Good and bad etiquette

[upsidedown]

Playing in our Mixed Foursome knockout comp this morning and encountered the two ends of golfing etiquette.

Course pretty full when we teed off at 9.30 with a singles match play behind us and by the 2nd had caught up the 3 ball in front ( two of which I've played with a couple of times ).

No sign of being called through ( expected in comps at our place ) and when we were both waiting on the 7th tee mentioned we were in a Match and 3 down and there was a another match behind to which they just walked off after their tee shots.

Again had to wait on the 8th tee and they then teed off and made to move off when the group on the 11th tee told them in no uncertain manner that we should be allowed to play through to which they replied " but there is no where to go " 'That's not the point , they are in a match and have priority"

At this they very grudgingly let us through.

As we approached the 8th green the four on the tee who were waiting to play shouted across to play through as soon as you're ready, which was actually before they teed off and the same happened on the next two holes.

These golfers were fully aware that a match was coming up behind them and went out of their way to let us and match behind through as soon as possible. Well done guys


Alas our match finished on the 13th Our opponents have won the comp for the last two years so hadn't expected any great shakes.

Not that it should matter but the 3 ball all under 40 ( and never been seen in the bar ) and rest of the field not one under 65 and seen regularly in the bar.

 

[Foxholer]

As a 2-ball you should be let through too as you will be faster. Foursomes played 'properly' can actually be quicker than a Single!

Bit indifferent about Matches always having priority, but if it's a Club Rule then fine. Bit much possibility of a match being the bottleneck for my liking.

Bad luck re the result btw.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Happens all the time. We were playing in a board comp today and a womens three ball decided to plonk themselves off the 10th as the first was crowded. Right as we arrived on the tee. Not a backward glance and not a sign of them ever thinking of letting us through

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Played a singles match at Belleisle a couple few years ago.
We were behind a visiting group from Surrey and caught them up by the 4th, I had lost the first four holes to the club high handicap hot shot.
I must confess to thinking here we go, five four balls, so a four hour round from here on.
Bless the group as they stood aside to let us through on each hole.
This kind of threw my opponent and by the 9th tee I was all square and on my way to a comfortable win.

 

[stevie_r]

Played a singles match at Belleisle a couple few years ago.
We were behind a visiting group from Surrey and caught them up by the 4th, I had lost the first four holes to the club high handicap hot shot.
I must confess to thinking here we go, five four balls, so a four hour round from here on.
Bless the group as they stood aside to let us through on each hole.
This kind of threw my opponent and by the 9th tee I was all square and on my way to a comfortable win.

That's shocking, it would have been a rant against something from south of the border you could have dined out on for years, I bet you were gutted really

 

[ToddM1985]

Its got to be the club that sorts this sort of thing out, before the start of every season everyone should be told what is expected of them regarding etiquette and the consequences for not following procedure.

 

[Fromtherough]

Etiquette and sometimes a lack of understanding are big issues in our game for sure. However, I do think it has to be looked at from both sides. The idea of starting a competition at 9.30am on a BH where the course is already "pretty full" and then expecting to be given priority, local rule or not, seems wrong in my view. Competition tee offs should either be blocked booked over a period of a couple of hours or played later in the day when the course isn't as busy. Otherwise all that happens is a concertina effect that leads to 5 hour plus rounds.

 

[stevelev]

I agree with the etiquette of wuicker groups playing through. But do not agree with the fact that comps take precedence ovrr other golfers on the course, I think it should only be if they are playing quicker, and even if if a comp and the group behind is not part of the comp but quicker they should be allowed to plsy through

 

[Ethan]

To be fair to the group ahead, I have some sympathy with the argument that there is no point in letting you through if the course is all jammed up ahead. If there is clear space ahead or through another group, makers sense. But nowhere to go, not much point really.

 

[stevie_r]

I agree with the etiquette of wuicker groups playing through. But do not agree with the fact that comps take precedence ovrr other golfers on the course, I think it should only be if they are playing quicker, and even if if a comp and the group behind is not part of the comp but quicker they should be allowed to plsy through

I agree, pace of play should be the sole factor.

 

[upsidedown]

Etiquette and sometimes a lack of understanding are big issues in our game for sure. However, I do think it has to be looked at from both sides. The idea of starting a competition at 9.30am on a BH where the course is already "pretty full" and then expecting to be given priority, local rule or not, seems wrong in my view. Competition tee offs should either be blocked booked over a period of a couple of hours or played later in the day when the course isn't as busy. Otherwise all that happens is a concertina effect that leads to 5 hour plus rounds.

Yes I had reservation about playing on BH but our one opponent is away for the next 3 weeks so best to get the round fitted in before end of May when due date is up. It was not a Club comp but matchplay knockout as was the match behind us.

I agree with the etiquette of wuicker groups playing through. But do not agree with the fact that comps take precedence ovrr other golfers on the course, I think it should only be if they are playing quicker, and even if if a comp and the group behind is not part of the comp but quicker they should be allowed to plsy through

Indeed we were taking very little time to play, pretty much fairways and greens

To be fair to the group ahead, I have some sympathy with the argument that there is no point in letting you through if the course is all jammed up ahead. If there is clear space ahead or through another group, makers sense. But nowhere to go, not much point really.

Not an arguement that holds much water for me, if a quicker group comes up behind I'd much rather have them in front than behind.
As was proved by the groups that subsequently called us through straight away.

In fairness whilst waiting to play our shots we were chatting away quite happily, the sun was shining and the course was looking fab and we had no other plans for the day.

 

[Ethan]

Not an arguement that holds much water for me, if a quicker group comes up behind I'd much rather have them in front than behind.
As was proved by the groups that subsequently called us through straight away.

And what if the group ahead was only slower because they were at the end of the traffic jam, which you then joined causing you to similarly slow up.

Does that argu(e)ment hold any more water?

 

[upsidedown]

All the groups ahead were being held up but had no problem in inviting us to play through , so no .

 

[the smiling assassin]

That rule would lead to absolute chaos at our club on a weekend.

 

[c1973]

Sorry, but if there was nowhere to go I wouldn't call you through, nor would I expect or accept being called through if I was in the same situation. I would politely explain this to you at the first chance.

Being honest, it's pretty darned selfish (imo) expecting to be let through if there is obviously nowhere to go. You playing through with no gaps in front only serves to hold folk up even more, but hey, as long as you don't get held up that's ok.

I'm not meaning to personally attack the OP, just the situation, so feel free to substitute "you" for any group.

 

[upsidedown]

None taken but as explained before Matches have priority and should be invited to play through at our club, a problem for the 3 ball yes but not a problem for the others.

So it would appear that it doesn't hold up play for as long as some would think as this practice must have been happening for years at our place , I'm sure if it was a problem then it would have been discontinued.

The two other clubs I've been a member of had same policy so I wonder if it's a regional thing ?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Surely the point is that if you are playing a club comp then your match is deemed to take priority over casual play. Club comps are generally important to most members playing in the them - and winning a club comp match will be more important to most members than winning a casual 'knock'. We all know that being held up is frustrating and can put you off your golf. By letting a match playthrough you you are recognising they are playing in a club comp, that their match is probably more important to the players than yours is to your group, and so you as a group of members are simply doing your bit to make their match as enjoyable as possible and helping them in the only way you really can to play their best.

So you always offer the courtesy to play through to a match behind you. Considerations of course 'business' ahead are irrelevant. On the golf course you need to remember to think of others not just yourself.

 

[stevie_r]

Surely the point is that if you are playing a club comp then your match is deemed to take priority over casual play.

It shouldn't.

 

[guest100718]

I joined club with the same rule, I didn't realise till one day me and a friend caught up with a 4BBB match, the course was clear ahead of them but they said they wont let us through due to them being in a match. We just walked past them and skipped that hole. What a stupid rule to have at any club.

 

[Foxholer]

I joined club with the same rule, I didn't realise till one day me and a friend caught up with a 4BBB match, the course was clear ahead of them but they said they wont let us through due to them being in a match. We just walked past them and skipped that hole. What a stupid rule to have at any club.

I wouldn't call it stupid. But does occasionally throw up some issues like you found.

The Club has deemed matches to be higher priority, so either accept that, change it, or go elsewhere.

Being able to skip a hole, or even 2 is something that you can do with little disturbance in a bounce game. Not so in a Match and disturbing a match is something to be avoided wherever possible imo.