what forms of golf etiquette do you ignore and why?

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

To the topic, I will walk as far as I can as soon as I can whenever I think it's helpful. Heck, there have been times where I've started walking while the rest of my group is still teeing off -

hitting a bad shot is not justification for infringing on the rights of those on the tee, you are going to make it more difficult for some because of your movement/position so you get extra time to search for your ball?  You should be waiting till they have all hit, then be hitting a provisional.......if you think its going to be hard to find.

the RoG state five minutes from the time the search has started(and you can enact that if you like), for expediency though an agreement  in our playing groups is we divide that by four if we have four looking for it......and if not found in a minute and 15 seconds  the ball is given up for lost........that's how you play fast.

Actually the way to do it correctly under the rules is for any players who have not misplaced their balls to each go directly to his ball and play, then go back and help search, if necessary.  This is the way to both save time and still play by the Rules of Golf.   What you state is a breach of Rule 1-3, agreement to waive a rule of golf.  While Rule 27-1c allows 5 minutes for a search, it does not require a player to search for the full 5 minutes.  However, agreeing to waive the player's right to a 5 minute search is a breach of rule 1-3.

I never expect anyone to assist me in finding a wayward shot - and most certainly I don't expect a player to walk from his ball in the far right rough to assist me in the far left rough.  If he does help, I'm grateful, but the simple fact that by the time he walks to his ball, plays his shot and then walks all the way across to me, my 5 minutes is about up anyway.  Since I never take the full 5 minutes unless we are waiting on the group in front of us, by the time he reaches me, I'll have already headed out to continue play with my provisional ball.

[sac1]

Apparently you dd not read the thread you are linking to as almost everyone disagreed that it is a breach to move ahead.  Just like here.

Or perhaps you could develop a little self-awareness about your own behavior and recognize how rude your statement charging Erik with blocking your editing was.

...no I did not "charge" anyone with blocking my editing, here is what I wrote

apologies above, Ive got what pretzel and icacus said mixed, Id fix it but was blocked from editing.

does that look like I charged anyone with blocking, just let people know that I realised I'd mixed the quotes but wasn't able to fix.......and the fact is that whether a real person sat there and blocked it or it was an administered automatic function it was BLOCKED for editing.

The reply from ERIC implied that I was complaining about being  blocked.....and along with the rest of the context of his post where he claimed I have some paranoia and golfing deficiencies it was CAUSTIC.

so please READ properly before you waste everyone's time with your nonsense and see that particular person for what they are.

[RFKFREAK]

...no I did not "charge" anyone with blocking my editing, here is what I wrote

does that look like I charged anyone with blocking, just let people know that I realised I'd mixed the quotes but wasn't able to fix.......and the fact is that whether a real person sat there and blocked it or it was an administered automatic function it was BLOCKED for editing.

The reply from ERIC implied that I was complaining about being  blocked.....and along with the rest of the context of his post where he claimed I have some paranoia and golfing deficiencies it was CAUSTIC.

so please READ properly before you waste everyone's time with your nonsense and see that particular person for what they are.

I find way too much humor in this.

This thread went from golf etiquette to a discussion of perceived slight.

[sac1]

I haven't read of anyone here "restricting the way you swing."

perhaps go and read Pretzel's last post where he would actively try and put me off by moving ahead, many here seem to work on their own margins for error, often Im left want to fade or drawing my shot from my position behind someone and need to start it in their general direction, could be at least 20 degrees from a straight line drawn at the pin, but no, Im not going to pull the trigger on that one when an unintended straight ball or double cross could take them out........so Im forced to swing cautiously or hit in another direction, or indeed that I err on the side of the toe side of the club to avoid a shank ......I think that fits the description of "restricting the way you swing"

[Ernest Jones]

The reply from ERIC implied that I was complaining about being  blocked.....and along with the rest of the context of his post where he claimed I have some paranoia and golfing deficiencies it was CAUSTIC.

Who's Eric? Clapton?

Do you find that people in general are out to get you or is it just here? If it's just here than the solution seems simple enough, but if it's everywhere you go then you might want to talk to someone about that. We're heading into day 5 of this tom-foolery and the only one losing their proverbial shit over this is you. I was going to suggest you take a look around the site and find some other threads to participate in, but it seems that suggestion has already been made and you did not take it well...

I also took a quick look at your posting history and it seems that it all revolves around the same issue.

Here's your first two posts (from 3 years ago!) on TST:

Golf etiquette, 90% of people I play with can't get it right.

The golf course is a big place,  why do you need to stand closer than 5 yds to people hitting? I've often asked people not to stand behing the line of the teebox where I can see them.  Often some are so rude that they tell you that you should be looking at the ball and not them.  Hello peripheral vision!  I particularly dislike it when people stand on the line of my backswing,to be clear about it, the line Im hitting at is 0 degrees, directly behind that line is 180.  People standing in the 180-225 region are in the plane of my backswing.  Yes this is in the peripheral vision as when you are in your stance one isnt standing upright and this area comes into view, especially more so when putting.

Why can't people stand still when another is hitting, people manage this on the teebox, but elsewhere on the course......out the window.  My particular peeve is when playing from the fairway and you are say 25 yards in front of someone.  You wait till they hit, move briskly to your ball get ready to hit and find that the person who has just hit keeps walking up behind you or to the side of you.

Stand still, if I cant see you I can still hear you, either your clubs are rattling, your buggie is squeaking, electric buggies emit a high pitched noise.

Simply if I can hear you, you are being a distraction, its no different to being right next to me talking. When asked to stop moving, stop fossicking in their bag for their chocolate bag, some idiots defend themselves with buts there is all sorts of noises out here, you cant expect silence etc...  yes that is true, we have to cope with noise external to the playing group, that's part of the deal, but when the noise comes from your playing partners its avoidable and and obvious sign of disrespect.

Players standing too close to the hole on the green while Im putting.  Do we see the other three players in tiger's group standing around the hole when he is putting? no, get out of the picture, just dont take out the flag and stand right next to the hole,  there's nothing worse than every put you have to have some fat belly who is too lazy to take a couple of steps in the picture of every put you take for the round.  On that stand away from the putting line and the hole, do appreciate the player can be putting in a direction not straight at the hole due to the break, dont stand near that line either.

People that walk ahead of you when its your shot!  Its distracting for the reason they are moving, 2 because we have to think about where they are and avoiding hitting them. A shank can happen anytime, Id rather not have to contemplate(dont hit a shank) when one of my playing partners moves in front of me to the shank side of the shot.

The same thing happens round the green, if someone is in a greenside bunker ready to hit, dont continue walking through the green in front of them placing your bag, picking up your ball(unless asked), its their shot, wait till they have hit, its very disconcerting being in a bunker beeing worried about hitting it skinny and cleaning up one of the idiots walking across with their backs to you. It will speed up play too, you've got plenty of time to do stuff when they are fixing up the bunker.

I could keep going, but this is a fair grumble for my first post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Sounds to me like someone needs to learn to deal with distractions.  If you can only play under perfectly controlled conditions, then you play under far different circumstances than I have all my life.  Most of the situations you've described are meaningless when you play your golf on public courses like I do - you learn to live and play with distractions or you give up the game.

25 yards???  C'mon man - if I couldn't live with someone walking 25 yards away then I couldn't play this game.  My home course has tee boxes on the front 9 which are within hearing of greens on the back 9 and vice-versa.  Is everyone on the golf course supposed to shut up so you can have total silence when you swing?  I'll tell the magpies to shut up too, and post crossing guards so the coyotes don't run out on the fairway in front of you.    Ain't gonna happen.  Deal with it.

Think you've misunderstood, if they were 25 yards away from me when Im hitting then good.  Its that they keep walking up on you from inside 25 yards away when you are addressing the ball and have no intention of standing still , one has to hurry before they get too close or wait till they get level and I ask them physically to stop moving.  Its simple, see someone addressing the ball, standstill and wait til they've hit it.

As I said, whatever other distractions are thrown up on the golf course we have to deal with, but I find it unacceptable that it should come from playing partners, it represents either gamesmanship, ignorance and/or disrepect.  You may not find someone walking past you as you hit distracting, but would may find it distracting if stand behind you with a whoopee whistle, respect others differences.

I believe this qualifies as a "complex".

[RFKFREAK]

Who's Eric? Clapton?

Do you find that people in general are out to get you or is it just here? If it's just here than the solution seems simple enough, but if it's everywhere you go then you might want to talk to someone about that. We're heading into day 5 of this tom-foolery and the only one losing their proverbial shit over this is you. I was going to suggest you take a look around the site and find some other threads to participate in, but it seems that suggestion has already been made and you did not take it well...

I also took a quick look at your posting history and it seems that it all revolves around the same issue.

Here's your first two posts (from 3 years ago!) on TST:

I believe this qualifies as a "complex".

I'm starting to think that the solution is for @sac1 to buy his own golf course and not allow anyone to play there except people that are like-minded.

[tqcishark]

I appreciate the banter.  Pace of play is a form of golf etiquette I value more than others and I will make sacrifices to do my best to keep my foursome moving.  One of my questions about pace of play etiquette arises frequently with golfers who take practice swings.  I think if all golfers took multiple full practice swings before every golf shot, the game of golf would resemble frozen molasses.  I politely get on my regulars for practice full practice swings.  I tell them full practice swings should be counted toward a golfers score.  I only take a PARTIAL practice swings when I'm pitching chipping and putting.  I think if I get up and down in two OR three from ~50 yds and I will usually speed up pace of play.

I have yet to witness one occasion where full practice swings sped up pace of play.

[The Bogey Guy]

Just curious, seems like some experienced golfers here.  I looked back at some old threads seems like there's a wide variety of opinions.  I've been playing with the same guys for the past several seasons.  We've all turned the corner on golf together, but half the group really didn't learn basic rules or etiquette.  Its been interesting.  I think my regular group breaks rules and etiquette on almost every hole.

I care about rules and proper etiquette.  Rules obviously because there are so many possible and reasonable penalties that are part of the game.  Etiquette is different.  The items relating to consideration of other players is a golden rule thing.  EG I don't want three guys mingling behind me on my line on every teestroke, so I just don't do it.  I never say anything, but just try to set an example by taking a position near the tee where I'm off the players line, but where I can spot his ball in flight.  In my regular group, I'm the only one who seems to care about this.  Since my playing partners are oblivious to this, I'm used to having them back there "spotting" for me.  After years of my three man gallery, I don't really care if people are standing quietly behind me, but I don't do it, because thats what USGA recommends, and I don't need to stand in a players line.  Plus, on the putting surface this seems like cheating.

Then there's ready golf, which I know about but routinely ignore.  When playing with new partners I always surrender the box to the lowest score.  In my regular group, I only ever yield to a respectable score.  If we all hack it up, my group doesn't care who tees off first.  We usually walk and have standing agreement to play ready.

My downfall on etiquette is my phone.  Most of the time my phone is on and ringer can sometimes be heard.  If it rings in earshot of someones swing, which is infrequent during my normal friday playing time, I always offer a free replay.  I know this is sort of a breach, but I need to hear my phone.  How bad is it to leave your ringer on?  What do you guys do with your phone?

Being self employed I do not have the luxury of leaving me phone home or in my car like many do. However, I always respect those around me and leave it on vibrate or silent in the golf cart. I will text when not my turn or check Emails if needed.

I would say the only real rule in gold etiquette I break is I play "ready golf" I personally do not see a point to honors but that is just me. I like to keep the game moving but not rushed.

[ditchparrot19]

I politely get on my regulars for practice full practice swings.

A guy who's a very good friend of mine (but not one of my favorite golfing partners) takes at least three for every shot and I've seen him take as many as nine. I've told him numerous times that if everybody played golf like he does, I wouldn't play at all. That has no effect.

I'm incapable of taking a full practice swing – I physically cannot make myself do it. I just don't have the patience or them. I'm too eager to hit the ball and see what happens.

[tqcishark]

A guy who's a very good friend of mine (but not one of my favorite golfing partners) takes at least three for every shot and I've seen him take as many as nine. I've told him numerous times that if everybody played golf like he does, I wouldn't play at all. That has no effect.

I'm incapable of taking a full practice swing – I physically cannot make myself do it. I just don't have the patience or them. I'm too eager to hit the ball and see what happens.

I've only played with a couple of guys who literally took at least three, and I don't golf with them often.  Watching the waste of time and energy makes me too anxious.  Some of my regulars regularly take a full practice swing every time.  Its one of those things I let it go, as long as we're not holding anybody up.  I notice those are the same guys who more frequently have fatigue-related let downs.  Occasionally I will suggest that forty extra full swings per round takes a lot of energy.

I'm with you.  I would rather use my swing energy to strike the ball and get on with my life.  But its more.  Full practice swings sort of says, "I'm not confident in my swing"

I see way more really bad swings following a practice swing than really good ones.

[vangator]

.....if indeed he was trying to be helpful, then all that was needed was "the site blocks edits after nine minutes".....not "NO_ONE was TRYING TO BLOCK YOU OUT"...... as though I was having a whinge! he wants to improve my swing......no it was pretty obvious, imply that I was incompetent and has no place on a golf course, and hence have no right to insist that others don't make the game more difficult for them by moving into my possible hitting zone. I don't really care whether Im in the minority here, the rules of Golf weren't arrived at by  taking a majority vote on every issue, most people don't care for most of the rules in the book....but they are there to cater for all circumstances and make it fair for everyone.  People that position themselves that restrict the way I swing or where I can hit it are seriously affecting my game(RoG are there to protect my rights here).....if anyone can explain how the game of someone is going to be affected by not being able to move ahead at will(we are talking about balls on fairways,,,,not ones yet to be found in the trees), then let me know.......no..... pace of play is a furfy justification

What's a whingel? What is furfy? :-)

[Golfingdad]

What's a whingel? What is furfy?

What is a google??

https://www.google.com/#q=whinge

https://www.google.com/#q=furfy

[bste]

What is a google??

https://www.google.com/#q=whinge

https://www.google.com/#q=furfy

Now you are good, kind sir.

Thanks for the info.

[turtleback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sac1

Golf etiquette, 90% of people I play with can't get it right.

10% of the population is bat-shit crazy.  So if you find that 90% of the people agree about something with which you disagree . . . .

[sac1]

I've only played with a couple of guys who literally took at least three, and I don't golf with them often.  Watching the waste of time and energy makes me too anxious.  Some of my regulars regularly take a full practice swing every time.  Its one of those things I let it go, as long as we're not holding anybody up.  I notice those are the same guys who more frequently have fatigue-related let downs.  Occasionally I will suggest that forty extra full swings per round takes a lot of energy.

I'm with you.  I would rather use my swing energy to strike the ball and get on with my life.  But its more.  Full practice swings sort of says, "I'm not confident in my swing"

I see way more really bad swings following a practice swing than really good ones.

I personally don't take a practice swing if the coast is clear, but if waiting on people ahead, might take some just to keep loose.

In terms of the energy it takes?....well if someone is struggling physically/overweight then it could be a factor, but the act of swinging a golf club another 150 times per round isn't going to affect energy reserves for someone who is moderately fit......especially when it is proven with launch monitors  that people rarely get full speed on a swing unless a ball is there.

In terms of time, it can be annoying, I particularly look at how long it takes for one person to hit their ball after someone else has hit on the tee.

Even when the first player has bombed it down the middle some people haven't got their tee in the ground up to 30 seconds after the person has hit(staring down the fairway looking at the ball that has just been hit), then they step back take one or two practice swings then hit....another 45 seconds.  multiply that by four similarly minded people at that's 5minutes just to clear the tee.  Some are less critical of the above than when another player is perfectly still for 10seconds before swinging, claiming they stand over the ball too long.....despite the total time they take to hit being a fraction of that of the person taking practice swings.

I look at all issues relating to speed of play, some who hit with in a blink on the tee, also fuddle around with their gear and walk like snails, (its going to be a slow round if they are paired with players who take forever to hit yet walk faster).....whilst perception counts for a lot, the most important aspect is time it takes to finish the round.

[tqcishark]

I personally don't take a practice swing if the coast is clear, but if waiting on people ahead, might take some just to keep loose.

In terms of the energy it takes?....well if someone is struggling physically/overweight then it could be a factor, but the act of swinging a golf club another 150 times per round isn't going to affect energy reserves for someone who is moderately fit......especially when it is proven with launch monitors  that people rarely get full speed on a swing unless a ball is there.

In terms of time, it can be annoying, I particularly look at how long it takes for one person to hit their ball after someone else has hit on the tee.

Even when the first player has bombed it down the middle some people haven't got their tee in the ground up to 30 seconds after the person has hit(staring down the fairway looking at the ball that has just been hit), then they step back take one or two practice swings then hit....another 45 seconds.  multiply that by four similarly minded people at that's 5minutes just to clear the tee.  Some are less critical of the above than when another player is perfectly still for 10seconds before swinging, claiming they stand over the ball too long.....despite the total time they take to hit being a fraction of that of the person taking practice swings.

I look at all issues relating to speed of play, some who hit with in a blink on the tee, also fuddle around with their gear and walk like snails, (its going to be a slow round if they are paired with players who take forever to hit yet walk faster).....whilst perception counts for a lot, the most important aspect is time it takes to finish the round.

I agree with most of what you just wrote  I'm certain however that 150 full swings per round induces unnecessary fatigue.  Perhaps negligible for some.  As a guy who occasionally labors through three buckets of 50 balls at the range, I'm absolutely certain there's a big difference between the way I feel after hitting one bucket, and the way I feel after three.  Its worth noting, practice swings don't just require physical energy.  There's a mental component as well.  It is beyond the ability of the average golfer to strike 40 consecutive full swing shots with a sustained level of accuracy.  Add 40 or 80 practice swings to that concoction and you have a sure-fire recipe for a big miss.  You get mental lapses when the shot counts, as well as fatigue-related flailures.

Pace of play is probably the biggest most well publicized problem with golf today.  Jack says playing the easier tees is an answer.  I say there's a dozen things the average golfer can do to speed things up, with the removal of useless practice swings being perhaps the lowest low hanging fruit.  I think most golfers are tuning in and trying to play faster, but some stand by their rationale to play like foraging warthogs, whether its practice swings or GPSing every shot, or failing to advance to their next shot when its appropriate to do so.  My regular walking partners pretty much play golf with the goal of finishing on time and thats why we're compatible.  With that said, I occasionally play with other people or in other formats where five hour rounds are difficult to avoid, such as a riding round cart path only, with beer.  When it happens its usually just fine because a bad day on the golf course with beer is still better than a good day at work.

[mcanadiens]

As I've gotten on in golf, I take fewer and fewer practice swings. Still, I can't believe that a practice swing or two really has much effect on anything. It does get a bit tough if you have to wait on a guy doing it, but that's mainly because you have to watch it as opposed to the actual time it takes.

[Fourputt]

As I've gotten on in golf, I take fewer and fewer practice swings. Still, I can't believe that a practice swing or two really has much effect on anything. It does get a bit tough if you have to wait on a guy doing it, but that's mainly because you have to watch it as opposed to the actual time it takes.

I almost never take practice swings for full shots.  I do for touch shots, like pitching and chipping, but it's not like I stand over the ball for 60 seconds.  It still only takes about 10-15 seconds before I'm hitting the ball.