Strange "Play Through"

[srjorion]

I hit the course this morning and they sent me off as a single.  There was a fivesome of older gentlemen that had just teed off.  I was told they were super slow but would probably let me play through.  Hole 1 is a Par 5, and as I'm laying two ready for my approach shot these guys are all putting.  One of the guys sees me and waves for me to play through.  Mind you they are all there within 30 feet of the hole putting, and the flagstick isn't even in the hole.  I sit there thinking he is letting me know they are going to let me play through after the hole.  The guy who waved at me then puts the flagstick back into the hole and waves for me again to hit.  I laughed to myself and motioned for them to keep playing which they did.

I guess these guys were either confident I wouldn't be putting the ball anywhere within 30 feet of the hole or they felt they would be able to move out of the way if my ball came towards them.  When I arrived at #2 they had all teed off but told me to go ahead and play through.  I mentioned I didn't want to hit them on #1 but they really didn't seem to think much about it.  Very nice guys, but kind of scary they would want to stand at the target of the people playing through.

[golf4fun12]

well, not that strange but just funny cause the old guys were probably to old and tired after one hole to move out of your approach shot.

[sacm3bill]

Doesn't seem that strange to me. Unless you had thinned a line drive into them, it's pretty easy to follow the path of the ball and step aside as necessary. Of course that's assuming all 5 guys were paying attention, which may not be a safe assumption...

[Tomboys]

With all the other stories where players had to deal with crotchety old men, it's great to hear that you ran across some nice ones.  IME, I always wondered why some older players would act crotchety on the golf course.  I mean, they're probably retired, still able to move, and playing golf with their buds.  What's there to be grouchy about?

Maybe they're upset that they have to drop down to a senior-flex shaft or something.  If that's the case, just pop a Viagra tablet and tell everyone you're "swinging a stiff shaft".

[awmgolfer]

I have the same happen a couple of times, always keeps me on edge but partly gives me a least a little chance to feel like the PGA players..lol. We have a short par 5 that around the 200 yard mark starts downhill so if you catch the hill it is very easy to be near a 300 yard drive and leave a nice 150 downhill yard shot into the green. A couple of times I put it within that range while there was a group on the green, since I am known at the course many times they would put the pin in and step to the side of the green and just wave me through. I tend to play on my own a lot so most the locals usually just let me zoom through as I have a quick pace. Always fun getting waved through though!

[DocWu1948]

I agree. When you're 140 or more yards out, and watching, someone can hit a iron toward your green and you'll be safe..Being allowed to play through is great, but it puts you on the stage. As a friend observed, it's amazing how you look back and  watch some good golfers hit well and catch up to you, Then when you let them play thru, their game falls apart at that moment.

The other day, I was sitting at a bench on a par 3, actually glad for a chance to catch a breath as it was my 2nd time out and I was tired. I hear a whistle and the foursome on the green want me to play thru. Same situation as the OP, but I step up, w/o thinking at all, and hit a good one.

When I get up there, I ask which ball is mine and it's five feet to the pin! They all think I'm good. After all, anyone who goes out as a single on a chilly day must be good enough to play thru. LOL. I missed the bird, but I pick up and am outta their hair, so thankful to not screw up.

[Shindig]

At my club, we wave up on the first and second fairways. The city determines whether we're on time by when we leave the first tee box, and the second hole is a long par-4 (I'm still not fully certain why we wave up on that one). A running joke is that the safest place is in the middle of the fairway (although we all move to the rough, usually behind a tree, when waving up).

[BostonSully]

Quote:

Maybe they're upset that they have to drop down to a senior-flex shaft or something.  If that's the case, just pop a Viagra tablet and tell everyone you're "swinging a stiff shaft".

100% Grade A gold.

[srjorion]

Interesting.  I'm glad I posted this because I figured it was something that didn't happen often.  I guess next time I'll go ahead and hit if someone waves me on.  I do like the awmgolfer's comments about it feeling like hitting to a green in the PGA:-)

[ND Fan]

I find the best place for waving people through is right next to the flag.  Statistically the the safest place.

I say that but... about 20 years ago I had a group wave me on a par three they all stood right next to the flag!?  I hit one of them in the leg about 3 feet right of the pin.  It' was the first time I had ever struck another player with a ball.

[Jameshooper]

I like to hear stories like that, it's nice to know that some people understand course etiquette.  Although they might have put the flag back in for you.

I think people find it a little difficult sometimes in determining if they should wave people through or not, as well as people who want to be waved through even though the course is very crowded.  I don't like it when the course is crowded and the people behind you (unless it's a single) are in such a rush that they want to be waved through, but where are they going to go, there's a group on every hole.  If the place is crowded, I just take my time and keep up with the group in front of us, and try not to get upset that things are moving slow.

[darkhunter139]

Originally Posted by Jameshooper

I like to hear stories like that, it's nice to know that some people understand course etiquette.  Although they might have put the flag back in for you.

I think people find it a little difficult sometimes in determining if they should wave people through or not, as well as people who want to be waved through even though the course is very crowded.  I don't like it when the course is crowded and the people behind you (unless it's a single) are in such a rush that they want to be waved through, but where are they going to go, there's a group on every hole.  If the place is crowded, I just take my time and keep up with the group in front of us, and try not to get upset that things are moving slow.

Yeah one time I was playing with my cousin and we were taking a bit longer then usual because the whole high school team was in front of us.  The two people behind us hit into us twice and then flew past us in their cart only to end up waiting to play at the next hole...

When we got up to them they did apologize and left but it was still pretty annoying.

[popeyegolfer]

I have had people do this. When the ball comes, wherever it may be they just move as to not get hit.

[golf4fun12]

So today was the first time in a while that a group waved us up. It was a busy day at the course. we weren't expecting a wave up cause no one else was waving up. they hit their tee shots and walked up to their balls and then waved us up. but they weren't on the green yet. 3 of them were still off the green. felt a little rushed and they were standing close to the green. so was a little nervous hitting my shot. but no problem, on the green.

to the point, do all members have to be on the green before you wave up? cause we were talking about this in my group after this went down and I thought everyone needs to be on the green before you wave up.