Greetings Golfers,

Have you seen that email that’s been going around about the sign in the urinal?

If not – here it is:

Obviously the reason it’s funny, is because of how often people are “helping” each other on the golf course. I don’t know about you, but I don’t appreciate unsolicited advice.

Remember that Dale Carnegie book “ How to Win Friends and Influence People?” Well, if you want to do exactly the opposite – just give people unsolicited advice. The name of that book would be “ Bossiness – the Key to Being Disliked”.

Golf seems to bring out the “advice” in a lot of people. I think one of the main reasons is because they themselves are so frustrated and confused. That sense of being out of control causes some people to become controlling – of others. Thus the constant unsolicited advice. Rejection of this “help” is met with: “I’m only trying to help” or “Why are you so sensitive?”

This rude behavior is also considered “just being honest” or “telling it like it is”.

I find this behavior fascinating. The narcissism of these controllers is justified by their desire to “help” other people.

Golf can be frustrating. Life can be frustrating. But unsolicited advice doesn’t make things better.

I hope those control freaks don’t take their agendas into the urinals.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com