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Golfing etiquette

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sportsbob

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Monday night, thought I would get some much needed practise so snuck out for a few holes after work on my own - yeah, yeah Billy no-mates. Got to the second hole and caught up with a four-ball in front. I then waited behind them from there on in with every tee shot/approach to the green, even whilst they were hunting for a ball. At one stage I was even standing on the same tee as them but at no stage did they offer me to play through. Now question - is it for me to ask them if I can play through or should they be offering me to play through? Or third option, should I just hit it through them?
 
Firstly, they should offer to call you through as you have standing on the course. Secondly, if they don't offer I would have no qualms about politely asking if I could play through. Thirdly, you should NEVER hit through a group in front.
 
They should be asking you to play through, however, if you are stood on the same tee, then it is worth asking them. Probably a group who thought single players have no standing
 
Hitting through would be a big no no, I would have asked them if I could play through, or if they minded going up a hole as a 5 ball, then as they putted out, move onto the next tee so you're not holding them up.
 
sportsbob said:
Monday night, thought I would get some much needed practise so snuck out for a few holes after work on my own - yeah, yeah Billy no-mates. Got to the second hole and caught up with a four-ball in front. I then waited behind them from there on in with every tee shot/approach to the green, even whilst they were hunting for a ball. At one stage I was even standing on the same tee as them but at no stage did they offer me to play through. Now question - is it for me to ask them if I can play through or should they be offering me to play through? Or third option, should I just hit it through them?
Click to expand...

As you're on your own and just out for a few holes, not a full 18, why not just jump onto another hole?
 
sportsbob said:
Or third option, should I just hit it through them?
Click to expand...

Please don't do that.

As mentioned, skip a hole or two. There are some players out who that still believe that a single player has no standing on the course, and will batter on full of puffy chested indigence, safe in their ignorance that they're doing the 'right thing'.

I would say what I call them, but I fear the ban hammer will fall upon me.
 
Not an easy course to cut through - could have just walked down the fairway with them once I realised that they were not going to let me through. I would just like to add that I would never hit through a group in front deliberately.
 
sportsbob said:
Monday night, thought I would get some much needed practise so snuck out for a few holes after work on my own - yeah, yeah Billy no-mates. Got to the second hole and caught up with a four-ball in front. I then waited behind them from there on in with every tee shot/approach to the green, even whilst they were hunting for a ball. At one stage I was even standing on the same tee as them but at no stage did they offer me to play through. Now question - is it for me to ask them if I can play through or should they be offering me to play through? Or third option, should I just hit it through them?
Click to expand...

We're all adults, they can offer, you can ask

Who knows they may have been playing a comp and club rules giving them some weird standing etc but to all be on the same tee box and the topic doesn't even come up sounds surreal to be honest
 
"Hi guys - you do remember that the rules changed a wee while ago and single players now have official standing on the course"

You shouldn't then even have to ask to play through
 
when they didn't offer, you should have asked (insisted.....) especially if the course in front of them was open.
 
I would've felt awkward standing there getting ready to tee off knowing we were holding a single player up. Some people just have no self awareness.
 
As suggested - don't at first bother asking to play through - just state the rule that they should know about singletons - they won't want to admit to not knowing the rule, they could argue against the rule - but will know that rules is rules. And so they let you through - but if they hesitate give them a little time to ponder - and then just say - with a smile "so I'll just play through then - thanks lads..."
 
If they don't offer then ask - if they refuse then just walk past them onto the next hole but never hit through if they refuse
 
Our place still has the rule about single player having no standing and that they should give way to any matches.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
"Hi guys - you do remember that the rules changed a wee while ago and single players now have official standing on the course"

You shouldn't then even have to ask to play through
Click to expand...

Not 'Rules' - but should be treated as such.

And some Clubs have Local Rules/Procedures that state that a single does not have standing. Also note that players playing a full round have priority over those playing less than a full round - something often ignored/not realised.
 
They should have the decency to offer but if not a polite request is fine but as others have said never hit through. If they get really sniffy when you ask simply walk on and play the next (although I'd be tempted to mention it when I got back to the bar :whistle:)
 
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