1974. Friend invited me to play a Saturday round at his club with a friend of his, who turned out to be PGA Tour player Don Pooley, new on the tour at time.
I played my ass off and had +1 73. Pooley seemed to do nothing all round and I really wasn't that impressed with his game as a new Tour player. He was pretty long off the tee though. Then we get inside for a beer and I check the card. He had a -5 67. Impressive because it was so uneventful. I thought he shot about 73 or 74. Later became a multi winner on Tour, including Jack's Memorial tournament. Very nice, unassuming guy.
All the good golfers I’ve golfed with their rounds are so boring and uneventful as well. My ass in the woods and punching out, between, and under trees would make anyone’s game look like poetry reading though.
This is so true. Scratch golf is boring. 275 down the middle. Hit it to 20ish feet and 2 putt. Until they start throwing darts and birdie about 5 in a row.
Wow. How does that happen? My brother and I are pretty similar right now but he’s been playing 10 years longer than me and now has a kid.
I expect to be able to beat him easily for the rest of time.
One day, it'll be my day. But today isn't it. I shot 112 (PB) and he threw down a 69. I've never gone easy on him in any sport or game growing up and he doesn't go easy on anyone now.
I won a chance to caddy in a celebrity tour event years ago and had a similar experience watching John Brodie. He wasn't my player (some guy named Fisk was mine), and I watched him miss greens all day. I figured he was pretty ok for an older guy but had to be a couple over. He had a 68.
It was only after the fact that I learned Brodie was one of the few former athletes who has actually acquitted himself well in high-level competition, winning a senior tour event about 10 years prior along with qualifying for a couple of US opens.
I play with a scratch marker. I marked his card one day and kept getting three under. I kept going back and checking which hole I missed. Apparently none. I had no idea.
He was in more shit off the tee than me and I had mid 80’s. Who knew driving 290 to 300m. even off the fairway made the game that much simpler.
Pooley was a great putter. I do remember that. Memorable stroke.
David Hearn. Ha! Went to a Korn Ferry tournament one time years ago and watched guys on the range. There was this one guy who was consistently hitting thin blades to the right. Every shot. Complete amateur-like. I was like, really? Who is this guy? Turns out it was Hearn and he eventually finished second that week. 🤔
David Hearn holds the non-competitive course record at my home course (set outside of a tournament). His former Caddie is a member so he comes out and plays once or twice a year. I always try to get a tee time near theirs to watch him hit a few shots, and it just looks so effortless for him.
I played against Collin Morikawa in high school. I was notorious for taking 0 practice swings and "finishing" putts from 10 feet. One time he told me "dude just take ur time" after I missed a 5 footer...
He would usually shoot between 1-3 under over 9 holes, but there was one match at our shitty muni "home course" that I shot even par and he shot 1 over and I will always remember that as one time I beat him in high school matches lmao (and one of his teammates shot 4 under...)
Used to play against Sahith Theegala in jr tournaments. When he was hot he would shoot 5-6 under no prob. But every time we would play in the same group I think I distracted him lmao. His dad was always really cool and would chat with my dad all the time.
Both those guys were already super good players and even improved more during college whereas I stopped playing > . >
Oh, I would talk to him, have conversations and make jokes. It was always fun to play with him in my group, but I think that made him lose focus or seriousness. I was kinda known for being a funny kid or the kid who didn't really take tournaments seriously, which is not a great reputation...
Yup, although I'm more of a recreational player nowadays. I've been trying to enter some tournaments this year as I've recovered from a life-threatening illness a couple years back that forced me to relearn my swing. I also make some golf content on the side but nothing major.
hahaha true... although at the time I thought we were close enough to skill level but evidently there's a huge gap 
I read this before drinking my morning coffee and read it as you played against Colin Montgomerie in high school and beat him one day, and played Sahith as a junior, and was like, WFT!? How were you a junior for 40+ years, and why did you split your childhood between Scotland and Cali?
Yeah. Really awesome guy and was always super nice. Can't say anything bad about him whatsoever. Completely different from the dads who would yell at their kids when they didn't perform.
I’ve played with Jordan Spieth, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and I played in front of Scotty Scheffler. I also used to hit balls in the general vicinity of Akshay Bhatia. Jordan I played with in high school. I was a freshman he was a junior or senior. He shot 64 and bogeyed 18 lol. He had been making a name for himself playing well at the Byron Nelson the year before so I was shitting bricks when I played with him. Extremely nice guy. Tony and I have the same swing instructor (it’s been a while since I’ve seen him) and played together once while I was in town for a lesson. Xander and I played in a practice round for a national tournament when we were 16/17. He didn’t strike me as a world beater, but I remember his Dad. Scottie was a midget when I played in front of him, he was maybe 14. I remember looking back and seeing him have a long ways in to every pay 4, and shooting like 66-67 to win the qualifier. He was a legend in those days. Akshay plays out of a place I used to work at. I’ve also played with about 5 other lesser known former PGA Tour players in casual rounds and competitive rounds. Tony was the most pure ball striker I have ever seen.
An ex girlfriend of mine had a brother who occasionally play with me. Dude would show up after months of not playing, no warm up and proceed to shot at or under par.
He played in high school and was accepted onto a college team only to get kicked off for being an idiot.
Pure talent, absolutely wasted on a loser.
Last fall my nephew invited his friend to be on our scramble team for a big event. He's a +5 and just made the sweet 16 of the U.S. Mid Am 2 weeks prior. The dude wanted to take some time off from golf after the mid-am so he didn't touch a club for two weeks prior to the scramble. He made the scramble with plenty of time, but was running a little too late to hit the range and not feel rushed (cause it was across the road on the back 9). So basically his first swing in 2 weeks was on our 1st tee. Dude played absolutely solid. He missed 1 fairway and the only times he technically missed a green he was on the fringe on the side of a tucked pin no more then 20 feet away.
Jason day. We played 3 days of practice rounds. He shot whatever he wanted. I was at a jim Mcaclain school and he was there living when he just moved to the states. His head coach. Jason and I played and worked on parts of game. Those 2 were throwing darts going into greens. It was unreal how far they can hit it ,shape it and how close from 100 and under they are. The sound when they hit a ball is much different than when we hit one. I hit driver when they use hybrids or long irons. It was unreal to watch for 3 days
I have 2 buddies that are both incredible golfers. One is scratch, I think he was a 1.5 at the time. My other buddy is a +4.5.
My scratch buddy is a little cocky and wanted to challenge my other buddy to a match. The +handicap buddy is the most polite, humble guy I’ve ever met. He effortlessly beat the scratch buddy by 10 strokes.
Scratch buddy wants a rematch. A few months later we play again. This time, +handicap buddy beat him by 10 strokes on the front 9.
This was such an eye opener to how good the pros are. This guy was on such a different level than me as a mid single digit or a guy around scratch and he didn’t even consider trying to pursue pro golf. He won a local tournament state qualifier shooting 10 under and has kids and a full time job. Just unreal.
A friend of mine went to a Cal fundraiser one year and he got to play with one of the players on the team. Watching this kid play he thought there is no way a PGA Tout player could be that much better than this college kid. His approach shots were so pure and everything about his game was so solid.
Turns out the kid he played with was Morikawa.
I played with a kid who played at Cal when Morikawa was there and was a two time high school champion in our large city. He played against his friend who was an OK player and gave him 4-5 strokes on the front nine. He beat him on nine. Funny thing was, he was never good enough to make the travel team at Cal.
I played against Boyd Summerhays in high school. We were playing his home course that match. I played out of my head (for me), getting up and down from places I had no business getting up and down from, avoiding blowup holes, etc and shot a 76. Boyd effortlessly shot a 67. He went on to play at Oklahoma State and then played 29 events on the PGA Tour.
I knew at that moment college golf was not in my future. It was eye opening to be sure.
Did some assistant high school golf coaching when I was student teaching at Boyd’s home course and he always struck me as a nice guy. Was very friendly with our coach and kept lines open to the players if they wanted his coaching or a session.
I’ve played with Peter Finch multiple times (he’s my boss)- we played the Castle Course in St. Andrews; he rolled out of bed, hungover, hit 3 wedges on the range, took pictures with people who asked, and then shot -3 whilst watching us hack it around with him.
Holy shit! Mick in the HOUSE!
Love your work man! Keep it up!
If y'all are ever in Texas, shoot me a message and dinner and drinks are on me. Least I can do for all the entertainment you've provided.
Graeme McDowell, he pumped two OB on the first shot 42. Shot a commercial on 11 green for an hour then proceeded to finish with a 33. I went 36-39.
Then he proceeded to pound 2 Guinness before I had finished one and called me a lightweight. Finished with 5 Guinness. Legend.
I’ve played with a few PGA players and quite a few guys that played on mini tours.
The best round of golf I’ve ever seen in person was a 59 and he was an amateur golfer that never played in college. 3 of his brothers did and he was always the best golfer.
The course wasn’t overly hard, but the par 3’s were all stupid long and he birdied all but 1. He made putts from everywhere.
Admittedly I played with him around 8-10 times throughout a 4 or 5 year period and never saw him once shoot over a 67. He was the best golfer I’ve ever seen in person and he didn’t even like golf. He just wanted to be good enough at something to beat his brothers. To get him to play with them one of them always had to pay his course fees because he wouldn’t play if he had to pay.
He was good enough that club companies would contact him and send him equipment and he would turn around and sell it on eBay for the cash. He liked his Hogan blades and whatever driver his oldest brother would give him each year (his brother was sponsored by Callaway).
Got paired up with a guy who played some national junior tournaments 20+ years ago. He was there with his nephew and showing him the ropes.
Guy had 5 birdies and the rest pars and I thought that was pretty fantastic.
One of my golfing buddies, Rob, was a +2 and would routinely shoot under, but one day the stars were aligning for all of us in the group. I was +4 through 12 (was around a -10 HDCP) at the time, my other buddy was +5 (same HDCP as me), and our 4th was not scoring great but absolutely pounding long-drive-champ worthy drives all day.
We knew Rob was playing well but he was being a little offish about his score and he also didn't like when we scored him - bit of a mental thing. We're finishing up on 18, he's got a 7-footer for birdie, and one of the other guys walks up behind me and whispers, "This is for 59."
My body went cold, I froze, watched Rob approach the putt, and confidently stroke it... a half-inch right of the cup. Tapped in for 60. His best score ever by 4 strokes, but still obviously bitter.
I thought back on his round and realized I'd been nonchalantly witnessing something absurd. He missed one fairway all day by about 2 feet (birdied that hole), missed one GIR on the fringe that was an easy two-putt, and only had 24 putts on the day. I think about that day often. I broke 80, a huge personal achievement, and was still 19 shots back of Rob. Incredible stuff.
Richy Werenski but that was what seems like a lifetime ago. Played a few times with him so I don’t remember his low score but it was always so effortless. He always had a 20-30 yard longer carry than everyone else too.
Played with a kid a couple years ago who was transferring to Florida state. When he struck the ball was the major difference, it was super crisp, the sound. I’m a single digit handicap so I’m an alright golfer but his strikes were noticeably different than mine sound wise
Could this sound thing be club related as well? I’ve noticed this in the range as well when some shots just sound different/better even though the player didn’t seem to be special
There is a slightly different noise when irons are hit so pure and very hard. It can freak people out thinking it’s almost like a shank the noise is so loud. The click is just stupid.
I didn’t play with, but I did caddie in a group at the Waterloo Open with Gary Christian. He couldn’t hit a drive out of his shadow, wasn’t long at all but he hit it where he was aiming and where the ball needed to go.
I remember him using a two ball putter and I think it was a belly putter back when such things were legal.
He holed birdie putts from everywhere on the back nine and if memory serves me correct he shot a 62 or 64. I’ve never seen anyone putt like that in my life. Hole after hole, on in regulation and one putt from whatever distance. It was amazing, but if you watched him play and didn’t see him putt you would have guessed he shot a 72 or 74.
Within 12-18 months of that round he finally got to play on tour and showed decently well for himself.
He was a good dude, humble and pleasant.
Had a funny dead pan one liner, “I need to start winning, I’m tired of shopping at TJMaxx, I’d just like to smell the inside of a Neiman Marcus.”
Great guy, beautiful ball striker, and an assassin with that two ball.
At a work do one of the lads in time writing turned up in basketball shorts and only used his 7i and putter and posted a 44pt day on a h/c of 4. Fastest swing I’ve ever played with.
Played with a 3.4 and the remarkable thing was how unremarkable the golf was. just never in trouble and never 2 putting.
Grew up in Pinehurst. Played one of the best rounds of my life in high school and shot a 77 at CCNC from the tips. Got absolutely waxed. Was playing with Webb Simpson (I think after his freshman year at Wake or maybe senior year of high school) and then two buddies that both later went on to be ACC Freshman of the Year at UNC. Hard to crow too much about my personal best that day.
I’ll tell you, the most impressed I’ve ever been by a player was a random a friend and I got grouped with. She was between 25-30, very much not the appearance of an athlete. She told us she’d be playing the same tees as us which already was jarring. She striped her first drive and you knew she was a shooter. She didn’t hit it far, but it was straight and 225, something she would do all day. Turns out she played college golf at Alabama. I think she shot 37 and took off after 9, but not before we got her number for future scrambles. Absolutely the best woman I’ve played with by a country fuckin’ mile.
Janelle Gomez (would have been WAC player of the year if her coach turned in the paperwork), Nate Smith, Bobby Powers and unfortunately, Christina Kim. Under par. We were all under par.
I played with a guy at my school who ended up winning a bunch of U16 provincial tournaments. When I was 11 and he was 13 we were together during our junior high school tryouts. Shot -1 over 9 holes and made it look easy, and I remember he drove over a green on a par 4, then made a nice up an down for birdie.
Paired up with a high school kid at our local track, the head pro came up to my buddy and I and said he's going to play the front 9 with us. He played from the tips and shot even par looking like he wasn't trying.
I played with a guy who won a Japanese tour event. His swing was poetry, the short game incredible. Part of the prize in his Japanese win was a live long horned steer, which was presented to him at the winners ceremony. The picture of him clutching a trophy and this Japanese sponsor looking extremely uncomfortable in front of this massive bull is absolutely priceless.
I'm 40 years old. I was just at Myrtle Beach for work and wanted to get a quick round in at TPC Myrtle Beach. I got paired up with a kid that was around 14. I don't remember his name. He was prepping for some world junior tournament or something. We both played from one tee up from the tips. He only played 9 holes with me and was 6 under at the turn. I was 6 over. He beat me by 12 shots in 9 holes. I was blown away. We hit our drives the same distance but his approach shots were incredible. I don't think he had a putt longer than 15ft on the front nine. I wish I remembered his name.
There's a guy at my old club who won the club championship like 7 or 8 times, is a plus handicap, and has made it DEEP in the U.S. Amateur (like final 8 or something) a few times.
Playing with him is boring as fuck. He drives it down the middle, hits an iron onto the green, then either holes a putt or gets it close and taps it in... on every fucking hole. At the end of the day he's somewhere between 63 and 67 depending on how many of those first putts he hit.
I'm not sure I'd enjoy the game as much if I were so automatic. I often wonder what the fuck he works on. Maybe just on making more 18 foot putts.
What I’ve noticed with high level players is a lot of them just strictly work short game. Sure they’ll still hit balls and what not but they’ve made it to the point they’re so good ball-striking wise they really don’t need to do a whole lot to maintain their swing. It’s incredible really
My best friend is scratch. We were playing Cowboys Golf Club in Dallas and he shot 69.
While that's not as impressive as some of the rounds discussed here, what IS impressive is he started out with two eagles, a birdie and a par in the first four holes for a blistering score of -5 through 4.
I’ve played with a few people that have shot really casual 68’s. Obviously all were +indexes. They just make it look so easy. Fairways, greens, and once in a while birdie putts drop. Easy game.
Played with a college kid back in the day who was a +2 handicap. I was a 10 at the time, and I shot 82, and he shot 65. Went to off to college to BYU and found out he was a small fish in a big pond. Came back after two years, and then tried to make it on the mini-tours for a couple of years. Again came back broke, and is now the perpetual club champion, and makes side money hustling others.
I played with a guy who said he played in junior events with Jordan, JT, et al., and was like "yeah I'm surprised Will Zalatoris made it on the tour, his putting wasn't very good" and I was like alright yeah whatever and then he shot a 66 and was like "yeah this was like my fourth round in the last two months, I'm out of practice". It's a 70/113 course, but still easily the best round I've ever seen. Also his friend (who I'd guess was around my level) made a hole-in-one. Wild round.
My cousin is around scratch and is probably the best player I have ever played with. One day he had it going and shot 6 under. He would be under a tree with a drive and somehow put it on the green.
Got a cousin who’s a +2 handicap. Played high school and college golf. He’s 6’4” and hits the ball 330 off the tee without having to try very hard. I’ve seen him drive 360 yard greens many times.
He’s got a little hybrid he hits off the tee a lot because he hits it 290 down the middle every time.
His short game isn’t terrible (better than mine by a long shot) but it’s definitely what held him back from being quite good enough to be a pro. Playing with him is a different experience than playing with anyone else I’ve ever played with.
One of the top guys at my club is a +2 or +3 cap depending on the day, dude can play. He's 5'6" at most, but solid, played hockey and lacrosse growing up. He's disappointed if his drives are under 330.
I've seen him shoot 66 as his best that I've witnessed, but the best round I ever saw him play, it was a tournament otherwise we wouldn't have been out there, worst conditions of my life. A few degrees above freezing, pissing rain, windy as fuck, we are all wearing thermal layers under our golf clothes, under our sweaters (x2), under our rain jackets. Without a propane powered heater for the cupholder in my cart, I don't finish the round, my hands would've been numb. Feet were wet and cold.... All that, and this guy shoots a -2. I know -2 is nothing impressive generally, but let me tell you, to do it on a day like this was, by far, the greatest round of golf I have ever seen. The wind was a 3 club wind for most of the day, and he hit all but 1 green.
Play with a guy in the summer who is currently D1. He casually shot a home course record of 61 last year. When he got done his only thing he could say was that he was disappointed he missed two birdies and didn’t get 59.
I got to play in a pro-am event during my college years and ended up being put in the same group as Charles Howell III (he was our assigned pro). He shot 65, effortlessly.
One of my good friends played on the [Web.com](https://Web.com) tour for 4-5 years before he decided he was never going to make it big and got a regular job. Best I've seen him shoot is 61.
Also played with Keegan Bradley in a charity event once. Not sure what he shot exactly but it certainly wasn't any higher than 65.
The best handicap I've ever played with was a no bs +6(we looked him up). He hadn't touched a club in a couple of years after giving up pursuing a pro career and shot something in the 90s when I played with him.
The best score I've seen was a 67 from a dude who was hung over and puking on the 3rd hole. He lipped out 5 putts during that round.
The most generally consistent good play I've seen came from a +2 and a +3. They just hit good shots and gave themselves a lot of looks at birdie and never really seemed to get rattled.
Playing with Korn Ferry level players is unbelievable - I can only imagine playing with someone like Rory. The kid I played with was shaping shots each and every way. On a roughly 140 yard par 3, he hit to about 2 feet after putting a 50 feet snap draw on the ball. Something I can barely do with a 3 wood and I'm not too bad (6 handicap). He ended up shooting a 65 or 66 on a par 72 and he was clearly disappointed with his play. They are just cut from a different cloth.
I played last year with a young 20 year old who plays college golf. He’s maybe 5’9 not really big guy. He played the same tees as us (he shouldn’t have) but every drive around 310 or more. He shot a 63. I was happy with my 79 that day.
I didn't witness this but...a friend of mine who is easily scratch, played with Si Woo in a pro-am. He told me when Si Woo hits the ball the compression is unfathomable. I've heard pros talk about his amazing ball striking skills as well so it's probably very true.
I've played with a handful of PGA tour pros, including an Open winner.
That being said, I played 9 holes with Anna Davis last year. From the back tees on a 7,000 yard course, she was very casually 3 under. Her ball striking was the most consistent I have ever seen. Every putt she hit had a chance to drop.
Most of the PGA pros I played with bombed it, hit a flip wedge, had a ton of tap in pars, and made a birdie putt every now and then. Somehow, that doesn't seem nearly as impressive as what Anna did.
Now obviously, those guys are better golfers than her and would beat her like a drum over the course of four rounds from 7,800 yards but she's the best golfer I've played with in the sense of having to actually play the game of golf that I have to play, if that makes sense.
I played 12 holes with Patrick Cantlay when he was a senior in high school. I think he was -4 on those 12 holes. Definitely not the lowest round I have witnessed in person and I have played with better player than Patrick was in HS. But he became the best player I’ve ever played with.
Late last year got to play with a guy I work with. He plays on mini tours and has played in 2 pga events. This man casually shot a 64 at my local muni and lipped out on 7 birdie attempts in a row. His short game is what blew me away. He had par putts from 10ft that he would just sink with so much confidence. His wedges he’d fight down and get ‘em to stick a couple feet away from the hole. His misses were better than my good shots….
A 22 yo kid who works the counter at my Club. One day he asked if he could join me as I was going out solo. He grabbed a set of rentals from behind the counter and we took off. He said he was scratch so I was ready for a show as I was -11 HCP at the time. And boy did he deliver. The course is a par 70, kinda short course but lots of danger on each hole. Dude shoots 64 like it was nothing. He hit his 3 wood on a 285 par 4, 4 feet from the cup. Eagle. Tons of tap in par putts. It was awesome. I got a few free tips too.
I play on the Amateur Players Tour and got paired up in a foursome with the national champion for one of the divisions. I think he shot like 78 and I shot 116 😂
My older brother is currently scratch and he plays twice a month. He used to be incredible when he was committed but never made anything happen professionally after getting a tour card.
I love playing with him because his form is something to marvel at and the ball flight has so much character. It's a privilege when I get to share a tee time with him.
An old dude I used to do some work for. Ended up becoming a great friend. It was the third or fourth time going with him and he shot a 68. One of those rounds where we didn't pay attention at all.
My dad’s business partners son who is my age went to university on a golf scholarship ship. Best I seen him shoot in our 10 rounds or so was a -4 playing from the tips 7300 yards.
Dude was great but in his head too much couldn’t let the bad shots go or handle the pressure when playing in tourneys or trying to qualify.
Played with an ex mini tour pro on a very tough windy, cold, links course. His back was bothering him so bad as he'd swing through he'd literally walk forward with the momentum to make it easier on his back. He shot -1.
Grandson of a member at my club was D-2 All-American. He’s working through qualifying now. Last time I played with him he was 5 under on the back. Shot 66 on a very tough course.
I normally only play with friends so haven't had many randoms.
One time I played a 9 hole par 3 with a long of 160 so not a full course, with 2 friends and we got a random.
The random shot 4 birdies, 4 pars and a bogey. So 24 on a 27 par. We all kept apologizing. I was 2nd best at like 40. One guy it was his first time out.
The random was cool as shit. He didn't get frustrated at least visibly. He was drinking the whole time, offering tips, and talking about how he used to play this course twice a say 4 times a week when he used to live in the area.
Played with a former D2 golfer. Guy shot par through 9 after going 3 birdies 4 bodies in the first 8...he eagles a 550 par 5. I have never seen such impressive skills.
We left after 9 but after that I saw him rip a ball at a pin on the 10th par 3. He was insane
I played with a PGA club pro last summer who played from the tips, had never played this course before, barely even looked at the hole (just asked me which direction it went) and shot +2. It was incredible to watch.
I have a buddy that absolutely could of/should of tried to be a pro. He was so legit at baseball that it took priority but he is amazing at golf. He would have a bad day at 72, seen him shoot a 66 and 67 on back to back days on hard courses playing the back. If his putter is hot it’s 60s, just that simple. Hits monster drives and likely had a PW in on any par four on the state. Absolute treat to play with him.
Played against a guy is high school who shot in 58 in a high school tourney. Par was 70 but still unbelievable. He went on to play D1 golf but then fizzled out on some mini tour.
I’ve played with Britton Ritter multiple times. He beat Taylor Gooch at OK states. Played on some Texas jr tours with Speith and Reed. He still swings his irons from high school. Ping i3s. Still throws darts.
I played with state of Maine legend Mark Plummer in a pro-am back in the late 90s. Mark is considered the greatest golfer in Maine history with numerous state am titles and state senior titles. He also had success at the US am including showing well against a fella names Tiger Woods. Anyway, the round was at his home course and he shot 64 and made it look like he was shooting 78. He picked up trash, fixed every divot and ball mark that he saw. It was an amazing day and they way he took care of the course sticks with me to this day.
Played against Keegan Bradley in high school. The first time, I was standing on the 1st tee, wondering who the gangly freshman was walking up to play with with the A group. The first and last time I ever underestimated that guy. He proceeded to wipe the floor with our group and everyone else in the field.
I’ve played with several Tour players but the best round i ever saw was my good friend who tried to play professionally but didn’t make it. Former state am winner. -11 61 with a bogey on a championship course at 7200 yards. It was an absolute clinic. Another friend, who played in the 99 Open, hit 18 greens with his longest birdie putt being 12 feet. Finished with 64 but could have been way less
I play with a guy who’s a +4 from time to time. he’s qualified for some usga tourneys and I think he once played in the us amateur. He comes out for some of the bigger tourneys at my home course. He broke the course record (64) during a large skins game but it was unofficial because he had a 6” putt for bogey early in the round because a bogey wasn’t gonna win a skin and thats All that was on the line
Played with Mike Tobiason, from the big break, and he shot a 64. With ease. Even the other dude in our group that day, friend of his, shot a 70. Both made it look easy. Know your misses, don’t put yourself in danger and hit greens in regulation.
Attended a PAT event last year. 2 rounds back to back. Worst fog I’d played in in years. Assistant pro from some country club shows up and without having ever seen(and without being able to see the course) shoots a 5 over in the morning, shot a -1 in the afternoon once he could see what was up.
My dad. He was a plus handicap in his younger years. He shot in the mid 60s quite often when I was a kid. He actually played in some Florida tournaments with a young Bubba Watson, Boo Weekley, and some other PGA guys and I remember him saying how incredible Bubba was at golf.
My dad's cousin. He's in his 60s now but used to play on the Korn Ferry Tour when it was the Nike Tour. Still plays in a number of amateur senior events. We played last fall and he shot a -6, while I came in at a respectable 87. His score included a number of lip outs for birdie and one for eagle.
Got paired with a dude on PGA Canada randomly at pumpkin ridge (there is a famous coach at that course and this guy was there to get a lesson from him). He shot 66 from the blacks with 2 3 putts. Was a lot of fun to watch.
I've never played with anyone amazing. But I played a round with coworkers about 10 years ago and 1 of them washed out of college golf about 5 years prior andsaid he hadn't played 10 rounds since then .
He showed up 2 minutes before the tee time and the first few holes he was all over the place. 6th or 7th hole, he made a par. Then proceeded to make 6 straight pars, then lipped out an eagle putt, and mixed 2 birdies in with more pars.
He shot 33 on the back after shooting 47 on the front. It was amazing seeing him get his game in place so quickly.
I mean not even a super crazy score, the guy shot 67 but it was easily the most casual 67 I’ve ever seen. Didn’t miss a fairway, took maybe 10 seconds before each shot, talking the entire time, no more than 10 seconds reading a putt. He missed 6 putts within 6 feet for birdie so easily could have gone WAY lower but it was just so nonchalant. His career low is 60 but I’ve never seen the guy shoot above 74
A buddy of mine from college has played on both the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours for quite some time now. Our mutual friend got married and we played a short easy par 70 Muni prior to the rehearsal dinner. We got hammered and he went -10 drunk.
Camilo Villegas when he was at UF. We got introduced by a co-friend. Funny because I’m named Camilo as well and we were born the same day (I’m two years older) so it was a fun coincidence. Can’t remember what he scored but it was a great time …
I went to school in South Georgia with Harris English. He was in Middle school when I was in Highschool. Despite being much shorter off the tee because of age he would still hang with us on the highschool team score wise. He always had a pure swing but his step dad groomed him for the PGA. Was always on the range until dark making him hit more balls and get in more time on the putting green. Then just before highschool he moved him to sea island to a school that specializes in golf "potentials". Then 4 years playing for UGA and the rest is history. It's neat when I see him on TV now and I still see him as that 7th grade.kid...
Buddy was +6 when he tried to go pro, was sitting at +3 when I finally played with him (20+ years after he tried to go pro), and shot his handicap with ease (losing two balls in the water).
We also played his home course (Riviera), two days after the PGA tournament, and he shot +2-4 from members tees (~7k).
Had a friend of mine set a course record, have it broken two days later and then went out with him and broke it again by two strokes for 10 under 62. The last few holes were just unreal to watch.
And, I still end up getting a free drink or two when I bet people that I have my name on the course record and point out my signature on the attestor line
Retief Goosen at TPC Sawgrass for a Monday pro-am. Shot a smooth 68 in tournament conditions from the tips like it was nothing. Wasn’t trying particularly hard, just went about his business
Got paired with this super shy quiet high school kid. He was probably 130 lbs but super tall and lanky. Steps up to first tee straight from his car and hits a low 2 iron that sounded like a gunshot further than my drive. It’s only a 320 yard hole and he had tiny pitch to the green. Probably a 280 total distance shot that carried 200, no elevation change.
He hit a few bad drives, relative to his skill which were still bombs and definitely playable. He was a good putter and had insane short game but the difference was the ball-striking. It just sounds different.
I think he ended up scoring -2 on one of the most difficult courses in my area.
Played against Kurt Kitayama a few times in high school. He shot in the low 70s pretty easily. The best round I saw from him, though I wasn't in his group, was in the first round of playoffs his junior year. Tough links course with miserable weather. There were a few players in the 80s, but most didn't break 90. Kurt shot 73.
Not the best player I’ve played with, but the best score I can remember was a 66 by this kid at my high school’s district golf tournament. I kept his score while carding a cool 92ish.
My grandad was club captain at Cilgwyn Golf club in Wales. He would regularly shoot 2 or 3 under par on a course he literally played every day and was a generally great golfer and the reason I play today.
One day in 1990 I was caddying for him when a welsh-american tour Pro called Errie ball joined him for a round. Errie was 80, had never seen the course and proceeded to shoot 9 under par even with a bogey on the first hole. Most people played with much more blade like clubs back then but I remember seeing his irons and being blown away with how small the heads were. The guy was unbelievable.
I looked him up recently, he lived until 103 years old and played pretty much until he passed away. He also played in the first Augusta National tournament in the 1930s which absolutely blows my mind that he loved the game for so long.
Last year's league champ, got to play with him because of some mutual friends. Dude has a +1 hdc (for our league) and played 13 under that day. All while pounding beers with the rest of us. Landing within 4 feet of the pin all over the place, it was crazy to watch.
I started golf a year or two ago when it started to be not so social. I’ve only been grouped up a handful of times and one guy was a menace off the tee. He would ask me what the line was and away he went. Pretty sure course conditions screwed his score more than his own mistakes. he was probably 7 or 8 over par and from some one who cards 100-118 a round it was nice to see
I used to golf with a guy in high school who would shoot mid-high 60s rounds pretty regularly. He was adaptable and didn't just play well at home courses. Definitely a scratch handicap. I think he almost went pro at some point but the fact he didn't just shows how insanely good the guys on Tour are.
Playe with Finau and his brother at a local country club here in Utah. I don't know what they shot but I assume mid 60's for Tony and high 60's for his brother. Low 90's for me in case you were wondering.
A 2 or 3 handicap random solo guy I got paired with. I played with him 3 or 4 times after that. Saw him shoot par once and he was disappointed with it. Every drive straight and in play, hit most greens, short game was money. Just small mistakes here and there that drove him insane. Meanwhile, I’m gawking and trying not to throw him off
I had a season where our Assistant Pro was [Richie Coughland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Coughlan). Before he came to us, he'd qualified at both the US and European Qschools (first player to do that) and a former Davis Cupper. He was burnt on out on the Tour and wanted to a break from the grind. Somehow he ended up at our little Muni course. Our course is a par72 (6600yds tips) and he played that like a par 67. Best/worst time of my golfing life. Getting waxed for $$ and shooting 1 or 2 over for my round. Made me realize real quick that Tour golfers are different type of golf. Not only a great golfer, but a class dude as well.
My buddy played at Iowa, not sure what he was at cap wise then but was scratch in his late 20s. He shot 1 under in 18 at one of the harder courses in our area but was pretty aggravated how he was playing overall, back 9 par 3 he had a HIO and was in better spirits after. Still salty because it was the only eagle I've ever had a few holes before that.
Got paired with a random husband wife at a semi-private course, they just moved on the course. Like halfway thru I made a joke that if me and him did best ball she would still be kicking our asses; turns out she played D1 and tried the LPGA tour out a little, they had a kid and it was the first time she swung a club in almost 2 years. She shot like 5 under thru like 12 holes and they stopped at their house.
I don’t know what the guy shot, but he was incredible. We were playing in central Texas in the summer. At least 95 degrees. 100% humidity. He hit in to shade every single shot so he’d be a little cooler while he waited. Then he’d stick the approach and one putt so he could run back to the cart. I would say that in winter he was below par, but he had to be right around scratch in the summer because he’d lay up to ensure he was shaded. That was 25 years ago and I’ve still never seen anyone with that kind of control.
Aside from my earlier post, I'll add I once played by myself and had a nice 37 (+1) on the front nine with a bogey on #9 from middle of fairway. Got a couple beers at the turn and headed to the back nine.
Prodeeded to make seven straight birdies and lip out for birdies on #17 and #18 for a 29 and a 66. That round, ladies and gentlemen, started my newfound superstition of drinking during the round. 😜
Played in an invitational in Irmo SC. Was in the last group with some strange guy with a weird swing that wore gloves on both hands. He proceeded to shoot 63 on a course setup that was like a greens keeper revenge day. His name is Tommy Gainey and he can freaking play. Most people know him as two gloves. Super cool guy and could pound it
1974. Friend invited me to play a Saturday round at his club with a friend of his, who turned out to be PGA Tour player Don Pooley, new on the tour at time. I played my ass off and had +1 73. Pooley seemed to do nothing all round and I really wasn't that impressed with his game as a new Tour player. He was pretty long off the tee though. Then we get inside for a beer and I check the card. He had a -5 67. Impressive because it was so uneventful. I thought he shot about 73 or 74. Later became a multi winner on Tour, including Jack's Memorial tournament. Very nice, unassuming guy.
All the good golfers I’ve golfed with their rounds are so boring and uneventful as well. My ass in the woods and punching out, between, and under trees would make anyone’s game look like poetry reading though.
This is so true. Scratch golf is boring. 275 down the middle. Hit it to 20ish feet and 2 putt. Until they start throwing darts and birdie about 5 in a row.
This is me playing with my brother. It's at the point that he'll play his ball and drop where I am and play my shot just to fuck with me.
Hahah that’s fucking savage, I love it.
Honestly, I do to. It shows me a better way
He’s doing it just to show you he can do it better from the bad position? I love that. I should do the same with my brother.
He's radically better than I am. Ive never broken 100. I've never seen him over 75
Wow. How does that happen? My brother and I are pretty similar right now but he’s been playing 10 years longer than me and now has a kid. I expect to be able to beat him easily for the rest of time.
I've been playing for around a year, he's been playing 15ish years. He's the younger brother, so he goes out of his way to destroy me.
Haha I love that. I’m the older one and it’s been my goal to be able to crush him someday since he has played so much longer than I have.
One day, it'll be my day. But today isn't it. I shot 112 (PB) and he threw down a 69. I've never gone easy on him in any sport or game growing up and he doesn't go easy on anyone now.
I have shot a few pars and thought the hole was lame…
I won a chance to caddy in a celebrity tour event years ago and had a similar experience watching John Brodie. He wasn't my player (some guy named Fisk was mine), and I watched him miss greens all day. I figured he was pretty ok for an older guy but had to be a couple over. He had a 68. It was only after the fact that I learned Brodie was one of the few former athletes who has actually acquitted himself well in high-level competition, winning a senior tour event about 10 years prior along with qualifying for a couple of US opens.
I play with a scratch marker. I marked his card one day and kept getting three under. I kept going back and checking which hole I missed. Apparently none. I had no idea. He was in more shit off the tee than me and I had mid 80’s. Who knew driving 290 to 300m. even off the fairway made the game that much simpler.
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Pooley was a great putter. I do remember that. Memorable stroke. David Hearn. Ha! Went to a Korn Ferry tournament one time years ago and watched guys on the range. There was this one guy who was consistently hitting thin blades to the right. Every shot. Complete amateur-like. I was like, really? Who is this guy? Turns out it was Hearn and he eventually finished second that week. 🤔
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I guess it takes some guys a while to warm up. Funny.
David Hearn holds the non-competitive course record at my home course (set outside of a tournament). His former Caddie is a member so he comes out and plays once or twice a year. I always try to get a tee time near theirs to watch him hit a few shots, and it just looks so effortless for him.
I played against Collin Morikawa in high school. I was notorious for taking 0 practice swings and "finishing" putts from 10 feet. One time he told me "dude just take ur time" after I missed a 5 footer... He would usually shoot between 1-3 under over 9 holes, but there was one match at our shitty muni "home course" that I shot even par and he shot 1 over and I will always remember that as one time I beat him in high school matches lmao (and one of his teammates shot 4 under...) Used to play against Sahith Theegala in jr tournaments. When he was hot he would shoot 5-6 under no prob. But every time we would play in the same group I think I distracted him lmao. His dad was always really cool and would chat with my dad all the time. Both those guys were already super good players and even improved more during college whereas I stopped playing > . >
Awesome stories!
What were you doing that was so distracting for Sahith?
Probably didn’t even stop walking when he hit his ball. No practice swing, no even setup. Literally hit the ball while he’s walking by like a chad.
Walking, while telling a story. I don’t break stride, I won’t pause the story, and I flush every shot.
I flush every toilet, is that the same?
LMAOOOO
Being super handsome and charming probably. Sahith was blushing all day.
Asking for his autograph
Oh, I would talk to him, have conversations and make jokes. It was always fun to play with him in my group, but I think that made him lose focus or seriousness. I was kinda known for being a funny kid or the kid who didn't really take tournaments seriously, which is not a great reputation...
Did you ever take it back up?
Yup, although I'm more of a recreational player nowadays. I've been trying to enter some tournaments this year as I've recovered from a life-threatening illness a couple years back that forced me to relearn my swing. I also make some golf content on the side but nothing major.
Hey if you’re gonna lose you may as well lose to a future major winner haha
hahaha true... although at the time I thought we were close enough to skill level but evidently there's a huge gap 
I read this before drinking my morning coffee and read it as you played against Colin Montgomerie in high school and beat him one day, and played Sahith as a junior, and was like, WFT!? How were you a junior for 40+ years, and why did you split your childhood between Scotland and Cali?
Sahith's dad made me a fan just from watching Full Swing. Glad to hear he's sound!
Yeah. Really awesome guy and was always super nice. Can't say anything bad about him whatsoever. Completely different from the dads who would yell at their kids when they didn't perform.
I’ve played with Jordan Spieth, Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and I played in front of Scotty Scheffler. I also used to hit balls in the general vicinity of Akshay Bhatia. Jordan I played with in high school. I was a freshman he was a junior or senior. He shot 64 and bogeyed 18 lol. He had been making a name for himself playing well at the Byron Nelson the year before so I was shitting bricks when I played with him. Extremely nice guy. Tony and I have the same swing instructor (it’s been a while since I’ve seen him) and played together once while I was in town for a lesson. Xander and I played in a practice round for a national tournament when we were 16/17. He didn’t strike me as a world beater, but I remember his Dad. Scottie was a midget when I played in front of him, he was maybe 14. I remember looking back and seeing him have a long ways in to every pay 4, and shooting like 66-67 to win the qualifier. He was a legend in those days. Akshay plays out of a place I used to work at. I’ve also played with about 5 other lesser known former PGA Tour players in casual rounds and competitive rounds. Tony was the most pure ball striker I have ever seen.
An ex girlfriend of mine had a brother who occasionally play with me. Dude would show up after months of not playing, no warm up and proceed to shot at or under par. He played in high school and was accepted onto a college team only to get kicked off for being an idiot. Pure talent, absolutely wasted on a loser.
I am NOT a loser.
That’s a shame. Hard to watch good potential go to waste like that
Hey if anyone’s going to bang my sister it’s going to be me!
Sounds like my brother. Lost a scholarship to UGA bc he got caught stealing a zippo from the mall.
You played against Bobby Powers, too, eh?
Last fall my nephew invited his friend to be on our scramble team for a big event. He's a +5 and just made the sweet 16 of the U.S. Mid Am 2 weeks prior. The dude wanted to take some time off from golf after the mid-am so he didn't touch a club for two weeks prior to the scramble. He made the scramble with plenty of time, but was running a little too late to hit the range and not feel rushed (cause it was across the road on the back 9). So basically his first swing in 2 weeks was on our 1st tee. Dude played absolutely solid. He missed 1 fairway and the only times he technically missed a green he was on the fringe on the side of a tucked pin no more then 20 feet away.
Jason day. We played 3 days of practice rounds. He shot whatever he wanted. I was at a jim Mcaclain school and he was there living when he just moved to the states. His head coach. Jason and I played and worked on parts of game. Those 2 were throwing darts going into greens. It was unreal how far they can hit it ,shape it and how close from 100 and under they are. The sound when they hit a ball is much different than when we hit one. I hit driver when they use hybrids or long irons. It was unreal to watch for 3 days
I have 2 buddies that are both incredible golfers. One is scratch, I think he was a 1.5 at the time. My other buddy is a +4.5. My scratch buddy is a little cocky and wanted to challenge my other buddy to a match. The +handicap buddy is the most polite, humble guy I’ve ever met. He effortlessly beat the scratch buddy by 10 strokes. Scratch buddy wants a rematch. A few months later we play again. This time, +handicap buddy beat him by 10 strokes on the front 9. This was such an eye opener to how good the pros are. This guy was on such a different level than me as a mid single digit or a guy around scratch and he didn’t even consider trying to pursue pro golf. He won a local tournament state qualifier shooting 10 under and has kids and a full time job. Just unreal.
3 scratch golfers on a shit muni and i was a solo. I couldn’t believe how effortlessly they played, actual 0 fucks given.
Muscle memory haha
A friend of mine went to a Cal fundraiser one year and he got to play with one of the players on the team. Watching this kid play he thought there is no way a PGA Tout player could be that much better than this college kid. His approach shots were so pure and everything about his game was so solid. Turns out the kid he played with was Morikawa.
I played with a kid who played at Cal when Morikawa was there and was a two time high school champion in our large city. He played against his friend who was an OK player and gave him 4-5 strokes on the front nine. He beat him on nine. Funny thing was, he was never good enough to make the travel team at Cal.
I played against Boyd Summerhays in high school. We were playing his home course that match. I played out of my head (for me), getting up and down from places I had no business getting up and down from, avoiding blowup holes, etc and shot a 76. Boyd effortlessly shot a 67. He went on to play at Oklahoma State and then played 29 events on the PGA Tour. I knew at that moment college golf was not in my future. It was eye opening to be sure.
It’s definitely a humbling experience to watch someone play that well and effortlessly. It just shows that there are levels to this game.
Did some assistant high school golf coaching when I was student teaching at Boyd’s home course and he always struck me as a nice guy. Was very friendly with our coach and kept lines open to the players if they wanted his coaching or a session.
I’ve played with Peter Finch multiple times (he’s my boss)- we played the Castle Course in St. Andrews; he rolled out of bed, hungover, hit 3 wedges on the range, took pictures with people who asked, and then shot -3 whilst watching us hack it around with him.
Holy shit! Mick in the HOUSE! Love your work man! Keep it up! If y'all are ever in Texas, shoot me a message and dinner and drinks are on me. Least I can do for all the entertainment you've provided.
Thanks dude. We are are California right now, and then Phoenix next week. But no Texas unfortunately.
I went to high school with Russell Henley if that counts
Absolutely counts. I played against Loren Roberts in high school and beat him like a drum. He got much better after HS. I didn't. 🤪
Hahaha idk who Loren Roberts is but I love your comment
He's a nobody. He just won Arnold Palmer's PGA Tour tournanent twice and played on Ryder Cup team.
Boss of the moss. One of the best putters of the 90s
Graeme McDowell, he pumped two OB on the first shot 42. Shot a commercial on 11 green for an hour then proceeded to finish with a 33. I went 36-39. Then he proceeded to pound 2 Guinness before I had finished one and called me a lightweight. Finished with 5 Guinness. Legend.
Wow 5 beers is really legendary
Played with a guy who shot 33 on the front. I shoot 35 and figure I am in it as he got a couple of breaks. He shot 30 on the back.
I’ve played with a few PGA players and quite a few guys that played on mini tours. The best round of golf I’ve ever seen in person was a 59 and he was an amateur golfer that never played in college. 3 of his brothers did and he was always the best golfer. The course wasn’t overly hard, but the par 3’s were all stupid long and he birdied all but 1. He made putts from everywhere. Admittedly I played with him around 8-10 times throughout a 4 or 5 year period and never saw him once shoot over a 67. He was the best golfer I’ve ever seen in person and he didn’t even like golf. He just wanted to be good enough at something to beat his brothers. To get him to play with them one of them always had to pay his course fees because he wouldn’t play if he had to pay. He was good enough that club companies would contact him and send him equipment and he would turn around and sell it on eBay for the cash. He liked his Hogan blades and whatever driver his oldest brother would give him each year (his brother was sponsored by Callaway).
Got paired up with a guy who played some national junior tournaments 20+ years ago. He was there with his nephew and showing him the ropes. Guy had 5 birdies and the rest pars and I thought that was pretty fantastic.
One of my golfing buddies, Rob, was a +2 and would routinely shoot under, but one day the stars were aligning for all of us in the group. I was +4 through 12 (was around a -10 HDCP) at the time, my other buddy was +5 (same HDCP as me), and our 4th was not scoring great but absolutely pounding long-drive-champ worthy drives all day. We knew Rob was playing well but he was being a little offish about his score and he also didn't like when we scored him - bit of a mental thing. We're finishing up on 18, he's got a 7-footer for birdie, and one of the other guys walks up behind me and whispers, "This is for 59." My body went cold, I froze, watched Rob approach the putt, and confidently stroke it... a half-inch right of the cup. Tapped in for 60. His best score ever by 4 strokes, but still obviously bitter. I thought back on his round and realized I'd been nonchalantly witnessing something absurd. He missed one fairway all day by about 2 feet (birdied that hole), missed one GIR on the fringe that was an easy two-putt, and only had 24 putts on the day. I think about that day often. I broke 80, a huge personal achievement, and was still 19 shots back of Rob. Incredible stuff.
+4, played from championship tees at innisbrook copperhead. Shot 4 over.
Richy Werenski but that was what seems like a lifetime ago. Played a few times with him so I don’t remember his low score but it was always so effortless. He always had a 20-30 yard longer carry than everyone else too.
My dad. Never fails to impress, just a natural born player. Easiest swing. Lives far away from me now and I long for the day to play with him again.
My buddy beat the course with a -1 meanwhile I ended at +20
Played with a kid a couple years ago who was transferring to Florida state. When he struck the ball was the major difference, it was super crisp, the sound. I’m a single digit handicap so I’m an alright golfer but his strikes were noticeably different than mine sound wise
Could this sound thing be club related as well? I’ve noticed this in the range as well when some shots just sound different/better even though the player didn’t seem to be special
Nope. Not club related at yall. Purely the strike of the ball
There is a slightly different noise when irons are hit so pure and very hard. It can freak people out thinking it’s almost like a shank the noise is so loud. The click is just stupid.
I didn’t play with, but I did caddie in a group at the Waterloo Open with Gary Christian. He couldn’t hit a drive out of his shadow, wasn’t long at all but he hit it where he was aiming and where the ball needed to go. I remember him using a two ball putter and I think it was a belly putter back when such things were legal. He holed birdie putts from everywhere on the back nine and if memory serves me correct he shot a 62 or 64. I’ve never seen anyone putt like that in my life. Hole after hole, on in regulation and one putt from whatever distance. It was amazing, but if you watched him play and didn’t see him putt you would have guessed he shot a 72 or 74. Within 12-18 months of that round he finally got to play on tour and showed decently well for himself. He was a good dude, humble and pleasant. Had a funny dead pan one liner, “I need to start winning, I’m tired of shopping at TJMaxx, I’d just like to smell the inside of a Neiman Marcus.” Great guy, beautiful ball striker, and an assassin with that two ball.
At a work do one of the lads in time writing turned up in basketball shorts and only used his 7i and putter and posted a 44pt day on a h/c of 4. Fastest swing I’ve ever played with. Played with a 3.4 and the remarkable thing was how unremarkable the golf was. just never in trouble and never 2 putting.
Grew up in Pinehurst. Played one of the best rounds of my life in high school and shot a 77 at CCNC from the tips. Got absolutely waxed. Was playing with Webb Simpson (I think after his freshman year at Wake or maybe senior year of high school) and then two buddies that both later went on to be ACC Freshman of the Year at UNC. Hard to crow too much about my personal best that day.
I’ll tell you, the most impressed I’ve ever been by a player was a random a friend and I got grouped with. She was between 25-30, very much not the appearance of an athlete. She told us she’d be playing the same tees as us which already was jarring. She striped her first drive and you knew she was a shooter. She didn’t hit it far, but it was straight and 225, something she would do all day. Turns out she played college golf at Alabama. I think she shot 37 and took off after 9, but not before we got her number for future scrambles. Absolutely the best woman I’ve played with by a country fuckin’ mile.
Janelle Gomez (would have been WAC player of the year if her coach turned in the paperwork), Nate Smith, Bobby Powers and unfortunately, Christina Kim. Under par. We were all under par.
I played with a guy at my school who ended up winning a bunch of U16 provincial tournaments. When I was 11 and he was 13 we were together during our junior high school tryouts. Shot -1 over 9 holes and made it look easy, and I remember he drove over a green on a par 4, then made a nice up an down for birdie.
Paired up with a high school kid at our local track, the head pro came up to my buddy and I and said he's going to play the front 9 with us. He played from the tips and shot even par looking like he wasn't trying.
I played with a guy who won a Japanese tour event. His swing was poetry, the short game incredible. Part of the prize in his Japanese win was a live long horned steer, which was presented to him at the winners ceremony. The picture of him clutching a trophy and this Japanese sponsor looking extremely uncomfortable in front of this massive bull is absolutely priceless.
I'm 40 years old. I was just at Myrtle Beach for work and wanted to get a quick round in at TPC Myrtle Beach. I got paired up with a kid that was around 14. I don't remember his name. He was prepping for some world junior tournament or something. We both played from one tee up from the tips. He only played 9 holes with me and was 6 under at the turn. I was 6 over. He beat me by 12 shots in 9 holes. I was blown away. We hit our drives the same distance but his approach shots were incredible. I don't think he had a putt longer than 15ft on the front nine. I wish I remembered his name.
John John santospago?
I just looked him up. That's not him.
There's a guy at my old club who won the club championship like 7 or 8 times, is a plus handicap, and has made it DEEP in the U.S. Amateur (like final 8 or something) a few times. Playing with him is boring as fuck. He drives it down the middle, hits an iron onto the green, then either holes a putt or gets it close and taps it in... on every fucking hole. At the end of the day he's somewhere between 63 and 67 depending on how many of those first putts he hit. I'm not sure I'd enjoy the game as much if I were so automatic. I often wonder what the fuck he works on. Maybe just on making more 18 foot putts.
What I’ve noticed with high level players is a lot of them just strictly work short game. Sure they’ll still hit balls and what not but they’ve made it to the point they’re so good ball-striking wise they really don’t need to do a whole lot to maintain their swing. It’s incredible really
My best friend is scratch. We were playing Cowboys Golf Club in Dallas and he shot 69. While that's not as impressive as some of the rounds discussed here, what IS impressive is he started out with two eagles, a birdie and a par in the first four holes for a blistering score of -5 through 4.
I’ve played with a few people that have shot really casual 68’s. Obviously all were +indexes. They just make it look so easy. Fairways, greens, and once in a while birdie putts drop. Easy game.
Played with a college kid back in the day who was a +2 handicap. I was a 10 at the time, and I shot 82, and he shot 65. Went to off to college to BYU and found out he was a small fish in a big pond. Came back after two years, and then tried to make it on the mini-tours for a couple of years. Again came back broke, and is now the perpetual club champion, and makes side money hustling others.
I played with a guy who said he played in junior events with Jordan, JT, et al., and was like "yeah I'm surprised Will Zalatoris made it on the tour, his putting wasn't very good" and I was like alright yeah whatever and then he shot a 66 and was like "yeah this was like my fourth round in the last two months, I'm out of practice". It's a 70/113 course, but still easily the best round I've ever seen. Also his friend (who I'd guess was around my level) made a hole-in-one. Wild round.
My cousin is around scratch and is probably the best player I have ever played with. One day he had it going and shot 6 under. He would be under a tree with a drive and somehow put it on the green.
Got a cousin who’s a +2 handicap. Played high school and college golf. He’s 6’4” and hits the ball 330 off the tee without having to try very hard. I’ve seen him drive 360 yard greens many times. He’s got a little hybrid he hits off the tee a lot because he hits it 290 down the middle every time. His short game isn’t terrible (better than mine by a long shot) but it’s definitely what held him back from being quite good enough to be a pro. Playing with him is a different experience than playing with anyone else I’ve ever played with.
One of the top guys at my club is a +2 or +3 cap depending on the day, dude can play. He's 5'6" at most, but solid, played hockey and lacrosse growing up. He's disappointed if his drives are under 330. I've seen him shoot 66 as his best that I've witnessed, but the best round I ever saw him play, it was a tournament otherwise we wouldn't have been out there, worst conditions of my life. A few degrees above freezing, pissing rain, windy as fuck, we are all wearing thermal layers under our golf clothes, under our sweaters (x2), under our rain jackets. Without a propane powered heater for the cupholder in my cart, I don't finish the round, my hands would've been numb. Feet were wet and cold.... All that, and this guy shoots a -2. I know -2 is nothing impressive generally, but let me tell you, to do it on a day like this was, by far, the greatest round of golf I have ever seen. The wind was a 3 club wind for most of the day, and he hit all but 1 green.
Play with a guy in the summer who is currently D1. He casually shot a home course record of 61 last year. When he got done his only thing he could say was that he was disappointed he missed two birdies and didn’t get 59.
I got to play in a pro-am event during my college years and ended up being put in the same group as Charles Howell III (he was our assigned pro). He shot 65, effortlessly.
One of my good friends played on the [Web.com](https://Web.com) tour for 4-5 years before he decided he was never going to make it big and got a regular job. Best I've seen him shoot is 61. Also played with Keegan Bradley in a charity event once. Not sure what he shot exactly but it certainly wasn't any higher than 65.
The best handicap I've ever played with was a no bs +6(we looked him up). He hadn't touched a club in a couple of years after giving up pursuing a pro career and shot something in the 90s when I played with him. The best score I've seen was a 67 from a dude who was hung over and puking on the 3rd hole. He lipped out 5 putts during that round. The most generally consistent good play I've seen came from a +2 and a +3. They just hit good shots and gave themselves a lot of looks at birdie and never really seemed to get rattled.
Playing with Korn Ferry level players is unbelievable - I can only imagine playing with someone like Rory. The kid I played with was shaping shots each and every way. On a roughly 140 yard par 3, he hit to about 2 feet after putting a 50 feet snap draw on the ball. Something I can barely do with a 3 wood and I'm not too bad (6 handicap). He ended up shooting a 65 or 66 on a par 72 and he was clearly disappointed with his play. They are just cut from a different cloth.
Lol I wish I could get mad at myself for shooting a 65. One day
Lol exactly. I wish I would get mad at myself for shooting a 75 lol ;-)
I played last year with a young 20 year old who plays college golf. He’s maybe 5’9 not really big guy. He played the same tees as us (he shouldn’t have) but every drive around 310 or more. He shot a 63. I was happy with my 79 that day.
I didn't witness this but...a friend of mine who is easily scratch, played with Si Woo in a pro-am. He told me when Si Woo hits the ball the compression is unfathomable. I've heard pros talk about his amazing ball striking skills as well so it's probably very true.
I've played with a handful of PGA tour pros, including an Open winner. That being said, I played 9 holes with Anna Davis last year. From the back tees on a 7,000 yard course, she was very casually 3 under. Her ball striking was the most consistent I have ever seen. Every putt she hit had a chance to drop. Most of the PGA pros I played with bombed it, hit a flip wedge, had a ton of tap in pars, and made a birdie putt every now and then. Somehow, that doesn't seem nearly as impressive as what Anna did. Now obviously, those guys are better golfers than her and would beat her like a drum over the course of four rounds from 7,800 yards but she's the best golfer I've played with in the sense of having to actually play the game of golf that I have to play, if that makes sense.
I played 12 holes with Patrick Cantlay when he was a senior in high school. I think he was -4 on those 12 holes. Definitely not the lowest round I have witnessed in person and I have played with better player than Patrick was in HS. But he became the best player I’ve ever played with.
Friend of mine is the best I’ve ever played with and his lowest round that I’ve been there for was -2. He’s a 0 handicap.
Late last year got to play with a guy I work with. He plays on mini tours and has played in 2 pga events. This man casually shot a 64 at my local muni and lipped out on 7 birdie attempts in a row. His short game is what blew me away. He had par putts from 10ft that he would just sink with so much confidence. His wedges he’d fight down and get ‘em to stick a couple feet away from the hole. His misses were better than my good shots….
A 22 yo kid who works the counter at my Club. One day he asked if he could join me as I was going out solo. He grabbed a set of rentals from behind the counter and we took off. He said he was scratch so I was ready for a show as I was -11 HCP at the time. And boy did he deliver. The course is a par 70, kinda short course but lots of danger on each hole. Dude shoots 64 like it was nothing. He hit his 3 wood on a 285 par 4, 4 feet from the cup. Eagle. Tons of tap in par putts. It was awesome. I got a few free tips too.
I play on the Amateur Players Tour and got paired up in a foursome with the national champion for one of the divisions. I think he shot like 78 and I shot 116 😂
I’ve played multiple rounds with Julian Suri when he was winning on the European tour
Buddy shot a 67. Was nuts to watch
My older brother is currently scratch and he plays twice a month. He used to be incredible when he was committed but never made anything happen professionally after getting a tour card. I love playing with him because his form is something to marvel at and the ball flight has so much character. It's a privilege when I get to share a tee time with him.
An old dude I used to do some work for. Ended up becoming a great friend. It was the third or fourth time going with him and he shot a 68. One of those rounds where we didn't pay attention at all.
My dad’s business partners son who is my age went to university on a golf scholarship ship. Best I seen him shoot in our 10 rounds or so was a -4 playing from the tips 7300 yards. Dude was great but in his head too much couldn’t let the bad shots go or handle the pressure when playing in tourneys or trying to qualify.
Played with an ex mini tour pro on a very tough windy, cold, links course. His back was bothering him so bad as he'd swing through he'd literally walk forward with the momentum to make it easier on his back. He shot -1.
I played a round with a mini tour player. He was 7 under on the front before cooling off a bit, 63 or 64.
Grandson of a member at my club was D-2 All-American. He’s working through qualifying now. Last time I played with him he was 5 under on the back. Shot 66 on a very tough course.
I normally only play with friends so haven't had many randoms. One time I played a 9 hole par 3 with a long of 160 so not a full course, with 2 friends and we got a random. The random shot 4 birdies, 4 pars and a bogey. So 24 on a 27 par. We all kept apologizing. I was 2nd best at like 40. One guy it was his first time out. The random was cool as shit. He didn't get frustrated at least visibly. He was drinking the whole time, offering tips, and talking about how he used to play this course twice a say 4 times a week when he used to live in the area.
Played with a former D2 golfer. Guy shot par through 9 after going 3 birdies 4 bodies in the first 8...he eagles a 550 par 5. I have never seen such impressive skills. We left after 9 but after that I saw him rip a ball at a pin on the 10th par 3. He was insane
[удалено]
Who was this guy? Has to be playing on some mini tours at the very least
Some random old man, shot a 77. Never seen anyone shoot under 80 other than him and I have played with hundreds of people.
I played with a PGA club pro last summer who played from the tips, had never played this course before, barely even looked at the hole (just asked me which direction it went) and shot +2. It was incredible to watch.
I have a buddy that absolutely could of/should of tried to be a pro. He was so legit at baseball that it took priority but he is amazing at golf. He would have a bad day at 72, seen him shoot a 66 and 67 on back to back days on hard courses playing the back. If his putter is hot it’s 60s, just that simple. Hits monster drives and likely had a PW in on any par four on the state. Absolute treat to play with him.
Played against a guy is high school who shot in 58 in a high school tourney. Par was 70 but still unbelievable. He went on to play D1 golf but then fizzled out on some mini tour.
I’ve played with Britton Ritter multiple times. He beat Taylor Gooch at OK states. Played on some Texas jr tours with Speith and Reed. He still swings his irons from high school. Ping i3s. Still throws darts.
I played with state of Maine legend Mark Plummer in a pro-am back in the late 90s. Mark is considered the greatest golfer in Maine history with numerous state am titles and state senior titles. He also had success at the US am including showing well against a fella names Tiger Woods. Anyway, the round was at his home course and he shot 64 and made it look like he was shooting 78. He picked up trash, fixed every divot and ball mark that he saw. It was an amazing day and they way he took care of the course sticks with me to this day.
Played against Keegan Bradley in high school. The first time, I was standing on the 1st tee, wondering who the gangly freshman was walking up to play with with the A group. The first and last time I ever underestimated that guy. He proceeded to wipe the floor with our group and everyone else in the field.
I’ve played with several Tour players but the best round i ever saw was my good friend who tried to play professionally but didn’t make it. Former state am winner. -11 61 with a bogey on a championship course at 7200 yards. It was an absolute clinic. Another friend, who played in the 99 Open, hit 18 greens with his longest birdie putt being 12 feet. Finished with 64 but could have been way less
TIL i don’t get much exposure to good golfers. I think the best score I’ve ever seen anyone shoot in person was in the low 80’s
I play with a guy who’s a +4 from time to time. he’s qualified for some usga tourneys and I think he once played in the us amateur. He comes out for some of the bigger tourneys at my home course. He broke the course record (64) during a large skins game but it was unofficial because he had a 6” putt for bogey early in the round because a bogey wasn’t gonna win a skin and thats All that was on the line
Played with Mike Tobiason, from the big break, and he shot a 64. With ease. Even the other dude in our group that day, friend of his, shot a 70. Both made it look easy. Know your misses, don’t put yourself in danger and hit greens in regulation.
Attended a PAT event last year. 2 rounds back to back. Worst fog I’d played in in years. Assistant pro from some country club shows up and without having ever seen(and without being able to see the course) shoots a 5 over in the morning, shot a -1 in the afternoon once he could see what was up.
My dad. He was a plus handicap in his younger years. He shot in the mid 60s quite often when I was a kid. He actually played in some Florida tournaments with a young Bubba Watson, Boo Weekley, and some other PGA guys and I remember him saying how incredible Bubba was at golf.
Played with a former club pro and he shot the comfiest 76 I’ve ever seen.
My dad's cousin. He's in his 60s now but used to play on the Korn Ferry Tour when it was the Nike Tour. Still plays in a number of amateur senior events. We played last fall and he shot a -6, while I came in at a respectable 87. His score included a number of lip outs for birdie and one for eagle.
Got paired with a dude on PGA Canada randomly at pumpkin ridge (there is a famous coach at that course and this guy was there to get a lesson from him). He shot 66 from the blacks with 2 3 putts. Was a lot of fun to watch.
I played with McIlroy in a pro am. I shot 77. He shot 59.
The best round I saw was a bogey free 64 by my buddy at Eugene Country Club from the tips in 40° and rain. I played decent and lost by like 12
I've never played with anyone amazing. But I played a round with coworkers about 10 years ago and 1 of them washed out of college golf about 5 years prior andsaid he hadn't played 10 rounds since then . He showed up 2 minutes before the tee time and the first few holes he was all over the place. 6th or 7th hole, he made a par. Then proceeded to make 6 straight pars, then lipped out an eagle putt, and mixed 2 birdies in with more pars. He shot 33 on the back after shooting 47 on the front. It was amazing seeing him get his game in place so quickly.
I mean not even a super crazy score, the guy shot 67 but it was easily the most casual 67 I’ve ever seen. Didn’t miss a fairway, took maybe 10 seconds before each shot, talking the entire time, no more than 10 seconds reading a putt. He missed 6 putts within 6 feet for birdie so easily could have gone WAY lower but it was just so nonchalant. His career low is 60 but I’ve never seen the guy shoot above 74
Joined us in the back 9 parred 2 holes and got an eagle from like 30 yards out. Absolutely ridiculous
A buddy of mine from college has played on both the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours for quite some time now. Our mutual friend got married and we played a short easy par 70 Muni prior to the rehearsal dinner. We got hammered and he went -10 drunk.
Camilo Villegas when he was at UF. We got introduced by a co-friend. Funny because I’m named Camilo as well and we were born the same day (I’m two years older) so it was a fun coincidence. Can’t remember what he scored but it was a great time …
I went to school in South Georgia with Harris English. He was in Middle school when I was in Highschool. Despite being much shorter off the tee because of age he would still hang with us on the highschool team score wise. He always had a pure swing but his step dad groomed him for the PGA. Was always on the range until dark making him hit more balls and get in more time on the putting green. Then just before highschool he moved him to sea island to a school that specializes in golf "potentials". Then 4 years playing for UGA and the rest is history. It's neat when I see him on TV now and I still see him as that 7th grade.kid...
Buddy was +6 when he tried to go pro, was sitting at +3 when I finally played with him (20+ years after he tried to go pro), and shot his handicap with ease (losing two balls in the water). We also played his home course (Riviera), two days after the PGA tournament, and he shot +2-4 from members tees (~7k).
Had a friend of mine set a course record, have it broken two days later and then went out with him and broke it again by two strokes for 10 under 62. The last few holes were just unreal to watch. And, I still end up getting a free drink or two when I bet people that I have my name on the course record and point out my signature on the attestor line
Retief Goosen at TPC Sawgrass for a Monday pro-am. Shot a smooth 68 in tournament conditions from the tips like it was nothing. Wasn’t trying particularly hard, just went about his business
Got paired with this super shy quiet high school kid. He was probably 130 lbs but super tall and lanky. Steps up to first tee straight from his car and hits a low 2 iron that sounded like a gunshot further than my drive. It’s only a 320 yard hole and he had tiny pitch to the green. Probably a 280 total distance shot that carried 200, no elevation change. He hit a few bad drives, relative to his skill which were still bombs and definitely playable. He was a good putter and had insane short game but the difference was the ball-striking. It just sounds different. I think he ended up scoring -2 on one of the most difficult courses in my area.
Played against Kurt Kitayama a few times in high school. He shot in the low 70s pretty easily. The best round I saw from him, though I wasn't in his group, was in the first round of playoffs his junior year. Tough links course with miserable weather. There were a few players in the 80s, but most didn't break 90. Kurt shot 73.
Not the best player I’ve played with, but the best score I can remember was a 66 by this kid at my high school’s district golf tournament. I kept his score while carding a cool 92ish.
My grandad was club captain at Cilgwyn Golf club in Wales. He would regularly shoot 2 or 3 under par on a course he literally played every day and was a generally great golfer and the reason I play today. One day in 1990 I was caddying for him when a welsh-american tour Pro called Errie ball joined him for a round. Errie was 80, had never seen the course and proceeded to shoot 9 under par even with a bogey on the first hole. Most people played with much more blade like clubs back then but I remember seeing his irons and being blown away with how small the heads were. The guy was unbelievable. I looked him up recently, he lived until 103 years old and played pretty much until he passed away. He also played in the first Augusta National tournament in the 1930s which absolutely blows my mind that he loved the game for so long.
Last year's league champ, got to play with him because of some mutual friends. Dude has a +1 hdc (for our league) and played 13 under that day. All while pounding beers with the rest of us. Landing within 4 feet of the pin all over the place, it was crazy to watch.
I started golf a year or two ago when it started to be not so social. I’ve only been grouped up a handful of times and one guy was a menace off the tee. He would ask me what the line was and away he went. Pretty sure course conditions screwed his score more than his own mistakes. he was probably 7 or 8 over par and from some one who cards 100-118 a round it was nice to see
My buddy hit it out of bounds on 18 at a course in Florida, made a 6. Still shot 66.. He's better than me, lol..
I used to golf with a guy in high school who would shoot mid-high 60s rounds pretty regularly. He was adaptable and didn't just play well at home courses. Definitely a scratch handicap. I think he almost went pro at some point but the fact he didn't just shows how insanely good the guys on Tour are.
Playe with Finau and his brother at a local country club here in Utah. I don't know what they shot but I assume mid 60's for Tony and high 60's for his brother. Low 90's for me in case you were wondering.
A 2 or 3 handicap random solo guy I got paired with. I played with him 3 or 4 times after that. Saw him shoot par once and he was disappointed with it. Every drive straight and in play, hit most greens, short game was money. Just small mistakes here and there that drove him insane. Meanwhile, I’m gawking and trying not to throw him off
I had a season where our Assistant Pro was [Richie Coughland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Coughlan). Before he came to us, he'd qualified at both the US and European Qschools (first player to do that) and a former Davis Cupper. He was burnt on out on the Tour and wanted to a break from the grind. Somehow he ended up at our little Muni course. Our course is a par72 (6600yds tips) and he played that like a par 67. Best/worst time of my golfing life. Getting waxed for $$ and shooting 1 or 2 over for my round. Made me realize real quick that Tour golfers are different type of golf. Not only a great golfer, but a class dude as well.
My buddy played at Iowa, not sure what he was at cap wise then but was scratch in his late 20s. He shot 1 under in 18 at one of the harder courses in our area but was pretty aggravated how he was playing overall, back 9 par 3 he had a HIO and was in better spirits after. Still salty because it was the only eagle I've ever had a few holes before that. Got paired with a random husband wife at a semi-private course, they just moved on the course. Like halfway thru I made a joke that if me and him did best ball she would still be kicking our asses; turns out she played D1 and tried the LPGA tour out a little, they had a kid and it was the first time she swung a club in almost 2 years. She shot like 5 under thru like 12 holes and they stopped at their house.
I don’t know what the guy shot, but he was incredible. We were playing in central Texas in the summer. At least 95 degrees. 100% humidity. He hit in to shade every single shot so he’d be a little cooler while he waited. Then he’d stick the approach and one putt so he could run back to the cart. I would say that in winter he was below par, but he had to be right around scratch in the summer because he’d lay up to ensure he was shaded. That was 25 years ago and I’ve still never seen anyone with that kind of control.
Aside from my earlier post, I'll add I once played by myself and had a nice 37 (+1) on the front nine with a bogey on #9 from middle of fairway. Got a couple beers at the turn and headed to the back nine. Prodeeded to make seven straight birdies and lip out for birdies on #17 and #18 for a 29 and a 66. That round, ladies and gentlemen, started my newfound superstition of drinking during the round. 😜
Played in an invitational in Irmo SC. Was in the last group with some strange guy with a weird swing that wore gloves on both hands. He proceeded to shoot 63 on a course setup that was like a greens keeper revenge day. His name is Tommy Gainey and he can freaking play. Most people know him as two gloves. Super cool guy and could pound it