How do you handle a group of jerks on the course without descending to their level???

[Jack Lee]

So, I was playing 18 with my girlfriend this past Sunday and we were having a nice time.  We were both playing well, the weather was lovely, and the course is just awesome.

We had a group in front of us that was playing slowly enough that we kept catching up to them.  Now, we aren't fast players ourselves, but we either stand aside and wave faster players through or something similar if we are obviously holding someone else up.  It was a little annoying, but no big deal to us.

Where we started having problems was when a group that appeared to be an adult, a mid to late teen, and a ten or so year old caught up to us.  They were being as obnoxious as anyone I have ever had the displeasure to be on a course with.

This bunch was shouting to each other across the course as we were trying to hit shots, cutting donuts on the fairways with the golf cart, repeatedly screeching to a halt in the golf carts on the path, and so on.  At least three times, they hit shots that came within 10 yards of us with no warning call.

I have NEVER seen such behavior on a golf course.  I was truly at a loss to decide how to respond appropriately.

They ended up leaping past both us and the slow group ahead of us, but that was a long 6 holes to put up with them.

I had originally intended to ask the folks at the clubhouse to talk to them if they had finished behind us, but after they passed us, it was a little less effective.  I did make the clubhouse staff aware of their behavior anyway in case they were regulars to the course.  I was told that none of the staff had seen them before that they could recall.

So, how would you respond to this sort of behavior on a course?  Keeping in mind that there were kids in the group.  (That influenced my reactions heavily.)

Jack Lee

[saevel25]

This bunch was shouting to each other across the course as we were trying to hit shots, cutting donuts on the fairways with the golf cart, repeatedly screeching to a halt in the golf carts on the path, and so on.  At least three times, they hit shots that came within 10 yards of us with no warning call.

I had originally intended to ask the folks at the clubhouse to talk to them if they had finished behind us, but after they passed us, it was a little less effective.  I did make the clubhouse staff aware of their behavior anyway in case they were regulars to the course.  I was told that none of the staff had seen them before that they could recall.

If it happened early in the round, lets say middle of the front nine. I would tell the starter or clubhouse at the turn. If it still happened, I would call the clubhouse on the course and have a ranger sent out.

[Jack Lee]

Well there's a DUH moment that I should have thought of.  I didn't even consider calling the clubhouse.

That is one in the arsenal for if it ever happens again.  Hopefully, it won't.

Thanks!!

[seenmyball]

We have rangers on patrol constantly at my local course...Yea if the are acting that stupid someone needs to be notified..

[saevel25]

We have rangers on patrol constantly at my local course...Yea if the are acting that stupid someone needs to be notified..

Lucky

[Patch]

Yep, calling the club house was the way to go. Problem is with this kind of stuff is that it can escalate into something more serious. Best to let the course workers handle the issue.

[Fourputt]

Absolutely call the clubhouse.  No course I've ever played would tolerate that sort of behavior.

[Golfingdad]

Agree with everybody that said you simply call the clubhouse and inform them.  They would should send a ranger out right quick to talk with them.

Also, if I was in a similar situation to you, playing with my wife or my son, I'd probably also let them pass just to avoid the danger of their premature shots.

[GaijinGolfer]

Agree that the best way to handle it is to call the clubhouse and alert them to it.  Theres nothing to say that they wont start acing up again once the range is out of sight and its not as if the ranger is going to shadow them the entire round to make sure they are behaving but you never know and if the ranger does catch them acting up, they might be asked to leave.

Unforunately, some people are just idiots and theres not much you can do about that.

[SoundandFury]

Because of a lifelong lack in what polite society considers good judgment, I would likely descend to their level and have had very strong words.  Enough of those shots run up on me and there's a chance one gets fired back, or at least thrown out of bounds.

Kids or not.

[MyrtleBeachGolf]

Almost every course in this area have on course rangers that you will see 3-5 times during the round. Sometimes they will take your complaint and actually do something. Sometimes they just nod and drive off.

[RJH999]

You fight em'. Oh, without descending to their level. Damn. You tell them to go **** themselves.

[Lihu]

Because of a lifelong lack in what polite society considers good judgment, I would likely descend to their level and have had very strong words.  Enough of those shots run up on me and there's a chance one gets fired back, or at least thrown out of bounds.

Kids or not.

Almost every course in this area have on course rangers that you will see 3-5 times during the round. Sometimes they will take your complaint and actually do something. Sometimes they just nod and drive off.

You fight em'.

Oh, without descending to their level.

Damn.

You tell them to go **** themselves.

Guys this is such an immature method of dealing with this situation. Just let them pass and treat them the way they treated you. . .

Seriously, I did let some people pass me up one time this situation happened to me. When they passed on, they got stuck behind the party we waited on. . .let's just say that the situation got a lot worse for them and the folks who were in front of us. There was a lot of yelling involved. . .But me and my family were out of the fray and we enjoyed the rest of our round together.

[mvmac]

Agree with what others have said, call the clubhouse and/or let them go through.

[danL]

Tell them you will not tolerate their behavior and inform them that can choose to act right or be removed from the course via a Ranger. No need to sugar coat it for people who have proven themselves to be brash. Ask nice, ask twice.

[BuckeyeNut]

So, I was playing 18 with my girlfriend this past Sunday and we were having a nice time.  We were both playing well, the weather was lovely, and the course is just awesome.

We had a group in front of us that was playing slowly enough that we kept catching up to them.  Now, we aren't fast players ourselves, but we either stand aside and wave faster players through or something similar if we are obviously holding someone else up.  It was a little annoying, but no big deal to us.

Where we started having problems was when a group that appeared to be an adult, a mid to late teen, and a ten or so year old caught up to us.  They were being as obnoxious as anyone I have ever had the displeasure to be on a course with.

This bunch was shouting to each other across the course as we were trying to hit shots, cutting donuts on the fairways with the golf cart, repeatedly screeching to a halt in the golf carts on the path, and so on.  At least three times, they hit shots that came within 10 yards of us with no warning call.

I have NEVER seen such behavior on a golf course.  I was truly at a loss to decide how to respond appropriately.

They ended up leaping past both us and the slow group ahead of us, but that was a long 6 holes to put up with them.

I had originally intended to ask the folks at the clubhouse to talk to them if they had finished behind us, but after they passed us, it was a little less effective.  I did make the clubhouse staff aware of their behavior anyway in case they were regulars to the course.  I was told that none of the staff had seen them before that they could recall.

So, how would you respond to this sort of behavior on a course?  Keeping in mind that there were kids in the group.  (That influenced my reactions heavily.)

Jack Lee

I don't see where they did anything wrong except for being too loud and simply annoying.  yes...I get that, but they never hit into you....   there is a difference between playing up....and hitting into.  Aside from them being loud, I think you might be overreacting just a tad bit.  The part about cutting donuts in the fairways i suspect is an exaggeration, based on your problem with their braking methosds on the cart paths.  You take offense because they skidded the tires?   LOL...who cares!!  Really?   Like that never happens?

[mvmac]

I don't see where they did anything wrong except for being too loud and simply annoying.  yes...I get that, but they never hit into you....   there is a difference between playing up....and hitting into.  Aside from them being loud, I think you might be overreacting just a tad bit.  The part about cutting donuts in the fairways i suspect is an exaggeration, based on your problem with their braking methosds on the cart paths.  You take offense because they skidded the tires?   LOL...who cares!!  Really?   Like that never happens?

I don't think the donuts in the fairway are an exaggeration, I give @Jack Lee the benefit of the doubt. I also don't consider 3 balls within 10 yards as "playing up".

[BuckeyeNut]

Jacks post seemed a little strange to me.