Back to the point of the WSJ arrticle, which I thank Mr. Gaskins for posting. There are a couple of points that strike home, from my personal experience. With friends, I've made a number of trips from the USA to play the famous and some not so famous courses in Scotland and Ireland. I'm an older guy and my golfing skills are not great, but it's fun for me to have a first-hand look at these courses, to play on them the best I can, and try to enjoy the total experience. For me, that involves, in addtion to the four or so hours on the course, trying to get a little flavor of the club, interact with locals, golfers and others, and see some of the local sights.
Here's what I find a little odd. We've (four or eight) always played some sort of team competition involving match play or a modified Stapleford. Yet, when we finish and settle up, winning or losing as much as ten dollars, pounds or Euros, most of the others turn to their "medal" scores: "I shot a 77 [on TOC]," or "I was one over [on Royal Portrush]." Of course, they weren't. These may be the scores they'd post for handicap purposes if playing in the US, but they are not their true medal play scores, what with picking up and taking a double bogey max, conceded putts, first tee muligans, etc. In 30 to 40 rounds, I've never pretended to record a medal score on the card. On the other hand, I've never challenged those that do. It makes no difference to me, and if they are happy with their "medal play" score, so be it. But it does not always work out that way. Sometimes their "medal play" score isn't so hot -- they are crushed -- even though they may have won the match. As I said I find this a little odd. It's not something that I think adds to the experience.
Another odd thing happened last trip, with a different group of guys, totally hyper after having planned the trip for nine months, and the first British golf outing for many of them. What to do after the round? Have a drink in the golf club's bar? No, get some booze at the liquor store and have drinks in a hotel room. After dinner, go to a pub for some local entertainment? No, go back to the hotel room and drink more liquor store booze. That left me an outsider, venturing out alone on my own.
I know I'm talking to the choir here. I'm not telling you anything, other than my personal experiences, which are certainly not unique. The discussion point: how have you dealt with with interpersonal relations in these kinds of situations? I've not been particularly successful.