There is a limit to What is acceptable

My Son just turned 26 and has been playing golf now for about 1 1/2 years. He has the Pings, the Taylor made woods...good quality putter...the best balls...on and on! I had played several years ago and got back into it because it was a great thing for my kid and I to do together. We have been having a great time.
I think when we first started going out to the course, he had images of whooping my butt in a round. Well...that did not happen. Four weeks later..it still has not happened and the spread is getting larger cuz' I'm getting more consistent. I picked up right where I left off over 10 years ago and have been playing fairly well considering all things.
Now...we all get frustrated when we play a bad hole or make a stupid shot that we knew better before we even teed up the ball. I have said my share of choice words and have acted like someone that my wife would not know if she saw me on the course. However...I blow it off pretty quick.
I have never seen anyone...ever...throw their club in anger..or snap one in two. I have tossed mine about 7-8 feet in disgust...but never have I thrown it the length of a football field or worse yet..into a lake!
This weekend...my son started off the first hole with a drive that was right down the middle of a heavily wooded, narrow fairway. I sliced off into the woods and expected it to be one of those days. Took my stroke and plopped one on the green, putted and took my bogie. He ended up with a double bogie, mainly by just inconsistent greens play. It happens...oh well...there are 17 more holes. He was ahead of me after 5 holes by a stroke. This is when the wheels fell off his wagon.
He started shanking, slicing, duck-hooking, hitting fat shots, hitting thin shots...three putting...you name it...he did it. I kinda felt bad for him, cuz' I know just how it feels. About the 12th hole...he had enough! He sliced the third ball into the lake and then spun around with a Ping iron and threw it towards the lake and walked away. I could not believe my eyes as I saw this expensive club going end over end splashing into it's watery grave. I walked over to the lake and looked in and saw a club about 20 feet into the lake with the butt end of the club sticking out of the water about two inches. He was lucky that the club landed the way it did or he would never had found it. He field stripped and wades into the water and got his club. The only thing I could do is laugh...just a little at first and then it kinda got hysterical. Finally he started to laugh about the stupid move he had made and I figured it was all over. NOPE...it got worse. The poor kid lost about 18 balls. He was livid.
I guess it was the wrong time to ask him where he wanted to play golf next Saturday. Timing is everything! He said he was going to take lessons before he hit a golf course again.

I was looking at Youtube last night and was amazed just how many videos there were on "Angry golfers". Throwing clubs, snapping them. hitting trees..and on and on. Don't get me wrong...I get pissed off at my game and let out a myriad of choice words..but something always prevented me from throwing clubs. The funny part is that you're left standing there not exactly knowing what to say...except to start laughing under your breath. That quickly turns into hysteria which doesn't help the situation at times. Trust me...i know!

I don't get the extreme anger over golf especially not for your average duffer (like me). I suck at golf. I never know when I'll shoot a birdie or a snowman. So for me to get all mad and make a foolish display of anger doesn't make any sense. It's not like it's out of character for me to shoot a lousy score. I can see a pro getting upset, golf is how they make a living, but for most golfers you have to figure that things are going to go wrong on occassion.

I'm lucky I guess because I'm a pretty even tempered guy...

Maturity. I'm a pretty low-key guy most of the time. Anger on a course lasts about 3 seconds and it's usually inward and not taken out on material items.

Your son is wise to take lessons. But he also needs to learn to relax and enjoy what is GOOD about golf. It's not JUST about THE shot or the number that ends up on the scorecard. It's more about enjoying playing partners, the beautiful outdoor surroundings, the wildlife and the occasional shot that is BETTER than the player himself.

Relax. This is supposed to be fun! Don't wreck a good time for yourself and more importantly, the people around you!

dave

I would encourage your son to NEVER, EVER throw a club,.... as he probably wasn't aiming for the lake he'll say the same thing when his club slams into someones head on accident,...
throwing clubs is a very un-natural movement, the club can fly off to the right or the left of the intended target, it is very common for acts like this top go wrong and someone will get hurt,... you won't be laughin then,... tell him to remember,... "it's not the arrow, it's the Indian,..."
or
"NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES FROM A THROWN CLUB,..."

try looking up injuries caused by thrown glof clubs,...
not on youtube but maybe medical journals,...

scuba

I would agree that throwing clubs is not productive.... but you sound like you lost a friend that way or something. There are a lot of things in life that are dangerous, getting hit by somone's thrown golf club is the least of my worries.

I often tell members, or friends of mine that play, when they talk about getting mad over golf. I tell them, straight faced "You're not good enough to get mad." Unless you're getting paid to play golf, you have no reason whatsoever to get upset over golf. It's a game. Grow up and get over yourself. That's how I look at it.

I throw clubs and break them every now and then. I dont throw them javolin style, but more of a toss to the bag lol. Its my temper getting the best of me. The way I look at it, until I can figure out a better (less expensive lol) way to get rid of the tension, then I will do that. I play better once I release the frustration.


Some people are made up differently mentally. I have always had a bad temper and played sports that probably increased it (ice hockey).


I dont really care what other people think when I do break a club. I only care about myself in that respect and sorry if you have to witness it lol.

Uh oh, now you're doomed.

Reminds me of that commercial for USGA in which the old fart gets beat by a young girl and tosses his bag in the lake, only to realize his keys were in there as he walks away. Pretty funny stuff, if you're not the old fart.

Same here. I might mutter something under my breath or if playing alone just whisper a few expletives, particularly if I've hit a great tee shot and am perfectly positioned to knock it in the green near the flag then chunk/fat/thin/put the shot in the bunker/something cool I haven't thought of.

^^^ HAHAHA!!! I have never seen that.

I’m of the opinion that you should never let your competitors know how you’re feeling during a round. When I see players engage in these related affectations of anger I know that they have just taken themselves out of the match, and I celebrate it… internally of course.

yeah I've played hockey all my life and really miss the days when I played in checking leagues where being a little pissed made you skate faster, hit harder, and generally just play better. I was always at my best in hockey if I could get a little pissed... of course I was a big guy and always played a physical game.

In golf in just doesn't do any good... I have to get it out before I take another stroke or I will not make a good swing. oh yeah... Fraser, nice video of Hoffman... that was funny stuff!

I didn't lose a friend..he is my Son...and I really don't think the club throwing is funny at all. HE was funny. I have warned him about club throwing. I really don't mind a vile temper at times cuz' I know just how frustrating golf can be and I've seen it so many times on the course. However....with that said...it crosses over from verbal to physical..there could be problems. He is young and learning...he will catch on. It's one thing for Dad to say it, but when it's from his friends, he make stand up and take notice.

Good advice!

That's a funny story. Sure, he was a little over-the-top, but it happens and it makes for great story telling and entertainment for strangers on a message board.

lol. That video was hilarious. It was such a nonchalant toss into the pond.

Funny clip. I saw that live and thought I was seeing things. I'm not a club thrower myself, and try not to get angry on the course, as it destroys one of my primary purposes for being out there at all -- which is to enjoy the day, relax, and escape the burdens of the world for a while. That said, I confess that I am not always successful in maintaining my serenity during a round, particularly when I miss a birdie putt, blow the comeback for par, and end up with a 3-putt bogey, but I do attempt to maintain at least some measure of detachment and not allow myself to turn into a temper tantrum throwing 3-year-old.

In general, I think the whole concept of club-throwing or club-breaking is completely retarded, but it's hilarious to watch somebody sail their 5-iron into the ravine after chunking yet another shot (guess they should cut that stick down). The last time I witnessed a club throwing incident I was playing with some of my partners, and one of them went apeshit after getting sandy yet again and just helicoptered his pitching wedge, which would have been funny except that it sailed about 3 inches over my head. He wasn't aiming at me, but apparently he can't throw any straighter than he can hit his approach shots.

Funny clip. I saw that live and thought I was seeing things. I'm not a club thrower myself, and try not to get angry on the course, as it destroys one of my primary purposes for being out there at all -- which is to enjoy the day, relax, and escape the burdens of the world for a while. That said, I confess that I am not always successful in maintaining my serenity during a round, particularly when I miss a birdie putt, blow the comeback for par, and end up with a 3-putt bogey, but I do attempt to maintain at least some measure of detachment and not allow myself to turn into a temper tantrum throwing 3-year-old.

In general, I think the whole concept of club-throwing or club-breaking is completely retarded, but it's hilarious to watch somebody sail their 5-iron into the ravine after chunking yet another shot (guess they should cut that stick down). The last time I witnessed a club throwing incident I was playing with some of my partners, and one of them went apeshit after getting sandy yet again and just helicoptered his pitching wedge, which would have been funny except that it sailed about 3 inches over my head. He wasn't aiming at me, but apparently he can't throw any straighter than he can hit his approach shots. No harm, no foul, but I failed to see the humor in it that time.