Moving another players cart?

[DonW]

My wife and I arrived at the course in a light rain, starter met us at the range and asked if we were ready to play, replied anytime your ready for us (our tee time was still 20 minute out). He sent us right out as a twosome stating there are three groups ahead of us, none of which were in sight from the first tee. Caught foursome at 3rd hole, around fifth hole on we were catching them before they were teeing off at every tee box, my wife had said she did not want to play through so we waited quietly and let them play on with out saying a word to them. Seventh hole we allow twosome behind us to play through, arrived at turn to find carts blocking path to tenth tee and the foursome (same foursome we were behind) inside seated drinking beers and eating sandwiches. With out hesitation I jumped into one of the carts to move it thinking they didn't realize they had blocked the path, I got maybe four feet when one of the guys flies out the door screaming and yelling (swearing at me), I calmly stated we would like to play through since we were ready. He goes off telling me what an @$$ I am and how I hit into them on the eighth hole (I never hit into them at the eighth, in fact my wife and I could think of no hole where I had hit into them, there were no blind tee shots that I remember) and no way am I going to play through, some heated discussion followed where I remained calm but stated repeatedly I would like to go to tenth tee. He finally told me to get the f@#$%@ing ranger if I wanted to play through, at this point I said fine I will play behind you all day if it would make him feel better (the guy was on the verge of really losing it so I thought it best to just return to our cart and let him stand there by himself). Eventually they came out of ding room and played on, other then the tenth we kept our distance never approaching tee boxes until they were gone, this guy was losing balls on every hole the second nine and was clearly not having a good round (I have no idea how he played on the front nine as I paid no attention). We finished our round behind them the final nine and they screwed around occasionally delaying my shots as they would sit behind the green or middle of the fairway staring back at us, I am sure they were I hoping I would hit while they were there so as to call the ranger and complain about us. We finished our round and went home doing our best to not let it ruin our day but it clearly was not as enjoyable as it should have been for us.

In thirty years of golf I can only think of one other time I took issue with another players behavior that led to a discussion and that never got heated nor involved any swearing. My wife and I discussed it on the drive home and can think of nothing we did to provoke such an outburst. Before moving the cart we did try to find an alternate route to the tenth but found no other path. Did I make major golf etiquette mistake trying to move there cart at the turn without talking to them first? Did I need to step inside and ask them if I could play through?

[jetsknicks1]

I don't think so, not if they're sitting inside & eating. If they were grabbing some lunch to go, they might have a legit issue with you playing through. The fact that this guy (And his partners) sat down to have lunch, blocked the path with their carts, and then comes out screaming & cursing leads me to believe that the dude was just a complete A$$ and nothing you could've said or done was going to satisfy him.

[yenner]

I would've ignored him, moved the cart, got through, and played on.

[The Road Dog]

DonW, you have a bit too much composure. When these yahoos blocked the path to the 10th with their carts, they were violating your course privledges. A ranger or someone from the clubhouse should have been summoned immediately to get them to move their carts. You have no obligation to sit and wait for them to finish eating.

In my case I will never take verbal abuse from someone who is clearly in the wrong. You sir are a model of civility while I am a violent lout and the situation would have turned out differently.

[Shindig]

I applaud your composure. I can't say I would have been able to do the same.

[dmnoland]

Why didn't you just drive around their cart? Was it parked on a bridge or something like it that you could not get around?

[golfro]

in most cases, if a group goes in to eat/drink at the turn, they lose their place...i thought that was pretty standard.

the guy had no reason to flip out like an idiot.

[zeg]

Bizarre. You'd have been well within your rights to ignore him and pass. IMO no one has any right to their position on the course unless they're actively making use of it. No course I've ever played would hold your position at the turn while you stop for a snack. Heck, most of them explicitly instruct you to maintain your pace through the turn.

[NI4NI]

Echoing others' comments - common courtesy is to not block others from traveling on cart paths. It's not like you need a bleepin' rule for this common sense nugget. As far as the group eating - they lost their turn, plain and simple. I would have moved the cart out of my way, and headed to the back nine...no questions.

[dmnoland]

Echoing others' comments - common courtesy is to not block others from traveling on cart paths. It's not like you need a bleepin' rule for this common sense nugget. As far as the group eating - they lost their turn, plain and simple. I would have moved the cart out of my way, and headed to the back nine...no questions.

I still do not understand having to move their cart. Just drive around it.

[Paradox]

I still do not understand having to move their cart. Just drive around it.

Where I play the most, it would be impossible to drive around a cart at the turn if someone left it in certain spots. Theres a chain fence on one side and flowers planted on the other. I would rather move someones cart than destroy the courses property :)

[NI4NI]

I know - based on what the OP stated, sounded like driving around wasn't an option. On my home course, this would happen only on bridges spanning water / hazards.

[dmnoland]

I know - based on what the OP stated, sounded like driving around wasn't an option. On my home course, this would happen only on bridges spanning water / hazards.

Well if that's the case I would call the pro shop or get a ranger. I would never just jump in someones cart. But that's just me, not saying the OP was right or wrong.

See how much easier things are when you just walk, especially when there is a carts on path only rule.

[Shripe]

I would've just told the ranger or the shop... No need to put up with that.

[DonW]

I still do not understand having to move their cart. Just drive around it.

This was out first time at this course and yes they parked directly on the path leading to the tenth tee, not being familiar to the course I could find no alternate route, besides a 8" curb there was also bushes and flowers we would have had to driven over. Also the sun had come out and the course was getting busy and they apparently were starting people off the tenth as the back nine was crowded ahead of us (something I didn't notice until things were into the heated discussion stage).

At the point I realized it was going to be a major issue playing through I decided it would be best to let him have his little hissy fit and just play behind him rather than getting the ranger involved and possibly escalating the situation to the point where someone was asked to leave. I also though it better to keep him in front of us rather then have him playing behind us. We didn't let it destroy our round although I did put my tee shot into the water off the tenth, he clearly wasn't enjoying the back nine as he lost a lot of balls (in his defense the course was tight and if you missed the fairway your ball was more than likely lost) and this reaffirmed my belief that you treat others decently and you will be rewarded in life.

[Valleygolfer]

This was out first time at this course and yes they parked directly on the path leading to the tenth tee, not being familiar to the course I could find no alternate route, besides a 8" curb there was also bushes and flowers we would have had to driven over. Also the sun had come out and the course was getting busy and they apparently were starting people off the tenth as the back nine was crowded ahead of us (something I didn't notice until things were into the heated discussion stage).

I have not had any one talk to me that way for a while but I would said very calmly to him that he should lower his voice with me or he will be eating through a straw for a month. Then I would say I am playing through while you are feed your fat mouth and I will let you back through if you catch me again.

I honestly have no patience for behavior like this and know most people are blow hards and back down once you stand up to them for fearing they might be up against something unknown and dangerous. There are exceptions to this of course....

[DaSportsGuy]

I would've just hit my tee shot and then just get in their cart, move it, hop back in yours and go before they can come out and pitch a fit.

Regardless, you did nothing wrong so you did the right thing in not letting it ruin your round.

[Slammin' Sam]

I pretty much agree with everyone else here. If you stop at the turn to feed your face you lose your turn in rotation and people are allowed to jump ahead of you. Assuming that DonW hadn't come along and that this bozo apparently had everyone's egress to the 10th tee blocked by the way he parked his cart, it seems to me that he would have had a lot of players irate at him had DonW not taken the initiative and attempted to move the cart. Likely someone would have reported this person to the ranger and he would at least be given a warning and at most asked to leave the course.

Considering that this clown apparently had a very poor time on the back nine I can only agree with DonW that living well is the best revenge.