Practice Green Etiquette

[BigBoy]

Question for golfers with more more experience than I have -

There is a muni near my house that has two practice greens, one for putting, and one for short game practice, including a bunker -

They always only have two holes cut in the short game practice green. If I arrive to the course to practice, and there are two people already pitching and chipping I will usually make a small circle of tees on a part of the green to use as my target. If there are already three people, I will go putt instead, or pitch near by the green in a little field using a towel as my target -

now, others don't do the same for me They will take a spot and chip towards the same hole I'm using without a word to me, and of course our golf balls get intermixed, and we interrupt each other when we go up to collect our golf balls -

I understand its a muni course and there is no charge to use these greens, and I have no specific rights or expectations to be able to monopolize the facilities, but is are their unwritten rules about appropriate behavior when using practice greens?

[jlh1508]

why would it matter if you chip towards the same hole? Geez the things people complain about

[CG031]

why would it matter if you chip towards the same hole? Geez the things people complain about

Yeah I agree here. I don't think it's bad ettiquette if you use the same hole since there are only two holes to use on the entire green.

[Fat Slice]

why would it matter if you chip towards the same hole? Geez the things people complain about

Let me try and phrase this another way:

"It doesn't bother me if someone else chips to the same hole I am using. Similarly, I would be surprised if someone was bothered if I started chipping to a hole they were already using." I don't see a need to insult to OP - just answer his question or ignore the thread. I wish the courtesy we show each other on the golf course would extend to our online communications. As for me, I won't chip to a hole someone else is using, but I won't worry if someone stars to chip to a hole I am using. I'm easy like that - I am there to practice.

[iacas]

I agree with all the responses posted thus far.

[shankapotamus]

I agree with iacas.

[iWALK18]

If there are only two holes, I feel like its a bit unavoidable that you hit to the same holes. I don't think its rude, but I like your solution to the inconvenience the situation causes.
____
However:
I have a problem with someone chipping to a hole I am putting at.

I have a problem with someone chipping (or often "pitching") to a hole on the opposite side of the green when the green is busy.

I have a problem when someone chips from well off the chipping green when there are people on that side of the green he may hit.

All of these things happened to me yesterday... grrrr....

[whetstone]

Courtesy is courtesy whether on the golf course or at the grocery store. I know how I'd feel if I were at the park practicing free-throws and some clown started raining basketballs at the hoop I was shooting at. "Working in" or taking turns is no problem, but a person should have the decency to speak to you first.

[Smw]

Courtesy is courtesy whether on the golf course or at the grocery store. I know how I'd feel if I were at the park practicing free-throws and some clown started raining basketballs at the hoop I was shooting at. "Working in" or taking turns is no problem, but a person should have the decency to speak to you first.

That analogy isn't completely valid.

[BigBoy]

Based on the replies in this thread, I take it that there isn't a specific etiquette rule regarding this, which was why I made the post in the first place, to find out if there was one so I could act accordingly.

I think the other thing I should have made clear is that most people using this have shag bags and aren't just chipping around 2-3 balls before a round. Its not unusual for there to be 20-30 balls lying on the green

thanks to those who provided constructive answers.
I will continue to act as I have, as it seems appropriate and its what I feel comfortable doing.

[Fourputt]

Based on the replies in this thread, I take it that there isn't a specific etiquette rule regarding this, which was why I made the post in the first place, to find out if there was one so I could act accordingly.

You just hit on my biggest pet peeve in this situation. I have no problem if two or even three are all playing to the same hole. Sometimes that is just necessary. Our chipping green has 3 holes cut, but it's a pretty small green so it still gets crowded if there are 3 or 4 players practicing. If one or two of those players is hitting a full shag bag, then he (or they) pretty much drive anyone else off the green. I feel that this shows a total lack of consideration for anyone else who wants to practice at the same time. I generally use 3 balls, all marked with my ID markings so I can keep them separate. I hit 3 shots, then I have to go and fetch my balls back, and I'm not about to wait until some clown hits 50 or 60 balls and clogs up the entire green with them.

On those rare occasions when I have the practice area to myself, I use Harvey Penick's practice method of just playing one ball and trying to get up and own each time in no more than 2 strokes. I hit the chip then try to hole the putt from wherever it ends up. It does a better job of mimicking what you would face on the course. It's impractical and inconsiderate to do that if there is even one other player practicing, so I only do it when I'm alone.

[shades9323]

I don't know about you guys, but I don't want my balls touching some other dudes balls!

[opie]

I'm typically all about sharing. Until I got hit the back last week by a youngster apparantly working on his flop shot (I guess he bladed it). What irked me the most was no apology or anything.

If you're going to share, I'd advise not chipping to a hole from any sort of distance away where someone is close to the hole putting

[CarlSpackler]

IMO, you don't use the same hole that someone else is using for chipping, putting etc. At the same time, do not monopolize a crowded green on a muni. If I am there just to practice, I will walk off the green and stretch for a while if I see a group wanting to practice a few putts before teeing off.

Opie - Wow! Just, wow. Must have taken a ton of self control not to pound that little punk into the ground.

[Norm3333]

why would it matter if you chip towards the same hole? Geez the things people complain about

I don't understand why you came at this guy so aggressively. He was asking a question of people with more experience than he has. I'm not sure you qualify.

And, he didn't say anything to anyone while he was there, so in fact he wasn't complaining. What he did was ask BEFORE he complained.

[Leftygolfer]

I would always prefer to have my own hole when practicing but do I care if I don't, not really. You really have to use judgement when it is crowded. Am I going to practice some long pitches across the entire green when it is packed? No. If it is crowded, I will find a hole that has a shot I want to improve with three balls and just work at.

[goblue107501]

I've never given much thought to it. If the green is crowded then I find an area to hit from and aim at a hole. If other people are there doing the same thing, so what. That is what it is there for, for people to practice. It is not like you are buying time and the first two there get to use the green. Especially if it is at a public course. If you want to practice chipping then just do it. No one else there owns the practice green. As long as you are not in anyone's shot path it doesn't really matter. If two balls collide, big deal, it is just practice. (We're not talking about the game, we're talking about practice) The people that bring the shag bag have to know that other people are going to be there.

One course I go to has a separate chipping green and they have a few buckets of range balls around the green. All you do is grab some balls, find a spot to hit some shots where no one is, and hit balls at the one hole in the center. If you want a clear path you walk up and rake some of the balls away. If there are 4-5 people already there, you just find a spot where you won't be in anyone's way.

[Muttface]

I go to McCabe quite a bit too, often during lunch break to use the same facility and have not had any problems as of yet. If there are others chipping to the holes, I try to work it so that I'm coming in from another angle and will try to alternate my shots with theirs so as to minimize distractions for them. I'll also wait until others clear out to hit pitches in case I blade one. I'll also only hit 3 or 4 balls maximum so that if they do get intermingled it's not big deal to sort them out. The only etiquette is possibly just to share the space and adhere to the old "do unto others...". My opinion is that you're doing it right already.

It is an awfully good practice area, especially for a muni isn't it?