Inconsiderate or just stupid?

[umpiremark]

I'm interested in what your comments might be on this situation. What would you have said to this guy?

In league last night, the opponent to my playing partner (Rich) would be on the green lining up his putt when it wasn't his turn. If he was "next" he'd walk up to his ball, obvioulsy ahead of where I or Rich was putting and put his ball down and stand in line eyeing it up. He'd stand still and was "semi-courtious" duing my/Rich's putt, but the fact that he was ahead of us, standing there and his ball on the ground was annoying.

I'm not a confrontational guy, so I said nothing although in my mind's eye I had wrapped my putter around his ears like 80 times!

On the 'good' side,' Rich kicked his butt!! I know he wasn't violating any rules, but it got annoying. What - if anything - would you guys have said?

[Slim 11]

I just would have asked him if he minded moving away because it was distracting a little. If he was an ass about it, I would tell him he to putt out before me, even though he was closer, since he was "obviously" in such a hurry.

[klaymon]

There are guys I golf with regularly that want to stand directly behind me (on my line) when I'm driving or putting. I routinely have to ask them to move to the side. On the drives, they are just trying to help watch the ball if it goes offline. On the putts, they're trying to get a free read.

[iacas]

It depends. I'll do the same thing if I'm outside of the golfer's "cone of vision." It's just that when putting, that's a pretty wide cone... Cone is much narrower when the golfer is 180 yards out. I can be 45 yards ahead of them and just off to the side without any problems.

Anyway, no need to be a jerk to the guy - just ask him if he'd mind moving. He might not realize it bugs anyone.

On the putts, they're trying to get a free read.

They're entitled to it, you know. Not to be distracting, but to stand on your line if they want. They're not your partners, right? If they're not standing so close to you as to be distracting... why not take advantage when you can do the same thing? I know that when I'm putting I don't see stuff ten feet behind me. I'm looking at my golf ball.

[umpiremark]

A couple times he was like 5-7 feet right (or left) and maybe 2-3 feet ahead. Definately "inside the cone." Once I backed off and looked his way; he was oblivious to why I backed away. If gured he doesn't get it, why say anything. Truth be told, he putted for sheot, too!! HAHAHAHA

[iacas]

A couple times he was like 5-7 feet right (or left) and maybe 2-3 feet ahead. Definately "inside the cone." Once I backed off and looked his way; he was oblivious to why I backed away. If gured he doesn't get it, why say anything. Truth be told, he putted for sheot, too!! HAHAHAHA

Behind you is inside the cone? 7 feet behind you and 2 or 3 feet ahead of your ball? The cone is mostly in front. Why are you looking nearly straight left, behind you, when you putt? Who looks that way? Is your peripheral vision 30° better than any other human's?

I digress. Obviously you didn't measure, and everyone's different with their sensitivities, so talking about measurements is going to be a waste of time. The advice is the same: ask him politely to move away because it's distracting you. He'd have probably been apologetic and probably didn't realize it was bugging you.

[Leftygolfer]

Most people are nice. If ask him to move politely, he would of. I know from past experiences that if someone asked me to move so I couldn't see them, I would.

Often peoples rudeness is not them trying to be rude but that they don't perceive there actions as rude. Ask my mom, she is hobitually inconsiderate of others with no clue of it.

This is true in life and golf.

[umpiremark]

I'm sorry ... I was vague, there ... he'd stand out in front of us - between my putt and the hole, sometimes 5-7 feet left or right and ahead. Like I said, it's not a big deal but it did get annoying. I've always been taught to be respectful and be out of anyone's line of sight when they putt - and never ahead of them.. Maybe that's just me, huh?

[iacas]

I'm sorry ... I was vague, there ... he'd stand out in front of us - between my putt and the hole, sometimes 5-7 feet left or right and ahead. Like I said, it's not a big deal but it did get annoying. I've always been taught to be respectful and be out of anyone's line of sight when they putt - and never ahead of them.. Maybe that's just me, huh?

Line of sight, yes. "Never ahead of them," no.

Even PGA Tour players will wander a hundred yards or so ahead of their playing partners at times. They'll stay to the side and out of the line of sight, but no, there's no sort of "never ahead of them" rule.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Thats a little grey, i kind of do the same thing sometimes. Ill never line up a putt directly in front of anyone but if im off to the side, im reading my line and setting the ball up all the while others putt. It speeds up play. If somebody has an issue with it, ill just wait, but ive never found it to be a big deal with anyone.

[CarlSpackler]

I would politely ask him to move. It doesn't need to be a confrontation and I think most people would gladly relocate and hopefully get the point. If he didn't move, I think I would return the favor while he was putting.

Here is another one for you to ponder. At the Memorial on Sunday, I was watching Tiger on the #2 tee. He as standing off to the side of the tee in his opponent's view. Tiger starts walking as this guy starts his down swing. That rubbed me the wrong way.

[Elvisliveson]

Thats a little grey, i kind of do the same thing sometimes. Ill never line up a putt directly in front of anyone but if im off to the side, im reading my line and setting the ball up all the while others putt. It speeds up play. If somebody has an issue with it, ill just wait, but ive never found it to be a big deal with anyone.

Exactly my feelings on the subject. There's nothing worse than waiting for the group in front of you on the green and watching each player go through their entire routine of setting their ball up and reading their line only after the guy before them putts.

[billm408]

I'm in the majority here.
"I'm sorry- could you mark your ball and step back a bit?" has always worked for me. Blame it on ADD if you need to, but seems like maybe just ignorance on his part. You have every right to ask people to move.

[HSip]

Ask him if he'd like to play through if not then please stand aside.

[mruseless]

There are guys I golf with regularly that want to stand directly behind me (on my line) when I'm driving or putting. I routinely have to ask them to move to the side. On the drives, they are just trying to help watch the ball if it goes offline. On the putts, they're trying to get a free read.

I actually want someone on my line behind me when I'm driving. More eyes on the ball in case I hit a poor one.

[bsettle]

They're entitled to it, you know. Not to be distracting, but to stand on your line if they want. They're not your partners, right? If they're not standing so close to you as to be distracting... why not take advantage when you can do the same thing? I know that when I'm putting I don't see stuff ten feet behind me. I'm looking at my golf ball.

Actually it is illegal to stand directly behind anyone during a match, full swing or putt. Watch the pros like J.B. Holmes' caddie, he will help J.B. with his line but right before he makes the stroke he moves over like 5 feet. Or watch when they are on the tee box they always stand on the side, yes it is to be safe, but it is also illegal to do other wise. You can move in after the swing has been made, but during swing it is illegal to stand directly behind another player.

[SubPar]

If anyone is distracting you, you just have to ask the to mark their ball, and/or move out of your line of sight.

I've had people start walking into my line of sight as I am putting the ball. After a few well chosen words with them it does not happen again.

When you play for money people get more serious about being considerate. I play with a pretty good bunch of guys. We don't drop the flag behind the hole or move around when someone is taking a shot or stand in front of, or behind, the line of play. Mistakes happen, but it should never become a regular thing.

SubPar

[iacas]

Actually it is illegal to stand directly behind anyone during a match, full swing or putt. ... You can move in after the swing has been made, but during swing it is illegal to stand directly behind another player.

Incorrect. It's illegal for your

partner or caddie (or partner's caddie) to stand on your line while you make a stroke. Your opponents are free to do so (though, again, it's rude if they're too close to you).