Etiquette

[Pitch Perfect]

Hello All, I am new to this forum. Not being playing golf that long but gradually improving !

Having recently joined a club one of the aspects of the game I have been keen to get right is correct etiquette on the course.


Had a round recently with a friend and his son at a local public course (not my members club)

It was a lovely evening and we deceided to play the 9 hole course we had played before. Unfortunatley we found ourselves stuck behind what looked like a family day out ! The group consisted of 2 men actually playing (not well) with a woman and 2 small children.

Almost from the off we tried to signal to them we would like to play through, but either they didnt see us or chose to not see us.
After they had played the 4th I saw one of them walking back up towards us and thinking he was going to acknowledge our request I walked toward him and politely asked 'Would you mind if we played through?'

He replied that he was walking back up because he thought he had dropped something, but they were off the fairway now anyway.

Right.... Ok, so we carried on playing. When we arrived at the 5th, these jokers were still teeing off !! We were starting to feel a bit miffed about this but didnt really know what we could do about it.

Anyway after waiting again on them we played the 5th and arrived at the 6th. Much to our amusement these twits were now playing on completly the wrong fairway, one that was on the 18 hole red flag course not the yellow flag 9 hole !

We deceided not to bother telling them and saw it as our long awaited chance to get past them ! Then much to our constanation about halfway up the fairway we saw them all come walking past us. I thought (wrongly) that perhaps they were just packing up for the day. Of course what do we find when we get to the 7th - they are playing in front of us again, still very slowly !! They had completly missed out the 6th fairway just so we wouldnt get past them and they would then have to wait for us to finish our play.

Needless to say we all felt incredulous at there complete lack of consideration for others on the course. I felt like I could have wrapped a nine iron round the guy I had spoken to, but then that wouldnt have been good etiquette !!


Pitch Perfect

 

[brendy]

Feeling your pain! Its only going to get worse while "Open Fever" is hanging about too for the next few weeks when all the plastic pros are out blowing the dust off their 20 year old taylormades.

 

[Foxholer]

Take up Tennis!

No problems with Etiquette, but should there be, you are close enough to sort it out!

Courts will be empty from Monday!

 

[Crazyface]

Coucil tennis facilities are always empty near me. Shocking state. No wonder we never produce any players.

 

[sajkox]

Take up Tennis!

No problems with Etiquette, but should there be, you are close enough to sort it out!

Courts will be empty from Monday!

I guess there should be etiquette in every sport:

 

[Foxholer]

There's (perhaps more than) some 'history' there!

Which of them was limping more?

As I posted though. Close enough to 'sort it out'!

 

[bladeplayer]

Pitch perfect ... im afraid theres nothing much you can do about ignorant people, they are everywhere, lack of etiquette will probably be more prevalent at public courses as some people just go out the odd time for a bash around , but trust me you will encounter it at your members course aswell , we all have and frequently do ..

I suppose most etiquette is common sense & manners really ,all sadly lacking in the group you encountered , on a good note it "shouldnt" be as bad in the members club , but this doesnt come with a guarantee
.
Welcome to the forum by the way , jump right into the banter , some of the group bite a bit but they are harmless really

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Having recently joined a club one of the aspects of the game I have been keen to get right is correct etiquette on the course

Get a good understanding of the basics of golf etiquette and you will be a pitch perfect pupil and partner. Etiquette is the starting point.

Welcome PP

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I guess there should be etiquette in every sport:

Unfair - Radwanska was utterly gutted and would have broken down into pieces if she'd looked at Lisicki when they shook. Of course what we don't see is in this picture is Radwanska nodding congratulations to Lisicki and mouthing 'well done' as they approached the net.

 

[Coatsy79]

Sadly it happens all the time, espescially as public courses

As a relative newbie too I'm very aware of what's going on behind me, I'd never wanna be the guy holding anyone up

If someone catches up to us we tend to tee off on the hole were on, then allow the approaching lot to tee off, wee all walk towards our balls and they play on

That way were not blocking the tee box and were ready to play our next shot when the other guys have cleared

 

[chrisd]

Mostly, that Is what we would do too

 

[Foxholer]

Unfair - Radwanska was utterly gutted and would have broken down into pieces if she'd looked at Lisicki when they shook. Of course what we don't see is in this picture is Radwanska nodding congratulations to Lisicki and mouthing 'well done' as they approached the net.

Actually, that's true - and it looked that way as well.

I was talking tosh saying there was history between those 2. Between Radwanska and Azarenko perhps, but supposedly all fine now!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sadly at most public courses this sort of behaviour does occur. I would doubt if the group in front actually knew they were doing anything wrong and assumed they had to miss the hole out to get back in front

 

[Pitch Perfect]

Thanks for your replies guys. Wow this forum moves fast ! I had to scroll back quite a bit to find the post I made a few days back.
Back to the subject - I think what I am unclear about is if there is a slow group in front, do you have a right to pass, a bit like having a right of way on the road ? Or is it all a matter of hoping the other group will show some consideration for others on the course ?
Being a high H-Capper, I am no fast player myself and have been happy to wave more proficient players through on a few occasions. I really dont like people sitting on my tail and so am happy to do this.

So if after asking nicely if you can go past and you are not getting the expected responce, would it be reasonable and correct to to actually take issue with their slow play and DEMAND the right to play through !


Pitch Perfect

 

[Foxholer]

They should invite you through.

Much better to try to avoid conflict on a Golf Course. Actions can easily be misinterpreted and potentially lethal weapons are only an arm's length away!

Better to skip ahead a couple of holes, even explaining that's what you are doing as you pass by.