Food Stamp Discussion

It was my last day at Eastpointe Country Club, I was scheduled to play with a Canadian lady who comes down early for the season. I thought it was the last day, let me just play very relax and pack my clubs afterward, did not prepare or thinking of playing competitively.

However this Canadian lady lost to me in the championship last year, and we did not play together ever since, perhaps she wants a re-match. Upon the first drive, as we were driving down the fairway, the conversation goes:

"What is your handicap these days." She asked me.
"I think it's six point something."
"Then what is your course handicap at this tee?" She asked again.
"it is seven or eight, between the white tee and the red tee, there is only one stroke difference." I replied.

"So how many strokes are you giving me today?" She asked me.
"None." I smiled and answered.
"What? I thought we have a game, my handicap is 16 and you should give me 9 strokes. You'd be surprised how close this match could be!" She was in disbelief, she could not handle my rejection.

"I don't give more than six strokes." I replied once again.
"How can that be? In order for us to compete fairly, you have to give me 9 strokes!" She just don't handle rejection well.
"Then work harder at the driving range, chipping area and putting green, call me when you get within 6." I smiled.

"Oh I thought I have a chance today, to beat you with 9 strokes given." She might just try a little harder to push.
"You have no chance at all, I do not want to take your money. It's my last day here, just want to relax and play." I replied.

She doesn't let go, that's how we started:
"Why don't you just give me 9 strokes???" she negs.
"There are people lining up for food stamps in this society, why don't you become one of them?" I replied.

"What do you mean? this has nothing to do with the society, I deserve this 9 strokes from you." She insists.

"There are people who work very hard in the society to get what they need to raise a family or feed their elder parent; there are people who don't work and lining up for food stamp then cry to everyone they need help all the time. God help those who helps themselves." I firmly said.

"That is not true, you can't get benefits for more than 24 months, it is a new regulation. There are people who need our help in the society." She started to become political.

"I agree, I do charity, but it is at my expense and the budget I can afford. How much money the government is giving to a teenager who gave birth to babies nowadays? $650 a baby a month? well she figures if she pops 5, she gets a paycheck better than the one who works 10 hours a day at burger kings." I said.

"Wow you really sound like a true republican!" She said.

"I work hard, don't I deserve more? Isn't it what drives this country? It's called Capitalism. And I am actually a registered independent for your information." I smiled.

"I can not believe you don't give me 9 strokes." She still negs.

"Pay your 6 hours a week range practice, 2 hours a week putting and one hour a week on iron game; it would take you about 5 months to get within 6 strokes then call me. That would be a fairer game for you when you are truly ready, not now, with welfare." I replied and ended the discussion.

The end of the round, I played almost with my eyes closed, still 10 strokes ahead of her. The truth was I don't want to take her money, I know she stands no chance at all because my handicap is trending down, that means I consistently shoot a lower scores than my handicap dictated, it will keep trending down if I am keeping up with my practice regime until I hit the plateau.

I just do not understand, when I was a higher handicap player not long ago, I always enjoy an opportunity to play with a lower handicap player. I wanted to learn what they do, how they prepare for a shot, how they hit the ball, what do they do for putting, how do they handle the situation when they are in trouble....etc. I was always try to learn something, planning one day I am going to be just as good as this player I am playing with. I never asked for 9 strokes, or 10 strokes from someone who is obviously has a higher skill level than me, I treasured the lesson that I've learnt from playing together with this person. I still remember a few, even now, I remember what I learnt from them.

Perhaps that's how it makes me better and I will improve because I can always learn something from another better player.