Biggest problem on the golf course today?

[RonTheSavage]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Actually, golf nerds might be as big a problem as cargo shorts.  I was busting balls about cargo shorts the other day, but I'd rather play with somebody wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt, smoking a joint and listening to music than a golf nerd (so long as quality of play was comparable).  Golf nerds take themselves way too seriously and most of them are average players at best.

Just so Im clear because now Im confused. You seem to have a major problem with cargo shorts but now you have a problem with golf nerds? You define a golf nerd in your poll as someone who dresses like a pro golfer. So Im supposed to shoot for some happy medium? Can you explain to me then what is acceptable dress on the course?

[sean_miller]

Not sure anything other than Slow Play shows up on my radar.  I started playing in the 1980s and the local off-course golf shops (like all they dealt wtih was golf equipment) were always more helpful than on-course proshops. Around here the on-course shops have always been the second worst choice for equipment (just ahead of department stores or Canadian Tire).

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Prior to Taylor Made spurning the PGA of America and the green grass requirements for major brand distribution, the quality of pro shop employees was usually pretty decent.  Pros had a monopoly on the high end clubs, and hired a decent staff to accomodate.  In the late 90's when Taylor Made bucked the trend by distributing to non-green grass courses, the club pros lost a lot of their revenue and the staffs in the pro shops went from being filled with people who are passionate about golf and enjoyed working in the pro shop to a bunch of idiots.  Now all the distributers have moved away from the green grass requirement.

Dick's actually just hired a buddy of mine who is a PGA pro and was an assistant at a local course.  Dick's is really stepping it up with staff.  I also think New York Golf Center's staff is very knowledgeable.  If these guys were also the ones taking your green fees and monitoring the rangers and startesr, the course experience would be better.

ahh, the good old days.

I'm still trying to figure out what problems this causes you...  I could care less if some of the employees are "idiots".

[MrSandman]

You got it right, Ron Savage.

I actually don't care if somebody is wearing cargo shorts/t-shirt.  I grew up on a private course with a high dress code standard, and I obey that when I go back home.  But on the NYC munis, anything goes and that is kind of cool too.

I think it is funny when there are some people who hold a bias against one thing, but allow the other.  Comments like, "Cargo shorts are okay, but music and t-shirts are a no." make me laugh.  Either follow the dress code and the rigid standards, or don't.

Golf nerds also make me laugh.  Most of them aren't that good, but they try to dress like Dustin Johnson or Justin Rose.  Nerds!!

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave2512

IMO it's not a realistic expectation that customer service would be any better just because it's a golf course. Not going to encounter many rocket scientists willing to work a cash register for $7.50 an hour. The quality of the employee is relative to the pay. Even the nicer courses I frequent have a massive staff of kids and retail rejects. Heck the staff at my parents club, specifically the food service staff, terrible.

Prior to Taylor Made spurning the PGA of America and the green grass requirements for major brand distribution, the quality of pro shop employees was usually pretty decent.  Pros had a monopoly on the high end clubs, and hired a decent staff to accomodate.  In the late 90's when Taylor Made bucked the trend by distributing to non-green grass courses, the club pros lost a lot of their revenue and the staffs in the pro shops went from being filled with people who are passionate about golf and enjoyed working in the pro shop to a bunch of idiots.  Now all the distributers have moved away from the green grass requirement.

Dick's actually just hired a buddy of mine who is a PGA pro and was an assistant at a local course.  Dick's is really stepping it up with staff.  I also think New York Golf Center's staff is very knowledgeable.  If these guys were also the ones taking your green fees and monitoring the rangers and startesr, the course experience would be better.

ahh, the good old days.

LOL - why does that sound like the opposite of what would probably happen?

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

I'm still trying to figure out what problems this (inattentive staff) causes you...  I could care less if some of the employees are "idiots".

You really don't see this as a problem?

You don't think better service is preferred?  Better assistants.  Staff/cashiers/starters who know a little more about the game and can help the customer or remedy problems easier is not preferred?

I don't mind minimum wage employees.  College kid working at a shop for minimum wage, great.  But when you get some 50 year old minimum wager who probably never broke 90 in his life watching a baseball game in the pro shop when the US Open is on and having no clue about any of the products for sale and really being a bit slow on the simple nexus between paying a greens fee and the starters booth is not really a good thing.

[jetsknicks1]

Inattentive rangers. I believe most of the other issues mentioned (Drunks, slow play, ball marks, divots), wouldn't be issues if the rangers would be doing their jobs.

[Dave2512]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Golf nerds also make me laugh.  Most of them aren't that good, but they try to dress like Dustin Johnson or Justin Rose.  Nerds!!

Kind of an elitist attitude isn't it? Little League ball players dress like pros too does this make them nerds? If I wear active wear to the gym to workout am I a nerd because I don't look like Mr. Olympia? It's only a costume if you don't get out and golf. The only qualifying for a certain outfit for people that actually participate in something I know of is martial arts. I am sure there are more but golf isn't one of them.

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

You really don't see this as a problem?

You don't think better service is preferred?  Better assistants.  Staff/cashiers/starters who know a little more about the game and can help the customer or remedy problems easier is not preferred?

I don't mind minimum wage employees.  College kid working at a shop for minimum wage, great.  But when you get some 50 year old minimum wager who probably never broke 90 in his life watching a baseball game in the pro shop when the US Open is on and having no clue about any of the products for sale and really being a bit slow on the simple nexus between paying a greens fee and the starters booth is not really a good thing.

No, I don't see it as a problem at all.  Every course I've ever been to, no one working has ever been too dumb to take my money and give me acceptable service.  I guess I don't need 'problems remedied' by folks like that the same way you do, and I don't care what they are watching on TV.

[nevets88]

Slow play by a mile...

[zipazoid]

Slow play.

Don't care what you wear.

Don't care what you smoke.

Don't care what you drink.

Don't care if the pro shop isn't stocked.

I do care if my round is 5 1/2 hour long though.

[MrSandman]

Dave2512,

If you want to be a golf nerd, that's fine.  No need to get defensive about it.  When I am back at the private club, I always have my shirt tucked in and am wearing some golf shirt with a logo on it and the proper pants/shorts.  I even own 3 pairs of leather soled golf shoes for the proper occassions.

It is not an elitist attitude.  It is an honest observation.  Golf nerds infest golf courses, it is a fact.  You don't seem to be denying it either.

At the local muni, I have no problem wearing a hawaii'an shirt or even a pair of new balance sneakers if it is a dry day.  I don't own cargo shorts (they were outlawed in my house growing up), but I don't have a problem with those at the local munis either.

Just because you are playing golf doesn't mean you have to dress like a golf nerd.  At the same time, if you want to dress like a golf nerd, then go for it (but expect to get laughed at sometimes)

[RonTheSavage]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

You got it right, Ron Savage.

I actually don't care if somebody is wearing cargo shorts/t-shirt.  I grew up on a private course with a high dress code standard, and I obey that when I go back home.  But on the NYC munis, anything goes and that is kind of cool too.

I think it is funny when there are some people who hold a bias against one thing, but allow the other.  Comments like, "Cargo shorts are okay, but music and t-shirts are a no." make me laugh.  Either follow the dress code and the rigid standards, or don't.

Golf nerds also make me laugh.  Most of them aren't that good, but they try to dress like Dustin Johnson or Justin Rose.  Nerds!!

Gotcha, but I will admit I do have some golf nerd tendencies. I like my shoes to match and be CLEAN and yes I do own a white belt. LOL

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

No, I don't see it as a problem at all.  Every course I've ever been to, no one working has ever been too dumb to take my money and give me acceptable service.  I guess I don't need 'problems remedied' by folks like that the same way you do, and I don't care what they are watching on TV.

Might be a regional thing and you have not encountered the dumbing down effect.  If you did experience it, you may see what I am talking about.

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by RonTheSavage

Gotcha, but I will admit I do have some golf nerd tendencies. I like my shoes to match and be CLEAN and yes I do own a white belt. LOL

oh, white belt is definitely golf nerd!  whatever though, to each their own.

what you could do to pull off the white belt without looking like a golf nerd is to mix up some other aspect.  Maybe throw on a bandana or wear your visor backwards or wear a real beat up golf shirt that will help show that you are not a complete nerd.

[sean_miller]

I'd personally say that taking issue with cargo shorts and t-shirts at a course where cargo shorts and t-shirts are considered acceptable attire makes one a golf nerd.

[RonTheSavage]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I'd personally say that taking issue with cargo shorts and t-shirts at a course where cargo shorts and t-shirts are considered acceptable attire makes one a golf nerd.

BOOM! This might be the best comment I've read so far on this forum. This is beautiful

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

Might be a regional thing and you have not encountered the dumbing down effect.  If you did experience it, you may see what I am talking about.

Has nothing to do with regions.  It's simply that I don't need these employees to do anything for me and they effect my game in no way. I don't rely on any form of knowledge or exceptional service from those folks.   I could pay my money to a robot and get refreshments from a vending machince...