Poor form? Or Not?

[backwoodsman]

Just played a match where four of us went out together, but were playing two singles matches (A v B and C v D) - but friendly matches where nothing except a notional "team victory" and a modicum of pride was at stake. Was all quite jolly until I noticed that one player - my opponent - was not helping anyone look for lost balls. He'd wait on the tee whilst everyone teed off, then would just walk off after his own ball. Three off us would look for an errant ball, but he would just stand by his own ball waiting for us.

Was I right in starting to get a bit p1ssed off? Should I have said anything - would you have said anything? (Only satisfaction was to beat him - especially as we were all playing off "scratch" and he's about 5 shots better than me...)

 

[TonyN]

selfish, I bet he would be the first to moan!

 

[Gazzery]

Well i always help look for any 1s lost ball coz i hope that i will get some extra eyes when i go astray.

But if you had said some thing it might have made the rest of the round a bit awkward.

 

[HTL]

Rude + bad form, No excuse for doing that. I would have asked for his help (politely of course)

 

[ColinR]

No doubt after a few times I would have politely said something along the lines of..

" would you mind helping us in the spirit of keeping the game moving on"

I cant see why anyone would refuse to help.

 

[viscount17]

bet he moans about slow play.

Bjorn didn't seem to mind looking for Lawrie's at the Scottish Open today. Just part of golfing etiquette I think.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

He sounds like a #@&%$&, if you know what I mean?

Did you help him look for his ball if it went astray?

 

[OldWindy]

All players should help look for a ball, where practicable. If there's one lost by hook and another by slice then...(fill in the blanks.) I think it's about keeping the game moving and is good etiquette, after all.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Defintiely poor form. Where possible our 4 ball always go and look for the poor unfortunates ball even just briefly on the way up the hole. If we are being pressed we will leave him to play our own shots to keep the game moving. If we are ok behind we'll keep looking until the person says "don't worry lads carry on" or 5 minutes have elapsed.

I bet if he hit it in the rough and couldn't find it immediately he'd soon be asking for help. Personally I'd stand my gorund and wait and if he said anything politely point out that to get help you have to offer it.

He would get fairly short shrift from most members at my club even in a competition round, more so in a friendly match.

 

[forefortheday]

Poor form simple as that.

Don't play competitive golf myself so never been in a match situation but some people seem to forget the thing that makes this game so great is the spirit in which it's supposed to be played.

That includes looking for your opponents (or partners) ball, congratulating them on good shots etc.