Etiquette Question

[GangGreen]

Is it considered poor etiquette not to play through when the group ahead offers? I was out as a single yesterday and there were very few people out. The starter let me go off on the back 9 so it wasn't until I was well into the round before I caught up with a foursome in front of me. They waived me forward but I told them I was in no rush and to go ahead and not worry about me. Most other days I would have played through as a single, but since there was absolutely no one behind me all day and I wasn't keeping score, I was just kind of enjoying taking my time and hitting an extra chip, putt etc. each hole for practice. One of the guys in the foursome seemed a little annoyed and the only thing I could figure is that he wasn't particularly good (not that I am) and maybe just didn't like feeling rushed by having me constantly in his rear view mirror waiting.

[David in FL]

Is it considered poor etiquette not to play through when the group ahead offers?

I was out as a single yesterday and there were very few people out. The starter let me go off on the back 9 so it wasn't until I was well into the round before I caught up with a foursome in front of me. They waived me forward but I told them I was in no rush and to go ahead and not worry about me. Most other days I would have played through as a single, but since there was absolutely no one behind me all day and I wasn't keeping score, I was just kind of enjoying taking my time and hitting an extra chip, putt etc. each hole for practice. One of the guys in the foursome seemed a little annoyed and the only thing I could figure is that he wasn't particularly good (not that I am) and maybe just didn't like feeling rushed by having me constantly in his rear view mirror waiting.

You hit the nail on the head.

Not necessarily poor etiquette, but if you decline, please make sure that they clearly understand that they shouldn't worry about you at all .....

[newtogolf]

It depends on how much you were pushing them or they perceived you were pushing them.  Given the course wasn't busy they might have just wanted to play a leisurely round and seeing you right behind them made them feel rushed.

Given you were a single, it probably wouldn't have taken you more than one hole to reach a point where you could have kept your previous pace without fear of them catching up to you the rest of the day.

You were within your right to decline but etiquette wise, you probably should have played through or hung further back so they didn't feel you pushing them.

[GangGreen]

You hit the nail on the head. Not necessarily poor etiquette, but if you decline, please make sure that they clearly understand that they shouldn't worry about you at all .....

Thanks, makes sense.

[GangGreen]

It depends on how much you were pushing them or they perceived you were pushing them.  Given the course wasn't busy they might have just wanted to play a leisurely round and seeing you right behind them made them feel rushed. Given you were a single, it probably wouldn't have taken you more than one hole to reach a point where you could have kept your previous pace without fear of them catching up to you the rest of the day. You were within your right to decline but etiquette wise, you probably should have played through or hung further back so they didn't feel you pushing them.

Valid point for sure, I know I always feel more pressed when there's someone behind me waiting.

[MS256]

If I have no intention of playing through I intentionally hang back enough for the group in front to not feel pressed. Even doing that there are occasions where I get to the next tee box and find a group waiting for me to play through. In that case I do feel like it would be poor etiquette to not accept the offer since they've been sitting there waiting.

[bkuehn1952]

If I have no intention of playing through I intentionally hang back enough for the group in front to not feel pressed. Even doing that there are occasions where I get to the next tee box and find a group waiting for me to play through. In that case I do feel like it would be poor etiquette to not accept the offer since they've been sitting there waiting.

Exactly my feelings.  Also, there is the "Pressure Off - Slow Down" syndrome to consider.  The 4-ball may have felt a bit of pressure to keep pace with a single (or 2-ball) lurking.  As soon as they understand the single is in "no hurry" my impression is the 4-ball almost always slows down.  So as a single or 2-ball I almost never decline an invitation to play through because of the risk of creating a pace of play problem.

[saevel25]

Is it considered poor etiquette not to play through when the group ahead offers?

I was out as a single yesterday and there were very few people out. The starter let me go off on the back 9 so it wasn't until I was well into the round before I caught up with a foursome in front of me. They waived me forward but I told them I was in no rush and to go ahead and not worry about me. Most other days I would have played through as a single, but since there was absolutely no one behind me all day and I wasn't keeping score, I was just kind of enjoying taking my time and hitting an extra chip, putt etc. each hole for practice. One of the guys in the foursome seemed a little annoyed and the only thing I could figure is that he wasn't particularly good (not that I am) and maybe just didn't like feeling rushed by having me constantly in his rear view mirror waiting.

Well, if your actions slows down the groups behind you then yes it would be bad form. Also, standing around waiting on the group in front of you can make that group feel rushed. For a self conscious golfer who knows they are not that good, and does not want to hold people up. I can see how that could upset him.

So the question is, do you play through. I say yes, because even if you play through, you can still play at that leisurely pace.

[Dave2512]

I get people asking me to play through all the time. My experience is few consider whether it makes sense. If there is nowhere to go all that happens is they end up waiting on you, even if you're a single.

[MS256]

The times I hate to play through the most are when my wife is with me. She's actually fairly fast so we can easily catch most golfers in front of us but she's a very short hitter and it takes her 3 strokes to get to most par 4s and only reaches the shortest par 3s from the tee.

I do my best to never play through when she's playing but when we do I know the group letting us through is thinking it was a huge mistake when they wait for us to tee off from different tee boxes and then see her hit a short drive. Sometimes she just skips her tee shot and plays her second from where my ball is.

[Robster 7]

I think it's poor etiquette when you let someone through and then they conspire to hit the worst tee shot ever in the history of golf. :-D

[MS256]

I think it's poor etiquette when you let someone through and then they conspire to hit the worst tee shot ever in the history of golf.

Sounds like you let me through when I first started playing...Sorry.

It was guaranteed that I would hit a bad shot when playing through back then. If it was me I did at least pick the ball up and put it in my pocket and go on to the next hole to try my luck there.

[GangGreen]

I think it's poor etiquette when you let someone through and then they conspire to hit the worst tee shot ever in the history of golf. :-D

HAHAHAHA! That's me, never fails, I could be having the best round of my life up until the exact point that someone let's me play through. Then, to add insult to injury, my next shot will be the best shot of my life and the group who let me through will be no where around to see it.

[jetsknicks1]

I get people asking me to play through all the time. My experience is few consider whether it makes sense. If there is nowhere to go all that happens is they end up waiting on you, even if you're a single.

This, and it works the same for both sides of the coin. I sometimes play as a single and will have groups wait for me on the tee to let me thru when it's obvious I'll just end up waiting on the 3 groups ahead. When this happens, I politely decline and let them know that I'm in no hurry at all and not to worry about me. I've also had singles catch my group and ask to play thru when a glance ahead will show groups stacked up on each other.

[PaneraiMan]

I would play through if offered. And thank them obviously.