Player joining mid round affect your game?

Today, at Barfield Crescent, I birdied the first three holes. I player joined the game and my game changed drastically. I proceeded to bogey then double bogey. I manage a few hard pars then he left after hole 9. My game miraculously recovered the rest of the round. I have heard other players say that they will not let a player join mid round. I presumed it was for a reason similar to this. Any thoughts?

[Yeddie VanHalen]

mothergoose said:

i learned golf at zboaz and it is always packed (always people joining or leaving) so i have never thought this through. seems like the norm to me. maybe this contributes to the above my head tourny scores?

Same with me at Richmond Hill. The number of players (friends) grows & shrinks during the round. It is all good!

[Jason Skeen]

most people that join a group i'm in is an invited friend. on the rare occasion a stranger walks up i throw smart shots instead of runners, gap shots, stupid s**t so it can help my score. i hate to be misjudged in a casual round by a stranger, so i try less for an ace and more for consistency.

[Craig with a C]

I could care less if it is a casual round because I use those rounds as practice most often. It is annoying if it happens during a sanctioned tournament and you are still waiting on another person when the two minute warning is announced, yelled, etc. and when they show up you have to stroke them for each hole missed.

[StPaulie]

I don't see a difference when someone comes in mid way. I see a difference when our wives join with our normal group. Not the ladies fault, it results from lack of concentration on our part. I play for "real' when it's just the guys and play for fun when the wives join the group.