[Ikrleprl]

I played with a guy on Saturday - young guy. He was meticulous about not walking in our lines, but went around fixing ball marks while everyone else was putting. I realized after a few holes that he was probably fairly new to golf and didn't quite have the etiquette down. On the 17th hole, he wandered into the 18th fairway searching for his errant tee shot. After he finally found it, he hit it about 10 feet, then hit it again. Did I mention his set-up took forever. Anyway, the people on the 18th tee were livid by the time he finally got out of the way. So I said something to him when we walked off the 17th green. Turns out he didn't know about yielding the fairway. Normally, I wouldn't have bothered, but he did seem like he wanted to learn. Do you speak up when someone is making an etiquette faux pas?

[Lhtfajba]

Depends on how irritating it is. In the example you provided, if it bothers an entire group, definitely. If it's only bothering me, I try the glare method before speaking up.

[staisacic]

I wish people understood about yeilding to the correct hole in play.Most just play the ball with no care as to who really has the right of way

[excivaamome]

I don't know that something like this falls under the heading of etiquette, or just common sense.

Here's a scenario that's similar to waltzing into another fairway:

We're playing on our own fairway and a group in an adjacent fairway are searching for their tee shots. Invariably, one of their "scouts" will wander near our fairway and when he finds his friend's ball, he'll scream out at the top of his lungs (usually in the middle of someone's backswing), "Hey Joey! It's ova' heeeyaa!"

I know to watch for these cretins, and I try to time things out so that this doesn't happen to me, but I see many other people victimized in this way.

That along with wandering into another fairway as well as many other intrusive behaviors is just "me-ism", selfishness, or just plain old inconsiderate behavior and that is something that's part and parcel of who a person is and has little to do with not understanding golf etiquette. I mean, think about it: you're playing a game with a few hundred other people and I'm sure you "get" the idea that each hole is a separate "field".
So to simply wander into one of those fields without pausing to consider that others (just as you yourself have been doing) might be playing on one of those fields is just an example of a person who couldn't care less that he's sharing the planet with other people.

If this person was some wide-eyed eight-year-old who didn't understand anything about social interaction, that's fine - he's learning. But for an adult to just walk around and not pay any attention to what's going on around him demonstrates a person who's in his own world.

I can understand someone who doesn't know the game not realizing things like putting lines or fixing ballmarks are part of etiquette, but walking aimlessly around the course and playing along as if he were the only one there has more to do with who a person is than what they may or may not know about the finer points of a game.


-JP

[perpelverw]

For the most part I tend to mind my own business when golfing, especially if I am golfing with an unknown personality. I might mention something if it is something that effects my game the wrong way. If someone asked for advice I will gladly help them out. I would probably say something to someone I had brought with me, who I might feel responsible for, if they did something wrong.

People walking in my Putt line is no big deal, since most of the greens I play on are pretty firm, plus plenty of other folks have already tramped all over the green anyway. This is true especially in the area right around the hole. I don't walk in others' lines because I read some where years ago you are not suppose to do that. That being said the biggest irritant I run across on greens is the guy who cuts the holes, and leaves the cup high when he pulls the plug out.

Common sense goes a long ways on the golf course. Unfortunately........

[mvjvz]

I

We're playing on our own fairway and a group in an adjacent fairway are searching for their tee shots. Invariably, one of their "scouts" will wander near our fairway and when he finds his friend's ball, he'll scream out at the top of his lungs (usually in the middle of someone's backswing), "Hey Joey! It's ova' heeeyaa!"
-JP

Now that's funny right there.

[Ikrleprl]

Don't you guys who live in FL or AZ find that courses filled with retirees who are all a bit hard of hearing to be loud too?

[Jwskwhdo]

Not at all. You have to remember with so many more courses here than in your area, the retirees are so spread out. And I also must add that I know everybody thinks that about FL as a whole, and it is jsut not the case. I have lived all across this country including CT as late as 2 years ago. And there were more retirees in my neighborhood in West Hartford Center than there are in my neighborhood or any neighborhood around me in Tampa.

[Trebbinsa]

Don't you guys who live in FL or AZ find that courses filled with retirees who are all a bit hard of hearing to be loud too?

WHAT????!!!!

[Ikrleprl]

Not at all. You have to remember with so many more courses here than in your area, the retirees are so spread out.

WHAT????!!!!

Ok - in neighborhoods like Johneli's - the retirees aren't quite as spread out there.

[Sanremogirl]

Is this between the north and the south? seems like it.

[Trebbinsa]

Ok - in neighborhoods like Johneli's - the retirees aren't quite as spread out there.

The only time you really see retirees concentrated in "herds" or "flocks" down here is when they queue up at 4:30 for the early bird specials!!

[perpelverw]

I think I resemble that remark.....LOL

Don't you guys who live in FL or AZ find that courses filled with retirees who are all a bit hard of hearing to be loud too?

[en-druzhba]

To be honest, I don't really see a whole lot of retirees around here... You see the occasional news bit about one driving into a school or whatever, but for the most part, no, not more than you'd expect anywhere else...

(back on topic)

As for the advice piece, if I bring them I'll guide them in the ways of golf, if we're paired up, than really, it's not my place and perhaps they do know and just don't care..

I'm pretty easy going on the whole and don't let very much bother me.

I really enjoy a round with some old retirees though, they are FUNny!

[Sydneyfonzi]

I will if needed....esp if they are new so that way they dont do it again

[Trebbinsa]

To be honest, I don't really see a whole lot of retirees around here... You see the occasional news bit about one driving into a school or whatever, but for the most part, no, not more than you'd expect anywhere else...

(back on topic)

As for the advice piece, if I bring them I'll guide them in the ways of golf, if we're paired up, than really, it's not my place and perhaps they do know and just don't care..

I'm pretty easy going on the whole and don't let very much bother me.

I really enjoy a round with some old retirees though, they are FUNny!

Move to South Florida. The first thing you will notice is that no one is seemingly driving the cars that are moving about. I don't see how some of these people can drive staring at the dashboard.

[moopogyOvenny]

I can usually tell if someone will be receptive to "advice." I NEVER give golf advice on the course, unless solicited by my golf partner. However, for someone's own safety, I think I'd tell them to wait until the golfers on the adjacent hole hit their shots before walking out to hit theirs.

As far as being slow with his pre-shot routine, I'm sure he got that from watching television! I believe watching the pro's on television instill more BAD habits than GOOD ones for new golfers - lining putts up from every conceivable angle for 2-3 minutes, checking constantly for changing wind conditions before hitting, etc...

[excivaamome]

As far as being slow with his pre-shot routine, I'm sure he got that from watching television! I believe watching the pro's on television instill more BAD habits than GOOD ones for new golfers - lining putts up from every conceivable angle for 2-3 minutes, checking constantly for changing wind conditions before hitting, etc...

Question:

Do you have a pre-shot routine and do you read all of your putts?

The reason I ask is that a lot of people don't do these things and so when they see someone who does, they sometimes see it as "wasting time" or as simply "copying the pro's". I have a pre-shot routine for every shot I make and I have a putting routine as well. I try to do everything as quickly as I can (especially reading putts) but sometimes it takes a bit longer than normal and I don't apologize for that.

I think a pre-shot routine is vital to playing consistent golf.

As far as putting is concerned, as I've written before, I can generally read most putts from behind the ball, but every now and then I get one that I just can't figure out and I will then walk behind the hole to take a look from there. If that occasionally takes a bit more time, then it is what it is. I'm not going to blow a chance at making a putt just because someone else is impatient. In most cases, we're only going to end up waiting on the next tee anyway, so what difference would it make?


-JP

[Sanremogirl]

Question:

Do you have a pre-shot routine and do you read all of your putts?

The reason I ask is that a lot of people don't do these things and so when they see someone who does, they sometimes see it as "wasting time" or as simply "copying the pro's". I have a pre-shot routine for every shot I make and I have a putting routine as well. I try to do everything as quickly as I can (especially reading putts) but sometimes it takes a bit longer than normal and I don't apologize for that.

I think a pre-shot routine is vital to playing consistent golf.

As far as putting is concerned, as I've written before, I can generally read most putts from behind the ball, but every now and then I get one that I just can't figure out and I will then walk behind the hole to take a look from there. If that occasionally takes a bit more time, then it is what it is. I'm not going to blow a chance at making a putt just because someone else is impatient. In most cases, we're only going to end up waiting on the next tee anyway, so what difference would it make?


-JP

pre shot routine to play consistant golf I'll have to agree. But not all of the machinations some golfers go through is a consistant pre shot routine and that's what I think the complaint is about.
If you go though all that what you're describing on the green to miss the hole by feet though lack of speed,over hitting,bad read etc. then yes it's b.s. and slows up pace of play. On the other hand if you have all that down and it's part of your routine that holes putts by all means it's good to do.

[moopogyOvenny]

Question:

Do you have a pre-shot routine and do you read all of your putts? ...



-JP

Yes, but most of my pre-shot routine is sizing up the shot as I walk toward my ball, and I'm reading my putt discretely while I await my turn to putt.


I think Diane mentioned that the guy she was paired with was a "newbie" and not hitting the ball well at all. If I was hitting the ball 40 yards, the last thing I'd worry about was a pre-shot routine.

Just my opinion of course.