Golf ettiquette

[Losttheplot]

Played a little golf today and got to the 6th where I was held up by the 2 ball infront. Playing on my own I thought they'd of let me through but they said that since they were being held up by the society infront of them they're not going to let me through.

In fairness they were waiting after every shot for the society infront so I can see their point.

The issue for me is I thought the 2 ball should of let me through and also the society should of let the 2 ball through earlier on in the round.

Is it me wanting too much or has the ettiquette of golf starting to disappear??? Does this happen on your course??

 

[Imurg]

Yes
Yes
and Yes!

Get this most times I go out by myself. You should get let through, even if the group in front hasn't lost a hole, if you can play faster. Obviously a single plays faster than a 2 ball which playes faster than a 3 etc etc. So they should let you through but it wont ever happen. To many people don't know enough of the ettiquette to do the right thing.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Trouble is though if you go through the 2 ball you'll start hitting the back of the society. If its large that'll create a ripple effect as each group lets you through. I know it is expected that they would let you through but to be honest I wouldn't have thought it was the done thing to try and go through a society. I'd have thought the ideal scenario would have been to join up with the 2 ball.

If I go out on my own I'll either start at the 10th if its packed on the front (and there's a gap) or play a couple of balls if no-one is behind me

I think you'd also have found that the society would have contained a few once in a blue moon golfers and so if they were sent out at the end (some society do this to keep the pace of play even) then chances are they may not have been versed on the etiquette anyway. Put it down to one of those things

 

[drawboy]

Unfortunately letting people through is just another one of those things that along with the general decline of manners in our society is going by the wayside, a lot of golfers see it as threat to their macho image and just will not do it. The same as their attitude on the road when driving. I think it will happen less and less as time goes on and unless you are prepared to get into a slanging match or worse a punch up it's not really worth bothering about.

 

[TWM]

I can think of nothing worse than trying to work my way through a crowded course. Much better to take it slowly and play a few practice shots while waiting.

 

[Sponge1980]

I was under the impression that a single golfer had no standing on the course and that groups in front of them were under no obligation to let them through. This is the situation at my course and there is a notice by the gate to the course that says this. Saying that I have never actually seen anyone pay any attention to this rule and it very unusal that a faster player or group will not get let through.

 

[USER1999]

The single player has standing now, but I still don't get why one player expects to mess up the whole course by playing through. The course is set for 4 balls, and if there are no gaps, playing through will make every one elses round slower. Selfish or what.

If the course is busy, you know what to expect.

What gets me is coming up behind the only 4 ball on the course, and not being waved through.

If I tee off, as a single, at 8.30am on a saturday, expecting to be waved through for a 2 hour round is dreaming.

 

[DMC]

Being waved through is starting to become a rare thing, when i get held and if its possible i just practice my pitching and putting.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Agree that a single player still has standing but you have to use a modicum of nous and accept that you'll never get through a society, or be waved merrily on your way on a Saturday morning

 

[Junior]

I can think of nothing worse than trying to work my way through a crowded course. Much better to take it slowly and play a few practice shots while waiting.

Agree with the above, or, I'd have also asked to join the 2 ball. Unless the course is clear infront of the group who is holding you up then dont expect to be waved through.

 

[DCB]

Interesting thread this one.

Well, here's my tuppenceworth, like it or lump it

IMO it's trying to apply the etiquette GUIDELINES to a situation in the mistaken belief that they are RULES as opposed to GUIDELINES.

Was the intention to play a full round or just a quick 9 holes ?

IMO, the two ball had not lost ground on the group in front

In fairness they were waiting after every shot for the society infront so I can see their point.

so where could the two ball go ?

Yes a single player is faster than a two ball, but a two ball is faster than a fourball. In this case, no-one is going anywhere fast. End Of !

The problem may lie with the society outing,and the pace of their play as fourballs, but, in effect, I think it is the Club or Course Operator who hasn't made it clear to members or other users, that there was a large society out ahead of them on the course.

Was this a Private Members Club or a Commercialy run course ?

If the former, I'd be asking why this situation was alloed to occur without either a notice outside the pro shop, or the pro making it known before I started out.

If it's a commercial concern, then the operator will be happy to take as many four balls as he can.

In any normal midweek day, a single may find it a fast round, but, to expect all others to give way before him, is a bit naive I'm afraid.

At a weekend, a single just shouldn't be out there during peak times IMO.

 

[DCB]

Ach, move with the time Sponge, that changed a while back, the term "group" now includes a single player.

Since it is a guideline then it's not actually a rule so clubs can still do their own thing really.

 

[Losttheplot]

The thing that fustrates me the most is I'm a paying member and I have to make way for a visitor to come onto the course and show no etiquette by not allowing others through and basically not be able to enjoy my golf fully.

As a visitor to any other courses I try and show good manners and follow etiquette explicitly since it is not my home course and most of all it's out of respect to the course, it's playing members and the game itself.

 

[RGDave]

Yes
Yes
and Yes!
To many people don't know enough of the ettiquette to do the right thing.

Huh?

I think your answer depends on the course and the "expected" etiquette.

At every course I've ever been a member of a single player has no standing. I'd let one through (if I was in a 2-ball), but there would be no expectation for me to do so.

to the O.P. If you go out on your own, expect the worst, practice around the greens and be grateful if you get let through.

 

[USER1999]

But once you have paid a green fee, you are a member for the day, so you as a member have no more privilege than the green fee player. Fact of life.


Sorry, I get stuck behind societies every Friday afternoon. It is just the way it is. You carving through them could add 1/2 hour minimum to their round. What right have you to dispupt the field by so much, just to race round. Added to which, societies should come in together so the kitchens can get organised.

Now talk about banning societies, you have my ear.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

If the 2 ball were being held up by a single 4 ball, you'd have reason to be upset. In this case, the two ball had every right not to let you through, if they are already waiting on every shot, letting you through just makes them wait more and you were never gonna get through the whole society.

 

[Losttheplot]

So does a golfer have the right to ignore slow play and not allow others through???

Whether it's a society or a few 4balls back to back on a normal round, the rules/guidlines of golf still apply and avoiding slow play is one of them. Don't forget there was a two ball infront of me they didn't let through either.

I see this problem a lot with people not being allowed through and I get the opinion that there is a few golfers out there too proud to stand by and allow others to play through.
I can go round quite quickly sometimes but if I'm holding someone up behind me then I always let them through. To me it's te rules of the game.

 

[painterboy]

I can think of nothing worse than trying to work my way through a crowded course. Much better to take it slowly and play a few practice shots while waiting.

Agree,

This is the way to go as a singleton,play a couple of balls and practise your chipping, and perhaps if it's possible cut across to other holes.
Perfect way to spend a couple of hours.

 

[Losttheplot]

I accept the two ball probably feel they can't help holding me up since it's the group infront of them causing the problems so them not letting me through isn't a massive issue for me. It's the fourball infront I have the main issue with.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

So does a golfer have the right to ignore slow play and not allow others through???

Whether it's a society or a few 4balls back to back on a normal round, the rules/guidlines of golf still apply and avoiding slow play is one of them. Don't forget there was a two ball infront of me they didn't let through either.

I see this problem a lot with people not being allowed through and I get the opinion that there is a few golfers out there too proud to stand by and allow others to play through.
I can go round quite quickly sometimes but if I'm holding someone up behind me then I always let them through. To me it's te rules of the game.

If no-one else is going anywhere why should you. I agree that you should always try to avoid slow play but if everyone is being held up, you have to go to the 1st group to find the problem. If the 1st group let everyone through, i wouldn't mind betting it would be even slower.

Unfortunately, you just have to accept sometimes you are gonna get held up unless your gonna ban societies.