V
vkurup
Guest
Spent a week playing golf in the States. Nothing fancy, played in the local muni courses with my friends.. 9 rounds cost me about $300 for green fees & buggies. Lovely place, good people and some great courses. Can single out Berkshire Valley GC in New Jersey as my fav course. Simply stunning course, can give some of our Top 100 a run for its money. But here are some general observations from my travel. (health warning: below are sweeping generalization of themes and not meant to offend or stereotype. Also these are from the Muni courses, I am sure pvt courses are very different - I did drive past Medinah, but did not have the courage to go in)
1) Take a Mulligan: Just like the American freeways, the fairways are wide, but you will nevertheless hit OOB or into the water. Simply reload and say you are taking a Mulligan. There is no limit on the mulligans you take and it can be taken on any/every hole. Keeps the card in shape and the game moving. Interesting
2)One person per cart: Courses are pretty big & spread out, so everyone takes a buggy. During my travel, I saw just 2 guys walking!! Most courses quote green+cart fees. The cart/buggy fees are based on how many people ride on it. For e.g. $15 for a 1 guy on the buggy, $30 if 2 guys use the buggy. Needless to say, it is not unusual to see 2 buggies during a 2 ball. Not very social or eco-friendly in that sense.
3) Leave your manner at home: Experienced some bad behaviours; people riding onto your fairway to look for their ball and then shouting 'found it' while you are taking your shot about 30 yards away. Watching people shouting to the ball or giving high fives and jumping around on the greens - never sure if they are playing golf or football. This is especially true in the evening rounds when the Joe public is on and the beer has kicked in.
4) Score a bird: You have to give a customary fist bump when you score a 'bird'. Yup thats what it is called.. I thought it was just the people I met, but realised that even Golf Channel refers to a birdie as a 'bird'
5) Drinking on the course: Love the fact that almost every course has someone coming around in a cart with food and drinks. So not surprised that the rubbish bins on the back nine will have a lot of empty beer cans in them. Enjoy your pint on the course.
6) Not very social: (may be it is just me) Given the fact that people mostly rides their own buggies and most drinks are consumed on the course, there is hardly any conversation on the course. Not many people head out to the club house after the game for a pint. When we were paired with people, the opportunity to shoot the breeze was just before tee-ing off or on the way to the buggy after holing out.
7) Irony does not work: Not every one gets Brit irony, so speak in plain English. Also avoid 'double negatives' - so replace 'not bad' with 'fine'
8) Handicap: If you ask someone 'What do you play off'... you are likely to get a blank stare followed by 'Red', 'White' or 'Black' as the answer. If you want to know their handicap, ask 'What is your handicap?', else you will learn which tee box they play from..
9) Only London, Only St Andrews: People are very courteous and helpful esp when they know you are visiting from the UK. But don't try and explain the geography, just say you are from London (even if you live in Telford). Also, apparently there is only one course in England - St Andrews. Everyone has either played there or wants to travel to London to play at St Andrews. So brush up on your big fish stories about St Andrews even if you have never been there. It helps keep the conversation going.
Really enjoyed my stay and the golf. There are some quirks (we have our own), but highly recommend getting out there for a few swings.
1) Take a Mulligan: Just like the American freeways, the fairways are wide, but you will nevertheless hit OOB or into the water. Simply reload and say you are taking a Mulligan. There is no limit on the mulligans you take and it can be taken on any/every hole. Keeps the card in shape and the game moving. Interesting
2)One person per cart: Courses are pretty big & spread out, so everyone takes a buggy. During my travel, I saw just 2 guys walking!! Most courses quote green+cart fees. The cart/buggy fees are based on how many people ride on it. For e.g. $15 for a 1 guy on the buggy, $30 if 2 guys use the buggy. Needless to say, it is not unusual to see 2 buggies during a 2 ball. Not very social or eco-friendly in that sense.
3) Leave your manner at home: Experienced some bad behaviours; people riding onto your fairway to look for their ball and then shouting 'found it' while you are taking your shot about 30 yards away. Watching people shouting to the ball or giving high fives and jumping around on the greens - never sure if they are playing golf or football. This is especially true in the evening rounds when the Joe public is on and the beer has kicked in.
4) Score a bird: You have to give a customary fist bump when you score a 'bird'. Yup thats what it is called.. I thought it was just the people I met, but realised that even Golf Channel refers to a birdie as a 'bird'
5) Drinking on the course: Love the fact that almost every course has someone coming around in a cart with food and drinks. So not surprised that the rubbish bins on the back nine will have a lot of empty beer cans in them. Enjoy your pint on the course.
6) Not very social: (may be it is just me) Given the fact that people mostly rides their own buggies and most drinks are consumed on the course, there is hardly any conversation on the course. Not many people head out to the club house after the game for a pint. When we were paired with people, the opportunity to shoot the breeze was just before tee-ing off or on the way to the buggy after holing out.
7) Irony does not work: Not every one gets Brit irony, so speak in plain English. Also avoid 'double negatives' - so replace 'not bad' with 'fine'
8) Handicap: If you ask someone 'What do you play off'... you are likely to get a blank stare followed by 'Red', 'White' or 'Black' as the answer. If you want to know their handicap, ask 'What is your handicap?', else you will learn which tee box they play from..
9) Only London, Only St Andrews: People are very courteous and helpful esp when they know you are visiting from the UK. But don't try and explain the geography, just say you are from London (even if you live in Telford). Also, apparently there is only one course in England - St Andrews. Everyone has either played there or wants to travel to London to play at St Andrews. So brush up on your big fish stories about St Andrews even if you have never been there. It helps keep the conversation going.
Really enjoyed my stay and the golf. There are some quirks (we have our own), but highly recommend getting out there for a few swings.
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