Playing with idiots

[USER1999]

Played a match on Thursday against a local club (bit snobby). I ended up playing with their Captain.

He had a laser range finder, and couldn't make a single shot without getting a reading, which took ages, and once he had it, would then shank the ball 40 yards sideways and start again.

His readings with the laser were anything up to 30 yards out (it is my home track, so I do know the yardages).

Half the time he could not get a reading, and so took ages asking everyone for a yardage and club selection.

He spent a huge amount of time driving his remote controlled trolley round the greens to the next tee, which I had always thought might be quite cool, but is in fact intensely annoying.

He couldn't get out of the rough, and so spent a lot of time moaning about the state of it (it is rough, but that is the point).

He had chosen a ringer as a partner, because he obviously thought he would win (his team pretty much acknowledged this in the bar afterwards).

He is going to drop the lesser performers in his team for next year, as they haven't won enough matches (this is a league for 10 to 19 handicappers, so is meant to be fun, not about winning).

Unfortunately this sort of idiot is exactly what gives golf a bad reputation.

Luckily, my partner and I played well, and won fairly comfortably.

 

[John_Findlay]

Surprised he was allowed to use the rangefinder for the match, Murph. Was it allowed by a local rule? I've got one with a slope function but never use it in competition. It does get a bit tricky in the wind to hold still to get a reading.

Well done on the win, my man.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What an example to be setting. Most of our club matches are friendly affairs home and away with the empthasis on fun and not the result. No Skycaddy or similar allowed. I make a point of always being complimentary about any away course I play even if I'm having the worse game of my life (I may want to play as a visitor one day).

If he starts dropping regulars or poor performers especially for the away games (always more popular) then I know from experiences at my own club that people won't play the home games (we always try and give those who play and support the club at home first refusal on the return match).

I think the club in question is going ot be in for a very long year as it seems he has it in head that it will be "games for the boys" and that regular joes will be left in the cold. Doesn't strike me as the sort of captain who will inspire much support

 

[USER1999]

We have never discussed whether using range finders is allowed or not. The matches are usually played in good spirit, with the main theme being to have fun. I always thought in such matches, that using distance measuring devices was takling it a bit too seriously. Especially as it gave the wrong info, or none at all. Maybe in better hands it would have been ok, but he was rubbish at using it, and for a 12 handicap golfer, not that good.

 

[forefortheday]

It's this kind of thing that is putting me off joining a club.

When I play golf I want to have fun not worry about internal politics and reputations, I go to work for that kind of thing!

 

[USER1999]

Don't let this put you off joining somewhere, he is a one off really. Most clubs are full of a wide cross section of people, and are very friendly and not at all up their own ...

 

[RGuk]

What an embarrasment for the club....and this guy was the captain?
Sadly, it sounds like the guy has lost the plot and is in a mess with his game and messing around with kit and moaning because that's all he's got left.
Maybe being the Captain has messed up his golf......it's hard to believe the club didn't pick a decent guy at the beginning of his tenure.
Captains should be role models to the rest.....sounds a sad tale to me. Bad luck you got him.

 

[Cernunnos]

Obviously the guy has a new toy to play with. The idea of using distance meassuring deiceste , is that they save time, not create time.

Btw, which make model did he have, just so none of us are tempted to buy or try one.

 

[time_vans]

i'm a raw novice but dont see how one of these toys can help apart from telling how far you've driven.(big willy contest)i already have a good feel for which club to use by eye and yes i can be 10yds infront of the green or ten yards past (rarely) but this is down to an inconsistent swing nothing else. ok so your toy says 147yds to the pin ...you still have to hit it, sorry swing correctly. if you can hit it consistently then surely you dont need one. just get an iron byron thingy to take all your shots.

 

[Basher]

I'm more than certain that asking fellow competitors about club selection is against the rules. It may be ok to ask your partner in your side but asking a guy you're playing against is definitely a no no!

By the way, he does sound a bit of a knob too!

 

[Cernunnos]

Developing distance judgement by eye is always a good & preferable idea for anyone. Not to mention cheaper.

The lazer & GPS devices are meant for meassuring how far is left to go to the flag, though yes you can meassure how far a drive or shot is as well as how far off the green or the bunker is etc.

However if you can't use these devices effectively then there is little point. Great for the pro's who know exactly how far they hit particular irons woods & driver. but for us amateurs these items are really expensive toys.

On one hand if you can quickly use these devices to make a quick informed decision of what club to use next then fine, no harm is done. But if like the original posters complaint, the person using the device is innept with it, then all that happens is instead of the game being sped up its instead slowed down to a snails pace.

If these devices are going to help speed up play then I see no reason not to allow them.

But if the reverse is true then the Club captain should have simply put the device away until he either worked out how to use it properly or decided that the information it was always going to give him was duff & had been a waste of his money.

A mate of mine has a GPS device & I can eyeball a distance quicker than it takes him to get to his GPS, never mind the time it takes him to faff about with buttons on the front to find the same information.

I personally think these things should be kept for practice rounds & not for days where people are in competions.

As an addition, in a practice round If you can see how far you have hit your irons through a round & keep a note of these distances, when it comes to actually playing in a competion & using your eyes you are more likely to be able to make more accurat infomed decissions. Especially as many of us do not drive or hit certain clubs as far as we'd like to think & maybe as an offshoot this is perhaps the one good point to these devices, assuming you find one that gives accurate readings.

 

[RGuk]

I'm more than certain that asking fellow competitors about club selection is against the rules. It may be ok to ask your partner in your side but asking a guy you're playing against is definitely a no no!

When I played (past tense, not recently) in serious comps with a partner, I used to discuss club selection.
I remember one incident when we (it was my shot after his drive) decided it was 185-190 to the pin. I wanted to go with a 3i (to take out the front bunkers) and he asked me to hit a 4i at the left bunker, hoping to see the ball kick right onto the front portion. It came off a beauty (it was the first hole and SI 1) and he holed a 6 footer for birdie nett eagle start. From then on, I always double checked with him.....

I don't believe I would ever ask an opponent, even if it was allowable.

As for judging distances by eye....I don't do it....unless I have to. If I'm past the 150/200 I pace it out, if I'm short I add on whatever I think it is. Around mine, there are very few useful distances on the stroke saver, but on some courses, a detailed stroke saver is brilliant. At some courses (Little Aston springs to mind) you need full info for lay-ups as well. Some holes have bunkers everywhere and it can be quite taxing doing the maths.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have to disagree slightly with the negativity regarding distance finders. The skycaddy gives you an instant readout from anywhere on the hole to the front, middle and back of the green and so when I'm using it I can see its 156 to the front and I need to hit 147 to clear the front bunker. Quick check on the wind direction and pick a club to go. Job done.

These types of aids (Caddyplus is another) are far quicker and give and instant reading without having to wait for the planets to align and the flag to be visible. As for asking for club selection, I might ask my partner what he thinks but as my regular partner and I are at least a club difference in length I'll normally go on my own instincts. I'm mor likely to ask for a read on the green. Asking the opposition is a no no and I believe is loss of hole in match play

 

[USER1999]

I think in friendly (it was supposed to be as far as I was concerned) matches, yes, you shouldn't ask a member of the opposite team for club selection (loss of hole), but if someone does, then let it go, as you want every one to enjoy the round, and your course also if they haven't played it before.

I have nothing against distance measuring devices, if they give an accurate reading and are used properly and quickly. When used by incompetents, who can't hit anything like a consistent shot, and can't get a sensible reading from it, they shouldn't be used.

It has certainly put me off them (and also remote control trolleys).

 

[rgs]

In our clubs range finders are allowed but are not allowed int eh inter club competitions. Murph I am surprised that it was allowed in your competition.

Glad you beat the knob.