512 yard eagle stirred up some anger

I got my first eagle of the year with some pretty good shots on a 512 yard par 5. My drive was about 260 yards, leaving about the same to the green for the second shot. Hit a low draw on the second shot landing about 75 yards in front of the green and rolled up 10ft past the flag. The problem was the foursome in front of us was still putting on the green. On a previous par 5 my second shot rolled up about 5 yards short of the green. One of the guys in the foursome got angry with me, very controlled though, and let me know how he felt. I apologized and told him it was my second shot and I didn't think I could reach the green from where I was. Standing over the putt, I was determined to put a quality stroke on the ball, and I did, sinking about a 10 footer.

Question:

How would you have responded if you were in the foursome putting out?

I got my first eagle of the year with some pretty good shots on a 512 yard par 5. My drive was about 260 yards, leaving about the same to the green for the second shot. Hit a low draw on the second shot landing about 75 yards in front of the green and rolled up 10ft past the flag. The problem was the foursome in front of us was still putting on the green. On a previous par 5 my second shot rolled up about 5 yards short of the green. One of the guys in the foursome got angry with me, very controlled though, and let me know how he felt. I apologized and told him it was my second shot and I didn't think I could reach the green from where I was. Standing over the putt, I was determined to put a quality stroke on the ball, and I did, sinking about a 10 footer.

Question:

How would you have responded if you were in the foursome putting out?

This has happened to me and I have said, "Great shot!" It's not like the ball hit the green on the fly. Sure I would have been a bit annoyed, but when push comes to shove I was in no danger and the person was quite apologetic.

Given you a high five/thumbs up. When one rolls up like that and you can barely see the guy hitting, its usually pretty clear it was not intentional. Totally different than one flying over your head

Yeah I wouldn’t have been upset about that. Anytime it’s clearly unintentional there is no reason to be a jerk. Great eagle.

Now Mikey my question: was your approach shot hit with your trusty 4 wood? Lol. What degree is yours and model? I don’t think a 20* 5 wood is going to work for me.

Hard to be mad at someone with their hat off in the left hand and the right one outstretched for a shake.

Did you yell "fore"? If yes, congrats on the nice shot. If no, I might suggest you should have.

Yeah I wouldn’t have been upset about that. Anytime it’s clearly unintentional there is no reason to be a jerk. Great eagle.

 

Now Mikey my question: was your approach shot hit with your trusty 4 wood? Lol. What degree is yours and model? I don’t think a 20* 5 wood is going to work for me.

Friend of mine did similar to you. The guy on the green got all mad because his 10 year old son was on the green and acted like a rolling golf ball could have killed his kid. I'd have no problem with what you did. Glad you made the putt.

Yeah I wouldn’t have been upset about that. Anytime it’s clearly unintentional there is no reason to be a jerk. Great eagle.

 

Now Mikey my question: was your approach shot hit with your trusty 4 wood? Lol. What degree is yours and model? I don’t think a 20* 5 wood is going to work for me.

I have a Callaway XR16 4W that is 17 degree loft. There is a bit of irony in the whole matter in that I have an injured left shoulder that might need surgical repair at the end of the season. As a result I have altered my swing 2 make it easy on the shoulder for no pain, but I gained yardage because of it. My shot shaping was high and straight, which did not produce much roll out on the ball. Now my angle of attack on the golf ball is more level with a slight inside to out swing path causing my ball to launch lower with some draw on it producing large roll outs. No pun intended, but I don't know my own capabilities right now as far as distance. I am actually hitting the ball much farther Now with an injured shoulder than I was before my shoulder was injured. I know it sounds sort of crazy but it's the truth.

Yeah thats crazy. Hope your shoulder gets better. I might be tempted to leave it be. I can always use more distance. Haha. Teasing.

I will check that club out. My 3 and 5 woods are Alpha Reactions. Alpha doesn’t make the heads anymore and I’m not finding any 17* component heads I like. Years ago my brother had one of those small head 4 woods to go along with his driver. That driver was very popular with anyone he played with. You could even hit it off the turf with a fluffy lie. But anyway whenever I wasn’t feeling it with a long iron on a carry par 3 I’d say “let me see that 4 wood”. I’m telling you did the trick every time. : ).

I have had a ball trickle onto a green while our group was still putting. It was clearly a case of a ball rolling out much farther than thought to be possible. The guy came up to us apologizing before he got out of the cart, so no big deal. If your ball rolled out 75 yards, same situation, apologize and it's over.

Nice shot! Anyone who says otherwise is salty and probably hasn't hit a par 5 in 2 before.

Nice shot! Anyone who says otherwise is salty and probably hasn't hit a par 5 in 2 before.

Anyone who would suggest something so inane has never been hit by a golfball before.

Nice shot! Anyone who says otherwise is salty and probably hasn't hit a par 5 in 2 before.

 

Anyone who would suggest something so inane has never been hit by a golfball before.

I have been hit twice. I don't see a ball gently rolling onto the green as a threat. :-) And, I understand it wasn't intentional and was probably a shot he didn't think he had.

I don’t normally get too worked up (and probably wouldn’t have in this case since the ball rolled up), but you got very close to them earlier. I can understand why he was upset.

Once is forgivable, twice it starts to get a little more dicey.

Ol boy on the green needs to take a chill pill....250+ out, not everyone can launch it that far from the grass. Nice 3!

I don’t normally get too worked up (and probably wouldn’t have in this case since the ball rolled up), but you got very close to them earlier. I can understand why he was upset.

 

Once is forgivable, twice it starts to get a little more dicey.

I don’t normally get too worked up (and probably wouldn’t have in this case since the ball rolled up), but you got very close to them earlier. I can understand why he was upset.

 

Once is forgivable, twice it starts to get a little more dicey.

I can understand what you're saying, and the conversation didn't escalate too badly. I knew he was upset, so I just apologized. I am getting massive rollouts on my shots that I never had before so I am a bit confused on how far I can actually hit it. 260 yards off the deck is not too common for me. I made sure after that not to even have a chance to come close to them. The eagle really felt good, on the tee we were talking about getting Eagles, as one of my playing Partners got one about two weeks ago. So I said it sure would be nice to get an eagle, and then stopped thinking about it after that. Turns out I got one on the same hole that the conversation started on.

That's good it didn't escalate. Sounds like he was a bit upset but at least stayed reasonable. He probably understood and believed what you told him, the guys who really come unglued when a ball rolls up are probably upset about something else. You did all you could when you apologized. But now you're in that world where you have to wait because you know on occasion you CAN get there. It's a good problem to have!

And by the way, I forgot to add. Congratulations!

I got my first eagle of the year with some pretty good shots on a 512 yard par 5. My drive was about 260 yards, leaving about the same to the green for the second shot. Hit a low draw on the second shot landing about 75 yards in front of the green and rolled up 10ft past the flag. The problem was the foursome in front of us was still putting on the green. On a previous par 5 my second shot rolled up about 5 yards short of the green. One of the guys in the foursome got angry with me, very controlled though, and let me know how he felt. I apologized and told him it was my second shot and I didn't think I could reach the green from where I was. Standing over the putt, I was determined to put a quality stroke on the ball, and I did, sinking about a 10 footer.

Question:

How would you have responded if you were in the foursome putting out?

My problem is that you almost did it the first time, and if you got 75yards of roll-out the second one it suggests you got something similar on the first one and should have been expecting it.

So while I could excuse the first as being unintentional, being as any golfer should be cognizant of the consequences (both good and bad) of any shot they make, the second is nothing but intentional and shows you weren't thinking.

Leaving you in the wrong.

I mean it's one thing to be 300+ out on a par-5 and end up catching one really rich, resulting in a once in a lifetime shot - but that wasn't the case here, you had a reasonable result from a fairway wood and you almost hit somebody.

And that's what worries me about the replies I'm seeing here, nobody's considering that somebody could have been hurt.

Because our responsibility as golfers, and humans, is to be aware of the consequences of our actions.

Now I'm not going to profess to being totally innocent.

I was playing my home course years ago, had just gotten a new 3-wood, and was standing on the edge of the fairway planning my normal layup to about 50-75 yards, and "caught one on the screws." The four of us stood there looking at the shot, that none of us thought it would reach the green, and were all shocked when it flew all the way to the green and the guys on the green started yelling. Obviously angry.

Now, in our defense, that was about 25 years ago, and ballatas didn't fly as far as modern balls.

I apologized profusely, and made sure to keep our spacing from the group we were following the rest of the day.

But the lesson was to expect the unexpected.

If you're laying up, lay up. Hit a 5wood or 3iron, instead of a 3-wood that can actually reach the green.

But if you're planning to hit something that could reach the green, wait until the green clears.

And that's what you should have done, waited.

Any excuses otherwise are just that, excuses.

Nice shot! Anyone who says otherwise is salty and probably hasn't hit a par 5 in 2 before.

 

Anyone who would suggest something so inane has never been hit by a golfball before.

 

I have been hit twice. I don't see a ball gently rolling onto the green as a threat. :-) And, I understand it wasn't intentional and was probably a shot he didn't think he had.

I've been hit once, which resulted in a serious hematoma on my back.

And I once had to rush a buddy to the hospital that had been hit in the head by an errant shot from which he was bleeding profusely.

If you haven't had a ball hit into you or you hit into someone on accident, you haven't played very much golf. Dude was probably playing bad and just got angry. Or he is just one of those guys who just gets annoyed for whatever reason and shouldn't be playing this game anyway.

A good friend was just trying to get to the front area of a green on a par 5 approach once. I used a rangefinder and the guys on the green were 285, so I said give it a rip. He hit 5 wood, landed on the front and rolled up to within a few feet of them. We drove up to them as they were leaving the tee box on the next hole and he apologized. They were very cool about it and asked "Did you make the putt?"

Another day, another story. Drove up to #2 tee box and ranged a group in front of us to 350ish. Hit my drive to around 285-290. One of the guys gets in his cart, drives 75ish yards to my ball, gets out of the cart with club in hand and hits my ball 150yds OB, on purpose! Approached him as his group was teeing off on #3 and asked "WTF?". The a-hole says "I thought it was my ball", tossed me a Mojo and says "Here you go, now we're even".

Key to this game is playing behind people that aren't dicks!

I got my first eagle of the year with some pretty good shots on a 512 yard par 5. My drive was about 260 yards, leaving about the same to the green for the second shot. Hit a low draw on the second shot landing about 75 yards in front of the green and rolled up 10ft past the flag. The problem was the foursome in front of us was still putting on the green. On a previous par 5 my second shot rolled up about 5 yards short of the green. One of the guys in the foursome got angry with me, very controlled though, and let me know how he felt. I apologized and told him it was my second shot and I didn't think I could reach the green from where I was. Standing over the putt, I was determined to put a quality stroke on the ball, and I did, sinking about a 10 footer.

Question:

How would you have responded if you were in the foursome putting out?

To answer your question. "Nice shot but that's the 2nd time you hit into us. Please don't do it again."

My problem is that you almost did it the first time, and if you got 75yards of roll-out the second one it suggests you got something similar on the first one and should have been expecting it.

So while I could excuse the first as being unintentional, being as any golfer should be cognizant of the consequences (both good and bad) of any shot they make, the second is nothing but intentional and shows you weren't thinking.

Leaving you in the wrong.

 

I mean it's one thing to be 300+ out on a par-5 and end up catching one really rich, resulting in a once in a lifetime shot - but that wasn't the case here, you had a reasonable result from a fairway wood and you almost hit somebody.

And that's what worries me about the replies I'm seeing here, nobody's considering that somebody could have been hurt.

Because our responsibility as golfers, and humans, is to be aware of the consequences of our actions.

 

Now I'm not going to profess to being totally innocent.

I was playing my home course years ago, had just gotten a new 3-wood, and was standing on the edge of the fairway planning my normal layup to about 50-75 yards, and "caught one on the screws." The four of us stood there looking at the shot, that none of us thought it would reach the green, and were all shocked when it flew all the way to the green and the guys on the green started yelling. Obviously angry.

Now, in our defense, that was about 25 years ago, and ballatas didn't fly as far as modern balls.

I apologized profusely, and made sure to keep our spacing from the group we were following the rest of the day.

But the lesson was to expect the unexpected.

If you're laying up, lay up. Hit a 5wood or 3iron, instead of a 3-wood that can actually reach the green.

But if you're planning to hit something that could reach the green, wait until the green clears.

And that's what you should have done, waited.

Any excuses otherwise are just that, excuses.

 

That's good it didn't escalate. Sounds like he was a bit upset but at least stayed reasonable. He probably understood and believed what you told him, the guys who really come unglued when a ball rolls up are probably upset about something else. You did all you could when you apologized. But now you're in that world where you have to wait because you know on occasion you CAN get there. It's a good problem to have!��

We had this exact same case within the last month or so.

Hit into, or close enough to make them look back, TWICE in a round on a par 5 ??? I don't want to hear it. :ninja:

And by the way, I forgot to add. Congratulations!

Really ? A 3 handicapper getting an eagle ? :rolleyes: Can't you recognize a not-so-passive brag thread when you see one ? :D

It was the second time you pretty much hit into them, so a comment was warranted. Sounds like no one got too bent out of shape and no feelings were hurt. So a great outcome, i mean you made an eagle, and they got to let you know they noticed it was the second time you'd done that, albeit unintentionally.

It happens, i've hit into guys a couple of times in a round by accident too. Usually one of them times it's a shot you didn't expect to hit and another time you didn't notice them there....etc....It's good everyone kept their cool

But if you'd hit into them a 3rd time. At that point, a "man on fire" style revenge plot is probably in order. I'm not suggesting they put a bomb up your butt , but i'm not not suggesting it either.

I think an important part of my original post was that the ball gently rolled onto the green, really not endangering anyone, maybe more like a distraction at best. My shots have a lot of roll on them these days and nobody was threatened with being hit in any shape or form.

Rolling balls up to the front aren’t a big deal but rolling it to 10ft of the hole while they’re putting is a little much. Especially with them getting mad earlier with you doing the same thing.

The idea that because you were 250 out makes it forgivable misses the point that the players on the green probably have no idea what your approach distance was. What they do know is that you hit into them for a second time.

What I don't understand is if you are going for it, why didnt you wait? It's not like you were laying up and hit a sprinkler head or cart path.

Someone hits into me the first time I simply wait for the apology and if I get it I will gladly accept it with nothing but a smile and a “no worries”. On the second I’ll probably kindly suggest that maybe they should wait for a clear green even if it’s a long approach. Hopefully there won’t be a third time. You can usually tell when it’s an accident and when it’s guys being impatient.

I think an important part of my original post was that the ball gently rolled onto the green, really not endangering anyone, maybe more like a distraction at best. My shots have a lot of roll on them these days and nobody was threatened with being hit in any shape or form.

But like all stories, that's YOUR story. I'd bet their version is a bit different.

And end of the day, you hit into them - not once, but TWICE.

No offense, but for that there's really no excuse. :russian_roulette:

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; fool me three time, I'll f*** you up." LOL or something like that.

I got my first eagle of the year with some pretty good shots on a 512 yard par 5. My drive was about 260 yards, leaving about the same to the green for the second shot. Hit a low draw on the second shot landing about 75 yards in front of the green and rolled up 10ft past the flag. The problem was the foursome in front of us was still putting on the green. On a previous par 5 my second shot rolled up about 5 yards short of the green. One of the guys in the foursome got angry with me, very controlled though, and let me know how he felt. I apologized and told him it was my second shot and I didn't think I could reach the green from where I was. Standing over the putt, I was determined to put a quality stroke on the ball, and I did, sinking about a 10 footer.

Question:

How would you have responded if you were in the foursome putting out?

 

To answer your question. "Nice shot but that's the 2nd time you hit into us. Please don't do it again."

 

 

My problem is that you almost did it the first time, and if you got 75yards of roll-out the second one it suggests you got something similar on the first one and should have been expecting it.

So while I could excuse the first as being unintentional, being as any golfer should be cognizant of the consequences (both good and bad) of any shot they make, the second is nothing but intentional and shows you weren't thinking.

Leaving you in the wrong.

 

I mean it's one thing to be 300+ out on a par-5 and end up catching one really rich, resulting in a once in a lifetime shot - but that wasn't the case here, you had a reasonable result from a fairway wood and you almost hit somebody.

And that's what worries me about the replies I'm seeing here, nobody's considering that somebody could have been hurt.

Because our responsibility as golfers, and humans, is to be aware of the consequences of our actions.

 

Now I'm not going to profess to being totally innocent.

I was playing my home course years ago, had just gotten a new 3-wood, and was standing on the edge of the fairway planning my normal layup to about 50-75 yards, and "caught one on the screws." The four of us stood there looking at the shot, that none of us thought it would reach the green, and were all shocked when it flew all the way to the green and the guys on the green started yelling. Obviously angry.

Now, in our defense, that was about 25 years ago, and ballatas didn't fly as far as modern balls.

I apologized profusely, and made sure to keep our spacing from the group we were following the rest of the day.

But the lesson was to expect the unexpected.

If you're laying up, lay up. Hit a 5wood or 3iron, instead of a 3-wood that can actually reach the green.

But if you're planning to hit something that could reach the green, wait until the green clears.

And that's what you should have done, waited.

Any excuses otherwise are just that, excuses.

 

 

That's good it didn't escalate. Sounds like he was a bit upset but at least stayed reasonable. He probably understood and believed what you told him, the guys who really come unglued when a ball rolls up are probably upset about something else. You did all you could when you apologized. But now you're in that world where you have to wait because you know on occasion you CAN get there. It's a good problem to have!��

 

We had this exact same case within the last month or so.

 

Hit into, or close enough to make them look back, TWICE in a round on a par 5 ??? I don't want to hear it. :ninja:

 

And by the way, I forgot to add. Congratulations!

 

Really ? A 3 handicapper getting an eagle ? :rolleyes: Can't you recognize a not-so-passive brag thread when you see one ? :D

Didn't notice the handicap. And it wouldn't have mattered if I had, I would still tell sômeone congrats on an eagle.

I appreciate the posts, and the plain-spoken responses. I never considered myself a big hitter, or a threat at 260 yards out, but will reconsider my logic in positions like this. Geesh, maybe I'll just lay up from now on.

I appreciate the posts, and the plain-spoken responses. I never considered myself a big hitter, or a threat at 260 yards out, but will reconsider my logic in positions like this. Geesh, maybe I'll just lay up from now on.

Don't lay up! Just wait a bit.....it's OK.

I usually have to wait on par 5's, just have a few jokes ready.