Rookie Question about Etiquette

[DKX9000]

I've got a couple of questions, but to preface I'll share a quick story that happened yesterday. Also, I did some online sleuthing, but didn't find any real good answers to this question.

My friend and I went golfing yesterday (it was only my second time ever, and his first time in almost a decade), so we're quite new. Everything was going smooth until we finished hole 5; we couldn't find hole 6 and after some driving around we discovered we had accidentally done hole 5 for another course -- there are two courses that are really close and almost intersect at a few points, so it gets confusing if you don't know the courses well. Anyways, we eventually found hole 6 and started -- there were two golfers behind us on hole 5, but they were walking and since we had a cart, we figured we would get a hole or two in before we would let them pass. By the time we started hole 7, they were on hole 6 and one of them began to approach us yelling how we cut them off and called us thieves (multiple times) because we shared one set of clubs. He also shouted that there were signs everyone that said each golfer was supposed to have their own set of clubs (there weren't; even in the main lodge no clear or obvious signs existed). While we may have certainly stepped our bounds as new golfers, their behavior and attitude was rude and left a bad taste in my mouth.

My question is: Why is it that each golfer needs their own clubs? Is this an actual golf rule or just etiquette? I read in a few places that it slows down the game (my gameplay slows it down more than an occasional club pass) and my friend and I were seldom using the same club at the same time (and for a game that's supposedly suppose to be relaxing and easy going, everyone sure seems impatient and rushed about it). This reasoning hardly makes sense. Is there really any logic behind this "rule" or is it simply an arbitrary golf guideline?

I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm simply a rookie golfer curious about a rule, that quite frankly, seems a little silly.

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, DKX9000 said:

My question is: Why is it that each golfer needs their own clubs? Is this an actual golf rule or just etiquette? 

For a casual golfer it doesn't matter. By USGA Rules, unless the golfers are partners they can not share clubs. 

Quote

b. Partners May Share Clubs

Partners may share clubs, provided that the total number of clubs carried by the partners so sharing does not exceed fourteen.

A lot of times golf courses require that each person has their own clubs. I think that is to shy away from slow play, or to maybe force people to rent clubs. 

 

 

[mcanadiens]

It is a rule that a course may or may not choose to enforce. Some courses may have signage on course rules and would list that one along with stuff like cart rules, fixing divots and ball marks, out of bounds, course markers and the outside beverage rules. Usually the scorecards will have all these rules listed out as well.

There's no question that sharing a bag will slow you down, but, as @saevel25 said, the course is primarily interested in your renting clubs from them. 

Sorry to hear you had a hard time. Golf needs not be chasing away beginners.

[DKX9000]

The course wanting you to rent their clubs makes the most sense as to why this would be enforced or even a rule; after all, I'm not playing in a competition, simply for fun on my own time. Regardless, I'm still baffled that we got called thieves for only using one set of clubs. It was an enjoyable time and everyone else we encountered were very kind, except for the said golfers.

[rehmwa]

Don't let those golfers put you off your game.  Most are pretty decent people (nearly all).

you just encountered a couple jerks - golf might have a larger share of them than most activities, but they'll still be a very small subset of all

 

there is usually a map of the course on the score card (we have a pair of nice courses here in MN that are next to each other, there are a couple places where one could easily walk to the wrong tee and end up crossing the boundary)

[Gator Hazard]

If you have two bags you could divide the clubs as well to avoid future jerks saying things. They just sound like a couple of people with nothing better to do, they probably also play two balls at times when the course is slow (or wide open) which is "thieving" about as much as you guys did. A second bag such as a Sunday bag can be picked up for cheap and can attach to cart by putting strap through handle and you guys can then divide clubs evenly amongst bags, perhaps every other club all even or all odd per bag. 

Keep on playing and if you both decide you like the game you can get clubs for a decent price a number of different ways. It will make the experience more enjoyable. 

Edited June 21, 2016 by Gator Hazard

[sjduffers]

Sharing clubs slows you down, there is no question about it: think about it, don't you both need a putter when on the green? If you are within the same range of the hole, you would most likely used the same club as well.  And where is the acceptable limit of sharing: 2, 3, 4 players? No. Each player has their own clubs: it does not have to be a full set, you can skip every other iron if you want, or use just a putter, a 7 iron, and a hybrid for example (there are indeed fun competitions with just 1, 3 or 5 clubs for example).

As for calling you thieves, it was probably over the top since you didn't know, but for anyone knowing this rule (golf facility rule, not golf game rule, as has been explained above), you were considered to have avoided renting a set for the player not having their own clubs, and therefore having defrauded the owner of the golf course of the rental fee.

[Jeremie Boop]

1 hour ago, DKX9000 said:

The course wanting you to rent their clubs makes the most sense as to why this would be enforced or even a rule; after all, I'm not playing in a competition, simply for fun on my own time. Regardless, I'm still baffled that we got called thieves for only using one set of clubs. It was an enjoyable time and everyone else we encountered were very kind, except for the said golfers.

If they were under the impression that because you only had one bag that you paid for one greens fee and then both of you were playing that would explain the thieves comments. Other than that, yeah, just a couple of people who were being jerks.

[Dave2512]

Yeah sharing clubs is slow because it requires players sharing to always travel to each ball. Unless you can hit the ball on top of each other you increase travel zig-zagging all over. That said I'd learn the ways of golf and try not to be overly considerate. I see a lot of noobs trying to give those around them too much space.

[No Mulligans]

To elaborate, there is a proper way to use a riding cart to increase pace of play.  This is standard operating procedure and is part of the etiquette of the game.

Drive to the closer ball and let's call that the 1st ball/1st player, after the 1st player picks his club the 2nd player drives to the 2nd ball if he is not in the line of fire of the first player.  2nd player is getting ready to hit while 1st player hits.  After 1st player hits he walks towards 2nd player while the 2nd player hits.

If the 2nd ball is in the line of fire he can often still drive forward in some direction out of the line of fire and closer to the 2nd ball while the 1st player is getting ready and hitting his ball.

Also, it is customary for a player to grab a club and a putter as they get close to the green and let the other player take the cart forward to the green in a way that keeps the pace moving forward smoothly.

If you don't take this kind of approach, even walkers that know what they are doing will play much faster than you.  And, you'll get more easy exercise taking this approach.  And, using these kind of short cuts will actually make the round seem less rushed and more enjoyable while at the same time increasing your pace of play.  No one likes having a frustrated group behind breathing down your necks.

Beginners need to do everything they can to increase their pace of play.  They need to overcome the slow down associated with taking more shots.  It can be done and it's not that hard.

[No Mulligans]

As an edit to the above post... To follow that riding cart procedure smoothly, each player does need his own set of clubs.

[woodzie264]

Without being redundant, I would echo everything said thus far with the added comment that the appropriate action for pricks behind you to take would have been to call the clubhouse and relay any concerns they may have had, allowing the course (marshal) to handle it in a cordial manner. IMO, those guys behind you did more to tarnish the Game that day than you did.

Edited June 22, 2016 by woodzie264
Grammar

[xcott]

You learned a valuable etiquette lession, other people don't have it. You guys were fine, they were in the wrong.

yes one bag is slower, but if you're letting people go through it's not a big deal. They might have thought you came from the other course and jumped in front of them since you were probably not in front of them and then magically you were.

Golf is life. Some people you encounter will suck. 

[Fourputt]

21 hours ago, DKX9000 said:

I've got a couple of questions, but to preface I'll share a quick story that happened yesterday. Also, I did some online sleuthing, but didn't find any real good answers to this question.

Anyways, we eventually found hole 6 and started -- there were two golfers behind us on hole 5, but they were walking and since we had a cart, we figured we would get a hole or two in before we would let them pass. By the time we started hole 7, they were on hole 6 and one of them began to approach us yelling how we cut them off and called us thieves (multiple times) because we shared one set of clubs. He also shouted that there were signs everyone that said each golfer was supposed to have their own set of clubs (there weren't; even in the main lodge no clear or obvious signs existed). While we may have certainly stepped our bounds as new golfers, their behavior and attitude was rude and left a bad taste in my mouth.

My question is: Why is it that each golfer needs their own clubs? Is this an actual golf rule or just etiquette? I read in a few places that it slows down the game (my gameplay slows it down more than an occasional club pass) and my friend and I were seldom using the same club at the same time (and for a game that's supposedly suppose to be relaxing and easy going, everyone sure seems impatient and rushed about it). This reasoning hardly makes sense. Is there really any logic behind this "rule" or is it simply an arbitrary golf guideline?

I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm simply a rookie golfer curious about a rule, that quite frankly, seems a little silly.

It's both a rule of golf and it's standard policy at most courses.  The policy is usually for pace of play issues.  Players who walk could be slowed considerably if sharing clubs, and even two players a cart would not be as efficient without each having his own clubs.  That policy was in effect on courses I played years ago before many of them even had clubs available for rent.

Under the rules, partners playing as a team may share clubs as long as the total doesn't exceed 14 (and as long as it doesn't violate course policy), but opponents (match play) or fellow competitors (stroke play)  must each have his own clubs.  This is the rule:

Quote

4-4. Maximum of Fourteen Clubs

a. Selection and Addition of Clubs

The player must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round, except that if he started with fewer than fourteen clubs, he may add any number, provided his total number does not exceed fourteen.

The addition of a club or clubs must not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7) and the player must not add or borrow any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course or by assembling components carried by or for the player during the stipulated round.

b. Partners May Share Clubs

Partners may share clubs, provided that the total number of clubs carried by the partners so sharing does not exceed fourteen.

 

[paininthenuts]

In the UK it is unthinkable that any player has not get their own clubs or golf shoes