Green Etiquette

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

Ok, then I'll put it this way: If someone is stressed out about me walking over to get a read after their putt is on its way, I really don't care.  It's accepted etiquette, it's unreasonable for anyone to be stressed by it, and we all can't be expected to go through life walking on eggshells for fear that performing a common, accepted practice might bother or offend someone, when no sane, rational person *would* be bothered or offended by it.  If they *are* that bothered by it, the onus is on them to tell me, in which case I will apologize and never do it again. Unless I'm putting for eagle.

I've played with a lot of people who are bothered by little things their playing partners do and say. Usually it's when paired with strangers and sharing a cart and on and around the greens. Often these pet peeves hadn't even crossed my mind, but I hesitate to call them insane because their quirks are different to me.

I was referring specifically to people who are waiting within peripheral vision range, ready to pounce on the line of putt the instant the putt is struck. If you can't visualize the behavior then perhaps you've been luck enough not to have some continually do it to you, or you're the one doing the pouncing. Like the guy holding the flagstick like a javelin waiting to ram the pin in immediately after the last putt is holed. Irritating for some and just routine practice for others.

There's no reason to imply that being irritated by someone or something makes them insane any more than having a complete disregard for how an irritating personality tic affects others makes one a sociopath.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I've played with a lot of people who are bothered by little things their playing partners do and say. Usually it's when paired with strangers and sharing a cart and on and around the greens. Often these pet peeves hadn't even crossed my mind, but I hesitate to call them insane because their quirks are different to me.

I was referring specifically to people who are waiting within peripheral vision range, ready to pounce on the line of putt the instant the putt is struck. If you can't visualize the behavior then perhaps you've been luck enough not to have some continually do it to you, or you're the one doing the pouncing. Like the guy holding the flagstick like a javelin waiting to ram the pin in immediately after the last putt is holed. Irritating for some and just routine practice for others.

There's no reason to imply that being irritated by someone or something makes them insane any more than having a complete disregard for how an irritating personality tic affects others makes one a sociopath.

Sean, isn't it at least *possible* that you are very easily bothered by things that very few other people are?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

Sean, isn't it at least *possible* that you are very easily bothered by things that very few other people are?

Are you honestly telling me you've never had the misfortune of playing with the javelin flagstick putter backer guy? Maybe you are this guy? Is it possible you're offended at the thought that not every single person you'd chance to meet would be completetly enamored with all the cute little "competitive" things you also do during a round of golf?!?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

Ok, then I'll put it this way: If someone is stressed out about me walking over to get a read after their putt is on its way, I really don't care.  It's accepted etiquette, it's unreasonable for anyone to be stressed by it, and we all can't be expected to go through life walking on eggshells for fear that performing a common, accepted practice might bother or offend someone, when no sane, rational person *would* be bothered or offended by it.  If they *are* that bothered by it, the onus is on them to tell me, in which case I will apologize and never do it again.

This is it.

Sean, you've since added the phrase "waiting in their peripheral vision" (or something like that) and, well, that's too close. I don't think for one second sacm3bill is saying you're in their peripheral vision. That's REALLY close, even for someone with GREAT peripheral vision.

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Are you honestly telling me you've never had the misfortune of playing with the javelin flagstick putter backer guy? Maybe you are this guy? Is it possible you're offended at the thought that not every single person you'd chance to meet would be completetly enamored with all the cute little "competitive" things you also do during a round of golf?!?

C'mon... chill. Seriously, you're on the wrong end of this one... it's accepted that you can, from a safe distance far enough back, walk in on the line of a putt after it's struck. It's not "gamesmanship" or anything rude. And though it's against the rules of etiquette, I don't care if someone stands right on my line (not a partner, caddie, etc.) while I putt so long as I can't see them.

We choose to let things bother us in this world. I try not to let a lot of these types of things bother me.

P.S. If I've ever played with a javelin guy, I haven't noticed.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

Sean, isn't it at least *possible* that you are very easily bothered by things that very few other people are?

By the way, this isn't about me. MY comment was to and about a guy who had a stranger playing partner / opponent who was crouching about 3 feet behind him. When asked to move the guy moved about 1 foot. If that wouldn't bother you, then you're the kind of person I hope to be one day - but then I wonder why you have to chase me around this site responding to all my posts that are bothering you. It's somewhat contradictory.

That's all I got.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

By the way, this isn't about me. MY comment was to and about a guy who had a stranger playing partner / opponent who was crouching about 3 feet behind him. When asked to move the guy moved about 1 foot. If that wouldn't bother you, then you're the kind of person I hope to be one day - but then I wonder why you have to chase me around this site responding to all my posts that are bothering you. It's somewhat contradictory.

Your comment wasn't about that, though. Your comments were about the Javelin guy or a guy waiting to walk into your line. That's the part I think sacm was responding to.

[jamo]

Are you honestly telling me you've never had the misfortune of playing with the javelin flagstick putter backer guy? Maybe you are this guy? Is it possible you're offended at the thought that not every single person you'd chance to meet would be completetly enamored with all the cute little "competitive" things you also do during a round of golf?!?

I can honestly say I've never meat javelin-flagstick guy. I also don't particularly mind stands-behind-the-line-of-my-putt guy, though I refrain form doing it myself. Short of doing gymnastics on my line, my last problem with putting is being distracted by other people. Hell, I distract myself more than other people distract me.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

Your comment wasn't about that, though. Your comments were about the Javelin guy or a guy waiting to walk into your line. That's the part I think sacm was responding to.

Actually yes, that's right. I was commenting on guys who wait until contact to run over and look at the line. The thing is people aren't typically very patient and they don't always wait until contact. When some jack*** moves on my backstroke it bothers me. I'm not as open and enlightened as you guys I suppose because I don't accept gamesmanship as a part of friendly competition any more than I'd laugh off a slew foot. But they do it because it works. Just like the old Ryder cup days when Seve would wiggle his toes (white saddle shoes) right before Curtis Strange would hit. Strange knew he was gonna do it, but it still bothered him.

Some days it's easier to block out. I played a match against a guy (last year's club champion) who'd wait until right before I hit to get his shadow right over my ball. After a couple holes it became part of my routine. Look at the line, wait for Justin's shadow, stroke the putt. I putted very well that day.

By the way, I may have the wrong track and field event - I'm actually referring to Pole Vault flagstick guy.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

When some jack*** moves on my backstroke it bothers me.

Yeah. I've played a lot of golf, and often in competition against some pretty silly people. I still can't say that's ever happened to me.

If someone's too close - it's happened occasionally (not on purpose) on tee boxes or whatnot - I'll say something before I make the stroke. Even that's rare though.

[B-Con]

Albeit off-topic: [quote name="iacas" url="/t/52883/green-etiquette#post_644314"]

Though I disagree with this (I'm in a small minority), I think the common understanding is that since a "scramble" isn't really golf anyway - it's not a recognized form of play - the rules about standing on the line of your partner don't really apply.

As others said it's an etiquette thing, and it's even in the Etiquette section of the Rules of Golf:

[/quote] I've always thought of teammates in a scramble as being, as far as the rules are concerned, pretty much the same person. I mean, they all hit the same shot, take the same penalties, etc, and like you said it isn't an officially condoned golf match style. If they're pretty much the same person, I'd agree that they can read each other's breaks however they like.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by iacas

Your comment wasn't about that, though. Your comments were about the Javelin guy or a guy waiting to walk into your line. That's the part I think sacm was responding to.

Yep.

Sean, I don't follow you around. If I see a post that warrants responding, I respond to it.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by djackson89

I picked up a single with our 3 some the other day and he did this to the extreme. He would literally stand or even crouch 2-3 behind me if I was putting and he was trying to read. I kid you not if I were to take my putter back like a real swing it would have hit him. I didn't really know the guy so I didn't say much other than "little close man" and he back up about a foot. It really bothered me, nice to know there's actually a rule against it...I usually do the off to the side walk in behind after they hit it movement.

I'd have told him in no uncertain terms to move away.  I don't have to putt with him there  and I can stand there all day until he removes himself.  I'd give a short, fast course in etiquette.  If he wants to  stand well out of sight behind me and back of the ball, then move to the line AFTER the ball has been struck, I have no issue with it.  The pros do it, and I've done it when I had trouble getting a good read on a green, especially to see the break right at the hole.  But I make sure that I'm standing still and out of sight when the ball is struck.