[golfing eagles]

While it is the season of giving, and free championship golf is , at least on the surface of it, a nice gift to TV, but after witnessing what I just saw I am not so sure. Grandpa was out with a kid, probably 8 years old, playing a par 4 with a foursome right behind them, 2 groups on the previous par 3 and 3 groups in sight on the par 4 before that. The kid teed off from the yellow tees, about 190 yds, and grandpa let him take EVERY shot on this hole. His longest hit was about 12 yards. I lost count at 34. Besides the 15 or so whiffs, he took out at least 10 huge chunks of sod, and neither of them filled them in. He played in the sand for a while, and no one raked. On the green, he was kneeling on the surface, apparently lining up grandpa's putt, which is scary in and of itself. I'm sure he left about a 1 inch depression within 3 feet of the cup. While it is Christmas, I think the rule of age 14 or 11 with pro approval should apply today as well. Also, since the greens fee of $0 attracts a crowd, they should make a pick up at double par rule especially for today. I really feel for the groups behind them. Sorry to sound like a Grinch and no offense to anyone, but it is going to take 2 weeks for the damage to the courses to heal if there is a lot of similar situations out there.

[DonH57]

I'm sure what you just described is happening on every championship course today let alone the execs as well. It's sad when adults don't teach respect for other people's property in today's world.

[NotGolfer]

You're not a grinch! It's too bad that while Granpa is building (apparently) memories with Junior...he's also teaching him disrespectful behaviors along with it!

[D&Lsunfun]

are the execs open today? i saw people playing at southern star and yankee. do the same rules apply, just show up?

[Bogie Shooter]

Yes............

[golfing eagles]

Update: I've watched about 10 more groups go through, and I'm considering changing the title of the thread to "Come on out and hack up some pretty decent golf courses because you never swung a club in your life. Extra points awarded for bringing young kids, especially if you let them drive your cart wherever they want as if it were a toy" At this point, I'm just hoping I don't have to call an ambulance. BTW, the ambassadors are out and talking to these people, I saw one "golfer" give him a hard time. I pity them today.

[DonH57]

The executive courses won't be looking in good shape tommorrow either.

I don't know when they started to let guests play on Christmas but I'm not for it. It promotes situations that you speak of. I don't feel guests should have the same privilege as residents for this "gift" . It was hard enough getting to play on Christmas without including guests!

[BogeyBoy]

The Christmas free golf has been going on since we moved here 10 years ago. (Don't know how long before that date.) We tried it a couple of times and stopped - mainly because of the crowds. Sounds like it has only got worse, plus the damage to the courses.

[Chi-Town]

It's Christmas. It's 80 degrees. Be happy.

[spring_chicken]

Had no such problems at Tierra. Got there at 7, off by 7:30, done at 11. Beautiful weather and wonderful mimosas!

[rustyp]

Great golf at Orange Blossom. Very organized. Pace of play excellent. Could not have been better.

[kcrazorbackfan]

I love free and I love golf, but with what I've heard about this event, I swore to my wife this week that I wasn't going to partake in it, since I get to play at half-price anyway, but a few of the neighbors talked me into playing. We showed up at Bonifay around 9 and teed off at 10:10; play was sooooooo sloooooooow; only got 15 holes in by 2pm and the others had to leave. The starter said everyone has to experience it at least once; mine was today and no more. I fixed so many ball marks and went thru 3 bottles of sand; it's a damn shame that the privileged, the entitled or the just plain lazy can't fix their ball marks, sand their divots and rake the bunkers.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

I love free and I love golf, but with what I've heard about this event, I swore to my wife this week that I wasn't going to partake in it, since I get to play at half-price anyway, but a few of the neighbors talked me into playing. We showed up at Bonifay around 9 and teed off at 10:10; play was sooooooo sloooooooow; only got 15 holes in by 2pm and the others had to leave. The starter said everyone has to experience it at least once; mine was today and no more. I fixed so many ball marks and went thru 3 bottles of sand; it's a damn shame that the privileged, the entitled or the just plain lazy can't fix their ball marks, sand their divots and rake the bunkers.

Are you an ambassador? Half price?

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Are you an ambassador? Half price?

Nah.