Anybody considering not playing this year? Crazy talk I know...

[hoselrocker]

It's crazy out there. I've been playing for around 30 years and I consider myself an avid golfer but I don't believe I've seen it like this before. I don't recall if the Tiger wave was this frenetic. Hopefully I'm not getting political, but the pandemic response here in Canada has resulted in a lot of surplus cash in jeans and golf courses and vendors are benefitting big time. Good for the game I suppose.

I get it that people are eager to get back to living life but as of right now I don't feel like fighting for tee times or dealing with the bad etiquette or slow play from people new to the game - especially when fuses are already short. 

There you go - one less guy to deal with on the course. I still love the game, but strange days...

[Sparty4202]

I totally get where you’re coming from....I’ve been at my club for 35+ years and it’s really changed over the last 5 years. It’s turned into more of a social club than a golf club...to many hackers and not many golfers. I’ve had 4-5 long time golf buddies leave in the last few years, just tired of all the bs...may just play once a week or with my son when he wants to play....it’s just not as much fun as it use to be...

[Soloman1]

Golf is what you make of it.

[PJE]

I empathize with your frustration and I understand your viewpoint but I look at it this issue in a different way: 

 

I couldn't play golf for almost two years due to surgeries and medical issues.

Due to high property values, four courses that I used to play were closed and sold for development during the time I was out.

One of my golfing buds just had a heart attack; fortunately he survived but he's out for an indefinite time.

 

I just started playing again and last week, after work, I played 9 holes on a gorgeous, warm, evening with a couple of friends who were terrible golfers.  Their ineptitude didn't bother me at all. I reveled in being out on the course.  I felt so fortunate to play this game. 

 

In any case, golf is hard and a lot of the new people will drop out of it.  The same thing happened in the wake of of Tiger Woods' heyday. 

 

[hoselrocker]

19 minutes ago, PJE said:

I empathize with your frustration and I understand your viewpoint but I look at it this issue in a different way: 

 

I couldn't play golf for almost two years due to surgeries and medical issues.

Due to high property values, four courses that I used to play were closed and sold for development during the time I was out.

One of my golfing buds just had a heart attack; fortunately he survived but he's out for an indefinite time.

 

I just started playing again and last week, after work, I played 9 holes on a gorgeous, warm, evening with a couple of friends who were terrible golfers.  Their ineptitude didn't bother me at all. I reveled in being out on the course.  I felt so fortunate to play this game. 

 

In any case, golf is hard and a lot of the new people will drop out of it.  The same thing happened in the wake of of Tiger Woods' heyday. 

 

Thanks man - this snapped me out of more wallowing in my first world problems. 

My wife was more succinct when she called me a wuss and told me to get my Word not allowed back out there. Fore!

[lefthack]

I just started last summer!!! 🤣

 

Playing with intent anyway.

[CKM203]

There's always the option to join a more expensive golf club as well.  My buddies and I were frustrated with the 50ish new members at our last course, it was getting hard to get a tee time or play a sub 4 hour round.  We are paying a bit of a premium this year, but the other members are much more serious about the sport.

Edited April 22, 2021 by CKM203

[longjohnpeter]

I've been playing for about 12 years, started when i was 10. Bad etiquette existed back then, and will always (unfixed ball marks, not taking bunkers, etc). But what I've noticed that has gotten worse is pace of play. I can't tell you how many times, even with players in my own group, standing around on tee boxes, chit chatting, and other things. I feel like this can be fixed by courses themselves. They need to really enforce pace of play more. 

 

Not all is lost. Just my two cents.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Isn't golf season just barely started in Canada?  Yeah a nice day will result in many trying to get out, but once daily golf becomes a virtual guarantee I'd think there will be fewer competing for the same days. Seems too early to throw in the towel.

[Pepperturbo]

I agree with @hoselrocker  Golf is a little different today.  If there's one thing that's more pronounced than getting tee times, it's the amount of socially inept jerks on the course.

 

Even though it's different and challenging, I am still on the course trying to card my age.  My belief is when a person "loves" something or someone, he doesn't just walk-away because it's difficult.  Golf is naturally difficult.  Regardless of what I face, I NEVER quit or give up.

Edited April 22, 2021 by Pepperturbo

[miamistomp]

So happy to see less and less Quebec tags down here- they are finally going home

 

Very nice people but incredibly slow and oblivious to others on the course

[MtlJeff]

I'm a member at a private club. But i understand the public course / range sentiment these days. 

 

The driving range near my house most days has a 2 hour wait to hit balls. It looks like a scene from "World War Z" most days. I went there one day and there were 5-6 people at EACH STALL lined up behind the person hitting. You weren't hitting balls for hours. Public courses you can't get a tee time unless you call the minute they open up on the right day (every course is different for how far you can book in advance)

 

This is what happens when all other sports are banned essentially. 

 

My club has not opened yet and getting a tee time anywhere is impossible, and hitting balls at a public range is also basically impossible. So i get it

[jvincent]

@MtlJeff at least you guys are allowed to open.

 

My club was supposed to open on Tuesday but or idiot premier shut golf courses.  Argh.

 

At least I was able to get out for the two weekends before in some pretty good weather and pretty good conditions considering the time of year.

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, jvincent said:

@MtlJeff at least you guys are allowed to open.

 

My club was supposed to open on Tuesday but or idiot premier shut golf courses.  Argh.

 

At least I was able to get out for the two weekends before in some pretty good weather and pretty good conditions considering the time of year.

 

Yeah you guys definitely have it worse, sucks right now for you Ontario folks. 

 

"oh it transmits way less outside, perfect, all outdoor activities are banned"

[GHIN n Juice]

Lol, why?  I grew up when you had to call the course for a tee time, and then try again, and again until you got through to take whatever time was available.  

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I broke my arm in December, so haven't been out this year.

 

I'm going to the range once a week now and slowly getting the longer clubs in order.

 

My range in Japan last Saturday was changed. Two years ago it got top tracer and it got busier. Then, they stopped allowing longer players to hit from the second deck. The wait for the first floor was strange - no effort made to put shorter hitters up top when there were plenty of stalls. Last Saturday I had to wait which was kind of expected, except this was to get on the second floor (irons only is okay). Lots of first time looking people and young woman. Thanks to instagram, I think a lot of young ladies taking up the game, which is fine by me. 

 

I don't expect course to be too crazy here. I never play weekends, so there's that...

[TiScape]

Definitely not! Already played 14 rounds at 12 different courses. Not an issue here in CA. Bonus of your season being year round, you don’t have to deal with the initial influx after ‘the thaw’ haha. 

[phizzy30]

Pandemic hasn't stopped me from playing golf.  Only injuries and my busy work schedule/growing my business have limited my time out on the course but I still manage to get out there 2x a week.  No kids so I'm not tied down completely.  Golf is therapy for me, I have to get out there on a weekly basis or I lose my mind.  As for the boom in the golf industry, it's great for the game but yes, at times it gets annoying hunting for tee times.  What I usually do is wake up around 3 am hop on the PC and look for tee times for the following week.  Works out most of the time.  Key here is plan ahead and not wait until the last second to try and book tee times. 

Edited April 23, 2021 by phizzy30

[golfortennis]

16 hours ago, jvincent said:

@MtlJeff at least you guys are allowed to open.

 

My club was supposed to open on Tuesday but or idiot premier shut golf courses.  Argh.

 

At least I was able to get out for the two weekends before in some pretty good weather and pretty good conditions considering the time of year.

 

There is a picture going around.  At the top it says Legal with a green dot next to it, illegal, red.  Below is Canada and US.  Ontario is in read, every other jurisdiction green.  WTF...

 

It's like last year when Gerry Dee, (a Canadian comic for our US friends) tweeted out that "being a golfer in Ontario is a bit like being the guy waiting in line at the bar while the bouncer lets other people in"

 

 

[third-times-a-charm]

We had to close our membership here at the club. There's a waiting list now.

 

People were handing over money like it was water to join private clubs in Florida due to how bad public courses are - and now privates are filling up.

[Strategery]

On 4/21/2021 at 4:31 PM, hoselrocker said:

Anybody considering not playing this year?

[JDCON]

Burn the witch! Eat the un-believers!

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, golfortennis said:

 

There is a picture going around.  At the top it says Legal with a green dot next to it, illegal, red.  Below is Canada and US.  Ontario is in read, every other jurisdiction green.  WTF...

 

It's like last year when Gerry Dee, (a Canadian comic for our US friends) tweeted out that "being a golfer in Ontario is a bit like being the guy waiting in line at the bar while the bouncer lets other people in"

 

 

 

Quebec was the opposite last year. In fact ironically our premier's guidance for 2020 was literally your screen-name .... Golf or Tennis

 

LOL

 

10 years from now all of the best golfers and tennis players in the world will be Quebecers, because it's all the kids could do!

[4x4GGG]

Funny, working in the service industry, Topgolf specifically, I rarely ever take weekends off. While they may try to schedule me off the occasional Saturday or Sunday I usually swap it out for a mid week break. This is primarily because of crowds. 

 

I will not play golf on weekends. Not a chance you'll catch me on a course just because of the 6 hour round. I don't have a problem with a long round if I have no where to go, but often times you just can't get into a zone and are often playing hurry up and wait. So many times as a walker I'll find myself in a place where I'm waiting less than 200 yards out and can hear the balls behind me landing in the fairway. I just can't. 

 

My 2 hobbies, golf and cycling, are just out on the weekends. There's a trail where I live thats 45 miles of old rail road tracks that have been paved over. On the weekends it's a parking lot of people and bicycles. Tour de France cosplayers flying by you without calling their passes and groups walking 3 across a narrow path. Same as golf courses. 

 

I only play during the week and try to tee off between 10 and noon. Let the FOGs out and play and still finish before the HH players. For me it's all about when you play. 

[jwhite86]

I haven't eliminated golf, but I do play a lot less... I have my Tuesday night league (sloooooowww play) and rarely get out on the weekends. I'll go the range, but finding a tee time that doesn't take 6 hours is hard to find

[ZacR88]

22 hours ago, jvincent said:

@MtlJeff at least you guys are allowed to open.

 

My club was supposed to open on Tuesday but or idiot premier shut golf courses.  Argh.

 

At least I was able to get out for the two weekends before in some pretty good weather and pretty good conditions considering the time of year.

Man I feel your pain. 

 

I am in Toronto and got out twice before the outdoor activity shutdowns took place. 

 

What an absolute joke to close golf or any other outdoor sport. I am beyond frustrated right now. 

[TiScape]

On 4/22/2021 at 1:16 PM, MtlJeff said:

 

The driving range near my house most days has a 2 hour wait to hit balls. It looks like a scene from "World War Z" most days. I went there one day and there were 5-6 people at EACH STALL lined up behind the person hitting. 

Wow. That’s absolutely ridiculous. 

[Quasimoto]

I always read and hear about pace of play. There is no 1 pace for everyone.

 

Example: today 4 of us played in 3 hr 15 mins. The foursome behind us were antsy on a few tee boxes and on a par 3 hit one of our carts and the 75 yo man in the cart in the foot. I mean, come on, where do you think you are going to go at that pace? Run up the asses of the next group? No, there is a fundamental level of acceptance for pace that people need to realize is average for a course. I view anything at around the 4 hr to 4:20 as acceptable. if it is quicker then good. But going to a course in heavy use and expecting to get around in 3 hrs is not only unrealistic, but extremely rude imo.

[ohioglfr]

For years I've been a "walk on" player and didn't need to reserve tee-time.  Nowadays, the only way I could do that is to catch a twilight round.  I've spent more time at the ranges which, oddly enough, aren't very crowded.  Haven't run into many rude or cocky people, but I notice people not fixing pitch marks and stepping on the hole (crowning).  

[Springsteennut]

On 4/22/2021 at 11:16 AM, hoselrocker said:

Thanks man - this snapped me out of more wallowing in my first world problems. 

My wife was more succinct when she called me a wuss and told me to get my Word not allowed back out there. Fore!

Your wife is a wise women.