Smoking on the course?

[sandtrap]

I read an article in Golf week last night that Angel was chain smoking at the US Open and that at next years US open there will be a no smoking rule in all parks and ...... What do you guys think of that?

Hasn't this gone to far when you can't enjoy a smoke, outside on a golf course, when virtually alone?

[hoopshot]

That is really going too far! Is this just for the U.S. Open, or is it a rule at the course they'll be on next year? I could see the PGA saying they don't want to encourage bad habits, but even that seems silly. Having a no smoking rule at a golf course makes no sense to me.

--Will

[GoingfortheGreen]

That's plain nuts! If it's okay with my playing partners, I go for it. Till now no one has ever objected (in seven years of playing golf).

[p_funk]

This is just crazy. I do not think they will be able to uphold this rule.

[tejama]

I don't have a problem with him smoking on the course, but do it subtlely not walking down the middle of the fairway with millions viewing. Duck out of sight from the cameras if you're going to light up. I thought that was a bit on the classless side to be perfectly honest.

[Rusterson]

They can only ban it because next years US Open is in a "public park". (Torrey Pines) Otherwise they cant do anything about smoking.

[scotton]

But when Hogan did it, it was classy, right? Or Hagen? Or Sneed? I seem to remember Palmer smoking, but I might be wrong on that.

This sounds like the USGA trying to be in charge of pro golfers again. If it was the PGA, they would be doing it for all tournaments. And Daly wouldn't come out of his RV.

If the mere sight of someone smoking is now enough to offend people, that's just sad. When did people start caring so much about what other people are doing? Pure chickenshit.

[iacas]

  scotton said:

This sounds like the USGA trying to be in charge of pro golfers again. If it was the PGA, they would be doing it for all tournaments.

It really has nothing to do with the USGA doing anything since this is purely a media and fan discussion right now. The USGA hasn't said word one on the "issue."

  scotton said:

If the mere sight of someone smoking is now enough to offend people, that's just sad. When did people start caring so much about what other people are doing? Pure chickenshit.

It sets a bad example, but still, I don't think the main discussion is what it looks like but rather whether, perhaps, it's "performance enhancing."

[scotton]

So what the hell? Are you trying to insinuate that I went off half-cocked without knowing the facts of the story? The nerve, sir. You will never join Bushwood with that kind of attitude. It's a sad day when a man can't even talk out of his rumpus on the internet. I shall now slink away with all the dignity I can muster.

[WhiteSoxFan]

I almost always fire up a nice stogey on the golf course.

[iacas]

  scotton said:

So what the hell? Are you trying to insinuate that I went off half-cocked without knowing the facts of the story? The nerve, sir. You will never join Bushwood with that kind of attitude. It's a sad day when a man can't even talk out of his rumpus on the internet. I shall now slink away with all the dignity I can muster.

I hope you're just joking around. I believe you are, but yeah... it's more a matter of the Parks system applying the rule rather than the USGA applying it. Just wanted to clear that up, since the USGA gets bagged on far too frequently.

[scotton]

Yes, I was poking fun at myself for reacting to something without knowing all of the facts. Sorry if I had you laughing so hard that Dr Pepper came shooting out of your nose. My witty Caddyshack references will do that.

[erniebanks]

Excuse me, but the whole thread is a little silly.
Who gives a tinkers dam it a player smokes during the round? If the network wishes to show it, then any bad "vibes" is on their shoulders.
We all know that natural phenomena produce more pollution than all smokers combined. One Mt. St. Helens makes all smokers trivial. If you are concerned about the environment, you have to start walking to work, you must trash your charcoal grill, you must start taking cold showers, you must stop eating meat (animal methane), etc., etc, etc,.
Get off the man’s case. He smokes---Get over It
If he dies because of it, he dies!
Not our concern.
Let's talk golf, please.
Sorry about the soapbox.

[fairwaysngreens]

I dont like the cigarette smoke, but it seems like cigars a even more so a part of golf, would they prohibit them from being smoked as well?

[p_funk]

  WhiteSoxFan said:

I almost always fire up a nice stogey on the golf course.

Nice, me too.

[Shindig]

  fairwaysngreens said:

I dont like the cigarette smoke, but it seems like cigars a even more so a part of golf, would they prohibit them from being smoked as well?

California has a history of minding other people's business. You can't smoke in bars either, and starting in January 2010, you also won't be able to drink in 'em. This isn't a golf thing, other than there are public golf courses in California.

[jmhunter]

Not to be all fatherly here, but a lot of kids watch, and seeing your favorite golfer smoke....

[lamebums]

  Shindig said:

California has a history of minding other people's business. You can't smoke in bars either, and starting in January 2010, you also won't be able to drink in 'em. This isn't a golf thing, other than there are public golf courses in California.

You can't

drink in a bar? So what the hell are you going to do there?