8 golf tips for sharing the links with your spouse

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Spring is here! Golf, the great obsession of your husband, has struck. Your spouse thinks, dreams, lives for golf. Spending time with your spouse is important so you agree to join him on the links! But wait! Hold on! Before you go, if you’re a beginner, please pause. My tips may improve your experience.

Since I just wanted to have fun with my spouse, it shocked me to learn that golf is not for relaxation as I had been led to believe. While I pose no competition to my husband, he still grew angry at his own performance. Fun was deteriorating fast, at least on my part.

The standards set by my husband, Pat, a serious, must shoot under 40 to have a good game-kind of guy, did not include chit chat with me about how glorious the sunshine was and did he happen to see where my ball went type conversations. I decided there should be some rules for beginners to follow when they find themselves golfing with someone who aspires to the professional level.

So, here they are: The Tips.

Tip No. 1: Golf when traffic is low.

When there aren’t many people on the course, you won’t have to feel self-conscious of how far you hit the ball. Better yet, go to a course where no one knows you. This eliminates having to share your score.

Tip No. 2: Don’t speak to your spouse.

If he tells you that you did well on your last shot, simply thank him, but under no circumstances should you try to compliment him on his shot. If you feel compelled to say anything, say, “Crummy shot you had there, honey.” That way, you will have a better chance of being right on how he feels about his latest shot.

Tip No. 3: Don’t pay attention to your score.

If you are still playing with the same ball and tee that you started the game with, you can be praised. If you create a divet the size of a gopher hole, don’t fret. Just fix it and move on. Whatever you do, don’t draw your spouse’s attention to it. If you shot 100, and you’re only playing nine holes, just remember that golf is supposed to be fun. You are enjoying the sun and getting some fresh air after all.

Tip No. 4: Be confident.

Just because there are four people hitting their balls in your direction, don’t automatically think you are on the wrong fairway. They might be going the wrong direction, as was the case with me once. I panicked wondering which way I should go. Luckily, I called my dear husband, Grumpy, who growled that I was going the right direction and to just hit the ball all ready! I was comforted knowing that I wasn’t the only beginner out their hacking my way somewhere on the course.

Tip No. 5: Always put your clubs on the ground.

I once went golfing with some coworkers when it was raining. We wanted to hurry and finish, so one friend decided she wouldn’t put her clubs down. Unfortunately, when her clubs fell out of her bag, we slowed down to laugh. Disrupted concentration caused our scores to plummet, I am sure. Luckily, we had taken rule number one into consideration.

Tip No. 6: Just relax and have a good time.

Wasn’t golf invented for leisure? Isn’t leisure supposed to bring joy and refreshment? Although professionals rake in the millions playing, their number is few.

Tip No. 7: Take a friend to enjoy the fun.

Grumpy Golfer is my best friend after all, and he cheers for me no matter how poorly I do. (I silently cheer for him, too.) Once I used  the three iron to hit my ball over water. My balls are usually water magnets. This was not the case when I used my trusty three iron. Instead, the ball sailed over. Another time my ball even skipped across the water. Such talent, right?

I hope these tips help you out. I may never be on the women’s tour, but I do intend to have fun.

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot Tip No. 8.

Tip No. 8: When putting, tap.

You don’t need to yell fore when you’re hitting the ball across the green time and time again. Just tap it when you get close to that little hole.

May all your golfing days be sunny, and may your bonding time be well spent.

Have you tried learning your husband’s hobby?