All the gear pt 101+!

[Imurg]

Met a great one on the course today. Full set of G10's from driver down to sand wedge and one of the new weighted Ping putters. All in a brand new Powerkaddy bag on a top of the range trolley. I know he was using a Prov - because he nearly hit me with it!

Now I don't mind people having good kit - what annoys me is when they don't know what Out-of-Bounds stakes look like or mean.

Our 8th is a short right to left dogleg par 4 that is drivable if you can carry 210 yards of real rough. It also has OOB all the way up the left side. Well of course he went for it and hit the Mother of all hooks and went at least 35 yards OOB. He then walked straight in front of me as I was waiting to tee off on another hole and proceeded to play his ball to the green.

I thought about saying something but I really couldn't be bothered. He'd shown no knowledge or understanding of the rules or ettiquette and I didn't have the hour or so it was going to take to teach him.

Its things like this that make me feel that everyone should have to take some form of assessment before they are allowed on the course to make sure they know the basics. I believe they do in Europe or Scandinavia or somewhere.

 

[Herbie]

You are not the only one with similar feelings, half of the problems many will come across on courses will be down to etiquette, golf rule infringements or local rule infringements.

When I learned the game, part of that learning curve was to understand basic rules and basic etiquette, as well as having practiced a lot leading up to your first game, it was just the way it was, you had a basic qualification if you like before you ventured out on courses. Now its a little different. If you are not prepared to learn the basics before going on courses, you are unlikely to learn much as you go along.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sadly if someone doesn't pull him up he'll never learn. I'm not sure I agree with any form of assessment as it is hard enough to attract new members into clubs at the moment and the thought of some form of test will put a lot off.

 

[haplesshacker]

A friend of mine was telling me that in Holland you have to pass a short playing session with the pro.

Trouble is, do the pros want to turn gate keeper? Business is difficult enough as it is!

In the yachting world of schooling and qualifications. Certain establishments are known as 'easy pass' centres. It's not good business to fail someone that's paid £500 plus to take a course and then fail it. They're not likely to return to that school, and will go somewhere else.

It's made a mockery of the 'qualifications'. I know instructors that can hardly sail, let alone have any teaching ability.

Any 'system' that's introduced to golf will be mis-managed to the point of it being pointless. I do agree with there being some form of pre-requisite before heading out on the course, but most pastimes don't require 'licensing' so why should golf?

I think I'll sit on the fence on this one actually!!

Nowt wrong with having good kit. You never know it might be on ebay next week.

 

[USER1999]

Was he on his own?

I have done exactly the same if playing on my own on a strange course. You hit one you think is ok, and when you get there it is ob, (I hate internal ob, it is rubbish) so you either play it anyway (it is a long walk back, and the 4 behind are on the tee, you are not exactly competeing, so who cares), or you leather it back in bounds with your shoe. Either way, people think you are an idiot with no knowledge of the rules.

Oh, and my bag is all Titleist, so I fall squarely into the 'all the gear' wannabee lookalike category.

 

[Imurg]

Hey Murph - I've not got a problem with having the gear. I like my brands too.

He was playing with 2 others and I've seen them all on the course recently so they've played it a few times and ought to know by now.

Agree with you on the first time player not knowing - I've done that myself

 

[haplesshacker]

OB doesn't mean the ball's not allowed in there.

Actually, I think most of us on here are 'gear tarts' if we're honest. Whether it's Titleist, TM, Ping, Mizuno etc. It's probably not even a rational choice, but it's a direction that we've headed down from preconceptions, trial and error, or just good old fashioned bias.

We're very quick to offer advice on CF and suggest that the OP should remain 'open minded'. Yet in reality how many of us are when we look at kit?

Back on topic.

Knob!

 

[medwayjon]

I play titleist equipment because it is the best....... in my eyes.

It isnt a case of all the gear as I started off with donnay shitters and worked onwards.

The funniest thing I see is at corporate days when a man who has never played before turns up at the course having obviously gone and done £2000 in AG about an hour earlier and then cant hit it for toffee-apples, I love it.

 

[haplesshacker]

I play titleist equipment because it is the best.......

I had to re-read who the post was from!!

I still have one occasional visitor to my bag of the Donnay 7 wood!

 

[bobmac]

I think I know of one way to help these unfortunate people who are new to the game.
Lets face it there are a SHED LOAD OF RULES in golf.
Do we all know all of them?
No we dont.
How did you learn the rules you know now.
Some rules I'm sure were explained to you when you started playing by fellow golfers. Some you read in the rule book and some you've seen on TV.
If these players dont know the rules and wont ask, how are they going to learn?
How about a quiz night?
Not a rules quiz as such (that would scare some off) but a general quiz with a section on the rules sneaked in
Another way is to ask the Pro to have a rules night when those who want to learn more or ask questions can go along have a beer and learn something.
I'm holding a rules night next month at my club. I will report back, if anyone turns up

 

[haplesshacker]

I believe this is something that our dear friend Alchemy suggested a little while ago.

It all depends on how it's done. Same vein as those that can't teach, shouldn't.

I might suggest this at our club.

The only rules I know are from playing with others, on here, and the odd mag article. If I played with the same guys, didn't buy golf mags, or take part on here, then I'd know even less.

 

[rgs]

If it was a non competitive round i do not see the point in returning to the tee and playing another ball and delaying the round, i am sure we have all just played on with the approval of our partners in non competitive games.

Competitive games are different and i would expect all to abide by the rules.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

MWJ If you really want to see the epitome of all the gear get down to Silvermere in Surrey. It is in true stockbroker country and every weekend in the summer you get hoards of the far eastern newbies all out with £000's worth of kit and have clearly never hit a ball in anger. They are clearly playing with their boss/business partners etc and have to go through the whole ritual of making sure no-one loses face. I've seen a guy top it 5 times off the tee and his partner go and pick it up and tee it back up for him as a queue of not so patient westerners backs up behind.

 

[USER1999]

It may be that the guys he was playing with said, yeah, go on, play it out, but the score counts for zip because you are ob, it is hard to judge the situation unless you are there.

On the other hand, maybe he is a cheating git, who knows?

 

[intherough]

I don't agree with a lesson on basics, as homer said it's hard enough getting members now. However, I think it's just a common sense and manners thing. I wouldn't want someone walking in front of me when I'm taking my shot so I wouldn't do it to anyone else. Just as in life you get many ignorant people who can't be bothered to say thank you when you open a door for them, they're just as bad on a golf course. New players/members pick up the rulers and etiquette as they play more. Unfortunately an ignorant get will never change.

 

[ricardodaintino]

When I'm playing alone and the ball wanders OB (rare???) depending on how far its gone, I'll still go across and play it.

I would however never interfere with someone elses game or leave someone standing on the tee waiting for me to finish.

I remember watching some celebrity golf programme with Ant and Dec a few years back and Michael Johnson hit one way out of bounds across two fairways and still played it back!

 

[Cernunnos]

If the ball is OB, simply play another ball, take the punishment. If you get the opertunity to dash over & retrieve the ball then do so,if not, then cut losses. Simple.

 

[Pedro_Wedgitos]

There are two things going on here. Firstly the gear - well if you have a bit of cash and are starting out maybe you don't want a set of Donnays or second hand wilsons. If you had passed your test and had money would you go and buy a crap R reg fiesta or something nicer.

Secondly the OB thing - many of us bend the rules in our friendly rounds just to keep the game flowing. Yes there are rules that you will stick to in a comp etc... but when you are playing with your mates as a social occasion sometimes it is better to go with the flow.

As a newbie to this forum over the last week I have started to see some posts that are worrying me. I know that all of you appear to be excellent golfers who understand all the rules and etiquette. But for those of us who like to roll up play some golf with mates and have a good time - we don't love our golf any less - - -but some of the views on here recently are reinforcing all of the elitist, golf snob views (typified by look at the guy who has no idea or the wrong clothers or wants to use good gear but is a poor player) that are played out on courses up and down the country and just serve to make golf a difficult space to get into for those wanting to make the move from the local muni to something half decent.

I'm not a great golfer I'm an okay golfer at a high handicap level. I know a lot of rules and think I understand some of the etiqutte but seriously worry about mucking something up unintentionally everytime I play somewhere new or with someone new.

Guys please re read some of your posts and take a chill pill.