Two Kids Are Walking Their Bikes Across the Green: What do You do?

[TapOut64]

Happened to me today.  I was with 3 others on a par 5 around 200 yards from the green and I watch these two young girls (200 yards away, I guess 8-10) walk their bikes out onto the golf course, head right for the green and proceed to walk right through the middle of it at which point I yelled at them to get off the green which they did.  On the next green, a guy who I would think was their father, comes out screaming at us and threatening us for yelling at the girls.  He came out a second time when we were on the next tee box screaming obscenities again along with more threats.  My wife doesn't think it's my place as a member to say anything.  Your thoughts?  

[iacas]

I don't have enough details to know what to tell you, man. If they were walking across, to play devil's advocate, maybe just wait another 10 seconds next time.

[Ty_Webb]

I think this is more of a question of what are they doing with their bikes on the green rather than waiting for them to get out of the way. But my club back at home got vandalized by some kids on dirt bikes this spring, so I'm perhaps a little biased. Bottom line they shouldn't have been on the green with their bikes and I think calling to them to get off the green with them is not unreasonable. I think dad needs some anger management classes and I would bring this up to the club. 

[saevel25]

I mean they probably were taking a short cut across the course. You said they walked the bike across the green, not ride the bike across the green. I would probably just wait for them to leave. 

[billchao]

Two kids walking their bikes is unlikely to cause any damage. I would have just waited for them to get clear and told someone in the clubhouse about it.

[TapOut64]

It was odd because they started from the cart path short of the green, walked about 50 yards with their bikes across the fairway towards a lake, then made a 90 degree turn and went another 25 yards or so straight towards the green.  I yelled for them to get off the course as they were heading onto the green.  I notified the  club pro and he thanked me for yelling at them to get off the course.  Kids on bikes have been an issue on this course. 

Also note, I only yelled because we were around 200 yards away and they would not hear me otherwise. 

[p1n9183]

I'll tell the father that he is rigth, next time there will be no screaming. I will directly hit a stinger at the green with 2 more clubs hoping that something or someone stop the ball on the green. 

To the girls, if you can approach them and camly tell them that is dangerous and maybe persuade them to avoid doing it again for their own safety. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, p1n9183 said:

I'll tell the father that he is rigth, next time there will be no screaming. I will directly hit a stinger at the green with 2 more clubs hoping that something or someone stop the ball on the green.

What an asinine comment. You could be sued and/or arrested. Cool plan.

[mcanadiens]

I'd say that @TapOut64 was correct to call out. Even if the girls didn't do any damage, its a poor idea to encourage non-players to wander around the course. It can be dangerous to them if they aren't walking with the flow of the course and aren't paying attention to their surroundings. Any of us that have been drilled with a golf ball know the damage it can cause. Simply from a legal-liability stand-point, the club really can't have that. 

 

 

[ChetlovesMer]

On 7/30/2025 at 9:35 AM, billchao said:

Two kids walking their bikes is unlikely to cause any damage. I would have just waited for them to get clear and told someone in the clubhouse about it.

I have to confess. I'm not sure I would have done anything. 

I agree with @billchao. I don't think two kids walking their bikes would do much damage. So, I'd have just waited for them to clear and then played on. I really don't think I'd of done anything. 

On 7/30/2025 at 8:58 AM, saevel25 said:

I mean they probably were taking a short cut across the course. You said they walked the bike across the green, not ride the bike across the green. I would probably just wait for them to leave. 

This is my most likely assumption as well. 

22 hours ago, p1n9183 said:

I'll tell the father that he is rigth, next time there will be no screaming. I will directly hit a stinger at the green with 2 more clubs hoping that something or someone stop the ball on the green. 

Woah, seriously? Threatening to hurt kids ... that seems like a terrible idea. Especially threatening to hurt some girls to guy who's defending his children?!?!  ... That seems like a perfect way to escalate the situation. 

On 7/29/2025 at 8:48 PM, TapOut64 said:

On the next green, a guy who I would think was their father, comes out screaming at us and threatening us for yelling at the girls.  He came out a second time when we were on the next tee box screaming obscenities again along with more threats.  My wife doesn't think it's my place as a member to say anything.  Your thoughts?  

Firstly, I wouldn't have yelled at the girls. I would have just waited for them.

But, if their father came out screaming at my group, I would have approached him calmly and listened to what he had to say. Then let him know that we meant no disrespect and we were only concerned with the girls' safety. You never know what version of the story the father heard. I consider myself pretty good at de-escalating situations and I wouldn't want the guy mad at me/us. I would have allowed the guy to air his anger and let him know that I understand his point of view. Then I would have tried to calmly talk the guy down.

 

Edited July 31, 2025 by ChetlovesMer

[billchao]

22 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I have to confess. I'm not sure I would have done anything. 

For the safety of the people who seem to know nothing about what to do while walking on a golf course, I would have told the clubhouse and let them deal with it. But beyond that, 30 seconds of waiting for them to get clear isn’t going to ruin my day.

It’s not my place to police people who are trespassing on property that isn’t mine.

[Ty_Webb]

3 minutes ago, billchao said:

It’s not my place to police people who are trespassing on property that isn’t mine.

Not disagreeing with you, but he did say he's a member, so it kind of is his property

[p1n9183]

22 hours ago, iacas said:

You could be sued and/or arrested

Not in my country!! haha.. It's a joke, take it easy. 

[TapOut64]

They definitely were not just cutting across the course, they were aimlessly wondering around.  Again, they were headed towards a lake in the middle of the course, then took a 90 degree turn left and headed right for the green. From the time they left the cart path they were probably on the course for 2-3 minutes.

I did see a guy on the next hole walking a dog.  Perhaps they were with him and exploring then turned to join back up with him?  

I was just taken aback seeing 2 bikes being walked across a green.  

[iacas]

4 hours ago, p1n9183 said:

Not in my country!! haha.. It's a joke, take it easy. 

It's not funny. And you could take your own advice and just let them walk across and, soon enough, away.

[Vinsk]

It could be a good idea to just let them know they shouldn’t cross a green…in case they come across less civil people out there. 

[pganapathy]

Honestly I would have started screaming at them to get off when I saw them heading towards the green, if at all possible.  Yes, the reasons are multiple.  Their safety, protecting my course etc.  I know it sounds bad considering they looked to be 8-10 year old kids, but assuming they live close by, teaching them not to enter property which isn't theirs is important

[Shindig]

If I'm at a course that has a marshal, I'd call the front office (or whatever number is listed on the scorecard) and let them know.  

Hitting into someone deliberately is never a good idea -- and hitting into someone who probably doesn't know what happens on a golf course seems like an even worse idea.