How to Deal With Someone Behind Your Ball as You Hit?

[TheLauncher]

In the league I play in, there is a pair who always stand directly behind the line of my shot as I address the ball and hit. The one guy seems to do it all the time and his partner just seems to be following his lead or just standing near him. I find it a little distracting to have them in my sight as I make my swing. Last time I asked politely after a few holes if they wouldn't mind standing behind my back or off to the side, and one of them let out a forced/fake cough as if to suggest that I was taking myself too seriously or acting like a prick. Anyway, they said the didn't mind and it was better for a couple holes, but then began happening again-- one of them even stood directly behind the line of my putt. I didn't want to make an an issue and of course there are no rules dictating where one can stand. I figured asking once was enough, and one time afterwards, while I was putting, I looked back at them like WTF?

Well, we are playing these guys again tonight and while I don't care too much about the competition and my score, I like to work on my game without undue distraction. I doubt that these guys are intentionally trying to throw anyone off of their game. They are probably just ignorant of the etiquette and conventions of the game. Any suggestions on how to keep them from standing behind my target line, short of asking them to move every time?

[mapa94]

The next time this happens, just pivot 180 degrees....they will get the message.

This happens to me sometimes and it can be very distracting. Maybe you can tell them that you don't need their help lining up your shot like they do in the LPGA.

[Shindig]

I doubt that these guys are intentionally trying to throw anyone off of their game.

Here's where I disagree with you. From your description, I think they are intentionally trying to throw you off your game. Tell them, flat out, that their gamesmanship is not appreciated. If they persist, ask them before

every shot not to stand there, and don't hit until they move. If all else fails, report them to whoever is in charge of this - director of competitions. A repeated breach of etiquette warrants disqualification under rule 33-7. In fact, in the USGA's Decisions on Rules (I have the 2006-2007 version, but I doubt this was changed), under rule 33-7/8 "A serious breach of etiquette is behavior by a player that shows a significant disregard for an aspect of the Etiquette Section, such as intentionally distracting another player or intentionally offending someone." So, here's how I would handle it: First time they do it - the first time - I would ask them to move and state clearly that you find their position distracting. The second time, ask them again, state that it is distracting, and ask them if they have an etiquette to go with that 7-iron. The third time, pick up and go in, and alert the club committee that they were deliberately trying to distract you during the round. By the way, was the fake cough during your backswing or just as he was moving?

[quantim0]

You need to lay down the law. Tell them that it is unacceptable that they do not show you respect on the course when you asked nicely that they move. Golf is a game of respect and etiquette and they need to understand that or stop playing.

Personally I hate people in the same line as me. I prefer them to be behind my back, but don't make a big deal of it on the green since play would be real slow. I don't mind someone being parallel to my line either. As long as they're 10-15 yds away I don't even notice them no matter where they are. On the fairways and tees I have no problem asking someone to move and no one has ever given me grief over it.

[TheLauncher]

Shindig, thanks for pointing out that there is some recourse in the rules for this type of situation. And the cough wasn't during my swing (that would have thrown me off the deep end). It was right after I had asked his partner to move, and was, in my eyes, a poorly disguised way to call me a •••••, pain in the ass, whatever.

Interestingly these guys are leading the league. One is about a 30 and the other a 32, and in our net best ball this must help them a lot. We played them earlier and beat them, and tonight's match is for first place, though we will need to take all nine holes and the match point to tie them. I have been wondering if their "gamesmanship" hasn't affected their other competitors this year.

It's little tough in my small town, as I went to high school with each of them-- one was in my class. I like them alright as people and I know I'll be seeing plenty of them in the years to come. But to me, there is no excuse for their behavior on the course. You guys are right. I will be more assertive tonight if this is an issue again, even if it means that I come off as a bit of a prick. I know in my own mind that I am not doing it to be an ass.

[Parker0065]

Human nature can be funny sometimes. We all have and need our "Space" so too speak. In golf that "Space" becomes very important to our level of comfort and concentration. It does sound like these guy's are probably trying to "Game" you with thier childish behavior, but usually I've found this happens mostly with beginners that just don't know any better.

With a beginner, I will ask them once to please not stand directly behind me in my line of sight. After that if they continue this behavior, what I do is I stand behind my ball to line up my shot and while looking at my target I will just start slowly walking backwards as if to get a better look at the shot. I will continue to take steps backwards until I either run into them or I've cleared a few feet to where they are no longer in my vision. You don't have to say a single word to them because when you get within a couple feet of them as you step backwards they finally realize they're in your way and move,,lol! I don't mind people behind me when hitting as long as they are at least 10-12 feet away they are out of my vision, so it's not like you have to walk backwards a mile. Usually 4 or 5 steps backwards will clear out plenty of room. I call this "Clearing My Space"!

With guy's like you mentioned that have been playing for a while and I feel are trying to game me I won't even give them a notice to not do it. I will just start walking back into them right from the first tee to clear some space. They will get the message!

Good Luck!

[Chief Broom]

I have a different perspective on this.

You can stand anywhere around me when I'm hitting or putting. As long as you are still (and aren't standing so close that my swing will hit you) and quite I'm good. I think that guys who require a very particular arraingment from their playing partners (or anyone else out on the course for that matter) are just setting themselves up for trouble. You need to be able to just focus on your ball and not worry about your partner's positions around you. When you let these guys know that being in your field of vision is a distraction for you then they can push this with you in order to mess you up. If they keep quite and still that's not a "serious" breech of etiquette, and the rules don't give you any relief in that case and they can take advantage of your discomfort all day. I say you should train yourself not to be bothered by someone pushing the boundries of good etiquette. If someone were to inform me that being in their line of sight while hitting was a distraction I would naturally do what I could to accomodate them, but I would probably think a little less of them as a competator for it.

[kafka01]

I sometimes stay behind people, but outside the teebox or to some distance. I do this for one reason only, to follow their ball - sometimes i get asked to follow the ball, sometimes i think its better to follow it, since i dont want to look around every hole for 5 minutes and mostly have a pretty good idea where they end up. Unfortunately i´m not able to follow somebodys ball from the side in most cases.

But obv. if somebody asks me one time to not stand behind him, what people have done in the past - i just step aside and dont do it again. Personally i dont mind somebody standing behind me, but everybody has his own opinion on that how he/she likes it.

And yes, if you already told them not to stand behind you and they still would do it, i would get annoyed too and step it up a notch.

[TheLauncher]

I generally don't mind where people stand as long as they are relatively still and quiet. I don't feel that I need any particular arrangement to be comfortable playing my shot, though I certainly prefer certain situations. For instance, if I am driving a cart I tend to park to the left of my ball, so I don't have to see it. My partner in league always drives and usually parks to the right of the ball; I have seen no reason to ask him to change his behavior in that regard.

In this case, it's clear to me that the player in question is making moves on my space. I really like Parker's idea for clearing/ claiming the space I feel I need to hit and will probably use it. I line my shots up from behind anyway. But I don't want this to be some macho, wild-west stand off. Golf is a gentlemen's game (or gentlewoman's ).

I am willing to risk being considered "less of a competitor" by asking that my playing partner's not do things that I consider a distraction. If they are unwilling to acquiesce, that makes them less of sportsman and less of a considerate human being, far more more egregious offenses in my book.

Whatever the scenario, I am determined not to let it affect me too much. Ultimately only my golf will stand for how well I can handle distraction, animate or otherwise.

[Shindig]

Interestingly these guys are leading the league. One is about a 30 and the other a 32, and in our net best ball this must help them a lot. We played them earlier and beat them, and tonight's match is for first place, though we will need to take all nine holes and the match point to tie them. I have been wondering if their "gamesmanship" hasn't affected their other competitors this year.

If they keep it up today, you may want to ask other people in your league. If it's the second time it happened to you, I'd bet you're not alone, unless they're targeting you on account of going to high school with you.

Let us know how it goes.

[Saint]

Stand behind your ball by about 5 yards before you hit in your pre-shot routine. When you give a practice swing, that will create all the space you need.

[Nikonut]

Game them back. Stand where it bugs them. everytime, everywhere.

[TheLauncher]

Game them back. Stand where it bugs them. everytime, everywhere.

I thought of this. I simply can't bring myself to do it. If nothing else they will learn though my example where to stand when a competitor plays his shot.

Saint, I love that idea. It takes Parker's suggestion to a whole new level. As it turns out we didn't end up playing the offending team anyway. When I last spoke to the league director he indicated that we would be playing the number one team. As it stood we were in third, playing the fourth place team, only six points off the lead. But now I am really interested to hear if other teams have experienced the same things I have with these guys. Not that I'm interested in bringing the book down on them, but I will be interested to hear. Anyway I sucked in my round, which we narrowly won. We'll have to see how the points work out, but it doesn't look too good.

[Fourputt]

How to Deal With Someone Behind Your Ball as You Hit?

As long as they aren't standing right on top of you then learn to ignore it. That's the best advice I can give. I really think that some people are just too sensitive to things which shouldn't be a distraction in the first place. By complaining about it, you just add fuel to their plan if they actually are trying gamesmanship on you.

It isn't uncommon in most of the groups I play with for someone to do it on purpose in order to help follow the ball when it's hit. I consider it to be a good thing that they are trying to ensure that we don't have any lost balls. But then maybe you all never hit the ball anyplace but the fairway?

[Nikonut]

I thought of this. I simply can't bring myself to do it. If nothing else they will learn though my example where to stand when a competitor plays his shot.

They are bullying you.

They are not going to learn, they already know!! But you are the better man for it. p.s. sometimes it happens to me, but its a scrambles team, I am the D player, and even though I am more concious and nervous, at least they help me find my butcher's slice... lol.

[Dub]

Stand behind your ball by about 5 yards before you hit in your pre-shot routine. When you give a practice swing, that will create all the space you need.

It used to bother me to no end when someone stood directly behind me. I suppose it may have been from playing so much solo golf when I began the game that it was very unusual to have someone directly behind me. I do like to stand well behind the ball and pick out my line and key in on my target and target line. The distance that I step up to the ball is usually all the "quiet space" I need. I'm so focused on the ball that it doesn't matter. There is one guy that I play with every couple of months. I generally just stay off the tee box until he's swung. He's a bit quirky about what peeves him off. Great guy, fun to hang with....but he just needs lots of personal room and dead silence. I've seen him give the Raymond Floyd stare-down to groups on nearby greens to silence them. Always seemed he was overburdening himself with this.

[Saint]

yeah, it's in my preshot routine. I stand behind my ball, imagine the shot, and where i want it to land. I also take a small practice swing. By that time, i'm so focused that nothing else matters, or either i'm talking to the person behind me, and they quiet just long enough for me to swing. But I like people standing behind me. I never know when my ball will go wayward.

[Jay-Bird]

They think it bothers you. If it does bother you, tell them to move - sternly. If you have the cajones to speak up you will reverse their psych-out technique. Speaking your mind usually disrupts the gamesmanshipper.