Sharing Etiquette Tips

[Huskerbuc]

Just curious how many folks share golf etiquette tips with other adults these days? I went to the course today and hit the small practice tee green before heading to the range. A guy in his 50s or 60s (I'm also early 50s) was standing over one hole practicing lag putting to another hole, taking up 2 holes. With 3 of us there and only 5 holes cut it was frustrating.

 

He clearly was bad at golf so I couldn't tell if he was new and just didn't know or a lifelong hack who should have known. Everyone is so fragile these days about being "corrected", I decided it wasn't worth it and passed on an opportunity to politely pass along some common golf courtesy. In the long view of the game, that wasn't the right decision, but after a long day of work, I wasn't interested in having a polite attempt turn into a confrontation.

 

Would love to hear what others are doing these days.

Edited July 13 by Huskerbuc

[Soloman1]

too many people do that. the problem is you can't fix stupid.

[m d g]

I coached high school JV golf. It was a competitive school that had won a state title a few years before and all the kids were good.

 

But most of my job was strategy and etiquette. Where do you leave your bag when putting. Where to walk on the green. When to mark and when to putt out, etc.

 

So even players who play a lot and are accomplished sometimes either don't know the right thing to do, or get too caught up in their own game and forget.

 

Simple rule; the world's not just about you : )

[AzRoger]

Don't have to say anything, just hit a couple putts at the hole he's standing next to, he'll get the message. 

[SNIPERBBB]

Didnt we just do this topic?

 

Nobody owns a putting/chipping green hole.  If you want a hit a putt there, hit it.  Only no-no really is dont directly hit chips with people across from in case of the old blade-across-the-green-thing, and dont hit balls towards someone's feet.

Edited July 13 by SNIPERBBB

[nsxguy]

On 7/12/2024 at 8:05 PM, Huskerbuc said:

Just curious how many folks share golf etiquette tips with other adults these days? I went to the course today and hit the small practice tee green before heading to the range. A guy in his 50s or 60s (I'm also early 50s) was standing over one hole practicing lag putting to another hole, taking up 2 holes. With 3 of us there and only 5 holes cut it was frustrating.

 

He clearly was bad at golf so I couldn't tell if he was new and just didn't know or a lifelong hack who should have known. Everyone is so fragile these days about being "corrected", I decided it wasn't worth it and passed on an opportunity to politely pass along some common golf courtesy. In the long view of the game, that wasn't the right decision, but after a long day of work, I wasn't interested in having a polite attempt turn into a confrontation.

 

Would love to hear what others are doing these days.

 

All that and not one word about what "rule" of etiquette the guy was breaking or your definition of common golf courtesy.

 

So may I assume you mean "1 hole to a person" ? So, what if there are 6 players for 5 holes ? One has to wait his turn ? Or at least has to share ?

 

This is simply a matter of how crowded it is at the time. i.e. you could've easily "sacrificed" yourself and only used 1 hole and allowed both of the others to use 2 holes each.

 

If you're only using one hole why would you even care what else is going on ?

 

And if you wanted to putt to one of "theirs", go right ahead.

 

This is a "tempest in a teapot" IMO.

 

 

[596]

It may be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable but I'll putt to any hole on the green.  If holes are open, I'm good. If it's crowded and there's more people then holes, my mother always taught me to share.  That goes for you too.  I'm putting to a hole whether you are or not.  It's not really any big deal for more then one person to putt to the same hole. But don't putt from near a hole to another hole.  Move your golf balls away from a hole before you putt to the next.

Edited July 14 by 596

[caniac6]

People spend way too much time being upset, or looking for things to be upset about. Just get on with it. Just ask the guy to take a couple steps away from the hole.

Edited July 14 by caniac6

[rogolf]

1 hour ago, caniac6 said:

People spend way too much time being upset, or looking for things to be upset about. Just get on with it. Just ask the guy to take a couple steps away from the hole.

It's like the news media these days, if there is no "victim", there is no story.  So go find a victim.

[McMunch]

I fully support free putting. People should putt where they want and with whoever they want and more importantly, to the hole of their choosing.

Mr 2 hole guy sounds like a fascist..

[Imp]

1 hour ago, McMunch said:

I fully support free putting. People should putt where they want and with whoever they want and more importantly, to the hole of their choosing.

Mr 2 hole guy sounds like a fascist..

OP or the guy standing in OPs way to the other hole? 

 

I think it would have been stated better as "What's a polite way to tell a person to move away from a hole when done putting to it, to not stand right by it?" I mean, I agree. Putt, move away. Putt again to same hole or other hole. Just don't stand there 1 foot away from the hole you just finished from if you're not practicing the knee knockers.

Edited July 15 by Imp

[McMunch]

Guy standing in OP's way... Should've been more clear like Mr Random Guy taking up 2 holes to OP's dismay..

[Huskerbuc]

On 7/14/2024 at 11:44 AM, nsxguy said:

 

All that and not one word about what "rule" of etiquette the guy was breaking or your definition of common golf courtesy.

 

So may I assume you mean "1 hole to a person" ? So, what if there are 6 players for 5 holes ? One has to wait his turn ? Or at least has to share ?

 

This is simply a matter of how crowded it is at the time. i.e. you could've easily "sacrificed" yourself and only used 1 hole and allowed both of the others to use 2 holes each.

 

If you're only using one hole why would you even care what else is going on ?

 

And if you wanted to putt to one of "theirs", go right ahead.

 

This is a "tempest in a teapot" IMO.

 

 

The common courtesy to not straddle one hole while putting to another when there are other folks on the practice green. 

 

Most folks will share the hole you are putting to no problem, but most will not putt at someone else's feet as they are standing over a hole. When you stand over one hole and putt to another, you are taking up 2 holes. The courteous thing to do when you are lag putting to a new hole is to move away from the hole you just putted to so you open it up for someone else.

[Sp4zRX]

Just say “hey man, is cool if I putt to that hole?” 

[Huskerbuc]

On 7/15/2024 at 12:36 PM, Imp said:

OP or the guy standing in OPs way to the other hole? 

 

I think it would have been stated better as "What's a polite way to tell a person to move away from a hole when done putting to it, to not stand right by it?" I mean, I agree. Putt, move away. Putt again to same hole or other hole. Just don't stand there 1 foot away from the hole you just finished from if you're not practicing the knee knockers.

Yes, I could have stated it better or not confused the real question with my anecdote. No one answered the question that was the very first sentence- Just curious how many folks share golf etiquette tips with other adults these days? 

 

I probably should have just left it at that.

[Greenie]

12 hours ago, Huskerbuc said:

Yes, I could have stated it better or not confused the real question with my anecdote. No one answered the question that was the very first sentence- Just curious how many folks share golf etiquette tips with other adults these days? 

 

I probably should have just left it at that.

 

I'll share golf etiquette tips with the regular l people I play with. In most cases I'll get a response of oh I didn't realize that was considered poor etiquette and the person usually doesn't do whatever it was again. I have one guy in our group I am constantly on about his poor etiquette. His poor etiquette includes a long list off things he does. I have actually had on course confrontations with him on certain issues. With him it doesn't matter he isn't going to change. His usual response is we are not pros. We are a group off 12. No one wants him in their foursome for their round so we all take turns with him. I can't understand why he is still included but I am not the one that sets things up.

 

When I am paired up with strangers I usually don't say much about poor etiquette. It depends on what it is. If someone is talking in my back swing I'll say I prefer that you not talk during my swing. I see a lot of people that don't fix their ball marks. While I am fixing my ball mark I'll say it amazes me the number of people that don't fix their ball marks. I'll give little hints but I don't usually call someone out on something.

 

The way the world is now I try not to let things bother me. I can't leave the house and get very far without seeing a "it's all about me" person. Poor etiquette is everywhere.

[Hawkeye77]

13 hours ago, Huskerbuc said:

Yes, I could have stated it better or not confused the real question with my anecdote. No one answered the question that was the very first sentence- Just curious how many folks share golf etiquette tips with other adults these days? 

 

I probably should have just left it at that.

My answer - usually only if someone asks or via supportive suggestion for a newbie open to learning. Random encounters are often the result of someone doing something like you mentioned and usually best to leave it unless you are sure it can be handled in a nice way. The guy laughing and trying to hit a range picker my daughter was operating and gave me a smart aleck response when politely asked him to stop? Became not nice at that point, but he stopped.