Fights on a Golf Course

[Shakester]

I’ve come close but have never gotten into a fight with someone. I have seen a few in life time though. I remember playing with a guy that I didn’t know, and the group behind us kept hitting into us.  The guy said something to another guy and before I knew it, they were on the ground wrestling.  A few of us tried to break it up.  No punches thrown though. Just lots of grabbing, pushing and holding. 
 

The closest I’ve gotten was on the first tee at Harding, well before the remodel, so we’re talking 20 years ago.  I topped my first tee shot of the day, but it just got on to the fairway and rolled a bit.  I was about 240 away.  The guys were on the green and I didn’t think I’d reach them with an irons.  I took out my 4 iron and absolutely striped it.  It took one big bounce 30 yards from the green and rolled on, then through while the group ahead was still putting.  Not sure If it hit a yardage marker or what. I got up and apologized to them while they were teeing off on #2.  All of them were pretty nice about and understanding, but one just kept looking at me, even after hit tee shot. He started walking and just mean mugged me for about 15 yards.  I finally asked “what the hell are you looking at?”  He replied with a “nothing” and kept walking.  #3 is a par 3 so we caught up to the group and this same guy kept looking at me.  I told him if he had a problem then let’s just settle it right now because I was getting tired of the way he was looking at me.  He responded with a “its cool” and that was the last time he did look my way.  

[rooski]

There are two idiots fighting in the space between my ears all day

[elwhippy]

Never seen a punch landed in 43 years of playing. Seen some nasty arguments which continued off course but landing a blow would get you thrown out of our club and very little chance of anywhere local accepting you as a member. 

[jordan2240]

One of my playing partners got into a heated argument with a guy in the twosome behind us when he thought the guy had hit into us (it really wasn't close).  It was actually rather comical, as had they gotten into the physical altercation that was threatened, it would have looked like something right out of Monty Python.  They caught up to us on 10, and everything got smoothed over.

Edited August 5, 2021 by jordan2240

[MattyO1984]

Never seen a fight on the golf course. In fact, it’s been extremely rare that I have heard what I would even consider to be harsh words between different groups. The odd argument but nothing more than that.

[rooski]

3 minutes ago, MattyO1984 said:

In fact, it’s been extremely rare that I have heard what I would even consider to be harsh words between different groups.

 

Agree with this -- I think a lot could have to do with geographical locations. I've played most of my golf in Oregon throughout my life where people are just generally quite friendly.

 

I've accidentally snuck a good few balls up on groups throughout the years after some bad distance judging and the worst I've ever heard is "nice shot man you piped that!" after I apologize

 

Perhaps it is because im 6'4" 240lb and people just don't want beef? Hard to say 😂 

Edited August 5, 2021 by rooski

[MattyO1984]

10 minutes ago, rooski said:

 

Agree with this -- I think a lot could have to do with geographical locations. I've played most of my golf in Oregon throughout my life where people are just generally quite friendly.

 

I've accidentally snuck a good few balls up on groups throughout the years after some bad distance judging and the worst I've ever heard is "nice shot man you piped that!" after I apologize

 

Perhaps it is because im 6'4" 240lb and people just don't want beef? Hard to say 😂 

 

Haha, so your avatar is a selfie? 😂

 

I hear you. Don’t get me wrong, here in Scotland there are definitely things that come up but we would tend to just rant and rave to our playing partners about those that had “wronged” us not he course 😂

[rooski]

2 minutes ago, MattyO1984 said:

Haha, so your avatar is a selfie? 😂

 

Hah yeah bud it's not so far off, I've been known to have the touch of king kong around the greens so maybe quite applicable. I think that there is maybe a bit of reflection in the group ahead of me when they realize the ball that just rolled up to their feet is pin high on a 345y par 4 😂

 

I'd love to play in Scotland, I think the entire vibe of golf out there must be completely different than anywhere in the world and I presume like you say that in some ways it would reflect back into the people playing it there

 

[caeye0710]

I can only think of two instances and only one directly involved me:

 

The first was when I was an assistant pro and playing with a few members one day. We had a member who was just straight up redneck, blatantly racist, and jabbered the entire round (even when folks in his group were hitting). I absolutely dreaded playing with this guy, but as the Asst Pro I was required to play in the member's group on Saturday. Unfortunately, about 50% of the time I got put with this dude because no one else wanted to deal with him. 

 

Anyways, I kept my mouth shut and never responded to anything he ever said (just an awkward smile as acknowledgement) because as I was an employee, I really didn't want to get myself into a situation that would cost me a job. 

 

Anyways, during my weekly unenjoyable round with him, he completely shanked one off the tee on the 17th hole. He turned and tomahawked his iron as hard as he could and the club head came inches from crushing my eye socket. I'll be the first to admit I absolutely HATE confrontation, but I went ballistic. I was so hot that I said some extremely questionable things about two inches away from his face, and I apparently told him that "I should rip your throat out of your neck right now" (I don't remember saying this, but the two other members confirmed it). 

 

He was trying to find a way to blame it on me and ended up grabbing his bag and walking the 500 yards back to the clubhouse. I guess he filled the pro in on a BS story before we got there, but luckily the two guys I was playing with immediately backed me up. His membership was revoked two days later after an emergency board meeting, and I actually got hate mail to my house for weeks after that (although never could confirm it was him). Never saw the guy. I did get my playing privileges "suspended" for 4 weeks, but that quickly ended the following week when they were a man short. 

 

The second time was when I was playing in a group of 8. On the exact same hole (#17, super downhill par 3), the old guys are playing ahead of us and all of a sudden we see two 70+ year old men throwing hands on the green. I jumped in my cart and raced down there as fast as I could, but they were both laying on the fringe gasping for breath. Apparently one was a Democrat and the other a Republican, and the Republican guy was razzing him over Obama, which resulted in the attempted fist fight. Funniest part was that the other two members never even tried to break it up. One of the guys said: "I've never seen a fight where two people are six inches away from each other, but no one lands a punch". 

 

That incident was left on the green and never made it to the clubhouse. They were both good dudes and fighting was a sure way to get kicked out. They still played together often after that. 

[MtlJeff]

I've never really seen an all out fight, have seen some shoving but i don't really know the circumstances as it wasn't my group, we just witnessed it.

 

I've only been a part of 2 incidents that even came close to fights--And they didn't really come close. Just times where i was really dealing with jerks

 

1) We were at a private club and saw another member keep parking his cart on the fringes of greens. We figured he was a new member, and we told him he couldn't park his cart there (pretty politely). He pretty much exploded on us, told us we "didn't know who we were f*cking with" and said things like "you know i could be in the hells angels". I wanted to ask "well, are you?" but thought better of it. We just said OK man and later told the pro shop.

 

2) I accidentally hit into a group once, it wasn't really my fault --Was the 10th hole so when i showed up to the tee the hole was empty. We had stayed and had a hot dog after 9 so it was perfectly possible they had played the full hole. Turns out all of them were in the woods (with their push carts) and they started walking out just as i hit. 3 of the guys were cool about it, one of the guys picked up my ball and basically stole it. I borrowed my friends cart and drove up to the green, apologized for hitting into them but then asked if any of them picked up my ball. The guy denied it, i said i saw him do it, and then he said "you want the ball back?" and then threw it in a pond next to the green. I just left and said sorry again for hitting into them

 

A few holes later ^^^ one of the other 3 guys waited on the tee and gave me a new Pro V and apologized for his friend--Which i thought was very nice

[betoj]

5 hours ago, Shakester said:

I told him if he had a problem then let’s just settle it right now

The absolute nerve of that guy for looking at you wrong after you hit into them on the very 1st tee.  You showed incredible restraint by merely threatening a fight! 

[Blonde Line Lizard]

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

[RainShadow]

35 minutes ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

Along with the continued disintegration of society.

 

[jholz]

I have a hard time envisioning a "fight" on a golf course. My fights take place on boats in Rhode Island. 

[BradGoesLow76]

The closest I came to an on course "fight" was on Pinehurst #2 during the PEAF Tournament last year.  Of all places, there was a guy that decided to berate our caddie for an honest accident and things got really heated.  It escalated as the gentleman continued to go on and on about how the guy would be nothing but a caddie for the rest of his life until one of our guys asked him if he wanted to compare back accounts (he's a MLB pitcher).  Guy got into his cart and moved along.  The best part was the remainder of the day if someone hit a bad shot or missed a putt they would shout "F*ck you Jim" as we knew it was his name due to it being embroidered on the side his hat in 68 font! End of the day, Jim came back around and apologized and all was well in Pinehurst.

[betarhoalphadelta]

4 hours ago, rooski said:

 

Agree with this -- I think a lot could have to do with geographical locations. I've played most of my golf in Oregon throughout my life where people are just generally quite friendly.

 

I've accidentally snuck a good few balls up on groups throughout the years after some bad distance judging and the worst I've ever heard is "nice shot man you piped that!" after I apologize

 

Perhaps it is because im 6'4" 240lb and people just don't want beef? Hard to say 😂 

 

I had a similar one. I wasn't actually all that close (ball rolled out to about 15 yards short of the green where they were putting on the 6th hole. It's a 300 par 4 and so I expected to be about 30 yards shorter than that...

 

I didn't get a chance to catch up and apologize until the 12th tee (par 3) which is right next to the 13th, but I apologized for hitting it a little close as I felt like it was certainly an etiquette gaffe to be even that close. 

 

Got the "nah, no worries, great shot man!" 

 

'course I've got an inch of height and 20 lbs on you, so maybe that had something to do with it 😉

 

[Bonneville85308]

I did witness a fight on the course many years ago, pretty sure I've posed about it here on other threads, but forget the details by now.

 

I do recall a fight in the grill room at a private course I belonged to. The "club drunk" was at the bar, on probably his 5th gin and tonic, complaining loudly and in very poor taste about a small "memorial flower garden" that was just constructed next to the clubhouse in memory of a board member's wife who had recently passed away from cancer. It was constructed at the board member's personal expense. Being at the bar, the club drunk had his back to all the people seated at the tables behind him, and didn't realize that said board member was seated right behind him. The board member was a bit of a hothead to start with, in addition to the fact that his wife just passed, so he jumps up, goes over to the drunk, starts punching him and yelling. Club drunk falls off the bar stool. Board member stops hitting him and walks off. Both received a 2-week suspension from the club premises.

[double_d]

7 hours ago, Shakester said:

 I finally asked “what the hell are you looking at?”  He replied with a “nothing” and kept walking.  #3 is a par 3 so we caught up to the group and this same guy kept looking at me.  I told him if he had a problem then let’s just settle it right now because I was getting tired of the way he was looking at me.  

 You almost got into a fistfight over they way someone was looking at you? He didn't say anything? He didn't touch you or your stuff? He just looked at you?

[jomatty]

If I ever get in a fight on the golf course I will know that some sort of intervention is needed.  I quit playing softball after a fight.  I would have never thought it possible but sure enough it happened. Unless someone just attacked me or something I can’t imagine what could make me not just walk away on a golf course...

[madchens]

2 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

How does playing music have anything to do with a potential increase of on-course confrontations?

 

I am not seeing the correlation here.

Edited August 5, 2021 by madchens

[Duffer222]

32 minutes ago, madchens said:

How does playing music have anything to do with a potential increase of on-course confrontations?

 

I am not seeing the correlation here.

I think you missed the key point of the playing music statement…

”playing music on the course for everyone to hear”

and yes, that will indeed cause more confrontations, which leads to the potential for more fights.

[madchens]

Just now, Duffer222 said:

I think you missed the key point of the playing music statement…

”playing music on the course for everyone to hear”

and yes, that will indeed cause more confrontations, which leads to the potential for more fights.

I missed that bit. I have never had a situation where somebody was playing music so loud everyone could hear it.

 

For reference, I play probably 50-70 rounds a year on average and generally always at public courses.

 

Feels like the music thing is quite overblown. Even if they played it too loud, I can't imagine it would lead to more confrontations or fights. In general, people do everything possible to avoid a fight. I'd imagine the amount of confrontations wouldn't swing up or down in any memorable way.

[MaineMariner]

2 hours ago, double_d said:

 You almost got into a fistfight over they way someone was looking at you? He didn't say anything? He didn't touch you or your stuff? He just looked at you?

 

Must have been giving him the "evil eye."

 

 

[8thehardway]

Never saw a fight but I was playing with a friend who was a former pro boxer; a twosome had hit into us for the third time in nine holes and the boxer picked up their ball and threw it back towards them, then waited at the halfway house to 'discuss' the matter, which amounted to him telling off the offender in a profanity-laced tirade. 

 

My friend is 5'6 and the offender was over 6' and must have thought his height and bulk were intimidating; he advanced toward the boxer as if talk was over and he meant to shove or punch him. The boxer didn't back away or raise his arms, he just looked up and said "If I put my hands on you you'll feel it" in a time-to-go-back-to-work tone that gave the golfer second thoughts; he stopped his advance, mumbled some apology and backed off.  The rest of the round was without incident.

[Blaiser]

I came pretty close to a fight a few years ago.

 

Was out playing some twilight golf with my buddy from college and the group ahead of us was a foursome of guys in their early 20's. One of the guys was noticeably heated the entire round as we saw a few club throws. We mostly just thought it was really funny and didn't mind because they were actually keeping up a good pace of play.

 

Later on a short par 4 I was in the fairway probably 50 yards away from the green waiting for them to putt out. The heated guy missed a short putt, and then did the unthinkable -- took a full swing with his putter right into the green taking a massive divot right next to the hole. Swung so hard I think it actually broke his putter. Couldn't believe what I just saw.

 

The golfer in me was so mad, that I just picked up my ball from the fairway and made a beeline to catch up to them on the next tee box to confront him. To no surprise, he didn't take kindly to me calling him out for being a d***head and within seconds we were face to face insulting each other. He did the whole "what the f**k you gonna do about it?" while being an inch away from my face. Thought it was inevitable that hands would be thrown, but luckily that didn't happen.

 

I may have been in the wrong for going out of my way to call the guy out, but just couldn't help myself after seeing him blatantly destroy the green.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by Blaiser

[Medson]

Wow. Some really intense stories. 

 

Luckily, never encountered any physical fight on the golf courses. A few verbal arguments here or there, mostly involved alcohol. 

[Jim53]

5 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

I don't mind music if played at a reasonable volume (and I am a old "get off my lawn" type basically), but the type of folks that will play it loud enough for others more than 100 ft away to hear clearly are most likely not the most caring of others in the 1st place or maybe more entitled feeling that "their" music should be played the way they like it others be damned.

 

So yes I agree problems could arise if those type of folks were approached for any reason it could escalate pretty quickly.

 

Oh these crazy kids with the fancy shoes, loud music and wild haircuts, we are doomed. My dad used to get upset over my long hair and music (Grateful Dead), now I have no hair and can't hear $h!t.

Edited August 5, 2021 by Jim53

[getitdaily]

Been really close once. Won't go into details. It involved people I knew in a yearly tournament I played in. Last hole, down on the 9hole bet and a press. Tried to razzle a guy into a stupid bet on a putt. He got offended and it got heated.

 

The other one was at the ritz. Just as covid hit last year. I figured golf was about to be locked down so I got out for a quick round...took my then 6yr old. I buzz around the course and get to the par 4 12th. Group in front me me was a 6-some. I wait for them to clear the green. I play up and quickly finish the hole. Par 3 next hole. I pull up to the tee as the 3rd guy hits. I am.playing back and they're playing 2 sets up. So I hop on the tee so I'm ready to hit as soon as they wave me through. Before I know it, my 6yr old pops his mini hybrid right toward them and hits one of the carts. Was probably the best shot he hit all day. They didn't get razzled at that. But they finish hitting and then drive off. As they get to the green I put my hands up like "um, you gonna let me.play through?". One guy yelled back at me. Can't remember what he said but i replied "I'm a single " so it had something to do with me playing through. They finish the hole. I hit and quickly finish. I pull up to the next tee and they've split into 2 two 3somes. The 1st 3some was in the fwy and the 2nd 3some was waiting to tee off. The 2nd group fees off and leaves...still no acknowledgement that I was there. They seemed to come to their senses and waved me up. When I got into the fwy one of the guys said something about me joining them. I played the hole out with them. On the next tee one of the other guys piped up and started yapping. He said something about me being rude and that "there's nowhere to go", insinuating that there were groups ahead. This was on 14 tee. I said "I've been doing this a long time and I can get through groups if I'm a single". He chimed in with "you don't know where you're playing, you're just a jerk who wants to push his way through the course". The 3rd guy who was in the group, had been quiet the entire time. It was his time to hit and he just went back to his cart, clearly flustered. The other "nicer guy" in the group told.me to just play through. I was a little hot and said "I don't understand why that was so hard". The jerk of the group said "just hit, I hope it goes in the water". I proceed to pipe it, centered cut, about 285. I just gave him a little smile. He gave me a parting shot of "I'll make sure you never play out here again"...to which I laughed. 

 

I got to my ball, Finished the hole, and the group on the next tee (friends of Mr doosh) let me play right through. 

 

The next group I saw was on 18. They were on the green as I got to my ball in the fwy. 

 

I pretty much laughed it off. Thought the guy's flex was interesting. Pulling the "you'll never play here again" on a daily fee course that has a small membership. Guess he doesn't have the ante to join bayhill or lake nona...

[caeye0710]

6 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

I love playing music with by bluetooth speaker while we are out, but it's never loud enough for anyone else to hear it and I definitely cut it down when we get even remotely close to anyone. I want to respect the other folks who paid to be out there, and never assume they want to hear me blaring my Miley Cyrus album. 

[Pepperturbo]

9 hours ago, rooski said:

 

Hah yeah bud it's not so far off, I've been known to have the touch of king kong around the greens so maybe quite applicable. I think that there is maybe a bit of reflection in the group ahead of me when they realize the ball that just rolled up to their feet is pin high on a 345y par 4 😂

 

I'd love to play in Scotland, I think the entire vibe of golf out there must be completely different than anywhere in the world and I presume like you say that in some ways it would reflect back into the people playing it there

 

My nickname is "Bear", from football days, then there's all my contractor training.  Sometimes all that's needed is a person's appearance to slow the roll of overzealous mouths.  Never had an issue, myself.