So today I tried playing a round of golf but had to give up.  I was playing with a friend with whom I have played for years.  He is a perfectionist with absolutely no reason to be.  He was apparently playing reasonably well when his wife commented on how well he was playing.  He then proceeded to self-destruct.  Suddenly he couldn't hit a ball to save his life.  He hit fat ones, thin ones, chunked his tee shots; he just lost his swing.  I started out playing poorly myslef for the first three holes and was trying to find my swing.  I wasn't happy with my play but I was trying to enjoy my golf time regardless of how I was playing.  I find it a challenge to "right the ship" when you lose your swing.

I was in the cart with my friend and had to listen to his constant complaing and very bad profanities and diatribes against his wife.  He completely blamed his wife for his poor play.  No matter how I tried to encourage him even after a poor shot he refused to see the positive in anything.  On one par five he "thought" he had chunked his tee shot into a hazard and was vociferously complaining and cussin a blue streak.  I pointed out to him that his tee shot wasn't that bad, that it was still in the fairway and still allowed him to save par or maybe even birdie.  Yea, he didn't hit it 250 but it was in play and still managed to go about 200 yards.  Initially he didn't believe me,he continued to insist that his shot was so ugly that he didn't even carry the hazard.  He refused to accept that he should have a positive outlook and continued to steam and complain about his play and that it was caused by his wife commenting on how well he was playing.  I tried to encourage him by pointing out that all he needed to do was lay up to a good yardage and he would have a very good shot at par, maybe birdie with bogey being the worst score he would make.  But he was so mad that he literally talked himself into worse play and continued to berate his wife to me.  I was very unconfortable because I have known these people for years and I like them both.  She is a decent player and I am sure she was very embarrassed about her husband's behavior.

So he picked up several times continuing to cry and complain and totally destroying any enjoyment I might have gotten out of the round.  By hole number 9 even I was looking for a reason to leave.  I heard thunder off to the South and took that opportunity to give it up.  I like this guy.  He is a very generous person and most of the time is a good guy.  But when he gets on a golf course his expectations instantly skyrocket and he thinks that he should never hit a bad shot.  He is especially sensitive to any comments about his playing.  We are supposed to play again on Friday at High Meadow Ranch but I am not looking forward to a possible repeat of today.  Right now I am considereing begging off.  I get no enjoyment out of golf when he has one of his rants.  It makes us ALL uncomfortable.  We all become quiet for fear of saying something else that might aggravate the situation.  We have had to deal with him for years on our golfing trips around the country.  The only time he enjoys himself is when he does well.  And when he does poorly, there is no getting him out of his funk.  It continues even after the round is over.

I don't play well all the time.  When I play poorly, I accept that I can have a bad day and view that day's golf as an opportunity to turn it around within the round.  We all have to (or should) learn how to deal with a bad day.  I was working my way out of my own poor play but it is hard to stay focused when you constantly have to listen to this kind of stuff.  Anyway, how many of you have had such a day and how have you handled it?  Should I play with him Friday or pass and go play elsewhere?