[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by DaleDivine

A friend and I played an executive course on Tuesday.
We played with a couple that was new to The Villages and only played golf for a couple of months. They both insisted on playing from the back tees and hit several extra tee shots. By the time we were finished my nerves were raveled because we had people behind us waiting to hit on every hole.
Some people just don't have a clue.

Did you say anything to them?

[sjeffries]

You cannot control what other “inconsiderate” golfers do.

Perhaps you could take a lesson from what happened to Tiger Woods. He said his dad used to try to distract him during his backswing by rattling the change in his pocket.

Try seeing other golfer’s peccadilloes as personal challenges you can overcome.

[mykvalentin]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I'm having a difficult time enjoying myself on the golf course due to the behavior of people I play with. I usually sign up as a single and get paired with different people. Most of them are very nice and I'm sure that I'd have no problem with them off the course. But too many of them have no idea about golf etiquette.
I played with two guys today who just wouldn't stop talking. They had no idea where anyone's ball was and generally didn't understand the need to keep quiet, not walk on other player's lines, not let there shadows go where they can break a player's concentration.
Now I understand that a lot of people, especially those that play executive courses are out for fun, sunshine and exercise. But there are some of us that are trying to hit good shots and shoot a score.
When I play golf, my concentration begins when I start to line up my shot. I stand behind the ball pick out an aiming point and envision the shot that I'm going to hit.
Today on the first hole, these two guys are talking and I was getting ready to hit. I got over my ball and they didn't stop so I back away and gave them a look. They finally shut up but just as I'm about to take the club away the two of them walked behind me and cast their shadows over my ball. I backed away again and they didn't get it.
They did this over and over for nine holes. On one hole, the fourth member of the group was standing over a four foot putt for par and one of them starts talking in the middle of his backswing.
On another hole, one of them dropped two clubs on my ball marker and walked up my line. That not bad enough but the guy must have weighed close to 300 pounds.
If you haven't played golf before, or you're a casual golfer, I understand that these things may not be important to you, but you need to learn to be considerate of other people. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, go to the good golf school and read a bit about golf etiquette. It will make for better relationships and make golf much more pleasant for everyone.
I feel bad that I went out to have an enjoyable day and come home and have to write something like this.

I had my share of being paired with “casual fun” golfers. What usually happened is that I pattern my behavior with theirs. If they are talkative, then I talk to them. As for the etiquette such as talking while I’m hitting, I usually back away & SMILE at them, and they would apologize & smile back. I think glaring or staring at them just makes the atmosphere worse. As for walking on my line, I would do almost the same thing to the person’s line when s/he’s lining up, but instead of stepping on their line, I would walk around behind them and apologize for almost stepping on their line. Usually they will get the hint of the etiquette. Likewise with having someone’s shadow on your ball.
I think if we show them the etiquette in a subtle, polite way, they usually “get it”. Oddly enough and not surprisingly, I play, score better & had more fun playing with casual fun golfers than when playing with serious competitive ones. But that’s just me. Thank you, -myk

[Daxdog]

A golf class would be like a safe driving class, everyone thinks they are a great driver, I don’t need that, same for golf school. Why don’t you make friends and play with them, or can you not find anyone up to your standards? Relax have fun.
I’m sure your Beatles friends think you are a great guy, aren’t there 3 people you can play a round with?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I agree 99% with you, the difference being that I am NOT willing to waste 2 hours on the class. Let those who need to go, go, but leave me out of it. Those people can take the class, it does not require my presence.

So how would you determine who needs to go and who doesn't? If you ask people, many would say that they don't need to go. Some that do need to go might refuse because, like many in this thread have said, they're not serious golfers.

I've been to a lot of seminars where I was bored for most of the time but found that I always learned something. In addition experienced golfer might even be able to contribute to the conversation. I found that sometimes asking a question to which I already knew the answer would force the speaker to bring up something that other's needed to know.

I don't think that two hours is that big of a deal to make golf in The Villages more enjoyable for everyone.

[Shoresands]

Golf was invented and developed as a "Gentlemens" game. Common courtesy is the main unwritten rule. Based on some of the snide disingenuous comments towards the OP, some posters need to throw their clubs in a pond and just go hang out at the bar where rude and boorish behavior is acceptable.

[Scrapper]

"Ready Golf" is a thing that is emphasized in the Good Golf School. In my opinion, that is a reason that courtesy seems lacking. I am not a long time golfer, but have always, for example, understood you were to wait for your opponent to hit on the fairway and the greens if he is farther from the hole. Ready golf says whoever is ready to hit, hits. Some use these rules, others don't makes for real confusion and some could call that not being courteous. Ready Gold emphasizes fast play which doesn't allow much time for lining up a putt or deciding on a different fairway club, etc. While you are lining up, someone else decides to shoot. Fast play is great, but not at the expense of courtesy and playing the game at your best. There is a time allotted for play on most score cards; if you are plus minus 5-10 minutes from that you should take your time and play gold as it was designed to play. Also, if you agree with me, then you won't be pushing, pushing people ahead of you if they are a little slower. Aren't we all retired? Relax and enjoy. Finally, it is true that you should expect less skilled golfers and perhaps less knowledgeable golfers on Exec Courses.

[SnowflakeinDeLaVista]

I agree with the original post. It is a reasonable expectation that when playing golf—everyone should follow the rules of golf. I get it that many new golfers play the executive courses and it does take some time and practice to learn etiquette in addition to skills. However intentionally violating those rules just because you like it better that way and expecting others to conform to your violations of the rules and etiquette is not reasonable. My husband and I signed up To play on an executive course and another couple signed up also. We thought it was great that we might meet another couple that like to golf. They never stopped talking. When you had a par putt, they would burst into one song, and if it was a birdie putt they would burst into a different one. While you are putting! Any other putt they wanted to all hit their balls at the same time. I could not wait to get off that course. Found out they have lived here many years. Not surprising they have to sign up with unsuspecting strangers in order to make a foursome.

[Fredman]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I'm a retired PGA professional and I would be willing to go for the greater good of the community. I used to teach things like the Good Golf School but I would be willing to spend a couple of hours if it meant that people who have never played the game and don't understand the rules of etiquette learn how to behave on a golf course.

As far as moving your ball in the rough, taking putts taking the ball out of a bunker, that doesn't affect me. If people want to do that because it helps them enjoy the game more, let them go ahead. It's the same as people who got all upset over all of the holes in one while we had PVC pipes sticking up out of the holes. Why would that upset anyone. If people want to lie to themselves or fool themselves into thinking that they holed a shot it only affects them.

In fact when people are learning the game improving their lie, tossing the ball from a bunker and all of the other things they do will help them move along more quickly. It's the same as the double par stroke limit. It's not as if they're playing tournament golf. They are not turning in scores for a handicap. They are simply out for fun, exercise, camaraderie and sunshine. I say let them do what they want as long as they don't intefere with other players.

I am wondering, what is your handicap?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Fredman

I am wondering, what is your handicap?

I don't have one. I am a retired PGA professional. I was forced to retire about 12 years ago because of an accident. I didn't play golf or hit a ball for about seven years. After being in The Villages for a few years, I thought that I might be able to play nine holes on the executive course so I started doing that.

About 18 months ago, my injury acted up and I quit playing again. I've been back play for about six weeks now and am finding it very difficult.

I'm almost 69 years old and have had three back surgeries, two shoulder surgeries, surgery for a torn meniscus in my knee, a fractured left calcaneus (heel bone) and recently had a bout with prostate cancer.

My left heel is held together by seven screws and because of the cancer, my testosterone has been shut down.

I'm finding it very difficult to play, but do enjoy hitting a decent shot now and then and it is getting a bit better. Another problem that I have is that my standards are still what they were thirty years ago.

But how well a person can play should have nothing to do with the subject matter. I've played with plenty of people who could barely hit the ball but understood the rule of etiquette. I've played with others who were decent players, but were obnoxious in their disregard for other players.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by SnowflakeinDeLaVista

I agree with the original post. It is a reasonable expectation that when playing golf—everyone should follow the rules of golf. I get it that many new golfers play the executive courses and it does take some time and practice to learn etiquette in addition to skills. However intentionally violating those rules just because you like it better that way and expecting others to conform to your violations of the rules and etiquette is not reasonable. My husband and I signed up To play on an executive course and another couple signed up also. We thought it was great that we might meet another couple that like to golf. They never stopped talking. When you had a par putt, they would burst into one song, and if it was a birdie putt they would burst into a different one. While you are putting! Any other putt they wanted to all hit their balls at the same time. I could not wait to get off that course. Found out they have lived here many years. Not surprising they have to sign up with unsuspecting strangers in order to make a foursome.

After what you just described I'm not surprised they have to sign up to find others. Were they intoxicated as well ? LOL

[jebartle]

You know your playing with a newbie, when you wait for them to retrieve cart (push cart or clubs) from 2 shots back, ugh!!!

[coralway]

Sounds like you had A Hard Day’s Night

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

So how would you determine who needs to go and who doesn't? If you ask people, many would say that they don't need to go. Some that do need to go might refuse because, like many in this thread have said, they're not serious golfers.

I've been to a lot of seminars where I was bored for most of the time but found that I always learned something. In addition experienced golfer might even be able to contribute to the conversation. I found that sometimes asking a question to which I already knew the answer would force the speaker to bring up something that other's needed to know.

I don't think that two hours is that big of a deal to make golf in The Villages more enjoyable for everyone.

Well, one suggestion would be a 20 item questionnaire based on the class regarding etiquette and more common rules. Anyone who passes with 90% could be exempt from "school".
I still disagree with your premise---there are many who would be bored out of their minds for 2 hours. As to those experienced golfers who ignore etiquette---they would take a mandatory class and then go right on ignoring etiquette. And I'm not there to "bring up something" that others need to know----that is the instructors job. In all fairness to you, however, I don't play executive courses so I have no idea how bad it is out there, but I can imagine.

[karostay]

No amount of education on proper etiquette whether its on golf course or in a restaurant or in any public space will help here in It's All about me land