STYMIES

A situation where an opponent's ball is directly in the way of one's own ball and the hole, on the putting green (abolished 1952).

(by extension) An obstacle or obstruction.

To thwart or stump; to cause to fail or to leave hopelessly puzzled, confused, or stuck.

"If writing dates has you stymied at times, it is probably for one of two reasons. https//www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-dates/"

To bring into the position of, or impede by, a stymie.