Golf Etiquette - Cigarette Butts
 

As an ambassador who works executive and championship courses, I frequently find cigarette butts (some still burning) on tee boxes and around the greens. Part of my job is to clear away the broken tees, trash that may have blown onto the tee boxes and greens and filling divots as well as fixing fresh ball marks on the greens. I have noticed that over the past year, the number of cigarette butts discarded on the tee boxes has increased significantly. Besides being a health issue, this type of unnecessary trash is disgusting. Is it too much to ask that smokers buy a small ashtray to put in their carts and not discard their butts on the course? Ambassadors are responsible for regular "clean-up" before and after the golfers play. Please be considerate, not only to your fellow golfers, but to the workers and maintenance staff. We want your golf experience to be enjoyable for everyone.

And the damn cigars! And watch your masks, they are as much of a problem as the cigars and cigarette butts! Disgusting!

If they have smoked entire adult life, why quit now? It’s not like quitting will give them extra years, let them enjoy one of the lifelong habitats. But I agree pick up your butts, not just on the course, but around ponds, residents property, and the road

I thought the only thing ambassador’s do was ride around. I have never seen an ambassador doing the things u say u r supposed to do

Probably the same people that throw their butts out when driving in their car. I believe most cars come with ashtrays. :ohdear:

Not anymore. Automakers started to silently phase them out sometime in the mid 90’s. By the 2000’s, most cars only offered them as optional features. Today, many cars don’t even do that.

Ash trays was where you put your change. I just wish they hadn't phased out CD players.

Wrong,

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agree - I've seen a share of butts, as well on our streets and MM paths. One thing haven't seen on courses yet - the infanous dog poop. Well, I 've had my share of crappy shots in TV, but I try to clean off my clubs really well after.
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I don't know what goes on at an executives, maybe the ambassadors are too busy with water and sand because I haven't played one in at least five years. However, the championship courses, I haven't played a round in ten years where I didn't see an ambassador picking up broken tees, or filling divots on the tees.

This hits home for me. My mom n dad smoked for 60 years. Both had a list of health issues. Mom was an old roller derby gal and dad a boxer. Both were as tough as nails and neither backed down from a fight. As a boy I seen both in fists fights with their same sex. True story! One day mom’s doctor told her make preparations to die, he said only thing to help is quit smoking immediately and she did! A surprise for sure and she is alive yet. Dad’s doctor said you have smoked all these years, if you want to smoke then smoke. He lasted a few years and died. A man with 20” arms and powerful man was brought to a frail man in the hospital, that gasped for every breath. Hoses in nose, mouth and throat to gain another minute of life. The cigarette commercials always portrayed the smokers as cool and sexy but didn’t show a man like dad on his deathbed. Please if you smoke, then quit! It may give you a better quality of life later. You will smell better too

Disgusting habit, after watching my beloved father die of lung cancer I will never understand how someone can knowingly kill them self?

No they don't.

Well then do your job and clean up.

Wife watched her father die from lung cancer took a long time and was not pretty to watch She had not been able to quit before but quit the day he died 20years ago hasn't smoked since

Funny you address this as the players being the ones smoking. I have noticed a LOT of Starters smoking while standing out front of check in area and Ambassadors driving around in carts.
You have to practice what you preach.

Sorry, you are very wrong about that. Now, if people cleaned up after themselves and fixed their divots (at the tee box and on the green) there might be less for them to do.

That's a bunch of crap and you know it. Smoking in view of public while on whatever shift is not allowed. I know a few guys that have gotten reprimanded for it. Some people need to STFU when it comes to talking crap, and believing they know what the staff's duties are.

I agree with you! They do it because they have no respect or consideration for the players, nor the employees who work hard to keep our courses clean.
If they can’t wait until they are finished playing, then they should carry an ashtray with them.

Same on the executive courses. The ambassadors do the best they can but we need to help. If you see someone drop a cig ask them to please pick that up. Or pick it and give it back to them. Respect.

Well maybe you should open your eyes and you're experiences would be expanded.

Also, ambassadors normally clean up the course at the end of the day before they go in to the cart barn. There is not as many golfers to watch them at that time. If you were there you would see them putting rakes back in the traps that are left out by golfers that don't know the right procedure. Picking up trash including cigarettes and nasty cigars. Cleaning tee boxes. Repairing divots. Repairing ball marks......yeah they do a lot more than riding around.

Also regarding just riding around,,,,,when ambassadors do try to advise golfers that they are out of position and ask that they pick up their pace they are some times verbally (and on more than one occasion physically)abused. It seems some of the golfers out there are so much more experienced about how a golf course should be run that they always know better.

Thank you! Also with a full tee sheet there is no way an Ambassador can perform all their duties, yes DUTIES, we would just get in the way of play and **** more of you off than we normally do.

As a former ambassador I have picked up orange peels, banana peels, apple cores. Animals or birds don't eat these. The worst is pistachio shells at the tee box.
Ambassadors also fill divots that players don't. Fix ball marks that players don't.
Treat the golf course like you own it...you kinda do on the execs, not like some who feel entitled to do what they want because someone else will do it.

Golf etiquette is certainly nothing new - and there are many who are not aware that they should care for the courses they play or feel that their fees include someone cleaning up after them.

By the way - Replacing divots is mentioned in the golf rules of 1891.

Finally, “Respect for the rules, the golf course and the player ensures a consistent future for a pastime that has endured for more than 500 years” - Ben Crenshaw, Forward, Golf Etiquette

Bottom line: the course isn't a trash bin. If you smoke carry out your butts. Replace or fix your divots and ball marks. If you do not know how, google it.

It is really aggravating when I see discarded butts anywhere on the courses. Some people are inconsiderate and lazy. I used to pick them up and put them in the next tee trash can but with covid, I stopped doing that. They sell those those little butt can/ashtrays that will fit in beverage holders for a buck or so. I wish they could require them on the courses if you are a smoker.

I have often seen ambassadors clean up tee boxes and repair ball marks on the green. I even had one stop to warn of a Snake near the walking path on an executive course (I usually walk). Cigarette butts can carry the virus. Please dispose of them properly.

Totally agree. No one should be allowed to golf in The Villages unless they have attended "good golf school." Things like ready golf and fixing divots would make everyone's experience better.

Cars have not come with ash trays for years or cigarette lighters. What year is your car?

I miss my 8-Track. :(

I have also noticed many butts at tee boxes. Do these smokers toss their butts in their own yards near their front doors? I would guess not. Some smokers are very considerate of others, but seeing the number of butts leads me to believe that most smokers are not. This trash does NOT recycle or decompose contrary to what some smokers claim.

My favorite is when they pull down their mask to smoke a cigarette. Shows how brainwashed and idiotic they are. Not the slightest bit worried about the death rate among smokers (roughly 67%_ The terrifying rate at which smokers die from smoking | Cancer Schmancer), but all freaked out about the Covid death rate (less than 2%).

Smokers
 

Our friends who smoke are some if the nicest people.
When they come to visit and sit on our furniture they leave their territory marked with a dirty ashtray stench.
We open the windows and spray the furniture with with air freshener . Their clothing, like their house, is permeated with cigarette stench.
It seems to cling to the furniture. We know the addiction is very strong and dangerous but we wish they would put on fresh non cigarette stench clothes before they come to visit.
QUOTE=Art cov;1905972]This hits home for me. My mom n dad smoked for 60 years. Both had a list of health issues. Mom was an old roller derby gal and dad a boxer. Both were as tough as nails and neither backed down from a fight. As a boy I seen both in fists fights with their same sex. True story! One day mom’s doctor told her make preparations to die, he said only thing to help is quit smoking immediately and she did! A surprise for sure and she is alive yet. Dad’s doctor said you have smoked all these years, if you want to smoke then smoke. He lasted a few years and died. A man with 20” arms and powerful man was brought to a frail man in the hospital, that gasped for every breath. Hoses in nose, mouth and throat to gain another minute of life. The cigarette commercials always portrayed the smokers as cool and sexy but didn’t show a man like dad on his deathbed. Please if you smoke, then quit! It may give you a better quality of life later. You will smell better too[/QUOTE]

Then you must not be paying attention.

The fact that a person smokes cigarettes in the first place is an indication of their low IQ level. To expect them to care about littering may be way too much for them to comprehend. Maybe because they look bad, smell bad and are killing themselves by smoking they just don't give a hoot.

I sure hope that's a joke because I have seen ambassadors doing all the things posted including checking the condition of the toilets on the courses.

Obviously, you don’t play on the courses I work.

GO EAGLES!!!!!

As an executive starter the worst thing now during the pandemic is people step over large red cones to get to the window to check in......please stay behind the cones to check in.

I love my old Camry. It came with a CD and a tape player. The CD is now jammed but the tape player still works :)

i STILL have some as a keepsake, sabbath & dead, lol

We pretty much only play the executive courses and our ambassadors (south of 44) do a bang-up job of cleaning up the tee boxes/greens, repairing holes and divots. And yes, we're seeing a large number of cig butts AND cigars, especially on the Fox courses in Fenney. Nasty business for sure! Pick up your own garbage, people!!