Golfers communicate primarily in code.
Not intentionally, it just happened over time as a coping mechanism.
When a golfer says, “I’m just here to have fun,” what they mean is: “I will be emotionally unavailable after the third hole.”
When you tell your buddy, “That’s a rough lie,” you’re laughing inside and thinking, “It really sucks to be your right now.”
After you hit a slice, and your playing partner says, “Come back!” He really means, “Hit another.”
“This putt is straight” means: “I do not understand slopes or myself.”
When you tell a member of your foursome after his drive, “I didn’t see it.” What you really mean is that, “You’re so far OB, you’re screwed.” Or my favorite after your buddy is in the rough, searching for his ball: “Hit another,” which is short for “I don’t want to waste time helping you look for it any longer.”
“Play your game” means: “I will be silently judging your decisions.”
“Take your time” means: “You’re not going to make it anyway, but I need to be somewhat polite.”
“I used to be better” means: “Back in 2004, I hit a 7 iron decently one time.”
“Wind got it” means: “My slice is back!”
“This course is tough” means: “I am losing an argument with grass.”
Even silence has meaning.
When no one speaks after your shot, that is a sentence. It translates roughly to: “That was so bad, I’m afraid to say anything while you’re holding a potential weapon.”
Golf language exists to protect feelings and friendships.
Without it, there would be no foursomes.
Only individuals walking alone, carrying clubs and unresolved conversations.
Oh and one last one: when I say, “I need to take lessons, I’m really saying, “I need to take lessons, but don’t want to pay, so I’ll just keep saying, ‘I need to take lessons.”