Touching another man’s clubs

[LeoLeo99]

> @"Matt J" said:

> Sure, conflict should be used sparingly. If you default to conflict then you are a bully. But, reread the OP. He was eaten up inside but still making small talk, then he came here for validation. As I said I have nothing to gain here. I'm just identifying the stink eye and curt small talk as being passive aggressive and think the OP might have been more satisfied with the interaction had he stopped and addressed his grievance. There is no exact rule that governs these types of interactions. Perhaps the new Club pro was doing it to assert his dominance? Who knows? If you don't stop and address it, you never know.

 

I agree with you. It's a shame the way things are. I had a guy learning on my car while he smoked a cigarette last year. Things got quite heated. Some people have no manners. But you have to let the response correlate to the infraction.

[bladehunter]

> @TheCityGame said:

> Your default position towards people is suspicion.

>

> I'd rather be wrong about people more often -- even though it seems rare that I am -- and proceed through the world with a default position of trust. The energy you put out there tends to come back.

>

>

 

 

No offense meant. But. How old are you ?

 

Im a naturally trusting person. But. I’ve been burned so many times that it’s nuts. You must first be suspicious, then weigh the potential loss. Then DECIDE to trust.

 

If you trust blindly. They will steal your eyes ... and May as well. You aren’t using them anyway.

[LeoLeo99]

> @bladehunter said:

> > @TheCityGame said:

> > Your default position towards people is suspicion.

> >

> > I'd rather be wrong about people more often -- even though it seems rare that I am -- and proceed through the world with a default position of trust. The energy you put out there tends to come back.

> >

> >

>

>

> No offense meant. But. How old are you ?

>

> Im a naturally trusting person. But. I’ve been burned so many times that it’s nuts. You must first be suspicious, then weigh the potential loss. Then DECIDE to trust.

>

> If you trust blindly. They will steal your eyes ... and May as well. You aren’t using them anyway.

 

Except, we're not talking about a random bloke on the street pulling a golf club out of the owner's bag. We're talking about the range pro pulling it out right in front of the owner. I'm naturally not trusting of people. This situation would not upset me but I would engage the pro and inquire as to his purpose for removing my club from my bag.

[bladehunter]

If it was a known pro you were well aquatinted with sure. But this guy was new , never met pro if I read correctly. So a stranger.

 

Just boils down to poor manners. That’s why it irks me so. Why can’t people be courteous first? The answer usually is about trying to assert dominance or assert a perceived right. Whether it’s conscious or unconscious.

[MtlJeff]

I can't believe the threads we have here sometimes. This isn't some world changing event either way here but geez, just don't touch stuff that belongs to someone else without asking!

 

Are we that intent on arguing online that this is actually a "debate".

 

Were gonna get into inherent goodness of people and etc. If people want to be nice and good , they'll be polite enough to ask to touch your things . That's what a nice person would do!

 

 

[Vintage1976]

 

[hybrid25]

> @Vintage1976 said:

>

>

 

That is really a neat looking iron, almost too nice to put into play!

[Vintage1976]

> @hybrid25 said:

 

> That is really a neat looking iron, almost too nice to put into play!

One of those luxuries of a professional I think. I always think that same thought when I see black irons and wedges.

 

 

[BermBuster]

> @hybrid25 said:

> > @IcemanYVR said:

> > Don’t touch my clubs, I don’t **** your wife. Moral; they’re both sacred.

>

> What a great analogy, you took the words right out of my mouth. Not.

> Wife = golf clubs?

 

No, wife = caddie

[Lodestone]

> @RobertBaron said:

 

>

> Right? Am I way off base for getting pissed enough to start a thread on a golf forum?

 

No.. I'm with you on this one. I would never pull a club from anyone's bag without permission.

[Lodestone]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> Rickie - “Wow, that got weird.”

 

excellent post, sir.

[Bingo1976]

Random range pro - I'd be stoked that he thought my bag was interesting enough to look at, or maybe he thinks I am hitting the ball well and wants a chat (or maybe he can see I suck and is drumming up business)

Random range rat - not cool, and we will be having words if you don't put my club down

 

[hybrid25]

> @Bingo1976 said:

> Random range pro - I'd be stoked that he thought my bag was interesting enough to look at, or maybe he thinks I am hitting the ball well and wants a chat (or maybe he can see I suck and is drumming up business)

> Random range rat - not cool, and we will be having words if you don't put my club down

>

 

I don't get too excited about a 'random range pro', what can he do for you?

[MtlJeff]

> @hybrid25 said:

> > @Bingo1976 said:

> > Random range pro - I'd be stoked that he thought my bag was interesting enough to look at, or maybe he thinks I am hitting the ball well and wants a chat (or maybe he can see I suck and is drumming up business)

> > Random range rat - not cool, and we will be having words if you don't put my club down

> >

>

> I don't get too excited about a 'random range pro', what can he do for you?

 

Random range pros don't always make a ton of $$$ . So they'll do a LOT of things for you for the right price.

 

 

[LeoLeo99]

> @MtlJeff said:

> > @hybrid25 said:

> > > @Bingo1976 said:

> > > Random range pro - I'd be stoked that he thought my bag was interesting enough to look at, or maybe he thinks I am hitting the ball well and wants a chat (or maybe he can see I suck and is drumming up business)

> > > Random range rat - not cool, and we will be having words if you don't put my club down

> > >

> >

> > I don't get too excited about a 'random range pro', what can he do for you?

>

> Random range pros don't always make a ton of $$$ . So they'll do a LOT of things for you for the right price.

>

>

 

What are you saying?

[RobertBaron]

Apparently walking up to strangers and handling their clubs is this guy’s thing. He did it to a guy hitting next to me today. The guy hitting didn’t seem to mind, but in my head I’m like dude make some conversation first then go ahead and do your thing with the clubs. It almost seems like he using this as some kind of opener like a pick up line minus the line. He just picks up the club.

 

Anyway to answer some questions, the course is a public executive course. There are multiple pros who work there(maybe 8 on a regular basis). As far as I can tell the course doesn’t employ them. The pros seem to rent their areas and are responsible for getting clients and dealing with them. I think it’s basically like a barbershop.

 

The pro in question seems like an alright guy but just has the weird personal space issue it seems. Like I’m not really worried about him or really anyone else brazenly stealing a club right in front of me. I guess I just have a different viewpoint on golf etiquette or personal belongings etiquette.

[bladehunter]

> @RobertBaron said:

> Apparently walking up to strangers and handling their clubs is this guy’s thing. He did it to a guy hitting next to me today. The guy hitting didn’t seem to mind, but in my head I’m like dude make some conversation first then go ahead and do your thing with the clubs. It almost seems like he using this as some kind of opener like a pick up line minus the line. He just picks up the club.

>

> Anyway to answer some questions, the course is a public executive course. There are multiple pros who work there(maybe 8 on a regular basis). As far as I can tell the course doesn’t employ them. The pros seem to rent their areas and are responsible for getting clients and dealing with them. I think it’s basically like a barbershop.

>

> The pro in question seems like an alright guy but just has the weird personal space issue it seems. Like I’m not really worried about him or really anyone else brazenly stealing a club right in front of me. I guess I just have a different viewpoint on golf etiquette or personal belongings etiquette.

 

Does he also prefer to talk to you nose to nose ? I also detest that guy . Lol I have to fight the urge to bite him.

[hybrid25]

> @LeoLeo99 said:

> > @MtlJeff said:

> > > @hybrid25 said:

> > > > @Bingo1976 said:

> > > > Random range pro - I'd be stoked that he thought my bag was interesting enough to look at, or maybe he thinks I am hitting the ball well and wants a chat (or maybe he can see I suck and is drumming up business)

> > > > Random range rat - not cool, and we will be having words if you don't put my club down

> > > >

> > >

> > > I don't get too excited about a 'random range pro', what can he do for you?

> >

> > Random range pros don't always make a ton of $$$ . So they'll do a LOT of things for you for the right price.

> >

> >

>

> What are you saying?

 

Maybe he shouldn't mention it in here.

[DrSchteeve]

He was wrong, both the touching and interrupting your swing, but as you say, that's his MO. It's a bad MO, and he should be told, if not by you, then you could bring it to the attention of the club management.

 

But....they are golf clubs, not your wife, and not food.

[Philomathesq]

This thread has been a glorious way to spend the last 15 minutes of my life, and I mean that sincerely; so much better than drafting an amended DCO. Having said that, my two cents are this:

 

$0.01: I'm in the camp of "don't touch what isn't yours without permission." It's all about respect. If one is wiling to extend me the courtesy of asking if one can handle my clubs, I'm likely to reciprocate by granting one permission to do so. However, simply assuming that one can handle my clubs because it is one's prerogative is not at all acceptable.

 

$0.02: By far, the best TLDR for this whole thread:

 

> @IcemanYVR said:

> Don’t touch my clubs, I don’t **** your wife. Moral; they’re both sacred.

[taporsnap17]

Don't touch another man's stick and balls without permission...

[Matt J]

> @DrSchteeve said:

> He was wrong, both the touching and interrupting your swing, but as you say, that's his MO. It's a bad MO, and he should be told, if not by you, then you could bring it to the attention of the club management.

>

> But....they are golf clubs, not your wife, and not food.

 

Much more efficient way to say it. Thank you.

[hybrid25]

> @"Matt J" said:

> > @DrSchteeve said:

> > He was wrong, both the touching and interrupting your swing, but as you say, that's his MO. It's a bad MO, and he should be told, if not by you, then you could bring it to the attention of the club management.

> >

> > But....they are golf clubs, not your wife, and not food.

>

> Much more efficient way to say it. Thank you.

 

With that philosophy, how would you feel about somebody touching your brand new bmw?

[Matt J]

> @hybrid25 said:

> > @"Matt J" said:

> > > @DrSchteeve said:

> > > He was wrong, both the touching and interrupting your swing, but as you say, that's his MO. It's a bad MO, and he should be told, if not by you, then you could bring it to the attention of the club management.

> > >

> > > But....they are golf clubs, not your wife, and not food.

> >

> > Much more efficient way to say it. Thank you.

>

> With that philosophy, how would you feel about somebody touching your brand new bmw?

 

The thing about personal values is that they are well... personal?

 

I just bought my first ever in my whole life (43 years old) new car. It has a bunch of scratches and bumps on it from parking lots, which is a bummer, but it's just a car. Eventually I'll pay a local body shop to buff it all back out and make it "as new as possible" again. I've been through a lot of downsizing in my life and to me, it's all just stuff. Like the old cliche, can't take it with you. But, I also respect that for a lot of people that have worked very hard for their belongings it's an extension of their own personal space. I think there is value in taking pride in your possessions and taking care of the things you have earned. But, in this case it was a "no harm, no foul" type of deal for me. Like mentioned above, if it bothers you, speak up or take it to management. If it's not worth going that far, then let it go. Just a mantra for not getting too bothered by the little stuff.

[Ri_Redneck]

It's common courtesy. Don't touch unless you ask and get permission first. Now, I wouldn't be a A-hole, just give him a WTF look and then say "Is there something I can help you with?". I was paired with another single Tuesday and he asked to hit a ball with one of my new MP5s. I said okay with no hesitation at all. Great guy, but I didn't know him from Adam.

 

I've seen guys drop drivers on the damn cart path looking at them. Stuff happens.

 

Now, the guy with the dip.....that could get real ugly!

 

BT

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Some of you are a little uptight like this guy...

 

[braincramp52]

I would never do it without asking permission but I also wouldn't get upset if someone did it to me. There's enough other crap that goes on day to day that irks me that this situation just doesn't seem important enough to get ticked off. That's just me.

[RickK]

> @"b.helts" said:

> > @RobertBaron said:

> > Am I way off base for getting pissed enough to start a thread on a golf forum?

>

> Yep

 

BINGO...YEP is the correct answer. I guess I don't understand why some folks think the "range" is a sacred place where you don't talk, kid around, try to be friendly. GEEZ...folks need to lighten up. Life is way way too short to get upset of someone checking out your clubs. Now, if he was checking out his BUTT...well maybe. :)

[RickK]

> @jholz said:

> For those that question why anyone would get upset about someone touching their stuff without their permission, I have a few questions for you.

>

> Have you ever had anything stolen? Are you aware that some people steal stuff? Additionally, have you ever noticed that some people have a tendency to be less careful with stuff that doesn't belong to them?

>

> Given these well established truths of human nature, if someone is messing with my stuff without asking, a small part of me is always going to wonder: "Are they trying to steal my stuff? Are they going to bash my driver into the sidewalk?" In this world, you have no idea what people might do.

>

> For those that still don't have a problem with the scenario as presented - do you just not care about your stuff? Are you willing to let someone damage it or walk away with it? Or, are you simply assuming that any person at a driving range - whether golf pro or not - is above theft or carelessness? It seems you are living in a different reality than my own.

>

> Theft, ultimately, is the fault of the idiot that fails to lock their door.

>

>

 

Really? The guy was on the range. If the clubs were sitting outside at bag drop it would have been different. With the OP standing there hitting balls, do you seriously think someone is going to come up, shoulder the bag and take off running? Hardly!!!

[bigred90gt]

> @lawsonman said:

> I would never do it without asking permission but I also wouldn't get upset if someone did it to me. There's enough other **** that goes on day to day that irks me that this situation just doesn't seem important enough to get ticked off. That's just me.

 

This sums it up best to me.