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Posted

Good evening,

I just got off the golf course and a situation occurred that requires some constructive criticism. I play once or twice a week and I currently play to around a 4 handicap, but have been as low as scratch. The strongest part of my game is my driver. I have made it through regional qualifying for the REMAXX long drive competition and rarely play with anyone that keeps up with me. The rest of my game is pitiful, but that is for a different post. I decided to play a new course today and was rather excited because the State Amatuer Qualifier will be held there in a few months.

I get to the course about an hour early and notice that there is a Junior tournament for 15-17 year olds going on. I check in at the pro shop and they tell me they are running a little behind. I eventually get to go off the back nine directly following one of these Junior threesomes. They are playing kind of slow, but it is alright because it gives me a chance to take a better look at some of the holes. We eventually get to a 611 yard par 5. It is fairly narrow with another fairway running parallel to it on the right side. I hit my drive fairly poorly and block it into the other fairway. I wait for the oncoming golfers to finish their teeshots and I approach my ball which lies perfectly in the opposite fairway. I see that the group in front of me is just getting to the green, and I try to evaluate how far out I am. It is a pretty open shot but I immediately start to figure out what I should hit to give myself a good leave. After spending 20 seconds or so trying to figure it out, I decide that I was probably at least 310 yards out and my best play was to advance it as far as possible and take my chances with a 40-60 yard pitch rather than guessing how much to leave with a layup. By this time things are getting backed up behind us and rather than anger the people behind us for waiting for the green to clear (which I normally do if I even have a small chance of chasing it near the green) I take a hack at it. Needless to say, I catch it perfectly and it lands about 20 yards short of the green, bounces up and hits one of the fathers in the brim of his hat (so he claims). I immediately realize what had happened and took off towards the green to apologize. Before I get within 50 yards, I notice the man is walking towards me. I start apologizing emphatically as soon as we are in range telling him as sincerely as possible that is was obviously not intentional. Understandably, the man was very upset and I gave him a chance to vent and tell me how irresponsible a person I am and try my best to explain the circumstances. After the pleasantries had passed (about 30 seconds) he asks me for my name and I tell him my first name. He then asks for my last name, which I find rather awkward. I am in my mid thirties and have been a law enforcement officer for 8 years so I am pretty sure he did not mistake me for being in the tournament and want to tell my mom on me! I told him my last name was irrelevant and he insisted that he wanted to inform the pro shop of my actions (I'm sure the 18 year old at the counter was going to scold me). He was raising his voice at me like like he was yelling at his son and after a few more rude statements from him, I started to raise my voice a little, still keeping my composure. After he realized I was not going to be yelled at like a child, he lowered his voice and moved on.

I understand I was in the wrong and I am not looking for anyone to say that what I did was acceptable, but its an unfortunate part of the game as I do no think that i should wait for every 370 yard par 4 or 650 yard par 5 to clear before I hit my shot on the very rare chance that i might chase one on. It happens to me a few times each year and I am very sorry when it does happen, but I piss way more people off that are waiting for me, to wait for a green to clear than people I have to apologize to for hitting into them. To add, I have never ever flown a ball into a group in front of me. Am I a complete jerk? How much scolding should I have to take from someone when I am truly not intentionally trying to do it and properly convey my sincere apologies? What is the proper distance to wait?

Sorry for the length!!!


Posted

Not a golf pro answer, just common sense.  When in doubt, wait.  Instead of an earful you could have ended up helping to load the guy into an ambulance while his son watched on.

Joe Paradiso

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Posted


Originally Posted by Dreamcrusher

. . . strongest part of my game is my driver. I have made it through regional qualifying for the REMAXX long drive competition and rarely play with anyone that keeps up with me . . . I was probably at least 310 yards out  . . . bounces up and hits one of the fathers in the  . . . Sorry for the length!!!



HAHAHA - dude!!

To quote my favourite flick, "you're off the F'n chain!!!"

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.


Posted

So you badly misjudged how far it would go, and the old man was understandably upset. Fortunately no one was hurt, and you learned. It's not the end of the world for anyone. I think more of us have been there than would admit it.


Posted

Wait was the guy playing or just watching the junior tourney? If he was playing it's obvious you know you were in the wrong the guy got to vent and no one got hurt so I see no problem. If he was watching I would have said it's your deal boss if you want to stand out here then you run the risk.

Driver: i15, 3 wood: G10, Hybrid: Nickent 4dx, Irons: Ping s57, Wedges: Mizuno MPT 52, 56, 60, Putter: XG #9 

Posted

You say what you did was unacceptable, then go on to say that you shouldn't have to wait before you hit into the group ahead (and rolling it into them is hitting into them), which you do a few times every year?  I recommend you increase your liability insurance because you are going to need it.


Posted
A signed glove or ball should have been offered to the poor chap. That seems to be the protocol on the PGA Tour. ;-)
  • Upvote 1

In the race of life, always back self-interest. At least you know it's trying.

 

 


Posted

You for sure needed to wait. Make the group behind you wait rather than risk hitting someone. Same situation happened to me. I play at a small private club, where everyone knows everyone. Once in a while i find myself being to impatient and hitting sooner than i probably should have. Anyways one day i hit my drive into the group ahead of me. It wouldn't have been so bad, but that ball hit the top of the golf cart and landed in front of a guy approaching his ball. Rather than wait for me to approach him with my apology he just turned to my ball and hit it OB. He then Looked at me and simply smiled. I was clearly an A**Hole. After that happened i decided to just always wait for people to be a tleast 400+ yards aways before i hit. YOU should do the same!


Posted

First let me say I appreciate what you fellows in Blue do.  I know it's a difficult job for only fair pay.  I have never been a LE officer but have family that has/is and know something of the sacrifice.

Having said that I'm not too sure what comments you're looking for here.  You have said you were wrong, and you were.   So was father that berated you.  But as you say it might have been understandable if he'd have gotten over it when you apologized.  Especially since, in this case, no one was hurt he should have let it go.   But because the results of hitting into another group can be catastrophic, you should never hit a ball if there is the slightest chance it can reach the group ahead of you, even on the roll.  But you know that and I'm sure will be more cautious in the future as a result of this incident.

Good luck on the long drive efforts.

Butch


Posted


  newtogolf said:
Originally Posted by newtogolf

Not a golf pro answer, just common sense.  When in doubt, wait.  Instead of an earful you could have ended up helping to load the guy into an ambulance while his son watched on.


One of the smartest answers I have seen on this forum...


Posted

I think the guys reaction would have been different if he was playing with his friends, but when you put his kid on the green you bring out the parent and you will get both barrels.  At the point where you apologized, if he was still scolding you, you should have just said sorry and walked away from it.

Callaway AI Smoke TD Max 10.5* | Cobra Big Tour 15.5* | Rad Tour 18.5* | Titleist U500 4i | T100 5-P | Vokey 50/8* F, 54/10* S,  58/10* S | Scotty Cameron Squareback 1


Posted

The fact that you are a long hitter and have to wait on par 4's and 5's is not going to gain you any sympathy from most folks.  Just be certain that you aren't going to endanger any lives in the group ahead.  The courtesy associated with golf can sometimes be forgotten about but it is really important...

What's in my bag:
Driver: taylormade.gifBurner 09 Stiff 9.5*
Fairway Woods: adams.gifRPM Low Profile 3 & 5
Irons: mizuno.gifMP 57 - 3-PW Project X 5.5
Wedges: wilson.gifREG. 588 54* &cleveland.gif 60*Putter: ping.gifAnserBall: titleist.gifProV1x Home Course: Forest Ridge Golf Club


Posted

One thing the OP stated a few times was the pressure he felt from the group behind. This is where I believe a lot of these incidents start. This is not directed at anyone in particular but how many people on this forum go into meltdowns about the group ahead of them. I have read innumerable posts about pace of play and how the jerks ahead are playing so slow and how they can't possibly reach the group ahead of them... Then I read the vitriol about someone who clearly made a mistake and accidentally hit into the group ahead. I agree that someone should wait and not to take a chance on hitting anyone. That said then you should expect that the group ahead is going to take some time and being the group behind should recognize that. I don't read many replies acknowledging that fact.

So to make a long point longer the bottom line is if someones fragile eggshell like game can't take a 4.5 hour round of golf and shoot well then maybe they should examine their own mental shortcomings and not blame the group ahead. That's how things like this can be avoided in the first place.

  • Upvote 1

Posted

if you drive a par 4 the course should have been built differently. 310 from the other fairway...LOL hell i would have shaken your hand!! if you had hit the green from 200 or something out and a good look at the green that would be different. BTW regardless if you were right or wrong he still acted like a bigger ass then you. you made mistake in yardage, went to speak with them and make things right, let him speak his piece for a bit about the situation and yet he still wanted more flesh.  He is an asshole.

Driver- Callaway Razor somthing or other
3W- Taylor Made R11S
3H Rocketballz
4I-PW- MP-59
Gap- Vokey 54

Lob- Cleveland 60

Putter- Rife

Skycaddie SG5  


Posted


  1par2win said:
Originally Posted by 1par2win

One thing the OP stated a few times was the pressure he felt from the group behind. This is where I believe a lot of these incidents start. This is not directed at anyone in particular but how many people on this forum go into meltdowns about the group ahead of them. I have read innumerable posts about pace of play and how the jerks ahead are playing so slow and how they can't possibly reach the group ahead of them... Then I read the vitriol about someone who clearly made a mistake and accidentally hit into the group ahead. I agree that someone should wait and not to take a chance on hitting anyone. That said then you should expect that the group ahead is going to take some time and being the group behind should recognize that. I don't read many replies acknowledging that fact.

So to make a long point longer the bottom line is if someones fragile eggshell like game can't take a 4.5 hour round of golf and shoot well then maybe they should examine their own mental shortcomings and not blame the group ahead. That's how things like this can be avoided in the first place.

Much thanks sensei.

Mizuno MP600 driver, Cleveland '09 Launcher 3-wood, Callaway FTiz 18 degree hybrid, Cleveland TA1 3-9, Scratch SS8620 47, 53, 58, Cleveland Classic 2 mid-mallet, Bridgestone B330S, Sun Mountain four5.


Posted

The ball landed twenty yards short and hit the guy om the brim of his cap? Does this golf course double as an airport runway?

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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Note: This thread is 5254 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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