Selfish and arrogant

[AmandaJR]

I'm afraid to say the attitude you experienced is not a rarity - although them being a 5 ball is less common as that's a clear and obvious breach of the etiquette rules.

One of the reasons golf becomes less attractive for me. The lack of tee reservations adds to the problem (although you did have a reservation). The times I've stood on the 1st tee behind a 3 or 4 ball who simply won't make eye contact and have no intentions of saying "on you go as we'll only hold you up".

 

[Sats]

But here’s something to give your swing the wobbles…

So the OP has the tee time, he’s asked the group of 5 to play ahead as he has the 9;40 tee time and is declined (with attitude) & OP is back to the pro-shop to report
Staff member listens, comes out and halts the 5-ball as they’re about to head down the fairway explaining that the OP has the tee and will be going ahead of you 5

Staff member turns to OP and says there you go sir, all sorted you can tee off now…

I must have missed that - so apart from the group appearing to be filled with merchant bankers what's the issue? New free tee time for later and got to play through?

 

[sunshine]

No you can't play through, a single golfer has no standing...

Surprised that line wasn't trotted out.

 

[GG26]

No you can't play through, a single golfer has no standing...

Surprised that line wasn't trotted out.

Yes, I’ve heard that one.

...and just to be clear to anyone new to golf reading this, that rule was done away with over ten years ago and a single player has equal standing with other groups.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I’d go out of my way to chunk it off the tee and get them proper wound up.

5 or 6 practice swings,
change the tee height,
start the practice swings again,
Go to your towel to wipe the sweat off your hands and forehead,
Change your glove tightness,
walk back behind your ball to line up,
two more practice swings,
a few waggles with the driver,
duff it,
stand on the tee for a few too many seconds pretending to get angry with yourself, and then say "oh well, it went further than last week's drive"

 

[GG26]

Today I turned up at Pytchley, looknig forward to a 09:40 tee time, having had a lovely round yesterday with a genuine 3 at the 155 yard 5th. 3 older guys turned up around 09:33, paid and headed for the 1st tee. I thought they must be running late for their 09:30. So headed up to the tee around 09:38. giving them enough time to get set off. maybe play through them on the 2nd. To my dismay the 3 had become 5, and they were standing chatting... I went back to the clubhouse. and reported in. stating i was now late for my tee time, and there was a 5 ball in front. So headed back to the tee. and they were still nattering i think 2 had tee'ed off. one was standing over a ball.
I asked if they would mind, me getting started and was told. sorry we're playing together. and was made decidedly unwelcome. So Back to the clubhouse. Who in fairness looked very embarrased, but as no tee times available, and mine now 15 minutes late ( the next tee time folks were behind me complaining also) . I had to admit defeat and give up for today.
The club in their favour. have refunded me and given me a free round early Tuesday morning.
The lady at reception did get on a walkie talkie, i presume asking for them to be removed.. but why turn up and behave like that. It's usually lovely and relaxed.

Assuming you are talking about the 9-hole course near Kettering, I’ll see if I can join you for a round if you can play on a Sunday afternoon

 

[BubbaP]

As an aside myself and FC spotted 5 guys & 5 bags in a group recently (behind us thankfully), but we weren't able to be sure if actually 5 balls in play. Did consider it might be two foresomes playing 2 balls between 4, and a single along for the ride.

 

[GreiginFife]

5 or 6 practice swings,
change the tee height,
start the practice swings again,
Go to your towel to wipe the sweat off your hands and forehead,
Change your glove tightness,
walk back behind your ball to line up,
two more practice swings,
a few waggles with the driver,
duff it,
stand on the tee for a few too many seconds pretending to get angry with yourself, and then say "oh well, it went further than last week's drive"

Add in an out loud “thought” of ‘well at least this week it should be better than 5 hours’…

 

[jim8flog]

No you can't play through, a single golfer has no standing...

Surprised that line wasn't trotted out.

Yes, I’ve heard that one.

...and just to be clear to anyone new to golf reading this, that rule was done away with over ten years ago and a single player has equal standing with other groups.

It depends on the club's policy.

There are no longer any rules on etiquette it is up to a club to set their own, always read the card to be sure.

 

[PJ87]

I visited a club last week as a single and was behind a 4 ball on the 1st tee. Like the OP I decided to wait my turn and not skip the queue. I had hoped they’d swap with me but figured I’d play through them soon enough. It wasn’t busy, I had been there a while and only a few groups went out in the hour beforehand. Off they went and I waited as you can imagine on every shot.

The layout is odd so they next time I stood next to them was as they teed off on 4. All ignored me. Mmm. When this happened again on 5 I was standing next to their bags as they came down from the tee. They all broke their necks avoiding looking at me. I said “lads I’m just going to walk ahead of ye and skip this hole if you don’t mind it’s pretty slow as a single behind 4”. To which one said “we’ll that’s the trouble when you play on your own”.

Nice.

The best thing was 3 of the 4 sprayed their drives onto an adjacent fairway and had to wait for the group playing up. So I had walked the hole, tee’d off on the next and taken my approach before they reached the green.

I proceeded to play a nice pace, went through two very nice two balls and finished my round in the light. On 16 I saw them on 9. That would have been me behind them because I had the audacity to visit their club alone.

Sometimes there’s circumstance. Some people are just pigs. Better off missing a hole than being frustrated behind them.

Nah the trouble playing on your own is when you run into idiots like you guys ?

Can't believe the attuide of some when they hold you up

 

[williamalex1]

The 5 guys were well out of order, you did nothing wrong, but you really should arrive at least 10 mins before your tee time and be ready to play. Could be disqualified for a comp if you're late.

 

[toyboy54]

Ah so my fault then? I didnt get to the tee at 09:33 i walked up at 09:38. adn at Pytchley you take what time you can get.. See retired folks forget, i work so have to take rounds when i can get them, they can turn up whenever. But thanks for pointing out their attitude is my fault.

Stop being a martyr ( knob ).
Nobody said it was your fault-you should just have tasered them-BTW; were they members (haven't read all the posts )
Agreed that club's attitude was wrong!
Do you think you would have split the middle with a 250 yarder ( assuming par 4/5 ) with them all hanging around muttering/ coughing/ talking as you readied to hit?
Their noses would have been well out of joint probably,, pondlife

 

[Tashyboy]

It really does make me smile when a person wants to play on there own and some golfers think that is weird aka “ what did you expect”. The problem here was five guys wanting to play together without thinking about anyone else.
Heres a thought, why do the five not invite the single player if he fancied joining them. You know, maybe make him welcome.
I had exactly the same when playing in a 2 ball at Rufford many years ago. I was a minute late getting to the tee. 6 guys were waiting on the tee. 3 teed off so we waited for the other 3 to tee off after. The original three were walking off the green and the second three had not teed off. One of them said “ did you tell him to be here for 2.30” it was now 2.35. One of the guys said “oh hang on he is here”. The three ball was a 4 ball. At that point I simply said “ I was late so it is courtesy to wait, he is late so you four should wait”. It hit the fan big style. One bloke was effin and Jeffin at me. My PP knew one of the original three. He said in a calm manner to his gobby PP, “ he is correct, reel your neck in and let them tee off”.
However you dress it up, some golfers are pig ignorant.
PS, I shot my lowest ever round at the time that day. 86 ??

 

[3offTheTee]

I remember... a long long time ago... being in this situation and I just teed off and drove the ball over their heads. The group was standing in the middle of the fairway 200 yards up, but I was so confident in those days that I would carry it 250+. Obviously I'd never do that now, I just wish I had the confidence and consistent ball striking, even if it means being a bell end

Pleased to see you have seen the error of your ways when younger. Reading your post again perhaps you have not!

 

[sunshine]

Pleased to see you have seen the error of your ways when younger. Reading your post again perhaps you have not!

I'd like to think that today I'm a considerate golfer who is aware of others around the course.

But what if you found a golf genie who granted you long straight 260 yard carry off the tee every time. But the catch was you become an arrogant nob on the tee. What do you do? I know people who would rob their own granny if it cured their slice. It's quite a dilemma

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'd like to think that today I'm a considerate golfer who is aware of others around the course.

But what if you found a golf genie who granted you long straight 260 yard carry off the tee every time. But the catch was you become an arrogant nob on the tee. What do you do? I know people who would rob their own granny if it cured their slice. It's quite a dilemma

It's a lonely game playing on your own

 

[Coreservers]

Assuming you are talking about the 9-hole course near Kettering, I’ll see if I can join you for a round if you can play on a Sunday afternoon

would be great, but i work 24/7 shifts, so take a round when i can. was hoping to emulate the day befores 51.. thats what really got my goat up, can play on tuesday morning, but after that its 3 weeks.

 

[TigerBear]

Not as bad as the OP but I had a poor experience recently at my club.

Was playing solo and the one ball in front turned up late for his tee off time. He basically teed off 2 mins before my tee off time. Just as I was walking to the first he scurries past me and shouts out something about being " a few minutes late".

It was later in the evening so didn't mind. This older boy then proceeds to play not two but three balls. Sliced his second shot into thick rough. Thinned a second attempt and then played another.

I was standing there in disbelief at the ignorance of it all. The two ball behind me started shaking their heads.

A little bit of courtesy isnt too much to ask, appears so for some people.

 

[Slab]

I was thinking about this thread when I watched a 6-ball tee off yesterday lunchtime (starter away on break) so glad I was only there for lunch rather than playing

 

[toyboy54]

Not as bad as the OP but I had a poor experience recently at my club.

Was playing solo and the one ball in front turned up late for his tee off time. He basically teed off 2 mins before my tee off time. Just as I was walking to the first he scurries past me and shouts out something about being " a few minutes late".

It was later in the evening so didn't mind. This older boy then proceeds to play not two but three balls. Sliced his second shot into thick rough. Thinned a second attempt and then played another.

I was standing there in disbelief at the ignorance of it all. The two ball behind me started shaking their heads.

A little bit of courtesy isnt too much to ask, appears so for some people.

The way I see it -you have 2 options in this situation-but both may have 'tiny' consequences(?)
1) Just go up to him and advise that you (need to be home for the 10 o'clock news) are playing through but that you really,really hope that he finds his Balls?
He may try and play up your 'hin-end'-if his ego is hurt
2) Be a friendly member and help him look for the ball in the THICK ROUGH,, but make sure ONLY ONE of you comes out-YOU
( Don't worry, the greenstaff should find him in the morning + if HE bumps his head hard enough he'll have amnesia )
Well, I suppose there is the NUCLEAR OPTION ( very RISKY )--just shoot him