lukeysafc100
Head Pro
Nipped out at lunchtime today to whip round my local par 3 (with one par 4). It's a well kept course in a nice setting and I can shoot round in well under an hour so its ideal for lunchtime.
Get to the tee and a three ball have just gone off (not even reached their bags at this stage). Half thought they might let me through immediately, they didn't, but I wasn't concerned as I was sure they would soon enough.
With a bit of hacking around in the woods, they finished the first hole and trundled off to the second. I was on the second tee before they'd finished teeing off. By the time they'd finished that hole, the two ball behind me were also on the tee.
It went on like this, I would tee off as soon as the green was clear and they were out of range, and be on the next tee with them only just trundling off down the next hole.
On the 5th, I was actually on the tee before they'd finished teeing off. Once they had all put a ball in play I asked very politely if they would mind me playing through. The 5th is the only par 4 hole (245 yards ish), and the 6th tee isn't much beyond the green so I don't feel comfortable hitting a driver until that tee is clear, so I could have been waiting a while had I not pushed the issue at that point:
"What do you think Tel?", says one to the other. "No" say Tel. "I won't hold you up", I say, "No", says Tel, "we've already teed off now." I explain that doesn't matter and reiterate that I won't hold them up. I also add that I've waited patiently for 5 holes on every tee. Tel still harps on about how they've already teed off and they'll let me through on the next one, so I continue to push the point that it doesn't matter that they've teed off and I'll be off out of their way immediately. Eventually, common sense prevails and one of them says "lets just let him through", which Tel grudgingly agrees to.
As I'm teeing the ball up he wheels out the "single players have no standing" line, which I correct him on. "It's a nice day guys, lets not spoil it", says one of the playing partners, "Too late", says Tel....
Anyway, I'm standing on the tee, big dog in hand while Tel still chunters away BOSH! Straight into the middle of the green. The first good drive I've hit in ages.
Silence.
And then Tel says "I lost that in the air, I didn't see if it reached the bunker."
"It's in the middle of the green. Enjoy the rest of your round." And off I stroll (smugly) up the fairway. Tel scoffed as if I'd somehow spoiled his day.
I three putted from 12 feet, but they wouldn't have seen that as their tee shots had barely covered the first 100 yards.
I couldn't really believe that a three ball wouldn't let a single player through on a par 3 course when so obviously they were holding that person up. Notwithstanding the "single player has no standing" rubbish, isn't it just common courtesy? Madness. If the course had been packed out in front of them, I wouldn't have minded, but it was completely empty.
Sometimes, I just can't understand the attitude of other people, although fortunately people like Tel are in the minority in my experience.
As I finished the 9th hole, they were halfway down the 6th.....
I love golf - every part of the game I love - except a lot of people who play. Some people are just pure dickheads. It is what spoils our game. Common sense doesn't prevail in our sport.
"single has no standing" is bollocks in my eyes. I follow the rule - person(s) have caught you up - let them through. But they wouldn't let anyone through even if you were a two ball. Personally I would feel more pissed that they didn't offer you to join them. Anytime I see a single player on the course - I offer to play with them. Its a social game!
