Golf Etiquette
 

As the winter season progresses and the Villages swells. Golf playing still dominates our activities.
My wife plays 3 times a week and I play 4 to 5 times a week.
But this season golf etiquette from players on all courses (Executive and Championship) is terrible.
Ball marks on the greens are rarely repaired by those who created them...some greens look like moon scape, so if you can tee your ball up you can bend over and repair your ball mark with a tee or ball mark repair tool..!!!!!!
Scuff marks from those dragging their feet on the greens.
Driving golf carts too close to the greens...what's up with that????
If you can't play the game with the dignity it deserves then don't PLAY
https://www.prg-golf.com/divot-tools

Been here 15 years and that’s nothing new.

The pandemic has resulted in many people who rarely or never before played golf to take up the game. Golf is one of the few relatively safe outdoor activities that lends itself to easy social distancing. Unfortunately, the result is overcrowded courses and golfers who don't know the proper etiquette of the game. It is definitely an unfortunate consequence of Covid.

We need a term for it, i will throw out Covetiquette, but I am sure others can come up with a better one?

In my eleven years in TV fixing ball marks, filling divots, and raking sand traps has always been a problem on Executive courses. I often fix six or more ball marks on a green.

It's not just the pandemic. A lot of people who have never been on a golf course before decide to "try" golf when they get here. They often rent clubs or buy some cheap clubs at a yard sale and simply head to the golf course having no idea what they should and shouldn't be doing.

I believe that every resident should attend the Good Golf School before being allowed on the golf courses. The emphasis should be on etiquette and care of the course. Everyone should be given a ball mark repair tool at these sessions and taught how to use it properly.

I would add segment where potential players would have to demonstrate that they can make contact with the ball and move it forward about 50 yards.

I don't care if you're a rank beginner or a former tour player, this should not be that much of an inconvenience to be able to play our courses.

...and actually there is none required on TV golf courses since they provide really no service other than to help a broken down cart, call 911 if someone keels over, pick up broken tees, provide sand, provide water during normal times, both of which you can do for yourself.

If they really wanted to move the game along, today was a perfect example. I was in a foursome playing the Pensacola nine at Bonifay behind a threesome and it took us 2 hours and 20 minutes. Yes, that's right, a threesome made us wait about 5 minutes on every hole. They had two men and lady. It appeared to be a resident who was an average golfer and then a son and daughter in-law. The son hit from the black tees and played very well, but that is a little time consuming since everyone in the group hit from different tees. His wife he apparently was teaching and giving lessons throughout the round. When she hit the ball, for the most part it wasn't terrible. However, she took about 5 practice swings everytime, and then stood over the ball for a good 30 to 45 seconds before actually hitting the ball. She took as much time as the two men combined and then she took twice as many shots to get the green. I was a bit perturbed and fortunately they quit after nine holes. We passed an ambassador 3 or 4 times and he never said anything to us, and we never said anything to him.

I'm not pointing out any commenter or diagnosing any personality disorders. Everyone has a right to their opinion and how they want to behave. There's a saying that goes something like this "A reputation is something you have but never own".

People with antisocial personality disorder might display what the DSM-V refers to “callous behavior”, including a lack of guilt or remorse about their negative actions. They may be easily angered and easily insulted. They could be impulsive or act without regard to consequences. Studies have shown that narcissist are aware of their own narcissism and this might indicate that changing their behavior is possible. People with antisocial personality disorder are less likely to admit that their behavior is a problem.

Topics of people behaving badly are frequent on TOTV. A loud radio at the community pool will be justified by some as harmless even in the face of complaints stating otherwise. Go to a different pool if it bothers you or bring your own music are some comments. Dog owners allowing their pet to defecate on someone else’s lawn is ok since the issue hasn’t been resolved. Golf etiquette refers to a set of rules and practices designed to make the game of golf safer and more enjoyable for golfers and to minimize possible damage to golf equipment and courses. Some golfers would rather not repair their ball marks on the green, not rake the bunkers, talk while you’re playing your shot, hit multiple tee shots even when they have a ball in play, could care less if their group falls way behind the pace of play and play their music as loud as they want in their golf cart.

Are people that break the rules or don’t care that their behavior is considered negative going to change because someone brings up the topic on TOTV? It appears that more than a few don’t feel their actions are negative and so why would they change?

I’m not an expert or care to defend anything I say. If I'm wrong I have no problem admitting it. As facts come in I reserve the right to change my mind.

good golf school
 

IMO everyone who Golf’s should attend The Good Golf School.

Good golf school
 

YOU FORGOT TO MENTION
GOOD GOLF SCHOOL
It only takes an hour or so and is offered at the regional rec centers. IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY!

=irish2468;1878868]As the winter season progresses and the Villages swells. Golf playing still dominates our activities.
My wife plays 3 times a week and I play 4 to 5 times a week.
But this season golf etiquette from players on all courses (Executive and Championship) is terrible.
Ball marks on the greens are rarely repaired by those who created them...some greens look like moon scape, so if you can tee your ball up you can bend over and repair your ball mark with a tee or ball mark repair tool..!!!!!!
Scuff marks from those dragging their feet on the greens.
Driving golf carts too close to the greens...what's up with that????
If you can't play the game with the dignity it deserves then don't PLAY
https://www.prg-golf.com/divot-tools[/QUOTE]

Absolutely an idiotic suggestion. Last thing I want after 50+ years of playing golf, many of them in competition, is someone with less golfing knowledge and skill, less familiar with the rules and etiquette wasting my time in a mandatory lecture. Save it for the inexperienced, and then when someone violates a rule of etiquette, give the ambassador the power to issue a "ticket", 3 tickets and good golf school is mandatory. BTW, do you know who holds the course record at Havana? (black tees, Hemingway to Kilimanjaro) ? Answer, Patrick Reed. Under your proposal he would have had to go to "good golf" school before he could play:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Excellent points!:a040::clap2:

Golf is not dying in the villages. A record 3.5mm rounds were played in the villages this year!

Excellent point of view!

I took the class in 2011 and started playing golf in St. Petersburg at age 12 in 1962, but enjoyed the class and it's more than an hour, it was 2-1/2 hours when I took it at Colony Cottage. Two things wrong with your assumption. The golf portion is taught by one of the country club pros. He only goes into local procedures as pertaining to local rules. I had no idea you're to leave the rake inside the trap with the head facing toward the middle. The golf teetime portion is taught by one of the administrators of the Villages Golf Administration. Basically two people who are well informed and are the ones you would seek for answers.

Pretty much indicative of our society today. Not just happening with golf.

Sorry, still don't see any value to it for experienced golfers. The tee time system is easy to figure out, and every course has different rake placement preferences, so when in Rome.......

Love your post. It has long been a pet peeve of mine. Usually, those who complain the loudest about "sorry course condition" are the worst perpetrators. I routinely fill my sand bottle 2-3 times per round and repair 4-5 ballparks on every green. When we didn't have rakes,, i bought a small one and carried it on my cart to rake traps with. Apparently when Ambassadors quit giving out the "atta boy" discount cards, the etiquette got worse. Not only that but Ambassadors used to refill your sand bottles for you. Now they just sit there and say "help yourself" and use Covid as an excuse. They could wear gloves and safely handle the scoop but, I guess laziness is a spreading disease among us all.

Golf
 

Sorry but you are wrong. Golf is the single biggest attraction TV has. So as long as there are homes being built the golf courses are safe. That appears to be at least another 25 years so probably none of us will be here to see it. Sorry to disappoint you. Getting ready to take up golf after an eleven year stretch of spending my free time on a fishing boat in the Gulf. Oh and I'll be helping the previous poster repair divots because that's what I was taught and it's what is right and courteous to your fellow golfers and neighbors. PS someone should start a grumpy old person club here as there would be an endless supply of members.

Thank you very much.

A large number of posts were removed as being off topic or directed at others. The topic is golf course etiquette and proper care. A non-resident, non-golfer derailed the discussion.

Back to the topic....

Moderator

Perhaps we limit all Villagers to 2 rounds per week, I bet the courses would improve immeasurably.

When I moved here from a Country Club Golf Course Community, I was told that although The Villages featured tons of Golf Courses they were not private and many semi-free so to expect "Villages Golf".

I have played with neighbors who actually miss the golf ball on most their swings thus tearing up the ground. At least they never have ball marks to fix on the green as they have never had a ball get off the ground. They do not keep score because they can't keep track of 8-10 shots per hole or should I say swings.

Also I have played with people that can't walk very good. So I know what I am in for when playing golf. So Golf in The Villages is more of a Demolition Caddy Shack Recreation Outdoors type of thing.

I guess for serious golfers, they would have to stay in private Country Clubs. I am thinking Golf in The Villages allows higher profits for Golf Course View Lots and outdoor recreation for the masses. (Which is okay).

As for course conditions, this time of year a lot of overseeding is done and the maintenance dept has asked the golf staff to NOT do their daily fixes because they want to be consistent with the treatment

“Being human is given. But keeping our humanity is a choice.”
 

Complete, accurate and thoughtful answer :coolsmiley::coolsmiley

These are just the "elite" people to whom rules and etiquette do not apply. We all know a few of them and they won't change.

Nope...
 

they do not overseed anymore and haven't for about 3 years or so now. Best to be up to date with your information.

Not "elite".....
 

but "entitled". There's quite a difference.

I agree with the good golf school requirement. Played mens day at De La Vista on Tuesday. After being closed for months for repairs, the greens look like a mine field again. Numerous divots not touched, numerous divots repaired incorrectly leaving more of a mess. You honestly have no idea where the ball will end up and how it will roll. We have also witnessed numerous people that are new to the game playing the back tees, hitting at least two balls for every tee shot. Another popular sport is packing up your cart, discussing your lunch plans etc while parked next to the green after finishing out. Another favorite is when you have a neighboorhood group, men or women, who have to yell and party while they are waiting to tee off. The poor people on the tee are subjected to boistrus laughing, screaming, cackling etc. To sum up this rant, yes....people need to be taught golf etiquette. However, if no one is there to correct bad etiquette....it will continue. Remember.....YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!

That is not true at all.

You said it yourself-----you can't fix stupid, and neither can a "good golf" class. I doubt that very many of these people are completely unaware of golf etiquette, they simply choose to ignore it

I recently began playing golf in October and after a few games I realized I could benefit from some lessons, so my husband got me lessons for Christmas! I had my first lesson today and already learned how to hold the club and hit the ball. I'm looking forward to my lessons and hope to learn as much as I can so I can keep up and not embarrass myself! 🏌️*♀️

Atta boy discount cards are still given out. As far as the sand bottles, the direction from golf admin was to make sand available but do not touch a golfer's sand bottles to reduce the outside staff's exposure to COVID.

My husband and I have experienced the same thing. What exactly do the “Ambassadors” do???

We also use several bottles of sand per round (used 4 bottles the day after Christmas on Havana, fixed 77 ball marks that day also), but even before Covid we quit letting the Ambassadors fill the bottles after one broke the spout on the one on my wife's cart and didn't say anything about it.

Welcome to the wonderful game of golf, enjoy the rollercoaster love/hate relationship journey with the sport. Happy New Year.

I'm really amazed that some of these people can remember how to get out of bed in the morning; they should thank the man upstairs that breathing is a natural reflex.

Thank you! Happy New Year and a safe 2021!������������

I've been trying not to embarrass myself out there for years now, and actually manage to pull it off every now and then. Good luck and have fun

I get my exercise by repairing other's ball marks.

And the post you quoted points out the source of most of the typical problems in the villages. Arrogance and entitlement.