Pet Peeves
 

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.

Oh my I’m so sad for you . Please call the family I’m sure it’s there fault .

Not that "Good Golf School" is the be-all to end-all, in fact a little more could be included about the etiquette problems you bring up. They do discuss raking traps, where to park your cart, and the intent of the beacons in front of the greens, and then mostly about how to make a reservation.

To improve that program and then to make it mandatory for a residents to have taken the three hour class before playing is something that TV should consider. I took the class about two months after moving here. I've been playing since 1962, so there wasn't much new for me, but I did learn some of local procedures, such as how to return the rake to the bunker. That's the place where we can start in educating the public.

Good Golf School - The Villages

I play in a group of about 20 mon wed and fri. If you see us run run for the hills. We really don't keep score. We improve lives. Talk and make fun of each other constantly. Take group brides shots and fun is our main motivation. I hope you dont expect all of us to change our behavior for a single. In my opinion if you join a group it's your responsibility to adapt not the other way around.

The good golf class should have been a mandatory requirement prior to being allowed to make a tee time. I can't count how much poor etiquette I witness every time I play. We were playing yesterday and talk about a slow group. These clowns were sometimes taking 3 tee offs each and it didn't help the person trying to tee off was constantly interrupted by the other giving a biblical speech so loud we could hear them a hole away. They then had to shout their scores across the green rather than waiting to group back at the tee boxes since two were walking. We held it together thou.:pray:

Print this out and hand out to people you play with, or ask to leave at starter shack.
10 Rules for Good Golf Etiquette


1. Don't be a distraction.

Don't move or make noise when someone close to you is setting up or swinging. The slightest movement or noise can distract the golfer.

2. Have your own clubs.

Players should take their own clubs on the course instead of borrowing from someone else. Purchase some cheap clubs if needed so you don't have to borrow any.

3. Don't make people wait for you to swing.

Keep an eye on the action and step up to the ball when it is your turn.

4. Keep the course looking nice.

Repair divots and ball marks, and rake sand bunkers when you play.

5. Don't walk on putting lines.

Putting lines are the imaginary lines that connect the hole and the ball. Avoid walking on them at all costs.

6. Only spend five minutes looking for lost balls.

If you can't find your ball, you have five minutes before declaring it lost. Then, hit your provisional ball.

7. Be a grownup.

You have probably seen people throw clubs, swear, or yell during a missed shot. That is bad etiquette and should be avoided.

8. Play in the right order.

The person who is furthest away from the pin should hit first. In addition, whoever wins the hole gets to tee off first at the next one.

9. Follow cart rules.

Each course has its own set of rules governing golf carts, and rules might change at a moment's notice. Pay attention to cart path only and 90-degree rules.

10. Get there early.

If you schedule a tee time, you need to get there early so you can get your equipment ready. Then, you need to tee off on time.

Some of what you mention, OP, is plain common sense. Even an inexperienced golfer should get it.

I run into lack of gym etiquette as well. Usually it is people who have never worked out in a gym before.

Do not think I will take up golf again, people do take it too seriously, think if you do not know the others in the group a one minute conversation is in order

What tickles me are the ones who don't spend any time preparing ahead of the tee time and only worry about when they can get out and their game ends up sucking!

Excellent idea. :thumbup:

If it's your group and a single joins it would be great if you told the single that is how your group plays, they then would have the option to drop out. Having a good time is what it's all about and if the game isn't important to you then make sure those that join you know that. Of course I guess that means that when any of your group is putting or getting ready to hit that single player can break out in song and you are ok with that right?

I am just starting to golf, so what is a 90 degree rule?

Yes to both. But you'd better have a good voice and pick a good song or you'll be fun of. That's just how it is.

After hitting, drive your cart in the rough to the point of your ball, turn 90 degrees onto the fairway. This save wear on the fairways.

What Is the 90-Degree Rule for Golf Carts?

Stay on the cart path until your 90 degrees to your ball then you can drive on the course. We may play fast and loose with etiquette and the rules but always respect the course. And while I'm at it keep up with group in front of you and play from the tees that you can reach a par3 in one shot. Not that any cares or should care for that matter but those are my pet peeves.

Thank you, I have been doing this right, just did not recognize the term, now if I could just figure out how to hit the ball..........

or use the foot club

mostly since it won't do any good.

No no no! Use the correct club! In this case, it would be the one-armed wedge!

When we start getting more rain, you'll hear the starters give instructions like today is rough only, or we are cart path only. I always hate cart path only, especially when it's the entire 18 holes because the cart path is on just one side of the fairway. More often, it's used only on certain holes and they'll give you a cheat sheet or mark them on the score card, such as #6 is cart path only.

Rough only gives you the option of either side for parking. Those two you don't go on the fairway, you park and walk to your ball while carrying a couple of clubs. 90 degree rule you can go to your ball, but try and stay on the cart path as long as possible. Many times the normal fairway entry points from the cart path will little stakes to keep you from driving off the path too soon.

Rough only, park and walk to your ball

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...E7orXtr0ulLCl8

During the very dry seasons, some courses will make this a seasonal rule.

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/sign...n-44846041.jpg

I go out as a single all the time, and have never run into something like this....It must have been ur unlucky day...You are a very good writer, if I may add..

Perhaps your groups should learn proper golf etiquette. Have fun yes, behave like you are on a golf course.

It's not about golf....it's all about lunch. TV golf courses are not for real golfers.

Hi Tiger. Could we please get your autograph??

All good points. Sometimes you just have to explain it carefully to people. These are all things I learned before I even played my first game, just from reading about the game, but some people don’t read the directions and need things explained. If they just want to chat, they should lay on the lanai and hoist a few.

This is usually a requirement for the golf cart to stay on the cart path, and only be driven onto the course 90 degrees from the path to your ball. This restriction is most often put in place if the course is wet, and subject to ruts made by cart tires. In those instances where the course is extremely wet, you might be limited to cart path only, and will need to walk to your ball from the path.

Don't drive on the rough!
 

The ninety degree rule is to stay on the cart path, not the rough, until you are abreast your ball and then go directly to your ball and return to the path after taking the shot. In practice, most players assume the 90 degree rule is equivalent to "scatter", which means you are allowed to drive on the grass.

You should be aware that carts are not allowed anywhere on the grass on any par three hole unless you are disabled and must drive to the ball.

On holes where you are allowed on the grass, there is usually a short green and white stake on the edge of the fairway near the cart path. That is where you are required to get off the grass.

Finally, I was a play manager at a country club for about seven years before coming to The Villages. The superintendent told me players should not ride in the rough. The fairway is tended with great care and is far healthier and stronger than the rough. If you have played on a lot of fine courses, you would discover many of them have designated entry points to the grass and require players to stay on the fairway, not the rough.

good golf school
 

everyone should be required to attend good golf school before being allowed to play golf here.

nobody says you have to play like you’re on tour, but you could at least observe some etiquette for the single when that person is playing their shots. After that enjoy

Disagree with the term "everyone". I can only speak for myself, but I've played golf for 51 years. I played on my HS team and my college team. I've played amateur tours and pro-ams. At my (younger) best, I was a +2 handicap. I pretty much know all the rules of golf and all the etiquette. I've played in TV for 6 years now. So tell me why I should be REQUIRED to sit in a class with those that are new to the game and don't know the difference between a club and a ball???? I would be better off practicing putting. I'm sure there are many others who have similar golf experience and would be wasting their time in "good golf" class. (BTW, is this the same class that tells you it is OK to move your ball out of a bunker, improve your lie in the fairway or rough, or take 5 foot gimmes ? If so, they should change the name from "good golf" to good "whatever the heck game you are playing"

I would be willing to take the class and I can safely say that I don't need to.

I haven't taken it but I've heard, as you say that it is mostly about how to make tee times.

While that's certainly fine when you're with like minded people, there is a code of etiquette that has been around golf for centuries and is accepted by almost all golfers. In fact there are even a few pages in the rule book about it.

It's not about one person adapting to a group or the group adapting to one person. It's about people having respect for one another. It's about adapting to long standing customs that have been around the game of golf for centuries.

Ahh.... a note of sarcasm from someone that I'm sure has a long standing history playing golf.

When your ball is in play, you take your cart to a point where the ball is and drive 90 degrees to the direction of the hole to your ball. In other words, you are taking to shortest distance from the cart path to your ball in order to minimize the damage that a cart does to the golf course.

No one should have to drop out of a group because other people can't follow the rules.

If people want to talk and move while other's in their group are playing, that's all well and fine. They can also be respectful while a stranger is playing. It only takes 20 seconds or so to hit a ball. I don't think that it's too much to ask for people to be respectful for fifteen minutes 30 or so times in an hour and a half.

good post on the 'golf school',,, i was ignorant of it til now but believe many won't bother - we shall attend,,, thanks !

exec courses - probably lots of hackers compared to champ courses so expect less boorish behavior on champs - execs are free so nothing invested

has never bothered me to advise gorillas of ill-mannered actions IF its true, annoying, or flagrant violation of golf rules,,, how many people now wear soft cleats because so many couldn't be bothered to pick up their feet when they walked on the greens ?

I totally agree with original message.
 

I am trying to improve my game. Without golf etiquette, it is difficult to focus. With golf etiquette, you won’t be waiting to tee off as long and your game will improve which will make the round go faster and more people can play. I mostly would like to have people keep quiet when necessary. I can live with all the rest.

For people that are having trouble understanding this, for a golfer this is the same as having people talking and being loud in a movie theater while you're trying to watch a movie. If you complain about it, they respond, "This is the way that our group watches a movie. We talk about all throughout the movie and if that bothers you, leave".

Change to the Championship courses.