Golf Cart Ignorance

[Dave B]

Today my playing partner and I got stuck behind a four ball using a golf cart. The annoying thing is that it wasn't pensioners or disabled players which you could understand but 4 young lads in their 20's :sbox:

My normal experience with golf carts is that there are generally two types of players who use them. The elderly and disabled who are pleased that this wonderful machine will give them an extra few years playing a game that they love and appreciate and the old codgers club who think they own the course, rush their shots and then hit the ball 60-100 yds and then set off hell for leather sitting up your jacksey, thinking if they get close enough you'll let them through.

The first type are generally very easy going, very courteous, living life as best they can and are just happy to be on the course. The second type are generally rude, inconsiderate and think that everybody else on the course owes them a living.

Now there's a third type. You have to be fit and in your 20's to qualify, have all the latest kit and a 120 mph swing speed. In addition you also need to analyse every shot, in consultation with your playing partners to understand why you spend more time on the left and right of the course often dodging the trees and hazards put in these areas in an effort to persuade you to try and keep the ball on the fairway.

Putting it simply they were totally clueless couldn't hit the ball straight and would have been better off putting the £25 they paid for the cart to a lesson.

If they'd played with carry bags and walked to their respective balls instead of doing several circuits of the course playing soldier golf they would have taken a lot less time and wouldn't have held everybody behind us up.

We let a party through playing a competition and they were not impressed. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until next week to see what complaints were lodged as I had to get away due to being late in picking my daughter up.

The only consolations were that it was a beautiful day and I had a good day which could have been a lot better without the frustrations we had to endure as a result of four people who were perfectly fit and too lazy to walk the course

 

[Dreamer2]

Ive tried the golf cart only once because i wanted to,,i felt a bit rushed taking my shots ,,when walking to the ball you can eye the shot up better,,,,,I'm thinking they probably now they were rubbish at golf but want to have a game so they hire a cart to try and speed things up


i hate the people that want to report things that don't go there way ,if it was a one off stop being sad ,


try phoning the club house before you play next time & they will probably close the course just for you & make the manager your caddy

 

[Val]

There's a rant if I ever read one, the chances are they would have held you up the same if they walked the course.

 

[jammag]

So what your saying is they actually didnt do much wrong apart from they was a bit rubbish and this caused them to slow you down a bit. How ever they spent the extra to hire the buggies so they could get in between shots quicker but this still wasnt good enough for you who believes they should be having lessons rather than have a fun time with there mates putting money into your club and as they had a good more than likely to put another 80 quid into your clubs account in the coming weeks as they had a good time.

Absolutely pathetic attitude just because they are rubbish they are not allowed to enjoy the game. Expand your horizons and accept the game is for everyone. Maybe people dont like how you play but I am sure they wouldnt report it.

 

[Dave B]

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post.

The cart went from ball 1 to ball 2, be to ball 3, to ball 4 while the players anylised each others shots .

Common sense would have dictated that they should have gone to a central point where they would have had a 20-30 yd or so walk each. These were fit young players who were not new to the game. We were held up on every shot for 18 holes waiting for the players and at no point did they offer to let us through.

The rules of the club state that slow play should be avoided at all times and that if you are holding up play you should let players behind through. There was nobody infont and no reason for the players not to let us through.

I was told by the competion guys who we let through that they were going to complain about the groups conduct, however I was late in picking up my daughter due to taking more than 5 hours to complete what is a normal 3.5-4 hour 18 holes.

I'm not a young player and I play with several guys who use carts but who use them correctly and apply courtesty when on the course, including letting other players through if they are holding up play

 

[ash01]

Buggies are there for hire and as such they were perfectly entitled to use them whatever their age or ability.

If you were being held up after the second hole why not give them a whistle and call them over and have a polite word requesting to play through.

Next time, relax, approach the players in question politely and mention that playing through will cost them no more time but save some of yours!

Ash!!

 

[Adi2Dassler]

I use buggies on a regular basis, moreso because my cousin has MS and battles his way onto the course once a month.I could walk, I suppose, and when there is 3 of us I do.They can slow rounds up,though, no doubt.

 

[jammag]

I dont get why the need to say these were fit 20 year olds, how many people drive to work everyday who are fit enough to walk run bike. Yet there is never anything in the out of bounds session to show annoyance at this. Just because its a golf course suddenly your not allowed an electric trolley or buggy unless you are handicapped in some way.

Regarding the slow play did you as to play through them? If you was waiting that much you must of been with ear shot quite a few times. Did these golfers know there was a competition in play and did your pro/starter explain this to them, if they hadnt maybe you should complain about him as I am sure if they would of known this they would of been looking back for this competition group coming through. Are you just more annoyed than normal because they was in a buggy?

 

[jp5]

Did you try asking to play through?

How are people supposed to know the etiquette if nobody interacts with them except for lodging a report?

 

[Slab]

Our 4 were out in buggy's last weekend, all reasonably able bodied, was it lazy? probably but the course has an obscene green to tee distance though, easily a good couple of hundred yards between most holes and in the heat it was the correct (& recommended) option.......... but I did miss walking along the fairway

 

[Ethan]

Seeing 4 young guys getting in a pair of carts just ahead of you makes for a long day. These guys never let you through despite many visits to every copse of trees on the course. I think a cart should only be available on production of a medical certificate.

There is also another type to whom I would grant an exception - the dad and 5 or 6 year old kid out for an evening game. They are generally keen to let you through.

 

[jammag]

I assume then that you walk to work?

Should this apply to any motorized vehicle then?

 

[Ethan]

I assume then that you walk to work?

Should this apply to any motorized vehicle then?

Don't be silly. Walking is part of the game, and in any case morons who can't use carts properly damage the course and delay other players.

 

[Scottjd1]

I think his point was that whatever you are going to do on a golf course, try and be mindful of the etiquette. No different than seeing people roll their trolleys on the greens/not repair putch marks etc. Its just these guys wanted the convenience of a buggy (which is fine) but not observe any common - sense. I hate them as you are stuck on a path and often cant see your lie etc so if I do use one I laser the flag/target from the buggy, grab 2- 3 clubs and take my shot. i dont wander back and forth deciding what to do !

That was how I read it anyway....

 

[jammag]

the game is hitting the ball in the hole. Its not about what you do in between shots. So what if they used a buggy. I am sure if they was that much of a course killer the powers that be that matter would ban them off the course. If they feel that buggys are ok why on earth do people complain about it. Does my head in when people just find the smallest thing to moan about rather than just take time to enjoy the game for what it is.

 

[Airlie_Andy]

Moaning about "able bodied" young lads using a golf buggy? Get a grip! I think golf in general must just attract people who like nothing better than having a good moan.

 

[Ethan]

the game is hitting the ball in the hole. Its not about what you do in between shots. So what if they used a buggy. I am sure if they was that much of a course killer the powers that be that matter would ban them off the course. If they feel that buggys are ok why on earth do people complain about it. Does my head in when people just find the smallest thing to moan about rather than just take time to enjoy the game for what it is.

Have a pill and a lie down. You'll feel better.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Have a pill and a lie down. You'll feel better.

Doctor's answer to everything!

 

[jammag]

oh yes very good. open your eyes see the game as it is.

 

[swanny32]

Ah the idiotic fit as a fiddle, can't play golf to save their lives group.....we had a group of them join up at our place last summer, they could be seen most week nights dicking about in a cart, untucked shirts, combat trousers and even one time a hoody, hitting crap shots and thinking they owned the place even though they had only been members for a few days. Luckily for us, they haven't been seen nor heard from for ages as far as I'm aware, hoping they have ditched their membership.