The real problem with golf.....

[TCCcaddie]

  golfkid338 said:

I play regularly at two course, one is very upscale, dress code, and a surplus population of arrogant egocentrical snobs. Not all the members are like this, but many.

What courses are you talking about. Being from the area and caddying at a few of them i think that most of the snobbish people are over at Salem CC. That is the really a textbook definition of the people that may give golf the "rich old man sport" appearance.

It depends on the people though. I know members at the course i caddy at who wouldn't mind playing golf in the late afternoon on a weekday in a "relaxed" dress code. I see all the different types of people through caddying, and some of the ones that complain about juniors and caddies playing the course are the ones that would get their lunch handed to them by half of the caddies and juniors. Just because people don't live in the Marblehead mansions that some of them live in and are not able to have the nicest golf equipment, doesn't give them the right to disrespect other golfers at any course.

[GUAM_golf]

The only problem I have with golf is when me and my cousins go out to the course, and some of the 'regulars' give us dirty looks as if we don't belong there. Granted my cousin does dress a little goofy with the greg norman hat and loose hawaiin print shirt, even though he is still in the dress code. The one bad part for me about golf also, is how I setup on the first tee in front of the clubhouse, and I can feel everybody (regulars) sitting at the clubhouse silently judging me. And I always hit a nervous first shot almost every round, so it doesn't really help me out much...but by the time i get to the 3rd hole I am warmed up and I start playing well. I just need to learn how to keep my nerves under control on the first hole that's all.

[bigoak]

I think too many watch and believe too many movies. If you want to change the club, pay the initiation fee and the yearly dues, run for the board of directors and make the changes you want. If that is what you really want. Somewhere you are going to have people who feel important because they pay to play and follow the rules and you are going to have people who pay to play and they are anarchists. BUT you don't get to pay to play wherever you want and according to the rules that you want.

[birdiemachine]

I have been kicked off golf courses, yelled at, even disrespeceted for my attire which I considered "nice". Time and time again, I meet some dude who just wants to break 90 and gives a damn about my thoughts on how to hit a knock down iron....you get your characters but when it all comes down to it everybody wants to get a little white ball into the hole. Thats enough similairty to bring anyone together

[TheNatural]

slow play sux...I once went to a public course that wasnt taking tee times one day. I show up and (car)drive past the first 3 holes and I see 5 4somes at least 3 were over 70 and one was a women group. Then at the 1st tee there are 3 groups in line. I go to the proshop and ask him is that the 1st tee and 2nd, 3rd? He says yes, I ask... can I tee off 10? he says why? I say cuz this round will take me 6 hours with the first 5 holes bottled up ,,,He says rather ingnorantly "there's no reason why anyone should take more than 4 hours to play here" I said I play in 3-4 every time and would play today if you would give me my green fees back if itss over 4.5 hours...The pro said we dont do that here. I decided to leave and he got all pissed. He was trying to PACK THEM IN.

[chipper2]

I love to play different courses and as such have meet and played with some very nice and friendly people. Only once did I have to play with 2 arrogant a-hole players. It was at a course whoes green fees were over $100. They complained about the group in front of us, the kength of the rough, the size of the tee box, the speed of the golf cart. You neme it and they complained abou it. One had a score of 102 the other 99. It was not their game that was bad it was all these oter things. I was glad when the 18th holes was finished. These people are a very small miority, but are the ones that are most remembered.

[flopdarock]

jerks and bad attitudes are not good for anything in life... thank goodness 99% of the strangers ive played with were very polite

[uttexas]

I have only played with one real jerk (it was at a CC). Sorry for throwing a cog in the wheel of your usual foursome (I was invited to play when a regular couldn't). But, please don't give me the death stare if I'm not exactly 50-70 degrees and 20+yards to the right of your belt buckle every time you take 3 minutes to hit or putt the ball. The other members of your foursome can't stand you and have all documented in typed. notarized letters why they don't want to play with you anymore.

This is one of the many reasons I play public courses, and usually the first tee time. I call around all the public courses within a 15 mile radius until I find an open 0700 tee time (this does take planning). I then assemble as many others to join me as possible. If I can't get a foursome together, there is always a walk on. I have never had a bad experience at a public course. However, I have played with the aforementioned jerk 3 times at his CC.

PS the member that invited me those three times to play there has since changed CCs and is much happier without the "death stare" guy.

[lhshurdl3r]

Gotta always look nice on the course ;) Who knows when the cart girl is looking or not As for others and the way the dress, play, etc... as long as they aren't playing pathetically slow. Just play and have fun.

[bogeyhitter25]

  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.

For me, Dent sums it up pretty nicely.

[wedgewizard]

My thoughts on dress and attire....

Making certain clothing mandatory, or banning certain clothing, is just elitist and narrow-minded.
I have noticed that the only ones who give a crap about dress codes are small-minded little dictators, whom nobody likes, and their boot licking lackeys.

If you're there to play, then play....don't be the self appointed dress-code nazi.
Concentrate on your golf, not on whether the guy in front of you has a collared shirt or not.


Slow play....

Yes, it does make for a long day.
But if you don't have at least six hours to play, on a weekend, on a popular course, then you simply don't have time to play golf at that location on that day.
Besides, while it is certainly possible for one to play 18 holes in three hours, I don't think anyone really ENJOYS playing 18 holes in three hours.
Golf is supposed to be fun and a leisure sport....it's supposed to give one a break from the rat race, not become just another one.


Snobs....

These idiots make the game worse for everyone, including themselves (only they are too stupid to realize it).
Making ugly and snide remarks and being an A-hole snob does not make the game more fun for the victim of the remarks, nor for the idiot making the remarks.
And it does not increase speed of play....in fact, it actually slows down play even more.

[-BAMA-]

the best golf of my life has been played on the local public, muni, and state park owned courses....

with the exception of the rtj trail.. even though it starts 8 miles from my house, the old men who travel from out of state act like they own the place just because they have money.

makes me not even want to play there anymore...

i dont understand why im always judged by these a-holes anyway.. i'm damn good looking, i dress way better than they do, and i always maintain pace of play... sometimes i even play through people in front of me 2 or 3 times in a round...

maybe its cause i'm young and dont pull in the parking lot with a fancy car or hang out at the bar and get drunk after every round....

[lumpuckeroo]

I don't mind a course requiring you wear a shirt, shoes and something down below, the particulars do bug me. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

While I do agree that if you don't have 4+ hours to play a round of golf, don't come to the course, but don't spend 10 minutes looking for a $2 ball, don't line up every putt like it's your last one, or stand on the tee box telling stories.

[wachesawgolfer]

  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.

I also fail to see your point. Maybe, you should lighten up and not be so concerned with what every body else is doing, wearing or playing. There are jerks everywhere, on the highway, at the football game, at the office, in school. You name it. People are always envious of other people's skills, possessions and appearances. Funny thing of it all, even the best players, really only hope they get it airborne in the fairway.

[HytrewQasdfg]

  Bourbon and Coke said:

Church doesn't have a dress code, but it's still inappropriate for someone to wear cutoffs and a t-shirt there.

My church allows both (in fact the pastor has worn a t-shirt.) They do this to make a point that it isn't what is on the outside that counts, it is what is on the inside.

[bigoak]

There are a lot of places to play golf. If you don't like the old guys then go some place else. Eventually they will all die off and you can go back and buy the place. Unless you have part ownership in the club then you don't get to set the rules. Even if the rules are bad, it's their rules. Don't support them.

If you want to wear only Lacoste then there are places for you. If you want to wear a tee shirt and basketball shorts and sneakers then there are places for you. You don't get to change the rules unless you own part of the action,

[Three Putt]

  longfornothing said:

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.

Exactly. A-holes are everywhere, no matter what you do...even kite flying.

As long as the course is in decent condition (average) I could care less where I play. I could care less about slow play also, I look at it as a time to chip and putt while waiting.

[flanagan]

  wedgewizard said:

Slow play....

I don't know why a dormant thread needed dredging up, but whomever wrote this can look in the mirror and see one of the major things wrong with golf.

Anyone who thinks a 6 hour round is okay, let alone 4.5 going on 5 hour rounds, is the problem, period. What the heck are you doing out there for 6 hours that can't be done in 3 or 3 1/2? If you truly believe that is acceptable, please quit playing, and make it more enjoyable for many others.