Sometimes the round is dead before the third hole—not because of the course, but because of the people. Golf doesn’t tolerate noise, ego, or desperation well, and when you’re stuck in a flight with someone who talks through swings, sprays advice, or turns every miss into commentary, the damage is immediate. Focus breaks. Rhythm collapses. Four hours start to feel like a sentence. This isn’t “part of the game.” This is bad pairing, and pretending otherwise is self-disrespect.

You’re not there to socialize, educate, entertain, or absorb someone else’s anxiety. The correct move is distance—emotional first, physical second. Longer routine. Fewer words. No reactions to jokes, complaints, or opinions. Don’t mirror their energy, don’t correct it, don’t fight it. People like this feed on attention; starve them and they fade into background noise.

And when it’s over, be clean and sharp. No smiling exits, no soft excuses. “I don’t play well in noisy groups.” “I’m selective about who I play with.” Said once, calmly, and finished. Anyone offended by that was never your people to begin with. Golf, like business, rewards clarity. If someone ruins your round, the lesson isn’t patience—it’s standards.