Match Play Opponent's Sportmanship in Question

[st1800e]

10 hours ago, mshills said:

 

Don't complain, don't explain.  Words to live by.

I believe that's:

 

Never complain, never explain. 

[Augster]

15 hours ago, caniac6 said:

Played with a guy yesterday that had comments after every shot. I don’t know how many times I had to step away from shots while he was explaining every shot. Only took 3.5 hours, but it seemed much longer.

Guys in my groups are SO bad at this. I try to explain that absolutely nobody cares that you read that putt wrong. Duh. We have eyes. 
 

Occasionally, because my friend complains or explains after nearly every shot we play this game for 10 cents:

 

No whining, no begging, no complaining, no explaining, no exclaiming, no wincing, no bragging. 
 

Only after your own shots though. You can comment on any shot, if you feel like it, except your own. 
 

My friend hates playing that game. He says, “It’s no fun because everyone is quiet and there’s nothing to talk about.” He doesn’t get the hint, and the revelation, that everything he “talks about” on the course are explaining or complaining about his own shots. Yawn. 
 

For the rest of us, it’s heaven on a golf course. 

[Bushwood Country Club]

On 9/6/2023 at 1:59 PM, JZ67 said:

I'm not really looking for validation. I admit it got to me and next time I'll try not to let it get to me. I'm more interested in knowing how others would view this behaviour.

 

I've been playing for 40 years and I try to treat my opponents respectfully. For me, this was really poor sportsmanship. How I dealt with it is another story.

I think a spontaneous outburst for making a 25 footer in match play is fine - I think talking a victory lap around the green is ridiculous. Spontaneous emotion is, I believe, to be expected - esp in match play.  Choreographed dance routines, not cool.

[golfortennis]

On 9/6/2023 at 4:11 PM, So_Cal said:

Was it bush league?  Yes.  That’s one thing I miss about football is you could legally pop a guy.  Anyway it’s just managing the situation.  Btw what putter was he using draining all those bombs?

 

t's a bit like the basketball player who kept tripping guys a few years ago.  Rich white kid who played in gyms with refs his whole life, so he never had to really answer for it.  Had he tried that on the playground, he would have been set straight very quickly.  (And no, technical fouls are not punishment when it comes to behavior like this.)

 

Golfers, like tennis players, are allowed to develop these idiocies because there is no consequence to them unlike other sports where there are ways to discourage the behaviors.

 

I think I would have laughed at him though had it been me.  Your life must be pretty bad if sinking a putt like that against me is that big of a highlight.

[Nels55]

7 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

t's a bit like the basketball player who kept tripping guys a few years ago.  Rich white kid who played in gyms with refs his whole life, so he never had to really answer for it.  Had he tried that on the playground, he would have been set straight very quickly.  (And no, technical fouls are not punishment when it comes to behavior like this.)

 

Golfers, like tennis players, are allowed to develop these idiocies because there is no consequence to them unlike other sports where there are ways to discourage the behaviors.

 

I think I would have laughed at him though had it been me.  Your life must be pretty bad if sinking a putt like that against me is that big of a highlight.

If I was annoyed enough by the antics I'm pretty sure I would have said something.  Maybe; "Wow, is that the first time you ever made a 30 footer?".

Edited September 14, 2023 by Nels55

[Nels55]

On 9/6/2023 at 5:10 PM, Augster said:

People talking to the ball in the air are gross. What they are saying provides zero guidance to the ball. It’s a terrible habit and should be broken. 
 

That said, saying a little prayer while the ball is in the air at least MIGHT have a chance of affecting the ball. Instead of “go” or “stop” or “come on”, which will do absolutely nothing and makes you look and sound like a clown in golf shoes, saying a little prayer instead MIGHT help. 

A "clown in golf shoes":

 

Some more talkers:

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Nels55

[Augster]

13 hours ago, Nels55 said:

A "clown in golf shoes":

 

Some more talkers:

 

Complete clowns. Totally unwatchable. 
 

They are the reason the fast forward button was created on my DVR. 

[2bGood]

 

On 9/10/2023 at 12:41 PM, Bushwood Country Club said:

I think a spontaneous outburst for making a 25 footer in match play is fine - I think talking a victory lap around the green is ridiculous. Spontaneous emotion is, I believe, to be expected - esp in match play.  Choreographed dance routines, not cool.

 Yes the guy was dropping bombs, I can see he would be excited. I assume the OP is exaggerating a bit and he did not take literal victory laps around the green. 

 

I don't like my opponents getting over happy like this, but I don't think it is bad sportsmenship. In my daily play I try to make a point of enjoying good shots more, maybe this guy figured out how to do it really well. 😁 

[rooski]

8 hours ago, 2bGood said:

 

 Yes the guy was dropping bombs, I can see he would be excited. I assume the OP is exaggerating a bit and he did not take literal victory laps around the green. 

 

I don't like my opponents getting over happy like this, but I don't think it is bad sportsmenship. In my daily play I try to make a point of enjoying good shots more, maybe this guy figured out how to do it really well. 😁 

 

I'm imagining the dude took 3 or 4 steps at a faster pace than usual as he was excited then went to grab his ball.. My guess is that OP is a bit saltier than he thinks he is :-)

Edited September 15, 2023 by rooski

[rooski]

On 9/6/2023 at 1:11 PM, So_Cal said:

Btw what putter was he using draining all those bombs?

 

I'm a little late to the party here but it was nearly certainly an Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380.

 

You can pick one up yourself for the low price of $1400 over on the BST forum 

Edited September 15, 2023 by rooski

[LeoLeo99]

On 9/14/2023 at 4:27 PM, Augster said:

Complete clowns. Totally unwatchable. 
 

They are the reason the fast forward button was created on my DVR. 

You wouldn't like playing with me or my guys.  We tall to our balls a lot and do a lot of muttering over missed putts.  I thought everyone did

 

[Nels55]

On 9/14/2023 at 1:27 PM, Augster said:

Complete clowns. Totally unwatchable. 
 

They are the reason the fast forward button was created on my DVR. 

I golfed with 3 lower single digit guys today and everyone of them talked to their ball.  I talk to my ball on nearly every shot.  Those who don't talk to their ball are few and far between in my experience.  I am curious if you make an effort to only golf with folks who do not talk to their ball?

[Newby]

10 hours ago, Nels55 said:

I golfed with 3 lower single digit guys today and everyone of them talked to their ball.  I talk to my ball on nearly every shot.  Those who don't talk to their ball are few and far between in my experience.  I am curious if you make an effort to only golf with folks who do not talk to their ball?

Players can only talk at their ball. To think balls can hear is b****.

[Augster]

29 minutes ago, Newby said:

Players can only talk at their ball. To think balls can hear is b****.

This. 
 

It’s a ridiculous practice and annoying.

 

Just because lots of players talk to their balls, and they do, doesn’t mean they should. What is the point/purpose/gain? None. There is none. It’s a pointless practice. 

[cardoustie]

It’s fun how some guys think club matches are their Ryder Cup moments

[mshills]

Really? Getting annoyed at your playing partner for talking to his own ball or himself? 
 

I seldom talk to my ball, but on the list of things that bother me I doubt that makes the top 1,000. 
 

You’ve got to have better concentration than that. If it bothers you, it’s on you to make it not bother you. 

[Nels55]

6 hours ago, Augster said:

This. 
 

It’s a ridiculous practice and annoying.

 

Just because lots of players talk to their balls, and they do, doesn’t mean they should. What is the point/purpose/gain? None. There is none. It’s a pointless practice. 

It is neither annoying or ridiculous.  It is in fact therapeutic.  

[hammersia]

I keep forgetting to use the Hal Sutton phrase "Be the right club today!" to my partners which would be particularly amusing next time the ball is headed into a pond 20 yards short of the green.

 

[tatertot]

On 9/17/2023 at 2:33 AM, Newby said:

Players can only talk at their ball. To think balls can hear is b****.

You're just not doing it right.

[tatertot]

On 9/14/2023 at 3:27 PM, Augster said:

Complete clowns. Totally unwatchable. 
 

They are the reason the fast forward button was created on my DVR. 

"If you're not my clone, you're a clown!"

[realjeffin]

If you've never talked to your ball, it is probably because it isn't up in the air long enough for you to get a word in

[naval2006]

Was the OP playing against Shooter? Lol

[nitram]

Honestly, he doesn't sound any different than how Tiger used to act . . .

 

And the best way I've found to curb this behavior is to make your putt.

 

 

[Carl Spackler3]

On 9/8/2023 at 8:29 AM, Schulzmc said:

LOL - then you have an unusual choice for your screen name.

 

I’m a complex guy..... galunga

[Nels55]

19 minutes ago, Carl Spackler3 said:

I’m a complex guy..... galunga

Well, you got that going for you, which is nice...