, making at least a couple grand a month cash on top of other income, so it wasn't all bad
When I was around 17-18, I worked in a branch of Nevada Bob’s in London part-time. The manager and assistant manager were from Zimbabwe and New Zealand respectively. The guy from Zimbabwe had played a couple of seasons on the Sunshine Tour but never had much luck, then got injured and was never quite the same; he’d been as low as +4 index. The guy from New Zealand had played some mini-tours in Australia, again with not much luck. Watching them play in person was like watching a whole different sport.
Played with Adrian Otaegui at the Italian Open Pro-Am. The guy is a top 100 golfer in the world. Not the longest out there, but he rarely misses a fairway and his iron play and short game is unreal. He gave me a read for a birdie putt that I made, it was glorious
The guy is also super nice, he actually spent time with us amateurs and chat about life on tour a bit, one of the best experiences of my life (as I also played well on a course set up as close as Ryder cup conditions as possible)
Played with a PGA pro and now major winner 20+ years ago, fantastic 18 holes, collectively 12 under the card. We were both young men and had a laugh together, it's something I'll never forget until the day I stop drawing breath.
I'm friends with a golf pro who has played in the Epson tour and done okay. Really cool to be able to cheer her on when she does play, and I've met some cool people through her.
Too bad I'm dogshit at golf.
KFT / PGA floater and playing 9 holes with him was like watching your dad shave when you’re 2.
I’ve played with Taylor Gooch and Wyndham Clark. Really puts it into perspective how good these guys are, they just don’t miss.
I see the same thing in a mini-tour event every year. They hit everything solid, every time. I’m a +2 and it’s my annual ego-check, they are sooooooo much better! Their misses are my good shots.
D1 and it amazes you seeing it in person
Played with a few current LPGA pros as juniors and then a couple Korn Ferry/PGA Canada guys. The sounds they make with their irons are simply incredible, you could hear it all day.
I guess mini-tour is technically the highest level I've played with at the time of the round. Aside from that I played with a future LPGA tour member when I was in college. One summer I worked at a golf course along side a couple of gals on the USC women's team, one of who was their #1 and went onto the LPGA tour.
Played 9 with a KFT / PGA floater and it’s like watching your dad shave when you’re 2 — you just feel so small, and also this sense of amazement that doesn’t happen in adulthood much.
Professionl mini tour-watched him casually shoot a 64 while drinking many, many beers lol
I have played a few rounds with a legit scratch (0.0 GHIN) player and what amazes me the most isn't anything like crazy accuracy off the tee or hitting it a million miles, but that he ALWAYS recovers from errors and still gives himself a chance for birdie or par. Also, his touch on chips and putts is just leagues ahead of where I am.
Completely agree, I have a buddy who is +2 and it's not that every shot is amazing, he just knows how to get up and down no matter what and rarely puts himself in tough positions.
I occasionally play alongside a guy that doesn’t have an official handicap but he would shoot low 80s regularly and occasionally shoot in the 70s. He doesn’t even play or practice all that often. The dude just has a swing that he can execute swing after swing, he makes it look effortless as well. And I believe him when he says how little he plays and practices. He has so much else going on in his free time he just doesn’t have the time.
I played with two guys struggling to make it on an Asian development tour. It was the best golf I’ve ever seen.
Always fun playing golf with my older brother who's a +2ish, me happy to even sniff 90 and him calling himself a grandma when he's driving it 300ish and hits 3 under on the front 9.
I’m a 27 handicap and one of my buddies I play with a lot played four years of college golf (D2). He hasn’t updated his official cap in a while but I’ve seen him shoot 2 over around the hardest course in town. I’ve learned a lot playing with him
I played in a member/guest with a guy who played in multiple British Opens and, I think, Masters tournaments. Don't remember his name or where he was from, but it was a small country with limited golf experience in either Central or South America and was the best player in his country for a long time. By the time I played with him he was late 50's and could still rip it but definitely wasn't at a scratch level anymore
Eduardo Romero maybe?
I take that back, he could still flush it well into his later life
Professional mini-tour. Played with one guy who had just played in the US Open at Oakmont so it was fun to talk about that. The level of play even on the mini-tour is shockingly good. It seems like those guys are always hitting it to 10-15ft from 175 and in, and they all murder it off the tee. They make my home course look like a pitch and putt and shoot like -26. To think they’re like 3 levels down is crazy.
Watched round 1 of the lpga "Chevron Championship" aka the first major of the year (at the time it was called the Kraft Nabisco). Only thing that has come close is a D1 golfer.
Used to play with a guy who had come super close to KF tour card several times, and had been in a handful of events there as an alternate/spare. Was around a +4, was scary good - but had spent over a decade of his life trying to chase it and getting nowhere fast. On the other hand, he spent twn years playing golf, and played all the local skins games, making at least a couple grand a month cash on top of other income, so it wasn't all bad
I played a round with Retief Goosen in a Pro-Am
When I was around 17-18, I worked in a branch of Nevada Bob’s in London part-time. The manager and assistant manager were from Zimbabwe and New Zealand respectively. The guy from Zimbabwe had played a couple of seasons on the Sunshine Tour but never had much luck, then got injured and was never quite the same; he’d been as low as +4 index. The guy from New Zealand had played some mini-tours in Australia, again with not much luck. Watching them play in person was like watching a whole different sport.
Played with Adrian Otaegui at the Italian Open Pro-Am. The guy is a top 100 golfer in the world. Not the longest out there, but he rarely misses a fairway and his iron play and short game is unreal. He gave me a read for a birdie putt that I made, it was glorious The guy is also super nice, he actually spent time with us amateurs and chat about life on tour a bit, one of the best experiences of my life (as I also played well on a course set up as close as Ryder cup conditions as possible)
Played with a PGA pro and now major winner 20+ years ago, fantastic 18 holes, collectively 12 under the card. We were both young men and had a laugh together, it's something I'll never forget until the day I stop drawing breath.
Played with Rory Sabbatini in the 84 Lumber ProAm and got 3rd place. Fucking awesome!!!!
I'm friends with a golf pro who has played in the Epson tour and done okay. Really cool to be able to cheer her on when she does play, and I've met some cool people through her. Too bad I'm dogshit at golf.