Is this bad etiquitte or not?

[JonnyGolf]

Sometimes on the weekend after my early morning round, I'll play a second round (at my home course, replays are free). But, the second round will be a practice round and I'll usually drop a couple of balls to practice whatever issues I had in the morning round.

So, here's the question, as long as I keep up with the group in front of me (for example, leaving the green and walking to the next tee when they've finished their tee shots, is it any issue for me to drop a couple of balls and practice?

At the course I play at, it will be crowded on the course, and it does me no good to stand at the tee waiting for them to tee off. I feel that as long as I move at the same pace as the group in front of me, I'm entitled to practice to my heart's content.

GolfOpinions?

[Smallville]

In theory, it's probably "OK" to play two balls. In reality, we played behind someone who was playing two balls last week and it was a little annoying. For a while it wasn't bad but once he started spraying his shots in completely different places, he started falling behind and continued playing two balls.

[Fourputt]

Sometimes on the weekend after my early morning round, I'll play a second round (at my home course, replays are free). But, the second round will be a practice round and I'll usually drop a couple of balls to practice whatever issues I had in the morning round.

Only if the guys behind you aren't waiting to hit to the green. If so then you are wrong. You can practice chipping on the tee box too, and that is where it should be done if others are waiting on you to clear the green.

[Dub]

If you are maintaining the pace as well as sanding all of your divots.....and repairing each of you ball marks. This seems like a big challenge on a weekend.

[microcrayfish]

I've played 2 balls on the weekend before. I had my playing partners pull out at the last minute but decided I'd play anyway because I'm a member at the course so it didn't cost me anything. There was nobody around when I went to tee off so I couldn't just join another group, I just went by myself and played a couple of balls. There were a couple of guys playing behind me and I made sure that I was never holding up their shots so it wasn't an issue.

It could pay to check with the clubhouse. My course has a policy that you're allowed to play no more than 2 balls in a practice round.

[zeg]

Only if the guys behind you aren't waiting to hit to the green.

Seconded.

[tim31x]

I'd say its alright if you can keep pace and not hold anyone up behind you.

Only if the guys behind you aren't waiting to hit to the green.

Amen.

[JonnyGolf]

Only if the guys behind you aren't waiting to hit to the green. If so then you are wrong. You can practice chipping on the tee box too, and that is where it should be done if others are waiting on you to clear the green.

I guess this is where I have an issue. I can't go practice on the next tee because the next group is still teeing off. The group behind me is waiting to hit. I gotta think my only obligation is to move to the next tee when the group in front of me has teed off.

[JonnyGolf]

There was nobody around when I went to tee off so I couldn't just join another group, I just went by myself and played a couple of balls. There were a couple of guys playing behind me and I made sure that I was never holding up their shots so it wasn't an issue.

This is so not my issue. Public course. Crowded. Slow. If I play quickly, all I've done is created more waiting time for me at the next hole.

[zeg]

I guess this is where I have an issue. I can't go practice on the next tee because the next group is still teeing off. The group behind me is waiting to hit. I gotta think my only obligation is to move to the next tee when the group in front of me has teed off.

I think there's a difference between waiting to tee off and waiting to hit your in-play ball. I'd much rather play the hole tee to holing out without interruption and then wait an extra few minutes before teeing off at the next hole, so that's how I feel it's my responsibility to play. The foundation of etiquette is the Golden Rule...

[Henry]

sounds fine as long as yo keep up with play

[Fourputt]

I guess this is where I have an issue. I can't go practice on the next tee because the next group is still teeing off. The group behind me is waiting to hit. I gotta think my only obligation is to move to the next tee when the group in front of me has teed off.

I guess I don't see it that way. If I was following you and had to wait every shot while you hit 2 balls, I'd be fuming. I'd also probably be calling the pro shop for a ranger. It's one thing to be waiting for a

group that is in position ahead of you. To have to wait on a single playing several balls would just make me mad. And waiting on the tee box is not as disruptive as waiting in the fairway... at least it isn't for me. On the tee I can be chipping or something to keep my mind and hands occupied. In the fairway I'm just stuck standing around waiting. When you choose to play as a single on a crowded course, you have to expect that you will be waiting a lot. I've done the same thing (although I try not to on busy days), and I realize from the start that it's going to be a slow round. What I do is take a bit longer over each shot than I normally do... that is, I take more time before I start my routine to think about all of the possible options and conditions, just work harder on my course management. It helps me in the long run to take those same things into consideration when I'm playing tournaments. I also might try different shots than I normally use for the situation.... try a 3/4 7I instead of a full 8I. That's really better practice than hitting multiple balls anyway. That way I'm playing a little bit slower, but not so slowly that the guys behind me are stepping on my heels.

[mstuk]

I think the other issue it seems to me is that having a single behind you can be quite off putting do you let him through even though there is nowhere for him to go ?

[misty_mountainhop]

I guess this is where I have an issue. I can't go practice on the next tee because the next group is still teeing off. The group behind me is waiting to hit. I gotta think my only obligation is to move to the next tee when the group in front of me has teed off.

Ummm. Nope. You have an obligation to those behind you. As someone else has said, I would not be happy having to wait in the fairway behind someone who is hitting two balls. If you have to wait on the next tee, you have to wait on the next tee.

[Smallville]

I think the other issue it seems to me is that having a single behind you can be quite off putting do you let him through even though there is nowhere for him to go ?

I was always under the impression that a single has no standing on the course. So even if there is somewhere for him to go, although it would be nice to let him go through, a group is under no obligation to let a single through at any time. (Especially a foursome). You definitely don't need to let anybody behind you through if you are waiting on people ahead of you. You get through first, if you can, then if it's open you can let people through if you want and if you aren't holding up play. It amazes me how singles think they are in charge of the course.

[Surefire]

I was always under the impression that a single has no standing on the course.

This has actually been changed in the etiquette section of the rule book. Now all sizes of group are equal.

From the section; Pace of Play "It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, it should invite the faster moving group to play through." From the section; Priority on the Course "Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round. The term “group” includes a single player." However it is polite to not hold the people behind up, even if you cannot progress. Otherwise you are just taking the route of someones doing it to me, so I will do it to someone else. *Edit - The paragraph above is my opinion! Only the words within the quotations are from the rulebook.*

[Smallville]

This has actually been changed in the etiquette section of the rule book. Now all sizes of group are equal.

Surefire - - -

I agree that it doesn't mention a "single" in the etiquette section on Pace of Play or Priority on the Course, but I do not see mentioned anywhere your quote that says that a single player is considered a group. I looked here: http://www.usga.org/playing/etiquette/etiquette.html I would let a single through if he didn't act like he was entitled to it if it was clear ahead. Only because if it's clear ahead, we aren't keeping up (or there's just no one ahead of us for whatever reason). If we're less than a foursome I might invite him to play with us and if he wants to jump ahead at the next tee before we can reach the tee box, more power to him. As long as he's not being arrogant about it. I've played as a single and joined twosomes and threesomes ahead of me by their invitation. I'll go ahead and stay in the group the rest of the round because there's more eyes watching shots.

[Surefire]

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/2008rog.pdf

In the above pdf, which is a copy of the rulebook its on page 13 according to adobe and page number 3 according to the book.