Played my 1st pro-am, and got big leagued by a nobody!

[BMC]

Without sponsors, the PGA Tour doesn't exist. Shelton needs a little job orientation.

[Fade]

OP, you should have done a Sabbatini on the guy the 2nd time he held up the group.

[sailfishchris]

Did you try talking to him? Maybe he's an introvert. Conversations are usually a give and take kind of thing

[bscinstnct]

I can see how from the pro perspective, it’s tricky.

While some ams understand that a few friendly words should be what is expected. With some people, you open the gate to talking and they could end up trying to be your best friend and pull out the wallet photos.

 

Its actually a skill, I imagine, to handle the situation effectively.

 

In this case, maybe the pro could chat for a few minutes with the ams before teeing off, then explain they won’t be able to talk during play so they can focus, then chat for a few minutes after....”great meeting you guys and thanks for understanding. That was a nice little 8i you hit there on the 5th hole, Bob”

[MtlJeff]

Agree

Playing in pro ams is part of your job on the PGA tour. They should do a proffesional job at it whether they want to or not, same as any one of us in our jobs.

If your boss hires you and tells you part of your job is showing off the company's capabilities to prospective investors, and you treat them all like dirt when they show up, you aren't going to get cut a lot of slack if you just say "well I dont like doing that"

I'm not bashing this particular tour player because this is just a story from an anonymous person. But overall we shouldn't excuse poor behavior from pros in these situations. This is part of the gig

[Sean2]

Kinda echoing what others have said...

It wasn't a practice round. My understanding is with ProAms the pro is supposed to schmooze with the amateurs, offer advice, etc. It costs a lot of money to play in a ProAm, and while some pros probably don't like playing in them, it's something they are supposed to do.

[Need4spd]

I’m still trying to figure out what kind of person deliberately joins a site such as this just to post a story such as that one.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Right on the money to you and @deadsolid...shank ... It's the pros job to be part of the Am event. This guy was clearly not up to the task of doing his job that day.

[Mr. Grumpy]

If it were a seasoned pro I'd be inclined to agree with those who agree with the OP, but the young man s still in PGA diapers, cut him a little slack at least.. That said, I'd have probably tried to start a convo, and at the very least rib him for taking too long. Easier said than done I know, but WTH I doubt I would ever see him again so who cares..

[LeoLeo99]

I know a guy who is a golf writer and he has told similar experiences from LPGA pro ams. Said some pros were a lot of fun and some spent the whole time on their phone and didn't say boo.

[bladehunter]

No. But the poster who felt the need to gripe about this is ironically the very guy who makes natural introverts want to puke at the thought of putting on this show. “ that guy” is what I’d call him. The guy who expects me to carry the conversation when your paired up , and calls you the asshole when you don’t.

[Sean2]

You don't need to be a seasoned pro to have good manners. If true, he could have said something to the affect...I am new on Tour and am a bit nervous about playing this week, and I really need to focus on [fill in the blank], so if I am not as sociable, I apologize in advance.

[bladehunter]

Yes and Yes.

everyone isn’t outgoing. And those that aren’t rarely want to hear about you. But they’ll fake it if YOU initiate and then stay in bounds. Hard to know here without being there.

[tiderider]

have you emailed the tour and made a complaint? ...

[GeorgeHWB]

The thread seems so like a Yelp review.

 

I hate Yelp.

[Mr. Grumpy]

Agree, but experience, situational context, and age also factor into the ability exhibit good manners...

 

I was at an HS basketball game the other night (my daughter is a cheerleader) and I got caught up in some not good manners by yelling at one of the officials who was blowing a lot of calls (IMO). I knew I was acting poorly but for some reason I could not help myself. I left thinking, what was I thinking.

[cubanstogie]

two sides to every story, just like amateurs get paired up with a pro with less than stellar experience the same can happen with that pro. Guys with no manners or etiquette. Some idiot yelling get in the hole or mashed potatoes after every shot. Professional golfers are not tour guides. I wouldn't want to play with a 30 handicap wearing jeans and no staff bag or tour issue clubs. (last line sarcasm in case you didn't understand). You never really want to meet stars you hold in high regard, they almost always come tumbling down. I will say Gary Sinise the exception for me, played in a tournament he put on and the guy was incredible. The most down to earth sincere star Ive ever met in person.

[dalehead]

Taking the OP at his word the 9 holes he describes seem pretty extreme. An occasional “nice shot” or “that putt breaks more than you think” shouldn’t be too hard to manage, even for an introvert.

[Sean2]

I was at my great-nephew's basketball game yesterday, and the opposing center lived in the paint and was never called for a 3 second violation. I was getting a bit annoyed with it and almost yelled out something to the ref, lol.

[braincramp52]

Maybe the pro just didn't care for the OP and shut him out.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The entire other 3 golfer's? Come on.

[freeze16172002]

you were playing golf in Hawaii on a pristine course hard to feel sorry for you

[ebrasmus21]

If I’m going to big time someone I’d at least have the decency and respect to say “I’m ebrasmus, nice to meet you. Hit your white little ball and stay the F* out of my way.”

[braincramp52]

Maybe they were all jagbags . All four!?

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

This situation reminds me of this scene for any of you curb your enthusiasm fanshttps://youtu.be/aC6NX0EyeiI

[Edward_Majorwin]

Nice one B!!!

Reportedly, Bobby Shelton has lawyered up and will be discussing a potential libel suit against kazuinda808, Golf WRX and all affiliates.

[stingerfade]

Couldn’t disagree more. It’s part of his job the people pay for the experience and he wouldn’t be playing for that kind of cash if there weren’t sponsors. It’s not that hard to say nice putt or something to the players in your group.

[Cwing]

Maybe the pro just had a bad day.

My brother in law has a similar story with a very well known pro. I won’t say the name and I can’t confirm as I wasn’t there but the guy had been on Ryder Cups, Presidents Cups, was very often paired with Tiger and shot in the 50’s not long ago with a unique out to in swing.

[isaacbm]

I’m surprised to hear all of the people jumping on the OP for this post. I couldn’t agree more with him. Sounds like this Pro is ignorant of what is expected of him in a proam. Or at the very least, doesn’t really understand how important some of these events can be. You can’t reap all of the rewards from the tour without putting in some time. You can’t claim to be part of a huge charitable organization which raises a ton of money from pro-ams and then not actively be involved with your am partners. The tour keeps its tax exempt status because of what it does for charity. I feel there should be requirements made of players during pro-ams or else they should get fined.

When I was playing professionally, I really loved playing with a lot of the amateurs in the Pro-Am’s. Met some of my closest friends that way and was also able to show some appreciation for all of the wonderful prize pools we were playing for. It’s bad karma to bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[deadsolid...shank]

Hey Blade, natural introvert here as well. I dislike talking to strangers as a rule. But my business required it, so I did it. The Pro Am is part of his job. I doubt he was expected to carry the conversation, just a few simple words here and there is basically all that is necessary.