Is it me.......?

It has been a difficult and very trying golf season this year,having struggled with a number of different issues I reached a where resigning my membership was a serious option in order to focus on playing vintage equipment on our academy course.

Equipment was an issue that was relatively easy to solve having bought a recent set of Adams forged irons and new model Callaway BB driver I played pretty well with them until I stood back and took a long,cold,hard look and decided it was all crap and I didn't actually like the stuff,so it's now all residing in the dark recesses of the spare room.

The other issues were much more difficult.

What do you do about people who cheat?

The man who picks up his ball in the rough claiming he is allowed to identify it,then places it on top of the grass with a perfect lie?

The man who when asked for his score gives a number one less than actually taken and when corrected claims to have 'forgotten' the chip out of the trees?

People who have no regard for the etiquette of the game?

People who always rake the ball out of the hole using their putter and when admonished say 'I've seen other people do it'.

People who are either never ready to play when it's their turn or stand 25 yards in front of you,not exactly on the line of play but certainly within your eye-line?

A Chairman of Greens who drives up,unloads a mower and commences cutting 100 yards from the tee and directly in the line of play?

I have played for nearly 50 years and cannot remember when the standard of behaviour and lack of courtesy and etiquette was ever as low as it is now.

Is it my fault for having such an old-fashioned view of how the game should be?

No, I don't think it's you. It's just the coarsening of society in general, and people not even being aware of others. I experienced a lot of frustrations on the course this year too, a lot of which were alleviated by playing alone in the early morning with a minimalist setup of classic clubs.

When I did play with others, I considered it nothing more than a practice round. For years I have played with someone who improves his every lie. Several times he has asked me if I thought it was wrong. I used to tell him that it was against the rules, but nothing ever changed. Now I just don't bother.

I find the most satisfaction on those early summer mornings, when the dew is still on the greens, right at sunrise. I'm by myself, enjoying the game, hitting great shots with classic clubs, enjoying the sound of a persimmon driver, playing at my own very fast pace, and am off the course well before amature hour begins. Maybe that is where you are headed.

OP....wish you were with us today. Another WRX member and I played together for the first time today, and it was a real joy.

While neither of us admittedly scored too well, I was able to help him understand how to hit from a greenside bunker (after I played from one myself, and he commented on how easy I made it look) I told him it was the easiest shot in golf, and once he understood how to do it, he was like a kid in a candy store for the rest of the round.

Told him I didn't like to roll the ball, so we got that out of the way quickly.

Pace of play....we always kept up, and while we were often held up, we never complained, and the group behind never caught us.

Renewed my faith in the game and the players.....

So, while things at times look bad for the game of golf, there are always bright spots, and today, I was fortunate enough to have been able to share one with someone from WRX who appreciated it as well.

Keep the course, OP

I guess it all just depends upon what you want out of golf. A lot of the issues that have been cited, whether it be cheaters or plodders or the inconsiderate are simply a reflection of who you choose (or are forced to) play with. That's a fairly easy remedy. I think if I was solely focused on the outcome of the round I would have given the game up by now as it's simply so frustrating.

I chose to take a somewhat different approach. This is supposed to be a social game after all, so enjoy the camaraderie of those that you want to play with. There's no need to be in a rush, so slow play doesn't really bother me like it does some. If I have to be someplace else, then perhaps I shouldn't be at the golf course. ;) Play whatever it is that gives you pleasure. It doesn't always have to be about posting the lowest possible score. Learn to take what the course gives you and be satisfied with maneuvering your way around that. I don't want to be that guy that plays alone and speeds his way through his round just to go home and sit and look at four walls. If that's the case then I may as well just jump on my bike and hit the road for an hour and a half. I'll burn more calories and it won't cost me anything to "play".

In the UK we play what are known as 'clutches' or 'roll-ups' where your ball goes into a draw for partners,I have no issue with playing with anyone regardless of standard as long as their behaviour on the golf course is acceptable.

Pace of play is not really an issue either,I am not someone who likes to brag that it only took 3 hours and 'where have you been?',however it is bloody annoying when you're standing on a green waiting for someone to putt and on turning round to see what the delay is find he's rummaging through his tour bag looking for a sandwich!

Equally,I have been drawn twice this week with a 26 handicapper who playing for our winter eclectic competition was asked by the bloke scoring his card what he had taken on the hole just played.

'Five net four.'

I had to dive in 'Excuse me,you were in the trees off the tee,hit across the fairway into the other trees,hit another tree trying to escape from the woods,chipped on to the back of the green and took two putts.'

He called to his marker 'It seems we have to bow to our colleague's superior knowledge and experience and mark me down for a six.'

He has told almost everyone that it's down to a medical condition,must be fiddlingtwatitis.

During the winter we are permitted to use mats to preserve the fairways,this same guy (26 handicap) was hitting driver off the mat on long par-4 and par-5 holes,I was never near enough to see but figure he's slipping a tee peg into the mat before replacing the ball.

I have decided that if I'm drawn with the particular individual again I will politely refuse and withdraw.

In the UK we play what are known as 'clutches' or 'roll-ups' where your ball goes into a draw for partners,I have no issue with playing with anyone regardless of standard as long as their behaviour on the golf course is acceptable.

Pace of play is not really an issue either,I am not someone who likes to brag that it only took 3 hours and 'where have you been?',however it is bloody annoying when you're standing on a green waiting for someone to putt and on turning round to see what the delay is find he's rummaging through his tour bag looking for a sandwich!

Equally,I have been drawn twice this week with a 26 handicapper who playing for our winter eclectic competition was asked by the bloke scoring his card what he had taken on the hole just played.

'Five net four.'

I had to dive in 'Excuse me,you were in the trees off the tee,hit across the fairway into the other trees,hit another tree trying to escape from the woods,chipped on to the back of the green and took two putts.'

He called to his marker 'It seems we have to bow to our colleague's superior knowledge and experience and mark me down for a six.'

He has told almost everyone that it's down to a medical condition,must be fiddlingtwatitis.

During the winter we are permitted to use mats to preserve the fairways,this same guy (26 handicap) was hitting driver off the mat on long par-4 and par-5 holes,I was never near enough to see but figure he's slipping a tee peg into the mat before replacing the ball.

I have decided that if I'm drawn with the particular individual again I will politely refuse and withdraw.

you have my sympathy. See my thread in rules and etiquette.

Equally,I have been drawn twice this week with a 26 handicapper who playing for our winter eclectic competition was asked by the bloke scoring his card what he had taken on the hole just played.

'Five net four.'

I had to dive in 'Excuse me,you were in the trees off the tee,hit across the fairway into the other trees,hit another tree trying to escape from the woods,chipped on to the back of the green and took two putts.'

He called to his marker 'It seems we have to bow to our colleague's superior knowledge and experience and mark me down for a six.'

He has told almost everyone that it's down to a medical condition,must be fiddlingtwatitis.

During the winter we are permitted to use mats to preserve the fairways,this same guy (26 handicap) was hitting driver off the mat on long par-4 and par-5 holes,I was never near enough to see but figure he's slipping a tee peg into the mat before replacing the ball.

I have decided that if I'm drawn with the particular individual again I will politely refuse and withdraw.

I'm pretty easy going when it comes to playing with anybody but I can't abide cheating in any form and if some arrogant tosser, who is unable to admit that he's wrong, made the highlighted comment above then like you I'd refuse to play with them.

(For forgetful folk an alternative tactic is to tell them that they scored 1 more than their actual, somehow they can quickly remember and recount every shot they hit.)

Equally,I have been drawn twice this week with a 26 handicapper who playing for our winter eclectic competition was asked by the bloke scoring his card what he had taken on the hole just played.

'Five net four.'

I had to dive in 'Excuse me,you were in the trees off the tee,hit across the fairway into the other trees,hit another tree trying to escape from the woods,chipped on to the back of the green and took two putts.'

He called to his marker 'It seems we have to bow to our colleague's superior knowledge and experience and mark me down for a six.'

He has told almost everyone that it's down to a medical condition,must be fiddlingtwatitis.

During the winter we are permitted to use mats to preserve the fairways,this same guy (26 handicap) was hitting driver off the mat on long par-4 and par-5 holes,I was never near enough to see but figure he's slipping a tee peg into the mat before replacing the ball.

I have decided that if I'm drawn with the particular individual again I will politely refuse and withdraw.

 

I'm pretty easy going when it comes to playing with anybody but I can't abide cheating in any form and if some arrogant tosser, who is unable to admit that he's wrong, made the highlighted comment above then like you I'd refuse to play with them.

 

(For forgetful folk an alternative tactic is to tell them that they scored 1 more than their actual, somehow they can quickly remember and recount every shot they hit.)

I can appreciate the frustration at the lack of common courtesy or etiquette, but I don't actually care about anyone else's score (real or imagined), so long as there is no wager.

I would have more fun raising eyebrows, praising their amazing math skills, ask them how many fingers I'm holding up, asking them how many clubs are in their bag.

"Are you sure you have 14, or is it really 13?"

Or asking them right after they hit their driive, "Now let's see, is that your zero or your first shot on this hole?".

I have enough to do worrying about myself. I don't have time to worry about others.

There is money involved although in such piddling amounts that it's hard to imagine why anyone would bother and that only makes it sadder along with the fact that it's his fellow members that he sits and socialises with that he's cheating.

People who always rake the ball out of the hole using their putter and when admonished say 'I've seen other people do it'.

But won’t this scratch the putter?

No, I don't think it's you. It's just the coarsening of society in general, and people not even being aware of others. I experienced a lot of frustrations on the course this year too, a lot of which were alleviated by playing alone in the early morning with a minimalist setup of classic clubs.

 

When I did play with others, I considered it nothing more than a practice round. For years I have played with someone who improves his every lie. Several times he has asked me if I thought it was wrong. I used to tell him that it was against the rules, but nothing ever changed. Now I just don't bother.

 

I find the most satisfaction on those early summer mornings, when the dew is still on the greens, right at sunrise. I'm by myself, enjoying the game, hitting great shots with classic clubs, enjoying the sound of a persimmon driver, playing at my own very fast pace, and am off the course well before amature hour begins. Maybe that is where you are headed.

I have to agree wholeheartedly. Playing alone is a joy. Rude behavior on courses just illustrates society in general.

Even playing alone, I've run into potential situations. Recently, I'm playing alone, a twosome playing a "practice" hole jumps in front of me to play the ninth. I'm on the eighth green. "I wasn't even there." I guess the adage of "Singles have no rights on a golf course" rings true, with these jerks.

To answer the OP's question, "It's not you."

Just in case some people didn't get the message, the "singles have no status" thing in the rules was removed a few years ago.

There is money involved although in such piddling amounts that it's hard to imagine why anyone would bother and that only makes it sadder along with the fact that it's his fellow members that he sits and socialises with that he's cheating.

I played in an old guys' league for a bunch of years. For $3, (a pound?) you'd be surprised how many guys would find OB balls in play, cheat on score, move balls on the green, and do all kind of nonsense. It was actually funny. One time, I double hit a putt, and told the "captain" that I was out of the hole. The guy was ready to fight with me, marked that I had a bogey. All to get $5 to $6 back, if on the winning team.

Most of the guys were honest, but some were just the exact opposite. Most of my time in the league, I was a captain. I'd just watch the cheaters, and write down scores correctly. Better, I'd avoid picking them.

I always used to say, that I wasn't going to compromise my honesty for so little. For a million, I may have to think about it for a while.

It's not you sir

I've said it before, the world is going to hell in a handbasket (I'm almost 50, 37 years of golf under the belt)

It's a society becoming more and more focused on themselves. And it is not just on the golf course

On the road, at the grocery store, everywhere ...... it is PERVASIVE

I can only suggest finding like minded individuals to play with

It's not you sir

 

I've said it before, the world is going to hell in a handbasket (I'm almost 50, 37 years of golf under the belt)

 

It's a society becoming more and more focused on themselves. And it is not just on the golf course

 

On the road, at the grocery store, everywhere ...... it is PERVASIVE

 

I can only suggest finding like minded individuals to play with

Precisely why I intend to stay off the roads, and out of the stores on Black Friday. Should be called Black &Blue Friday for all the scraps & scratches.

I don't cheat since I don't keep score.

Since I don't keep score I don't give a sh*t what you put down for yourself.

Don't keep up, don't fix your divots or ball marks, act up or out and you'll find yourself playing alone.

Speaking of fixing ball marks, it's amazing how few people actually carry anything with them to fix them. Not even a tee. One of the courses I play on a regular basis has taken to giving the repair tools away, but still people can't seem to be bothered with that. Go figure.

Not fixing pitch marks drives me nuts. It’s as if people don’t care anymore. Can’t be that difficult a task can it?

Not fixing pitch marks drives me nuts. It's as if people don't care anymore. Can't be that difficult a task can it?

Not fixing pitch makes seems borderline epidemic on most courses nowadays.

Not fixing pitch makes seems borderline epidemic on most courses nowadays.

Not borderline, it's a systemic issue with patrons attitudes. They just don't care or worse yet, it's not their job!

I could fix six on every green I play and still not get them all. Tomorrow it will happen all over again and don't get me started on bunkers!

Naaah! Trust me it ain't you and you are not getting to be an old fart curmudgeon either. Like Carnie said the world has went to hell in a hand basket. I myself sadly say that a lot these days. You think it is bad where you play with folks not raking traps fixing ball marks etc you ought to live and play here in this tourist mecca. Of course the Florida guys know just as well what I am talking about.

Yesterday a ball came flying from somewhere,missed one of my playing partners by a whisker and thudded into the turf about 8 feet behind him,if it had connected it would have been a perfect headshot.

The group in front were on the next tee,the group behind were halfway down their own (parallel) fairway and I struggled to imagine where the ball had come from until a figure emerged from behind the bushes 150 yards or so ahead and to our left.

Imagine three fairly wide parallel fairways,13th,14th,15th.we are playing 14,the dick who nearly hit us was playing 13 but was almost on the 15th he was so wide!

As we crossed he said 'I did shout!',we had heard nothing and I said 'You must have seen us,why didn't you wait?'

His reply was 'You're on a golf course,you should expect to be hit'.

He's another of the 'I never take a divot','I didn't leave a pitch mark','My feet never touch the sand in a bunker so I don't need a rake' and 'Up yours Jack,I'll do as I please I paid my money',party.

Yesterday a ball came flying from somewhere,missed one of my playing partners by a whisker and thudded into the turf about 8 feet behind him,if it had connected it would have been a perfect headshot.

The group in front were on the next tee,the group behind were halfway down their own (parallel) fairway and I struggled to imagine where the ball had come from until a figure emerged from behind the bushes 150 yards or so ahead and to our left.

Imagine three fairly wide parallel fairways,13th,14th,15th.we are playing 14,the dick who nearly hit us was playing 13 but was almost on the 15th he was so wide!

As we crossed he said 'I did shout!',we had heard nothing and I said 'You must have seen us,why didn't you wait?'

His reply was 'You're on a golf course,you should expect to be hit'.

He's another of the 'I never take a divot','I didn't leave a pitch mark','My feet never touch the sand in a bunker so I don't need a rake' and 'Up yours Jack,I'll do as I please I paid my money',party.

Now I've heard it all! :rolleyes:

During my men's league play back in the fall my group was hit into three times in nine holes by the same guy! His tee shot on one hit one of my playing partner's bag. On three he rinsed his tee ball at right about the distance that we were standing waiting to hit our short approaches. On 6 he drives the green across the dog-leg as we are on the green getting ready to putt and finally on nine he drove the long par three before we had putted out because the weather was threatening. His excuse was that he didn't want to get wet! He's a really nice guy and funny as heck in that east coast style, but he's a bloody hazard to play in front of. Thick as a brick when it comes to judging distance! Our convener usually tries to send him off in the first or last group depending.

His reply was 'You're on a golf course,you should expect to be hit'.

I would have punched him in the face.

When he'd come to and ask why, I'd tell him it was because he was on the golf course.

Naaah! Trust me it ain't you and you are not getting to be an old fart curmudgeon either. Like Carnie said the world has went to hell in a hand basket. I myself sadly say that a lot these days. You think it is bad where you play with folks not raking traps fixing ball marks etc you ought to live and play here in this tourist mecca. Of course the Florida guys know just as well what I am talking about.

You ain't just whistling Dixie there Stu.

On the subject of being Hit Into.

I will give them one.

A second offense will see me heading back to the offending player(s) and telling them firmly not to let it happen again.

If it happens a third time the least that's going to happen is me throwing their ball as far OB as I can heave it. Preferably into a canal, pond, or parking lot.

It has happened. Had a foursome hit into me on 3 consecutive holes. Younger guys and apparently in a hurry. Unfortunately for them they were playing on a very busy day with groups stacked up as far in front as I could see. The 3rd ball hit into me went into a parking lot. The 4 of them started jumping up and down on the tee box like a bunch of primates until I turned back to them and gesturing with my 7 iron screamed "Bring It M'Fers!" They took a good look and decided they'd better settle down. I have gone eye to eye with an offender before but haven't had to punch any of them... yet.

Being hit into is extremely dangerous and something I simply will not tolerate.

And yes, I will and do report offenders to the Marshall, if I can find one.

I don't care what people do during casual rounds. It's only during competition where I hope everyone follows the rules.

"You should expect to be hit" Really? What a moron.

I think it is you. As in you're now noticing and expecting more than you did in the past. These things have always been there. This isn't a slam, this is a level of awareness. As a kid I remember the club pro dealing with all these same issues. As a club pro, I dealt with all these same issues. As an experienced golfer, I see all these same issues. But I also see folks doing it right. I also see kids learning properly. I also see etiquette being respected. I firmly believe that one will find what they're looking for...