The real problem with golf.....

[Hoovedawg]

People talk about the problems with golf and most of the time people mention pace of play, how expensive it is and other things of this sort. I think that the real problem is a small percentage of people playing it. These people are responsible for other people to think that it is "old rich and snobby" sport. Some of you all are like this but most are not. These are the people that disrespect someone because he isn't wearing dressed up enough or because they have 30 year old clone clubs. These are the people that can't stand to see a kid on the course and will get mad at or disrespect the juinor golfers just because they are younger. These are the people who freak out about rules and ettiquete. (I'm not saying dont follow the rules, I'm talking about the people that get mad other people in other groups fluffing their ball or taking gimmie putts. As for the ettiquete I'm not saying that people should talk in someone's backswing or walk in someone's line but if someone makes an honest mistake you don't need to be a dbag about it.) These are the one who tee off with a group 150 yards out. They just need to chill out realize that golf is not a race and the world doesnt revolve around them.

These are the people hurting golf.

[Dent]

No effence to some people on this forum, But I honestly don't like some Old Country Club Members, Mostly guys in their 60's - 70's.

It's not all, but some act like they own the course, get mad at juniors because they are playing, act like they are PGA tour professionals, and then shank a ball on their 7th shot.

I've had numerous times where i've had seniors disrespect me:

One time I went to play 9 holes alone, and one of the members yelled at me because I was playing alone, he then took a cart, and went to the Pro shop to Tell on me. What a baby..

Another time I was teeing off, and right in my backswing some old man yells to his friend "What are these kids doing here!" Because it was a Weekday.. Well we have something called Summer Vacation

I can't stand these types of people.

[longfornothing]

Nothing is wrong with golf. No matter the sport or hobby, there is always a group of A-holes. Confront them or ignore them, either way forget it and move on. Life is too short to be letting someone else dictate how you do what you do.

[DJYoshi]

  Dent said:

No effence to some people on this forum, But I honestly don't like some Old Country Club Members, Mostly guys in their 60's - 70's.

AMEN...but I'll have to say, I've met more cool people than folk that have called me...as Ii've said in the past: Bruce Lee, etc. etc.

Yesterday I got paired up with a father/son and they hit 1st & 2nd. I was barely warmed up...I went to introduce myself...it wasn't even a friendly handshake on their part. they're playing the whites, really nice clubs. miura blades for the dad... mp 67's it looked like for the son. I always play the blues at the course... they looked at me with WTF....whispering to each other. I smashed the ball a good 280 down the left side of the fairway to be left with 165. the dad was like: whoa. still didn't talk to me after the 1st 2 holes. after i went straight par on the 1st 6 holes, he started to talk to me. he then admitted to thinking that I was gonna be another 1 of those people that plays the blues and can't handle playing it. at least he admitted it and asked my opinion whenever he hit a shot that went wrong. The son on the other hand.... what a brash, spoiled kid. he was so pissed off. and when I flew the green on 6 and had a TOUGH flop shot w/ 10 yards of green to work with but stuck the ball to 2 feet of the cup after the flop to tap in for par...his comment was like.... that's a lucky par (part of it was luck)

[dave s]

I'm not getting your point at all.

The courses I play on leagues and mostly with my wife on weekends are the better tracks in my area. They are shared by players of all skill level, age AND dress. Seldom if EVER do I feel the kind of pressures you discuss either way. I don't see kids crying about middle-age folks like me, or oldsters yelling about the young whipper-snappers.

If there is one factor that makes people NOT want to play golf is the pace of play. Very few have 6-7 hours to invest in a weekend round of golf and travel to and from a course. That, my friend, is a HUGE problem.

dave

[traviswise]

I just joined a country club and yes, I have encountered some extremely snobby people but I just shrug it off and move along. I figure they can KMA. Fortunate for me I have met more people that are down to earth than snobby so the country club I joined works for me. I never would have joined but I figured it was a deal considering the amount of golf I wanted to play (3/4 times a week and once a weekend).

[justinmill14]

  Hoovedawg said:

People talk about the problems with golf and most of the time people mention pace of play, how expensive it is and other things of this sort. I think that the real problem is a small percentage of people playing it. These people are responsible for other people to think that it is "old rich and snobby" sport. Some of you all are like this but most are not. These are the people that disrespect someone because he isn't wearing dressed up enough or because they have 30 year old clone clubs. These are the people that can't stand to see a kid on the course and will get mad at or disrespect the juinor golfers just because they are younger. These are the people who freak out about rules and ettiquete. (I'm not saying dont follow the rules, I'm talking about the people that get mad other people in other groups fluffing their ball or taking gimmie putts. As for the ettiquete I'm not saying that people should talk in someone's backswing or walk in someone's line but if someone makes an honest mistake you don't need to be a dbag about it.) These are the one who tee off with a group 150 yards out. They just need to chill out realize that golf is not a race and the world doesnt revolve around them.

very true, they should never get mad because junior golfers are playing, thats what they are there for. To learn. And I guarantee that those snobby people were juniors at some point and played just like that so they can just get over it. You guys speak the truth very well.

[phatone]

You're crazy. The problem with golf is taking 5 hours to play 18 holes. I'm all for etiquette and rules but if giving your buddy a 4 footer or letting someone improve their lie helps them play faster and enjoy the game more then I'm all for that too. Some people forget that there's a section on etiquette and pace of play in the rule book. I don't care if you're wearing cut off jean shorts and a tank top as long as I don't have to wait behind you for 5 hours.

[Stacey_E]

I'm really lucky at my home course. I just don't have a lot of problems like are listed above. It's a pretty laidback course. Keep your shirt on is about all they ask. Sure there are isolated incidents, but not common occurances of rudeness, etiquette problems, etc. No more so than in society in general.

Granted my course would be a goat track by some golfers standards. But it has a USGA rating, and people who know me. And..."sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came".

[justinmill14]

  Stacey_E said:

I'm really lucky at my home course. I just don't have a lot of problems like are listed above. It's a pretty laidback course. Keep your shirt on is about all they ask. Sure there are isolated incidents, but not common occurances of rudeness, etiquette problems, etc. No more so than in society in general.

Are you talking about AJ? because if u are, then ur right, i dont have that many problems there either, if someone gets behind us and were going to slow then we just let them through, no problems.

[CoolBreeze20]

I would agree to an extent. There are a LOT of loud mouthed, cry baby idiots at our club. Its like they only golf when they are in piss poor moods. In my experience, they are in a bad mood cause they absolutely suck, and want to take it out on someone else. Some people have out of control egos.....the percentage just seems higher on nice golf courses, where members or regulars have a sense of "entitlement" or something. I havent been talked to like you mention....but I have seen it directed at Juniors or beginners. Its sad really, and admit it or not, is the reason a lot of people dont go play golf.....because it has a "stigma" of a stuck up sport.

[NorCalGolfer]

blame the golf courses for the pace of play. most courses are all about the buck so they just pack as many tee times as possible. I've only been to a few courses around here where they really care about the pace of play. Most other courses have designated times where pacesetters can go out as groups.

i hate waiting. lol

[Aus_E]

  NorCalGolfer said:

blame the golf courses for the pace of play. most courses are all about the buck so they just pack as many tee times as possible. I've only been to a few courses around here where they really care about the pace of play. Most other courses have designated times where pacesetters can go out as groups.

^^^^

Very true. I enjoy playing different courses, but a few in particular are rediculously slow. I called up a local golf course before heading down for a round, and the bloke goes, "no problems, no need to book a time, just head on down." I thought,"beauty, should get 18 in before dark" How wrong i was. With 3 holes played, waiting on the 4th (par 3), 1hr 15m had already passed. I dont know where the time went. Worst round ever, not to mention i played terribly, which only made the waiting twice as painful..

[Dub]

"Re: The real problem with golf....."

As I see it, golf is in a real transition over these past 15 years. There are still, and always will be, courses that are the headquarters for eliteists.

I enjoyed how these snobs were offended by the likes of a young man named John Daly and his first major victories. They feared the new crowd that was being attracted to the game. The same group was simply in shock and fear as years later another young phenom blistered the field at the Masters. What new crowd would be ushered in then???

The good news is that the game is bigger than a small percentage of snobs. The game...and all it's challenges and rewards...must be passed down to another generation. I think the fact that this generation looks a little different....acts a bit different.....talks a bit different.....dresses a bit different....etc......has shaken things up.

It is interesting, indeed.

One thing that I believe will always remain the standard is talent. The snobs are forced to respect that. Don't let being young intimidate you. Follow the dress code and other course requirements....and then go out and beat the arrogant bastages on every hole. Let their antics and foolishness be their burden. As you make a string of pars....an occasional birdie.....a graceful acceptance of a bad lie or a bogey.....all will chip away at their ignorance. You will prevail....the game must have another generation.

I love this game.

[Aus_E]

  Dub said:

"Re: The real problem with golf....."

^^^^ Well said.

[$2 Nassau]

  Dub said:

"Re: The real problem with golf....."

Very well said.

[Garnet Haze]

I agree that golf snobs give the sport a bad image. Most people associate golf with characters like Judge Smails or Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore ("damn it people, this is golf").

But the real problem is the same problem you have with any gathering of people. And that's just people being inconsiderate and intolerant with each other. This is the cause of all the other problems - slow play, playing partners being jerks, poor etiquette, etc.

[pjsnyc]

  Hoovedawg said:

...Some of you all are like this but most are not...

That sentence just made my mind explode.

  CoolBreeze20 said:

.....the percentage just seems higher on nice golf courses, where members or regulars have a sense of "entitlement" or something...

If you're talking about country club members and their sense of entitlement, unfortunately they are entitled. They pay exorbitant fees to keep the course well manicured. While 'entitled' may lead them to automatically assume things based on appearance or whatever, it can come off as completely rude. Just follow the rules of the course and what is expected of guests (within reason) and show them your skills. Hopefully they'll just shrug it off and realize that they can't judge a book by its cover.

That said, I think that the real problem with golf is how some (at varying types of courses - private or public or whatever) automatically assume things without ever really knowing for sure. They'll see a group of youngsters approach the first tee and sigh as though their day is ruined...before the first shot is even struck! Sheesh!