Advice on how to get a partner out of their own head?
I went golfing with my buddy John last weekend. We typically both shoot in the mid 90s and are usually competitive which is why we like playing with one another.
It is not uncommon for me to start poorly, then get better as the round goes on. After two holes I was off to a really poor start, but he shot par the first two holes. On three, I nearly chipped in then tapped for par, whereas he shot a double bogey.
Hole 5 is a par 4, and this is where it all fell apart for him. He had a nasty hook that landed in the bunker on the next fairway over. There were lots of trees to the green from where he landed, but decided to play it.
Long story short, he took an 8 for a quad on that hole, but he got frustrated and it ruined his round. On the back 9 he shanked three shots in a row into the woods, which is very uncharacteristic of him.
I tried to give him some advice without being too critical, saying things like "Each hole is a new opportunity" and "Don't worry about score, just worry about the next shot"
At the end of the day he shot a generous 110 (probably closer to 120 if we counted every shot and penalties), and I was at 97.
It didn't help that pace on the back 9 was dreadfully slow and there was a foursome on our tails the entire round.
When he lost his swing, it really soured the mood.
Any advice on how to get someone out of their own head when they start golfing poorly?