Ok, so a somewhat buddy of mine I play with once in a while txt's me and says he just shot 66 at one of the local tracks, decent track, somewhat tough (par 71 and mainly the rough is very penal) but on one of our last ventures out, we found he was switching the ball after his t-shot, improving his lie everywhere, etc etc. Granted he still plays ok, but he changes the dynamics of every shot by doing this obviously. I'm a 5.2 from 6800 or so, and he's about the same, but I don't touch the ball, ever. I play "TV" golf so to speak.

I waited a bit to reply to him and the only thing I said was "good job" and left it at that. I'm 43 and have been playing on and off for 15 yrs or so and have a lot of respect for the game, and am a purist.

So with that said, what would you do/say?

Play him for money and make him give you strokes!

If he is cool with you, ask him if he wants to play for a samll wager, tournament rules, each of you taking each other's score. This would alleviate improving a lie and changeing to a different ball. You can see if he does anything to him that would seem normal( improving a lie or changing a ball), and see if he takes a penalty or not. As somewhat or a friend, he shouldn't be that offended. If he is at least it isn't during a tournament and loses a lot more that a small wager. He should agree.

I would ignore him. If you don't believe in your heart and mind that it was a legit 66, then it wasn't. You have to believe something for it to be true in your mind. Play him for $5.00 a hole.

LOL- the guy is a cheat, pure and simple.

I would never play with him again or even reply to his text. Let him enjoy his would be 'glory' .. but why bother wasting breath or time on a cheat!

What does it matter he wasn't playing for anything its not like you have to bow down to him now every time you seem him - Only what you shoot under competion rules count for anything Ive had some crazy scores playing by myself but I wouldn't consider any of them my best rounds they are ones that happen under pressure when it counts. Let him have his 66, if he cheated he won't really get any personal satisfaction out of it anyway.

I would jokingly ask him how many times he moved his ball or used his "foot wedge". Just make it a sort of joke/serious question and then he will know what you mean.

Next time you play with him, prior to teeing off, state the rules. One ball rule, play it down, putt everything out. That way there will be no misunderstanding. If he cheats again, call it on him. If you allow it to continue, it will just get worse.

Like this idea, and making sure the rules are stated and agreed upon. To me I am not a purist in the sense a guy who gets out once every few months and plays, and I let him keep his score and do whatever he likes on the course, as long as we are not betting, or playing a pride type game. when I play I play against myself and the course, and follow the rules as stated.

+1

Lots of good stuff here, and I especially like the one where I get strokes! I'd prolly beat him outright by 5 or more if he couldn't touch the ball.

I contemplated replying to him with something long the lines of... "Did you count the penalty strokes from improving your lie or switching your ball?" or "how many times did you switch balls?" "Was it really a 66 considering the way you play?" (basically everything that was stated here) But I chose the high road if you will and replied with a mere "good job".

I got a little peeved to be honest, I've never been able to break par, I've shot par a 100 times but I get to 18 and I'm a headcase. Last Sunday I had 4 birdies on the front and then 3 putted on 2 holes for 34, then proceeded to completely trash the back, not even going to say what I finished at, but it was over 80!

I'll get out with him and post a follow up soon, it should be interesting to say the least.

Thx for the confirmation and ideas guys!

I wouldn't do anything other than have a quiet chuckle to myself about what a fantasy land my mate lives in.

I would have asked "Was that a 66 gross or net?"

Why give him free rental space in your head ?

I would say nice round and take it for what it is worth..You already know how he plays so I wouldn't let it bother you.These guys never play as well when they have to play by the rules and always shoot higher so they only hurt themselves.I worry about my game not others.Let him talk his stuff.Others will see his a game and yours and judge for themselves who is the better golfer.He will lose the respect of other golfers not you.

It was only about 4 years ago when I decided to start keeping an official handicap. Before that, I improved or adjusted every lie I had because I figured "hell I'm not good enough to hit it well from a good lie, much less a bad one". Deciding that I wanted to know what I was "really" shooting I began playing everything where it lie. Wow what a different game it became.

I was going to argue that maybe your friend didn't really know any better but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'd be nice about it but the next time you're playing with him and you see him adjusting his lie, act surprised and ask him about it. I'd tell him he can't be turning in scores of under par to the clubhouse and still be adjusting his lie like my kids.

The only way i would answer with any one of those questions is if i wanted to end the friendship. Don't concern yourself with his game if you are not playing against him or in a tourny with him. Anytime you do play him, just announce you are playing by tournament rules. Otherwise, what would be the point of a confrontation?

You should murder him for cheating. Play a round with him, wait for him to switch balls, then BAM! .22 in the back of the head.

That'll teach him...

Then put his head on a stake at the club entrance as a warning to others

Nice addition!

Nice one

I live with this situation every other week. One of my best buddies always plays "insane" golf when no one's around. We are a bunch of mid 80's players yet he's magically shot +2 more times than I can count when no one's there.

The reason he shoots so awesome when no one's around? Because he really thinks moving the ball every shot, giving himself 7' gimmes, not counting missed 7' putts and taking 5+ muligans is how you calculate an accurate score. He really thinks that it's ok.

Two times ago playing with him....

We were on a long par 4. I was near the green and he was approaching from 150'ish. I hear a ball struck and a ball fall into an unhittable hazard. I turn around and see another ball on the ground in front of him. He plays that ball and hit's the green. After the hole was over I ask him his score, he says "bogey". I ask him if he dropped and he said, "yeah, I hit a ball and a bird flew by. That messed me up so I hit another." LOL! He really says that kind of stuff!

I love him to death, he's like a brother to me. But we don't play the same way. OP it's something you must learn to live with if you care for your buddy and don't want hard feelings. It's only a game afterall. I think you handled it very well.

You know when you play "against" each other and stick to the rules you always win(like me). Live knowing that....he will too!

If someone cheats in competition, you say something, you report them etc...if they cheat in fun rounds, let them cheat. He knows he did, he knows you know he did. As others have said this will only hurt him if he decides to play in competitive rounds. But life's too short to worry about these things.

If you're a purist....just forget about the guy. Its obvious he is a cheater. Have the good etiquette and be the bigger man.




Just make sure that next time you play together he follows the rules......then trash the hell out of him!!!!!

I honestly think some people bump the ball and think it is OK...and they are not breaking rules. I know a handful of decent players that bump the ball all the time which sounds weird. These guys also play in tournaments where you cannot bump the ball and play fairly well there too. Sounds similar to this situation, these guys are capable of shooting 68 until they cannot do that and shoot 75 because they are not comfortable playing from a variety of different lies. Until you start losing money to the guy I would just let it go...especially if hes a friend. There is a ton of people that still post scores and don't follow the rules to a tee. Although bumping the ball and doing something that has zero affect on your score are different, they are still violations of the rules. I'm sure many guys on here violate rules all the time that they didn't even know existed.

You should have replied "good job*"


(the asterisk of course referring the the 66* that he shot)

If you want to put a little burr under his saddle...

Next time you catch him improving his lie, ask him, "Now you didn't do that when you shot that 66 you told me about, did you?"


Or......trumpet his 66 to everyone you know loud and often. Pat him on the back, boost him up, call him "Mister 66" in front of anyone and everyone. Prod him to regale the group with what shot he hit here & what club he hit there. Make him "wear" that lie as much as possible.

Play the ball as it lies, never ever touch the ball. I have played with guys who had to play it down and it was a shocking experience to them...LOL

Sometimes it’s hard to do, but forget it, it really doesn’t matter what he shot or what he thinks he shot. The game is between you and the golf course, none else.

On Thursday’s I go out early around 0600. If there’s no one there, I’ll head out by myself. It’s shocking how playing by myself with total concentration I start making everything. Or if I play two balls they both are usually good. My scores are mostly 5-6 shots lower when I play this way. Then the next day I go off with my group and my scores go right back to where they were. I love the game and yes am a purist as well, so I know that another not following the rules and scoring lower (of course) upsets me, but what the heck. It just doesn’t matter.

I know a guy like this. I always get emails telling me about his latest 75. We play together maybe twice a year. The best I've ever seen him shoot is an 81.

In the end, as long as he's not cheating if you're playing for $$, who cares?