I would have loved to have “posted a score” on my visits to Idle Hour C.C. this summer, but I was perfectly happy with the great company.

Last month I asked you, Dear Readers, to consider who brings out your best on the golf course.

Obviously, I think all golfers would like to be able to play their best whenever one visits a special golf course.  I know the opposite usually happens for me, as I regularly psych myself out with over-amped anticipation.

And everyone would like to be able to summon the discipline and focus to play our best golf during tournaments or whatever formal club competition in which we may participate.

However, I imagine for most of you, Dear Readers, these organized tournaments comprise only a small fraction of your total rounds of golf.  In my case, I played in two scrambles and two club tournaments this year out of 60-plus rounds of golf.

And Lord knows I didn’t play my best golf in any of those four tournament rounds.

Surely we wouldn’t root against our buddies, would we?

Though I broke 80 for the first time this year walking the course by myself, I find that I play my best golf with my two or three closest friends and playing companions.

During those rounds, I relax and just try to enjoy the round or game.  I’m not trying to impress somebody I don’t know, and I don’t particularly care what my friends think of my swing or my game…we’re still going to be friends afterwards.  Plus, if we have anything beyond our pride on the line, it’s usually an entertaining wager that helps keep me focused throughout the round.

As for your responses to the Poll Question, this month’s query yielded the most varied responses to a question yet.  A handful of people agreed with my response that your regular group brings out the best in your golf game.

Some guys just NEED action to get their juices going.

An equal handful of respondents rely on the inherent competitiveness of an organized tournament to really get your juices going.  One of you responded bluntly that “Degenerate gamblers,” and one can assume the opportunity to separate a fool from his money, really get your golf game in shape.

I’m sure someone smarter than I could extrapolate the results out to tell us something about our collective character and personality traits.  As always, I’m just grateful to everyone who voted.

You can view the full results of the Poll below: