Thoughts on parents cheering for their kid in tournament play....

[kekoa]

I'm not talking about the occasional 'good shot son.'  I'm talking about those parents who stand greenside and insist on either clapping or yelling their praise after every shot or putt.  We were playing at a tournament over the weekend and the Dad we were paired with has a very loud voice.  He could not hold himself back from commenting on every shot so the parents in the group ahead nicely told him to STFU.  I wanted to tell him earlier, but I've been working on being a better golf parent.   

[TroyB123]

11 minutes ago, kekoa said:

I'm not talking about the occasional 'good shot son.'  I'm talking about those parents who stand greenside and insist on either clapping or yelling their praise after every shot or putt.  We were playing at a tournament over the weekend and the Dad we were paired with has a very loud voice.  He could not hold himself back from commenting on every shot so the parents in the group ahead nicely told him to STFU.  I wanted to tell him earlier, but I've been working on being a better golf parent.   

I don't like it.   I don't usually say much.   I'd guess they are probably breaking the rules on coaching/giving advice if this is older than the parent caddie age groups.   If they are that loud, they are probably disrupting other groups on the course.   I'm not really wanting to get in an argument with someone while my kid is golfing and would probably just say something to the tournament director after.   If it was disrupting my kid, I might something sooner, but he usually tunes out that kind of stuff.

[golfortennis]

36 minutes ago, kekoa said:

I'm not talking about the occasional 'good shot son.'  I'm talking about those parents who stand greenside and insist on either clapping or yelling their praise after every shot or putt.  We were playing at a tournament over the weekend and the Dad we were paired with has a very loud voice.  He could not hold himself back from commenting on every shot so the parents in the group ahead nicely told him to STFU.  I wanted to tell him earlier, but I've been working on being a better golf parent.   

 

I didn't realize Peter Kuchar had kids that young.

[kekoa]

1 hour ago, TroyB123 said:

I don't like it.   I don't usually say much.   I'd guess they are probably breaking the rules on coaching/giving advice if this is older than the parent caddie age groups.   If they are that loud, they are probably disrupting other groups on the course.   I'm not really wanting to get in an argument with someone while my kid is golfing and would probably just say something to the tournament director after.   If it was disrupting my kid, I might something sooner, but he usually tunes out that kind of stuff.

That's exactly what the parent was doing.  He was disrupting the group ahead and others as they teed off. 

[pingfool]

There is no place for parents on the golf course.  1st tee/9th green  10th tee/18green thats it.

If son/daughter make it on tour and you want to walk inside the ropes absolutely.

Same as parents staying in the bleachers. Not walking the sideline yelling instructions. 

 

[Movingday]

12 minutes ago, pingfool said:

There is no place for parents on the golf course.  1st tee/9th green  10th tee/18green thats it.

If son/daughter make it on tour and you want to walk inside the ropes absolutely.

Same as parents staying in the bleachers. Not walking the sideline yelling instructions. 

 

What’s the difference in a parent staying in the bleachers and a parent staying a half a hole ahead. Watching from a distance. I watch almost all of my sons tournaments, but I’m never anywhere near him. 

[leezer99]

2 hours ago, kekoa said:

I'm not talking about the occasional 'good shot son.'  I'm talking about those parents who stand greenside and insist on either clapping or yelling their praise after every shot or putt.  We were playing at a tournament over the weekend and the Dad we were paired with has a very loud voice.  He could not hold himself back from commenting on every shot so the parents in the group ahead nicely told him to STFU.  I wanted to tell him earlier, but I've been working on being a better golf parent.   

 

Um I thought you were calling out your buddy for a minute. 🤣

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that those parents likely have a young kid and are still pretty new to junior golf.

[Cliffy2020]

Does he yell BobbaBoey, MashPotatoes or Get In The Hole after every tee shot?? Maybe he thought is was acceptable after hearing on TV every weekend.  Escort him off the course immediately with extreme prejudice!

 

See how quiet this guy is?  Take note of the silent enthusiasm.  Way better!

 

 

 

Edited March 29 by Cliffy2020

[IndyArcher]

Did we think that somehow jr golf was going to get a pass from the same attitudes and craziness that infects little league, basketball, football and other kids’ sports? The parents are playing golf with speakers blaring on their golf carts. Courtesy, politeness and consideration are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Just wait until you see parents in the face arguing with judges about how they applied a particular rule for OB or some penalty. It’s a comin’…

[hangontight]

2 hours ago, Movingday said:

What’s the difference in a parent staying in the bleachers and a parent staying a half a hole ahead. Watching from a distance. I watch almost all of my sons tournaments, but I’m never anywhere near him. 

Agree.  I really watching a from half hole/shot ahead ..."good luck" on 1st tee -->"enjoyed watching you today" on the 18th....(ideally, can't claim 100% follow through, hehe).

 

Everyone gets a sense when tye cheering is too much, you just do.  We've all seen the entourage groups also- 4 -5 carts , aunts uncles, dads buddy, coach...hootin hollerin for each shot, brake release before other kid outs out. SMH.  I think (hope) that weeds out as they get older 

[leezer99]

58 minutes ago, hangontight said:

Agree.  I really watching a from half hole/shot ahead ..."good luck" on 1st tee -->"enjoyed watching you today" on the 18th....(ideally, can't claim 100% follow through, hehe).

 

Everyone gets a sense when tye cheering is too much, you just do.  We've all seen the entourage groups also- 4 -5 carts , aunts uncles, dads buddy, coach...hootin hollerin for each shot, brake release before other kid outs out. SMH.  I think (hope) that weeds out as they get older 

 

This reminds me of a time my son and I went out of state for a regional us kids event and our threesome had THIRTY spectators. There was a literal chain of carts following our group, parents had made poster signs, there were grandparents, parents, babies, a dog and so on. Of those 30 people following our group we had zero. It was such a weird event.

[Pinewood Golfer]

4 hours ago, pingfool said:

There is no place for parents on the golf course.  1st tee/9th green  10th tee/18green thats it.

If son/daughter make it on tour and you want to walk inside the ropes absolutely.

Same as parents staying in the bleachers. Not walking the sideline yelling instructions. 

 

That’s dumb. Parents watch kids play basketball, football, baseball etcetera. And they’re expected to behave appropriately. Same in golf

[hangontight]

7 hours ago, leezer99 said:

 

This reminds me of a time my son and I went out of state for a regional us kids event and our threesome had THIRTY spectators. There was a literal chain of carts following our group, parents had made poster signs, there were grandparents, parents, babies, a dog and so on. Of those 30 people following our group we had zero. It was such a weird event.

No exaggeration, I've seen it too!  Crazy thing is most of those events have a 1 spectator cart per player policy so there is enough carts to go around ...somehow they finagle 5 carts.  
 

Then by the 5th hole, everyone (especially grandpas for some reason - my father in law being no exception) starts on the GREEN  CREEP.  Each hole, creep closer and closer to the green to get a better view ...by 14 their toes are edging the fringe. Nothing like a front row seat to the action. 

Edited March 29 by hangontight

[MahalNeneng]

14 hours ago, kekoa said:

I'm not talking about the occasional 'good shot son.'  I'm talking about those parents who stand greenside and insist on either clapping or yelling their praise after every shot or putt.  We were playing at a tournament over the weekend and the Dad we were paired with has a very loud voice.  He could not hold himself back from commenting on every shot so the parents in the group ahead nicely told him to STFU.  I wanted to tell him earlier, but I've been working on being a better golf parent.   

Haha a noble cause

[MahalNeneng]

Ill flip it several years ago boy was paired in a regional event with another from our town. 
wife and i were green side and other boy hit approach shot, hit green. 
we in unison said good shot and were quickly told by boys parent nit to tell their boy good shot cause he wouldnt think it was a good shot. 
 

of course some time later this same boy wouldnt allow his parents on the course and would relegate them to wait the 5 hour round out at the clubhouse. 

[Tugu]

13 hours ago, pingfool said:

There is no place for parents on the golf course.  1st tee/9th green  10th tee/18green thats it.

If son/daughter make it on tour and you want to walk inside the ropes absolutely.

Same as parents staying in the bleachers. Not walking the sideline yelling instructions. 

 

This 1000 times.

[golfortennis]

9 hours ago, Pinewood Golfer said:

That’s dumb. Parents watch kids play basketball, football, baseball etcetera. And they’re expected to behave appropriately. Same in golf

 

Clearly you've never been to a kids hockey game.  I think they are "expected to behave appropriately" there as well.  And in some arena in Utopiaville, they are.  

 

Back here on planet earth, well, no.  

[golfortennis]

12 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

Did we think that somehow jr golf was going to get a pass from the same attitudes and craziness that infects little league, basketball, football and other kids’ sports? The parents are playing golf with speakers blaring on their golf carts. Courtesy, politeness and consideration are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Just wait until you see parents in the face arguing with judges about how they applied a particular rule for OB or some penalty. It’s a comin’…

 

Forget about arguing with ROs.  That will be a given.  I have heard refs stories' of getting followed home after games.  It is insane.  

 

ETA:  There have been articles about how youth sports can't find officials.  And it isn't the kids causing the problems.

Edited March 29 by golfortennis

[heavy_hitter]

10 hours ago, Pinewood Golfer said:

That’s dumb. Parents watch kids play basketball, football, baseball etcetera. And they’re expected to behave appropriately. Same in golf

Completely dumb.  Courses in Florida have these all over the place.  This was in a golf community about 20 minutes from me.

https://people.com/human-interest/11-foot-alligator-attacks-and-kills-85-year-old-florida-woman-while-walking-her-dog/

 

 

Edited March 29 by heavy_hitter

[heavy_hitter]

I always watch ahead.  Lately have been taking a cart because of a surgery back in December.  I am a cart magnet when moving down the fairway.  

 

Back around 2014.  Daughter is playing a tournament.  I am on the other side of a cart path parked next to one of the other girl's moms chatting.  We were well off the beaten path.  Next thing you know BOOM.  The daughter of the mom's ball hits the roof of my cart.  We looked everywhere for this ball.  Girl has to go retee.  After hole 10 there is a lightning delay, but hasn't started raining.  We transport the girl's to the clubhouse.  They take push carts etc off and it starts to sprinkle.  So I pulled down the back cover and the her ball falls out of the cover.  Crazy.

 

This year.

 

High School Match back in October.  I am on a cart path on the back side of a cluster of palm trees.  No way I am in the way.  Ball hits cart path lands inside the cart takes one bounce and falls inside the cup holder.

 

High School Match again in October.  I am 300 yds away through a dogleg right on the other side of the fairway.  Wind is howling and players are upwind teeing off.  My kids ball carries into the cart and hits my dad on the upper chest/shoulder.

 

Tournament this past weekend.  I park under a tree 320 yds away from the tee box in the shade.  Again my kid carries it down wind about 315, it hits and bounces through my cart not touching anything.

 

Same tournament this past weekend.  I am sitting 300 yds away and the kids are hitting downwind.  I am in the rough parked between 2 trees.  Another kid hits his tee shot, it bounces 20 ft behind the cart and lands in the back where the golf clubs sit.  Ended up helping the kid out because had it rolled further he would have had tree trouble.

 

I might have to rethink my viewing strategy when taking a cart.

Edited March 29 by heavy_hitter

[RmoorePE]

14 hours ago, pingfool said:

There is no place for parents on the golf course.  1st tee/9th green  10th tee/18green thats it.

If son/daughter make it on tour and you want to walk inside the ropes absolutely.

Same as parents staying in the bleachers. Not walking the sideline yelling instructions. 

 

 

I don't know. Sports are supposed to bring fun and joy. I think it is pretty cool when a kid has an entourage of people who want to watch them. In most cases the parents, granny, aunts, uncles and friends obey the rules set out by the tournament for noise, distances etc. To me it means the athlete is part of a family that loves them, and loves to watch them do their thing. We had like 6 people show up to an event, and I just gave a quick lecture about the rules for spectators, that was all it took.

 

I get it that some folks are outrageous and there is little to do but contact TD and hope something happens.

 

Daughter has played with a few kids who yell at their parents to leave them alone while they play and I just can't get with that. One of the best things in sports as a parent is talking about the great stuff the kids did on the course or court. We are spending a lot of money and time supporting our kids, my opinion is we should get to enjoy the fruits of that. 

 

We all know that golf is a total mind melt, and anyone who has played has had the feeling of "being watched" and noticing how it affects our swing/focus etc. I think that if our kids are going to be successful, being able to tune out distractions for 30 seconds to hit a shot is a huge part of it. 

[heavy_hitter]

5 minutes ago, RmoorePE said:

 

I don't know. Sports are supposed to bring fun and joy. I think it is pretty cool when a kid has an entourage of people who want to watch them. In most cases the parents, granny, aunts, uncles and friends obey the rules set out by the tournament for noise, distances etc. To me it means the athlete is part of a family that loves them, and loves to watch them do their thing. We had like 6 people show up to an event, and I just gave a quick lecture about the rules for spectators, that was all it took.

 

I get it that some folks are outrageous and there is little to do but contact TD and hope something happens.

 

Daughter has played with a few kids who yell at their parents to leave them alone while they play and I just can't get with that. One of the best things in sports as a parent is talking about the great stuff the kids did on the course or court. We are spending a lot of money and time supporting our kids, my opinion is we should get to enjoy the fruits of that. 

 

We all know that golf is a total mind melt, and anyone who has played has had the feeling of "being watched" and noticing how it affects our swing/focus etc. I think that if our kids are going to be successful, being able to tune out distractions for 30 seconds to hit a shot is a huge part of it. 

Agreed.  Was watching a Deion Sanders video the other day.  He mentioned his mom and step dad never watched him play because they always had to work.  He said thinking about it today it brings a tear to his eyes.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

13 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

Did we think that somehow jr golf was going to get a pass from the same attitudes and craziness that infects little league, basketball, football and other kids’ sports? The parents are playing golf with speakers blaring on their golf carts. Courtesy, politeness and consideration are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Just wait until you see parents in the face arguing with judges about how they applied a particular rule for OB or some penalty. It’s a comin’…

Yes!  I thought I had seen it all until a Mom and Dad had a cart with something blaring.  Daughter wasnt paired up, so really didn't play it any mind.  I could see if happening with the bro golfers, but with the mom in the cart as well.  I was surprised.

 

My wife would beat the s*** out of me. 😉

[kekoa]

1 hour ago, RmoorePE said:

 

 

 

We all know that golf is a total mind melt, and anyone who has played has had the feeling of "being watched" and noticing how it affects our swing/focus etc. I think that if our kids are going to be successful, being able to tune out distractions for 30 seconds to hit a shot is a huge part of it. 

Amen.  I played in a member guest a few weeks ago.  First tee shot has trouble right and left.  Just need a 180 shot down the left center.  I stepped up to the tee box with 10 onlookers and came close to sh*tting my pants.  I was literally shaking.  Meanwhile we expect our youngsters to have nerves of steel during tournaments.  lol

[MikekiM]

Obnoxious spectators have no business being on the golf course.  Whether a junior tourney or a PGA event, guys that are yelling and cheering over the top just don't belong in golf.  I have no problems with parents and even extended family spectating so long as they're in the background, not front and center.  Clapping and cheering kids on is healthy for them especially when they're down from hitting a poor shot.

 

 

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

3 hours ago, heavy_hitter said:

I always watch ahead.  Lately have been taking a cart because of a surgery back in December.  I am a cart magnet when moving down the fairway.  

 

 

 

I am with you.  When I would watch.  I was past their second shot distance watching the tee shots. 

 

I used to forecaddy for the entire group.  Would have a few towels on me and throw them near the balls. 

 

Second shots I would watch from path cart around the green but out of view.

 

Son was in a 16-18 Hurricane tournament once where the kids mom was aligning herself on here he should aim.  Really weird round.

 

I never watch him or my daughter putt.  Watch the second shot and then moved to the next hole.

 

Son played baseball and watch him from the outfield. 

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

58 minutes ago, MikekiM said:

Obnoxious spectators have no business being on the golf course.  Whether a junior tourney or a PGA event, guys that are yelling and cheering over the top just don't belong in golf.  I have no problems with parents and even extended family spectating so long as they're in the background, not front and center.  Clapping and cheering kids on is healthy for them especially when they're down from hitting a poor shot.

 

 

So no "Mashing potatoes!"?

Edited March 29 by TripleBogeysrbetter

[hangontight]

1 hour ago, kekoa said:

Amen.  I played in a member guest a few weeks ago.  First tee shot has trouble right and left.  Just need a 180 shot down the left center.  I stepped up to the tee box with 10 onlookers and came close to sh*tting my pants.  I was literally shaking.  Meanwhile we expect our youngsters to have nerves of steel during tournaments.  lol

3rd to that. I try to play in at least one multi-day stroke tmnt a year myself.   No picking up.  Its a different ball game and a good reminder.  

[leezer99]

MJ used to go watch his kids play basketball and would sit high up in the stands and try to be incognito. Compare that to LeBron who commands floor seats for him and his entire family while making gestures and whooping it up when Bronny makes a 3. God I hope he ends up in Oregon or the G league. 
 

Different times I guess. 

[Bizzle80]

In regards to @kekoa original question/concern about parents making noise obnoxiously during rounds I think its a pretty simple solution. Teach your kids - the actual players to deal with this.

 

Last year a dad/caddy kept talking his daughter thru her putts/strategy/whatever during other peoples turns. This guy was actually having his daughter putt out of turn while mine or others were chipping or putting. My daughter was really annoyed and wanted me to say something.

 

So I told her - "YOU are the player, he is just a caddy. I dont care how old he is, YOU are the one in charge out here. If you want him to stop, speak up and ill back you up." So next hole, she stepped off her setup since he was talking loudly, and proceeded to chastise him requesting her stop playing out of turn and to keep his voice down while she was getting ready to hit. Dude apologized and literally didn't say s*** after that. The point is, being told you are out of line by a kid is way more demeaning than getting into it with another parent.

 

Since that point/lesson she has no problem telling parents/caddies/spectators to STFU.

 

The kids should have been the one to tell the parents to keep it down and that would have been the end of it.