Smoking on the golf course and driving range

[bluprint]

Warning - Controversial Topic

 

Last night I was at range working on my game with my new MacGregor Mactec NVG driver and a guy next to me arrives and lights up his cigar. I have to say I wasn't too impressed with his cigar smoke wafting all over me when I was trying to practice. If I could've I would've moved, but as the range was completely packed I didn't have an option. A positive of the experience was that it forced me to concentrate harder on the practice range with a distraction; probably good for out on the course.

 

Out on the golf course I don't have an issue with people smoking cigarettes or cigars; on the one proviso that they don't leave their butts on the course and dispose of them in the bins (trash cans) as provided. I was playing at Royal County Down earlier this year and we were unfortunately scheduled to tee off after a bus load of golfers on tour; the worst bit was that on at least 4 occasions there were cigar butts left on tees or next to greens - not what you want to see when you've made a trip over to Ireland to play some courses.

 

What are other people's thoughts on the topic?

 

Note - I'm not one of those anti-smoker campaigners; I don't mind the occasional cigar after a fine meal.

[Golfchicago]

I smoke cubans exclusively so you would have enjoyed hitting next to me!!!!!!!!!!!!! :tongue: :cheesy: :grin:

[happygolfer]

If I was downwind at the range with no other open stalls and if the smoke bothered me, I would politely ask to switch stalls so that I'm no longer downwind. If that didn't work, then I would probably just finish practicing.

 

If someone is smoking in my group and if they dispose of the butts properly, I have no problems with that. If they throw the butts casually to the ground while I'm around, I politely call them on it and ask them to keep our course clean. If they don't comply, I just report them to the proper board member after the round. I have never had to report anyone yet and whenever I ask them to clean up, they do.

 

Now, as an ex-smoker who always disposed of his butts properly, I always asked the person who I was sharing a cart with if smoke bothers them before we tee'd off. If it did, I would either get my own cart, switch in the group or not smoke while in the cart. If I was outside the cart and someone complained about the smoke, I politely told them they don't have to stand near me and I also moved. I always made an effort to make sure nobody was downwind of my smoke. If they complained more than once, I made it clear the second time (in a nice way) that they could kiss my a** and that they should stay away from me while I'm smoking (that only happened twice to me).

[papichulosteve]

i think the practice range and the course are two different subjects. i have no problem if someone in my group lights up, as long as they keep it out of my face and the butts off the course. but on a range you are so close to the people next to you that a little consideration might be in order. it would be like smoking in a football stadium or something, sure its outdoors but your so cramped that its still gonna effect people.

[illinikyle]

I love a good cigar, but i don't usually smoke while on the course. I don't mind it if someone does.

 

 

Just don't ash on the greens!!!! :tongue:

[jzatl04]

When I'm playing, smoking doesn't bother me. In fact, I think the aroma of a good cigar is more than welcome on the golf course. However, as a country club maintenance crew worker during the summer, I hate finding cigar/cigarette butts on tee boxes, in fairways, bunkers, near the greens, etc. Disposing of them properly is not that hard!!!