Practice green etiquette.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Just limit it to three or four balls when others are around. That seems to be the etiquette when i play at tournaments, anyway. As long as youre not chipping or putting across of the front of anyone, its ok.

[imtomtomim]

no, it is not appropriate to have golf balls scattered around the whole putting green. It is rediculous. I had a guy do this yesterday to me. There are only two of us on the green and he took a whole bucket of 70 balls and dumped it out and putt his crap everywhere. He was also chain smoking and had a six pack in his bag, just at hte practice range. He took up all the holes and made a mess everywhere. Where is the common decency and mutual respect? I can't stand people with no consideration for others.

[chilly]

I do see some bad etiquette out there on practice greens. If I'm already on the green and putting to a hole, it's not cool of someone to start putting to that same hole if there are other holes available. Seems this happens quite a bit at my home course. I don't really mark my practice balls so then you have to keep an eye on them to avoid a mixup. When guys do this, I've taken to knocking their ball back to them when I go get mine from around the cup, if I happen to knock one a little stiff towards another open hole, so be it.

[double_j]

3 balls tops unless you're totally alone or otherwise 'segregated' from other peopler and never play 'risky' chips in the direction of other people. And don't monopolize one hole.

The regulars at my home course have established a bit of an unwritten protocol between us. We're lucky enough that our practice greens are surrounded by 30+ yards of rough on all sides with slopes/variety of surfaces, etc. The putting surface itself is for putts and smaller chips just off the surface. All other chips (flops, larger distances, etc.) are practiced off to the side in the rough around the green since the main concern when practicing isn't really how close you can get to the pin and is more about how you hit the ball, ball flight, etc.

[Koth]

If our putting green is busy I'll only take a few balls. But if there are multiple holes open, I'll take out about 9.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Also in Tacoma and trying to think what course you are talking about. I tend to only hit 2-3 balls at a time regardless of how busy. It keeps me moving around and I loose focus if I try and hit ball after ball from the same place.

Spanaway Lake GC on Pac Ave...

[glk23]

Thought that might be the one. Usually play there at least a couple of times a season. I'm a little closer to Meadow Park, Allenmore and Brookdale so play there a lot and Capital City in Lacey since I work close to it. With my erratic driver, I have not felt up to Spanaway yet.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Thought that might be the one. Usually play there at least a couple of times a season. I'm a little closer to Meadow Park, Allenmore and Brookdale so play there a lot and Capital City in Lacey since I work close to it. With my erratic driver, I have not felt up to Spanaway yet.

Brookdale is one of my regular courses, along with the PLU goat track, Lipoma Firs, and Elk Run (Auburn/Maple Valley). I generally practice at Spanaway because they have great rates on range balls, and the chipping green that started this thread. I finally got out to Meadow Park and played their front 9 yesterday...shot a 43 my first time out there and I can't wait to play that one again. How is Capital City? My mom lives 5 minutes from there, so thats a great excuse for a drive.

[glk23]

Love PLU as a practice course. I am usually able to play multiple balls and work on different things. If you are there enough, I have probably seen you. Capital City is pretty nice. Good rates especially twilight and later. Greens pretty hard and fast. Actually like it a little better than some of the local courses. Played Thursday at 2:15 and was done before 6. This was a foursome with two in carts and two walking. It was a wonderful pace.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Love PLU as a practice course. I am usually able to play multiple balls and work on different things. If you are there enough, I have probably seen you. Capital City is pretty nice. Good rates especially twilight and later. Greens pretty hard and fast. Actually like it a little better than some of the local courses. Played Thursday at 2:15 and was done before 6. This was a foursome with two in carts and two walking. It was a wonderful pace.

I play out there pretty often, I've got a red ogio bag and yellow/black shoes...say hi if you see me

[Shripe]

Saw this thread and thought I'd post in it due to the topic I was looking for, even if it is a couple weeks old.

I've practiced for two or three sessions so far at the short game practice green at the range I practice at (they also have a par 3 that I haven't tried out since high school), and I've basically followed the lead of others when I arrive. The two times I can remember, there was always someone there who leaves shortly after I arrive (perhaps realizing that I'm still getting the hang of this thing? :P).

The first time, it was a dad and daughter, who picked up their balls and placed them back in a range bucket, saying I could use that to practice with. I had brought my own balls, but I figured this would be easier, and when I was done, picked up the few balls I actually used and put them back in the bucket, leaving it there at the green. The second time, a lady was playing, and there were dozens of balls sprayed about in the rough and across the green. I played off of those after she left, but once again, I leave things as I found them, and no one else was around to tell me otherwise. I wasn't about to pick up several dozen balls everywhere with no bucket in sight, and the nearest bucket drop area all the way back at the range (opposite side of the property).

I'm not quite sure about the etiquette for these kinds of situations, but I'm one to just leave things as I found them unless I absolutely know they need to be fixed. Sure, someone could argue that I should've at least cleaned the balls off the green, but I just wasn't sure. Any opinions?

[zeg]

I'm not quite sure about the etiquette for these kinds of situations, but I'm one to just leave things as I found them unless I absolutely know they need to be fixed. Sure, someone could argue that I should've at least cleaned the balls off the green, but I just wasn't sure. Any opinions?

You don't have any obligation to pick up someone else's mess, but you should at least notify the pro shop so they can send someone to do it sooner rather than later. However, if you feel up to it, sometimes doing something you don't *have* to do is nonetheless nice to do. If you want to use the area yourself, maybe it's best to just clean it up.

[Radford Wooly]

I use 2-3 balls at a time. I play a pin no-one else is using and try to be respectful to anybody else on the green.

[DaSportsGuy]

I usually just pick an open hole and attack it from all angles usually only using 2-3 balls.

About the etiquette, if you leave it the way it was when you got there, I don't see how anyone can fault you.