u/blong217

I don't have many friends who play golf. So my oppourtunities to play with friends tend to be few and far between. When I am able too I have a great time because I'm playing with friends and we can joke, shoot the shit, etc.

However it cannot be understated how getting paired up with people can make for the some a best casual golf a person can experience. Yes there is the chance of the experience being bad but I feel the good experience while doing this far outweigh the bad. Like today, when I got paired with Mr. Lee.

Mr. Lee is an elderly man from South Korea. I went to my local course to play a quick game on the fly and was asked to pair up with the gentlemen who just went to tee off. I said sure because I often play by myself and get paired up so it doesn't bother me. The only time I don't like it is when the group clearly didn't want a stranger thrown into their friend outing.

But Mr. Lee was more than happy to have me along. His English was good but not the most expansive. So conversation wasn't extensive but we could talk about how our games were going. He was as good as an elderly golfer usually is. Doesn't hit very far but man can he hit it dead straight (of which I was often time envious).

Mr. Lee was a joy to play with. Whenever I made a good shot he'd get all happy. When I'd make a close putt and something further than a 10 footer he'd celebrate. The man was all good energy and I loved every moment of it. I quickly returned the favor because he made some darned good shots than put many of mine to shame.

It wasn't until the back nine that I really just was so happy to have been able to be paired up with Mr. Lee. I am not an amazing golfer. I have a 17 handicap and just started figuring out my driver 2 years ago so my drives are now more consistent which is nice. I can hit my driver far (270-300) which occasionally has drawn some admiring comments. But my drives are not the most consistent and at time can pull left or right too far, especially on tight fairways.

I was teeing off and hit a really good straight drive. It wasn't the furthest I hit that day, about 265-270 yards. I stepped back and watched Mr. Lee hit and started walking towards the cart. I was almost to the cart when Mr. Lee stops me and says in somewhat broken english that he was so happy to see me drive well because when he see's someone drive a ball that well it makes him emotional and happy.

I was stunned to hear that from someone. I've seen some amazing drives that made me excited and ocasionally emotional because of how amazing they were but I never fully expected someone to say that about a ball I hit. To say I was on cloud 9 the rest of the round would be an understatement.

I never would have gotten paired up with Mr. Lee had I not decided to go play a round on a whim and be cool with getting paired up with a complete stranger. That's why everyone should do it once in a while because you may get paired up with a Mr. Lee who can really make your day.