Do they have preference?

[JokerZA]

Hi guys.  I am new to this forum, and would like to take this opportunity to say "HI" to u all.  Nice forum u guys got going here.

I have a question.  2 days ago, myself and 2 friends went for a round of 18 holes at Ceres golf club.  It is a 9 hole course with a front and back 9.  Just before we started at hole 1, a four ball came there and basicaly pushed us off the tee.  They claimed, that they have preference on the tee, because they were about to start their 2nd 9.  We obviously retaliated, and they allowed us to proceed.

I just wanted to know if their argument was legal, or were they just taking a chance, thinkning that we were amateurs.

Thanks

[Grumpter]

The few 9 hole courses (or 27 hole courses) I have played seem to prefer alternating groups just starting the round and groups coming off the front 9. Some courses even go as far as to put up signs stating such. IMO if you were the only group at the tee box when they got there then you had the right of way.

[zeg]

I don't think there's an official answer to this. It'd be up to course policy. The only place I've seen it addressed was a little 18-hole par 3 course that gave right-of-way to groups coming off the 9th tee.

Logically, I think that makes the most sense. I'd much rather have a 5-10 minute delay before starting out than an equivalent delay in the middle of a round. Assuming the course has enough capacity, it shouldn't be a long wait until there's a gap between continuing groups. If there are no gaps in a reasonable time, then the course is being mismanaged.

That said, if there was no posted rule and someone tried to push their way through, I wouldn't be very inclined to yield. If a group is already set up to tee off, it's too late to pull priority on them without asking really nicely. In my opinion, once you're preparing to tee off, you've got the right of way.