Compliment of not?

Always say "Good shot" if it's a good shot that went where the player intended it to go - there are such things as "Great shots" too these are generally reserved for when the FC puts the ball to about 3ft from 150+ yards.

Am I overly complimentary? maybe, I don't think so but who ever started a thread about an FC who was too complimentary?

The steward at Aldersey playing off about 3 at the time slam dunks his 2nd shot on the 4th (I think) for a 2......... nothing, unimpressed he says to his playing partner "Did that not deserve a 'Good Shot'?" the dead-serious reply "You play off 3 so I was expecting you to do it!" So I guess you set your ow standards!
 
I try and compliment based on the standard of the golfer. If a scratch player knocks a greenside bunker shot to 15 feet I wouldn't say anything, but if it was a 24 handicapper I would say good shot.

Must admit I am not keen when someone says good shot when you know it wasn't. Never sure if it is a wind up.;)
 
CMAC said:
Life is about standards!

It's a good, and should be normal, standard to compliment your opponent on a good shot, show empathy on unlucky shots and generally enjoy playing the game you love with like minded individuals. To ignore every shot is not only cheap gamesmanship it's also downright rude!

Phil Mickelson at the Ryder cup and losing to Justin Rose! Standards!
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This is, without doubt (IMHO of course) the correct answer.

Dress it up however you like - concentration, focus or whatever... it's basically just rudeness.

I only remember one such occasion that really stands out for me when I played a big scratch team knockout final a few years ago. The bloke didn't really even want to shake hands on the first tee and said nothing to me all the way round. Only made me more determined, and I ended up holing a 20-footer on the last to force a half in front of a couple of hundred people on the terrace. Could barely bring himself to shake hands with me again at the end.

Suspect it was because he thought he was infinitely better than me and should have been easily able to see off a chopper like me without batting an eyelid...

Not what the game is all about to me, and if I ever ran into anyone else doing the same in a knockout at my club, I would go out of my way to avoid ever putting my name down with them in a medal. 4 hours is too long a time to endure the rudeness of strangers...
 
I usually always say good shot if the ball has gone roughly where the player has intended it to go. For some better players I may be more reserved with when I say it as some people are happy with 20ft for birdie from 120 yards whereas some aren't so happy.

P.S This is not including the sarcastic comments to anybody who I know well enough to take the rip out of :D
 
JezzE said:
This is, without doubt (IMHO of course) the correct answer.

Dress it up however you like - concentration, focus or whatever... it's basically just rudeness.

I only remember one such occasion that really stands out for me when I played a big scratch team knockout final a few years ago. The bloke didn't really even want to shake hands on the first tee and said nothing to me all the way round. Only made me more determined, and I ended up holing a 20-footer on the last to force a half in front of a couple of hundred people on the terrace. Could barely bring himself to shake hands with me again at the end.

Suspect it was because he thought he was infinitely better than me and should have been easily able to see off a chopper like me without batting an eyelid...

Not what the game is all about to me, and if I ever ran into anyone else doing the same in a knockout at my club, I would go out of my way to avoid ever putting my name down with them in a medal. 4 hours is too long a time to endure the rudeness of strangers...
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Spot on. I hate bad manners and rudeness even more so on a golf course. I got beat in the club knockout by a scratch golfer (I was off 11), great round of golf..why...because he was a decent bloke.
 
...and then there's the guys who won't even hear your compliment unless its supporting with high 5's and whooping

You know the ones, if you simply say shot, cool, well done etc but they think its worth a lot more recognition and we're supposed to take a time-out to bond with them over it :confused:
 
JezzE said:
This is, without doubt (IMHO of course) the correct answer.

Dress it up however you like - concentration, focus or whatever... it's basically just rudeness.

I only remember one such occasion that really stands out for me when I played a big scratch team knockout final a few years ago. The bloke didn't really even want to shake hands on the first tee and said nothing to me all the way round. Only made me more determined, and I ended up holing a 20-footer on the last to force a half in front of a couple of hundred people on the terrace. Could barely bring himself to shake hands with me again at the end.

Suspect it was because he thought he was infinitely better than me and should have been easily able to see off a chopper like me without batting an eyelid...

Not what the game is all about to me, and if I ever ran into anyone else doing the same in a knockout at my club, I would go out of my way to avoid ever putting my name down with them in a medal. 4 hours is too long a time to endure the rudeness of strangers...
Click to expand...

My opponents were anything but the type you played that day. They are nice guys and I couldn't fathom why they never uttered a good shot to either me or my partner, it certainly wasn't gamesmanship or rudeness I think they just don't do it in any game. I also can't see how they can accept a compliment and not think that they havnt ever given one!

When I played with you at H4H you hit a good number of top class shots and your average game is higher level than my good one and I think it is difficult to know how often to compliment a shot that I'd be pleased to pull off where you may be less happy with the result. I felt even more aware at the Ping ProAm when complimenting Matt Nixon (a sub 400 world ranked player) but he took it all with a great attitude
 
I'm sorry but I don't see why people should give compliments when a shot is played - yes shake hands at the start and thank them for the game afterwards but why should people give compliments and also why is it rudeness to not too ?

Do people need to hear a "good shot" or a "nice putt" to get some sort of recognition.

I have played a match play with a pleasant chap who chatted all the way around the game - didn't compliment me on any shot but shook my hand at the end of the game and said good luck in the next round - he was anything but rude.
 
chrisd said:
My opponents were anything but the type you played that day. They are nice guys and I couldn't fathom why they never uttered a good shot to either me or my partner, it certainly wasn't gamesmanship or rudeness I think they just don't do it in any game. I also can't see how they can accept a compliment and not think that they havnt ever given one!

When I played with you at H4H you hit a good number of top class shots and your average game is higher level than my good one and I think it is difficult to know how often to compliment a shot that I'd be pleased to pull off where you may be less happy with the result. I felt even more aware at the Ping ProAm when complimenting Matt Nixon (a sub 400 world ranked player) but he took it all with a great attitude
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I understand the over-complimenting dilemma too, of which the two most irritating for me would be 'good strike' with the ball hurtling out of bounds (even worse if they watch it go out of bounds and then say, 'good strike, though') or 'good roll' on the green with the ball missing 6ft long left from 15ft. However, it would be churlish to glare/remonstrate, so I would try to never make anyone feel uncomfortable for complimenting, however much I might disagree with the sentiment! Just keep it to yourself and move on... they meant no harm.

Perhaps where the difference in the acceptability of an outcome is most prevalent though is from the sand where golfers for whom it is a result to even get it out of the sand will automatically say 'well out' even if the ball just staggers out and scrapes onto the front edge. As many have said, different golfers have different standards of acceptability for different kinds of shots, but I would still prefer that to sullen silence. After all, none of us are Seve or Tiger are we?

As for H4H, I did hit some good shots, but from my recollection, so did you, such that on that particular day I believe you would have beaten me gross! I certainly remember saying good shot to you on several occasions and don't remember you scowling at me, so I must have generally been getting it right!
 
Liverpoolphil said:
I'm sorry but I don't see why people should give compliments when a shot is played - yes shake hands at the start and thank them for the game afterwards but why should people give compliments and also why is it rudeness to not too ?

Do people need to hear a "good shot" or a "nice putt" to get some sort of recognition.

I have played a match play with a pleasant chap who chatted all the way around the game - didn't compliment me on any shot but shook my hand at the end of the game and said good luck in the next round - he was anything but rude.
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Each to his own, but I have to say, I find this baffling...
 
If you ever get the chance to play with MadAdey, if hes ever in the bunker and manages to escape then he likes a "well out" type of compliment :)

I say good shot/nice ball etc a lot, think its polite, doesnt really bother me if I dont get it back (I understand some rounds they make not think Ive hit any lol)
 
Doesn't bother me in the slightest if a FC or opponent never compliments my good shots, as long as they're being relatively friendly in other ways.

I, on the other hand, tend to be quite quick to compliment good shots but all relative to the ability of the player. I compliment some high handicapper shots even if they aren't that good.... just good for that player. I always empathise with unlucky bounces etc but stay quiet if someone gets an unlucky lie... they don't need me telling them their next shot's going to be tricky. Although I might remark on it after the hole has been completed....

One thing that (maybe unreasonably) annoys me, however, is when I hit a terrible shot and I get a "good shot" from my FC. It's all relative....
 
JezzE said:
This is, without doubt (IMHO of course) the correct answer.

Dress it up however you like - concentration, focus or whatever... it's basically just rudeness.
a long a time to endure the rudeness of strangers...
Click to expand...

I agree completely.
 
So why should another golfer compliment people on a golf shot.
 
JezzE said:
As for H4H, I did hit some good shots, but from my recollection, so did you, such that on that particular day I believe you would have beaten me gross! I certainly remember saying good shot to you on several occasions and don't remember you scowling at me, so I must have generally been getting it right!
Click to expand...


You were the perfect gent Jezz, I would quite happily pay £20 to play with you anytime as we did on the day. I guess I was a bit miffed when you called good shot on the 18th and I came up 12 feet short with my 4 iron, I mean it wasn't exactly the perfect shot!! :whistle:

( to be honest I am deleriously happy if I just get the ball off the ground with it)
 
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