Hitting backwards for practice

[HackerD]

My regular foursome playing hole #3 today, a par 5. While hitting our second shots well short of the green, I noticed a ball land in the same area as our layups, but bounce toward us. There’s no adjacent hole for it to come from. I look up at the green and one of the guys who had just finished the hole was taking a full swing and hit a ball back down the fairway toward us. Presumably the first ball was from him too.

 

My first thought — did we hit into them at some point? But pretty sure we hadn’t.

 

Eventually we finished the hole and at the next tee, that group is still waiting to tee off. So I ask them, were you hitting balls backwards down #3? If so, what’s the deal?

 

They respond, “we hit some practice shots because the pace was slow, and made sure we didn’t come close to you. You were never in danger of being hit.”. We told them that was not cool even though they were careful, it’s just not appropriate. The conversation got pretty heated from there, mostly them dropping f-bombs on us while we just kept cool, and eventually they teed off and drove off.

 

Just wondering is this commonly accepted practice anywhere, to hit full swing practice shots back down a hole you’ve finished?

 

[HackerD]

My regular foursome playing hole #3 today, a par 5. While hitting our second shots well short of the green, I noticed a ball land in the same area as our layups, but bounce toward us. There’s no adjacent hole for it to come from. I look up at the green and one of the guys who had just finished the hole was taking a full swing and hit a ball back down the fairway toward us. Presumably the first ball was from him too.

 

My first thought — did we hit into them at some point? But pretty sure we hadn’t.

 

Eventually we finished the hole and at the next tee, that group is still waiting to tee off. So I ask them, were you hitting balls backwards down #3? If so, what’s the deal?

 

They respond, “we hit some practice shots because the pace was slow, and made sure we didn’t come close to you. You were never in danger of being hit.”. We told them that was not cool even though they were careful, it’s just not appropriate. The conversation got pretty heated from there, mostly them dropping f-bombs on us while we just kept cool, and eventually they teed off and drove off.

 

Just wondering is this commonly accepted practice anywhere, to hit full swing practice shots back down a hole you’ve finished?

 

[terrell75]

Depends on what it acceptable in your area but I would think it’s a jerk move

[md1m]

Sounds weird, but I think I'd just accept the free balls they left you and move on. Not sure why it became a shouting match if they weren't anywhere close to hitting you. Am I missing something?

[b.helts]

Never seen nor heard of anything like that.

 

Bizarre

 

 

[PeanutsDaddy]

After a few choice words I would have called the clubhouse and asked to speak to a Marshall.

[HackerD]

Sounds weird, but I think I'd just accept the free balls they left you and move on. Not sure why it became a shouting match if they weren't anywhere close to hitting you. Am I missing something?

We asked them not to hit balls down the fairway, they took exception. Didn’t need the free beat-up Pinnacles.

[farmer]

No, that's not acceptable. Good grief.

[Gilbertc13]

Not acceptable. Other thing that comes to mind is he probably hit them from next to the green, most likely in the fringe because that’s where he would’ve had the best lie, meaning there’s probably a honking divot around the green

[golfgirlrobin]

That’s insane. Golf goes one direction.

 

 

[buckeyefl]

No. They are just idiots.

[2bGood]

Literally never of heard or seen anything like this.For sure this is a WTF story.

 

If you we going to do that, why not hit 100 yard wedges on the next hole well you wait for the group to clear 250 yards out? Still a really stupid idea, but makes way more sense then hitting backwards.

[TapInPar]

I’ve hit shots for practice before when pace was slow, but always forward— short irons off a tee box when next group is out of range for example (making sure to not make extra divots). But hitting backwards is dumb for a lot of reasons.

[Moonlightgrm]

My regular foursome playing hole #3 today, a par 5. While hitting our second shots well short of the green, I noticed a ball land in the same area as our layups, but bounce toward us. There’s no adjacent hole for it to come from. I look up at the green and one of the guys who had just finished the hole was taking a full swing and hit a ball back down the fairway toward us. Presumably the first ball was from him too.

 

My first thought — did we hit into them at some point? But pretty sure we hadn’t.

 

Eventually we finished the hole and at the next tee, that group is still waiting to tee off. So I ask them, were you hitting balls backwards down #3? If so, what’s the deal?

 

They respond, “we hit some practice shots because the pace was slow, and made sure we didn’t come close to you. You were never in danger of being hit.”. We told them that was not cool even though they were careful, it’s just not appropriate. The conversation got pretty heated from there, mostly them dropping f-bombs on us while we just kept cool, and eventually they teed off and drove off.

 

Just wondering is this commonly accepted practice anywhere, to hit full swing practice shots back down a hole you’ve finished?

I have been playing golf for 50-years and I have never witnessed this form of "practice". Golf is a game of etiquette. The group of morons in front of you were not golfers. We are seeing far too many non-golfers on our golf courses in recent years.

[Lagavulin62]

^^^^^^^

 

48 years of golf and first also I have ever heard of this. And all the curding when called out. The problem with many of these jerks is there is hardly any way to control them when the course just looks the other way. Pretty much on your own out there and if some drunken word not allowed wanted to get physical I sure wouldn't give him a fair fight. Really sad when we have to face this nonsense on a golf course, of all places.

[golfandfishing]

I cannot think of any reason that a person with any intelligence at all would hit a ball backwards when another group is on the same hole.

[0351Duffer]

Never seen or hear of such a thing until this thread. I would have been upset too.. probably would have called the pro shop and asked for a course marshall.

[HackerD]

Postscript: head pro told me today the “jerk” was a nationally known comic in town for a gig. Now that he told me, I recognize him.

[Rohlio]

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

[PowderedToastMan]

Postscript: head pro told me today the “jerk” was a nationally known comic in town for a gig. Now that he told me, I recognize him.

Who was it?