Most annoying playing partners ever

[Kieran123]

People driving golf carts like they are in the Baja 1000.

SOMETIMES.....that is fun.

[WUTiger]

Played in a city open tournament in Oklahoma in 1980s. I was tied for lead in C-flight when we rotated to a really tight course. One of the players in my Round 2 group was a local amateur theater actor. He had a world-class big mouth, and was God's expert on golf despite being a C-flight player.

I was having trouble with my tee shots that day, and Mr. Mouth starts harassing me on my backswing. I'd just started my takeaway, and he yells, "just hit the ball!" I promptly bomb it deep into the woods.

He keeps it up, yelling on my backswing, telling me I should chip with a sand wedge rather than an 8 iron, etc. At the turn I request the officials disqualify him for impeding the play of a competitor. The officials say that's too drastic, and that he should be polite to me the rest of the round.

He wasn't.

That evening, I go to a local sports bar with my work group. Guess what? Mr. Mouth shows up and continues to hassle me. We trade insults until the bouncer asks him to leave.

Still, the mood was spoiled. I withdrew from the final round of the tournament.

[Stretch]

I was having trouble with my tee shots that day, and Mr. Mouth starts harassing me on my backswing. I'd just started my takeaway, and he yells, "just hit the ball!" I promptly bomb it deep into the woods.

No jury that included at least one golfer would ever have convicted you for turning around and burying the club in his skull. That's just ... words fail.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Guys that take themselves too serioulsy. I played with a guy like this yesterday in state am qualifying. This kid thought he was on freakin tour or something. Typical arrogant hotshot with no game to back it up. None of the group was doing particularly well, though i did make the turn at 38. He treated his caddy like shit, blamed all of his bad shots on his shafts being too weak (lol) and generally had a really awful attitude. He just stormed off after 14 holes (he was like +15 or something) and then we had to stop for 15 minutes because he took our other partners scorecard with him. I find this kind of attitude very common with the younger players and its really annoying. The other player had real game and was medalist from mid am qualifing. He was having a terrible roundand shot 88 or something. He didnt storm off.

[Undr Par]

sounds like those guys were just trying to be friendly and encouraging while making a new friend. Maybe you should take another look at what happened that round as it seems they were just trying to create a positive atmosphere, might have even helped you to post that better score. It may be a bit annoying, but good intent and sportsmanship should never be criticized.

I totally agree, I think OP needs to lighten up a bit..I mean maybe he needs someone who won't respond at all (good or bad)...For me, playing for several hrs with stragers who as the OP put it ("Like to talk to my ball") isn't all that bad compared to not responding to anything all day......(as if speaking to my ball makes any difference anyhow)...LOL

[Dubya D]

More funny than annoying...was paired up with a threesome a couple of weeks ago. One of the guys, looked a lot like Capt. Jonathan Hillstrand from "Deadlist Catch", without warning would sing "like a virgin!"...I guess the song was stuck in his head. He couldn't help himself...he became embarassed at one point.

[pittpanther]

He keeps it up, yelling on my backswing,

Some bullies have an innate ability to select as targets people that will allow their bullying.

Someone you just met, picking at you and talking during your backswing? And you allow it to go on hole after hole? After the second time you should have been in his face, handling your business.

[kpaulhus]

Some bullies have an innate ability to select as targets people that will allow their bullying.

I agree. I would have snapped his driver then hit him with the broken shaft.

[Miss Shanksalot]

People who are not ready when its ther turn.

I just don't see how you can possibly enjoy the game; you'll encounter at least one of these annoyances during nearly every round.

Additionally, newbies have the right to learn at a time that's convenient to them. If they're aggravating you, then ask to play through.

[sean_miller]

I just don't see how you can possibly enjoy the game; you'll encounter at least one of these annoyances during nearly every round.

No, that is not a "right". There are plenty of time periods wide open to absolute beginners. Continually being played through is frustrating and turns people off the game.

Total newbs could also check out the driving ranges and pitch and putts if their only free time is "peak time". It's for their long term benefit - they may stick with it longer. Note: not all high cappers are slow, so going by handicap alone is no indication - people should get the chance to prove they can keep up. If they can't . . . pick up.

[Miss Shanksalot]

No, that is not a "right". There are plenty of time periods wide open to absolute beginners. Continually being played through is frustrating and turns people off the game.

I guess we'll have to disagree. If it's a public course, people have a *right* to be there whenever they want to be there. And if they want to *play* rather than practice on an 18-hole course rather than a pitch-and-putt, that's their right, too. I look at it this way: I sometimes do my grocery shopping at peak times and get through it as fast as I can. Sure, somtimes people get in the way (through children or label examination or inability to choose an item, etc.). But that's part of shopping. I don't expect them to shop at non-peak times or in a 7-11 just because they don't conform to my desires. Tough crap for me.

[sean_miller]

. . . I look at it this way: I sometimes do my grocery shopping . . .

Analogyfail.

As you're walking down the main aisle you have the option of skipping the slow ones and catching them on your way back. They kind of frown on that at the golf course.

[Miss Shanksalot]

Analogyfail.

Just play through.

[jmp782]

wow...some people don't know how to act in public....

[adamgoodman]

Analogyfail.

Penalty stroke for Sean Miller: Using a lame Internet cliche. ;D

[zeg]

I guess we'll have to disagree. If it's a public course, people have a *right* to be there whenever they want to be there. And if they want to *play* rather than practice on an 18-hole course rather than a pitch-and-putt, that's their right, too.

Agree. In my mind, the only thing that should keep them off the 18 hole course is if they can't keep up with the posted or otherwise official pace for their group size. If they can do that, and you'd like them to play faster, well, I imagine you'll find something else to be pissed off about on the course if that's not a problem so I've got pretty limited sympathy. If you can't keep up with the official pace, then you need to find a way to speed up. If that means you have to pick up halfway through every other hole, then so be it. You do have a responsibility to play to a reasonable pace, but reasonable is not defined by the fastest SOB on the course.

[jamo]

Analogyfail.

I disagree, AnagolgySuccess. You can do the same thing on a golf course, just play through. If you hurt some feelings, so be it.

Penalty stroke for Sean Miller: Using a lame Internet cliche. ;D

Basically anything using the word "fail" is a lame internet cliche in my book. I'm calling stroke and distance on this once.

[Paz]

+1,000,000 from me.

That's hilarious. Did you literally face palm or what happened next? I would've just said, play how you like, everyone's different. Even though something as fundamental as flared out feet (30 degrees or so) is necessary for a powerful golf swing, in almost anyone.