[Gideleb]

This is a timely thread, considering I ran into a situation that really frustrated me and made me wonder the same thing. I was playing at a semi-private course late this afternoon, it wasn't very busy, but there was a foursome slowing up me and three other groups. These guy were pretty bad golfers. There is nothing wrong with not being a great golfer, but these guys were hitting multiple balls off the tee, chasing every errant shot into the trees, water, whatever. You could tell they had played enough to know the rules of golf and proper etiquette. The fact that they blatantly ignored everyone behind them is beyond rude to me. If I feel like I'm in a group that is playing slow or if there is someone behind me who can play through, then I am more than happy to let them through, because I would want someone to do the same for me. Anyway, one guy carried around a ball retriever every where he went and would fish his ball and other balls with it. Even after they had putted out. They left cigarette butts on the green on every hole. I saw one guy take a full swing with an iron and hit his ball off the green and towards the next tee box. Absolutely absurd.
I was playing solo so I don't mind if I have to wait because that's what I expect, but these guys were slowing down another foursome in front of me, along with two twosomes. I ended joining a group and since we were the last group that was being slowed down, we just chipped and putted after every hole, so it really wasn't that bad on the front, but on the turn everyone else got frustrated and left, leaving me the only one stupid enough to keep playing. I thought they might let me play through, because I was the only person being held up. Nope. I usually don't do this, but I finally just skipped ahead of them on the 14th hole. I was playing pretty well, too, but I had had enough of waiting. I just don't understand how people can act like that. I don't get it. I really don't. My story isn't nearly as crazy as Jrodgers', but it's in the same vein. I think most golfers use proper etiquette and respect others on the course, it's just the ones that do seem to stand out.