Question About UK vs. U.S. Course Etiquette

[GolfHo79]

On 8/17/2025 at 1:12 AM, ScouseJohnny said:

Private course, early tee time, course in Pennsylvania.  I was annoyed by a bunch of hackers slicing it into the woods off the first tee and acting like they had all the time in the world. Somewhat against my playing partner's wishes (I had a 1.30pm meeting some miles away), I asked the pro to let us play off the 10th tee. He said fine, but you'll get all caught up on the 1st tee (10th to us). I said "No probs."

In the UK (where I'm from), a match "playing through" from the back nine has priority on the 1st tee for the front nine (because it's that match's 10th tee). The match playing through has absolute priority on the 1st/10th tee. I don't mean to be rude, that's just how it is in the UK. That is absolutely how it it goes.

We reached the 1st tee (10th to us). I teed it up and hit it. The players behind were not happy. My partner wasn't happy. We hit and got on with it. Behind us was a foursome, three old men and one young man. The young man wanted to express his opinion of me, quite frankly and candidly. So what, I don't care. Go ahead, bring it, son. For what it's worth, they never caught up with us. We were playing far faster than them.

In the parking lot, my playing partner slammed his clubs into the trunk because he was still cross, and used words like "Douchebag." I explained the situation and my interpretation of etiquette as I saw it. He said, "Fine, stick to the UK then, Johnny."

I guess my big question in all of this is, "Who's the douchebag?"

In my defence, had I known this isn't OK in the US, I wouldn't have done it. I've only been here and played here for 20 years....but this situation hadn't arisen before.

From the UK and play in the UK - this isn't a standard thing here, but for clarification for anyone interested;

 

🟩 Standard practice:

• Groups starting on the 1st tee have priority on the course.

• If you started on the 10th tee, when you finish your back nine and come round to the 1st, you should wait until the 1st tee is clear — unless the starter or club policy explicitly gives you a slot.

🟨 Exceptions:

Some clubs manage this more formally:

• Two-tee starts (e.g., in competitions): The club will alternate groups between the 1st and 10th, or assign starting times so both flows merge smoothly.

• Quiet times or casual play: If there’s a natural gap on the 1st tee, groups coming from the 10th may slot in without issue.

🟥 In short:

Unless there’s a starter controlling the tee or a local rule in place, players beginning their round on the 1st tee take precedence over those coming from the 10th.

So in you're case assumption was the issue. 

[Ty_Webb]

13 hours ago, GolfHo79 said:

From the UK and play in the UK - this isn't a standard thing here, but for clarification for anyone interested;

 

🟩 Standard practice:

• Groups starting on the 1st tee have priority on the course.

• If you started on the 10th tee, when you finish your back nine and come round to the 1st, you should wait until the 1st tee is clear — unless the starter or club policy explicitly gives you a slot.

🟨 Exceptions:

Some clubs manage this more formally:

• Two-tee starts (e.g., in competitions): The club will alternate groups between the 1st and 10th, or assign starting times so both flows merge smoothly.

• Quiet times or casual play: If there’s a natural gap on the 1st tee, groups coming from the 10th may slot in without issue.

🟥 In short:

Unless there’s a starter controlling the tee or a local rule in place, players beginning their round on the 1st tee take precedence over those coming from the 10th.

So in you're case assumption was the issue. 

My club in England has a two tee start and they have a 2-ball tee and a 3/4-ball tee and they flip every 90 minutes. Players on the course coming round have precedence over people starting. You have to let one game coming round play and then you alternate starting vs rounding the turn. 

[Mike_BB]

On 8/17/2025 at 3:12 AM, ScouseJohnny said:

Private course, early tee time, course in Pennsylvania.  I was annoyed by a bunch of hackers slicing it into the woods off the first tee and acting like they had all the time in the world. Somewhat against my playing partner's wishes (I had a 1.30pm meeting some miles away), I asked the pro to let us play off the 10th tee. He said fine, but you'll get all caught up on the 1st tee (10th to us). I said "No probs."

In the UK (where I'm from), a match "playing through" from the back nine has priority on the 1st tee for the front nine (because it's that match's 10th tee). The match playing through has absolute priority on the 1st/10th tee. I don't mean to be rude, that's just how it is in the UK. That is absolutely how it it goes.

We reached the 1st tee (10th to us). I teed it up and hit it. The players behind were not happy. My partner wasn't happy. We hit and got on with it. Behind us was a foursome, three old men and one young man. The young man wanted to express his opinion of me, quite frankly and candidly. So what, I don't care. Go ahead, bring it, son. For what it's worth, they never caught up with us. We were playing far faster than them.

In the parking lot, my playing partner slammed his clubs into the trunk because he was still cross, and used words like "Douchebag." I explained the situation and my interpretation of etiquette as I saw it. He said, "Fine, stick to the UK then, Johnny."

I guess my big question in all of this is, "Who's the douchebag?"

In my defence, had I known this isn't OK in the US, I wouldn't have done it. I've only been here and played here for 20 years....but this situation hadn't arisen before.

Sounds like a classic cultural clash. In the US, the group starting on hole 1 generally has priority regardless of where you're coming from. Your partner's reaction was harsh, but now you know for next time - just wave the waiting group through with a smile.

[wacker]

On 8/17/2025 at 1:12 AM, ScouseJohnny said:

Private course, early tee time, course in Pennsylvania.  I was annoyed by a bunch of hackers slicing it into the woods off the first tee and acting like they had all the time in the world. Somewhat against my playing partner's wishes (I had a 1.30pm meeting some miles away), I asked the pro to let us play off the 10th tee. He said fine, but you'll get all caught up on the 1st tee (10th to us). I said "No probs."

In the UK (where I'm from), a match "playing through" from the back nine has priority on the 1st tee for the front nine (because it's that match's 10th tee). The match playing through has absolute priority on the 1st/10th tee. I don't mean to be rude, that's just how it is in the UK. That is absolutely how it it goes.

We reached the 1st tee (10th to us). I teed it up and hit it. The players behind were not happy. My partner wasn't happy. We hit and got on with it. Behind us was a foursome, three old men and one young man. The young man wanted to express his opinion of me, quite frankly and candidly. So what, I don't care. Go ahead, bring it, son. For what it's worth, they never caught up with us. We were playing far faster than them.

In the parking lot, my playing partner slammed his clubs into the trunk because he was still cross, and used words like "Douchebag." I explained the situation and my interpretation of etiquette as I saw it. He said, "Fine, stick to the UK then, Johnny."

I guess my big question in all of this is, "Who's the douchebag?"

In my defence, had I known this isn't OK in the US, I wouldn't have done it. I've only been here and played here for 20 years....but this situation hadn't arisen before.

The thought the thread was going to about the disgusting behaviour of the American fans during the Rider cup

[RayG]

Courses that double stack usually will have rules established and priority setup so nobody gets caught up in that situation. Especially first times off in AM, there is a built in window for crossovers coming through. Starter needs to keep folks informed. After a certain time, all bets are off for the most part. 

[ssbn611]

At my club in Maryland, the morning tee times starting after the time change to Daylight Savings Time, are using both 1 and 10. This is from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and then a gap of a couple of hours and another shorter round of players going off 1 and 10. My regular group has the last two hole 1 times on Saturday so 8:52 and 9:00. On Sunday we start on 10.

Sometimes the 7:00 #10 group is coming up to or occasionally but rarely already at the clubhouse by 9:00. They all know and understand they may have to wait for the 9:00 group. It is just understood that they are behind the 9:00 group. This is how we like it and I've never heard anyone complain about it, but I'm not interviewing the members about it. 

BTW, you really should always defer to the member who invited you and that would include asking the Pro if you could tee off on 10 to start the round since that club apparently is normally starting all groups from 1. Just something to consider the next time you get invited to a private club.