[standaman]

Doesn't sound like you were out of line to me. In fact, your suggestion to discuss the issue in a more private setting was very level headed. Sounds to me like this guy is jerk. He showed you no respect and from what you're saying, he has shown little respect to others.

Does he own this golf course, or is he an employee? Private or semi-private club? If he works for the members, maybe it's time he's shown the door. There are few clubs that can afford to have their pro driving away members. If he felt you really should pay that fee, and it sounds like you were probably willing even though it bothered you, he could have made his point politely and in private.

I belong to a club where two of the pros, a father and son, are partial owners. It's not that they are disrespectful or rude, they are just not friendly. I have a twelve year old daughter I take there three or four times a week and they have barely acknowledged her existence. For that reason, and a couple of others, I'll be going elsewhere after eight years of being a member. It's a shame because I love the golf course and they have hired a new professional this year who is really a great guy, but the place is not junior golf friendly because of these two. So we're moving on.

Maybe I'm a little dense, but to me being a golf professional is a job that should require people skills. Yet I have witnessed and/or heard about so many instances where golf professionals are idiots in my 35 years playing this game that it is astounding.

No offense to the good guy professionals out there. There's a lot of you doing a great job, I know.

Kevin