Arrogant riders

[jrm1493]

Hey, I guess I'm just trying to vent here. Yesterday I was walking alone on a local goat farm I got stuck behind a 5-some after passing up a couple of slower groups who where happy to let me play through. I caught up with them on a par 3 and they had yet to tee off so I asked if I could play through, and they gave me crap because they said I would be slow because I was walking, never mind the fact that I had been waiting to hit for about 5 minutes on each shot on the previous 3 holes because of them. They ended up reluctantly letting me hit and they gave me evil stares so I just picked up my ball which was about 20 feet off the green and went on to the next hole. I gave myself a bogey.

Of course I finished the NEXT hole before they even got done on the par 3 and by the time I finished the round I was probably 4 holes ahead. I was upset and it really ruined my mental state and I ended up playing crappy the rest of the way and shot a 105 (not that I was playing that well to begin with but I was probably on pace to shoot about 100). This is on the heels of the best round of my life last week where I shot a 92 on a harder course.

Anyway, have any of yall encountered this kind of thing - I mean I'm of the opinion that walking is always faster than riding, because everyone goes directly to their ball and always has all their clubs on them. I'm partially doing this for the exercise and I just feel better walking. I feel like in this country walkers are almost treated as second-class (I lived in the UK for a while growing up and I think its different over there). I thought this group was really dumb/arrogant to assume that I would be slow - and I had been waiting on every shot for the previous 3 holes!

[Dr.Golf]

I manage a walk only course and always tell slower groups to allow faster players to play through. I would have done just what you did however I would have finished the hole you picked up on.



doc

[marathongolf]

one walker is usually faster than two riders - never mind 5. A single may not have "privileges," but common sense should always prevail.

[albatroz]

Golf too does have its share of A... H....s . Thought this would be a gentelmans game but there are a lot of Players who think they are superior in their ways that they fail to give notice to the way the game should be played . Giving way to others is not a sign of weakness . It shows that you have evolved into a higher plane of manliness and by such you have kept the honor of selflesness . Wish this 2008 more players would evolve and become the TRUE Gentlemen .

[geezer]

I always walk. I think its better exercise and also more enjoyable that way.

Not to mention that a five ball is illegal, they shouldn't have been allowed out like that!

[shortgame85]

  jrm1493 said:

Hey, I guess I'm just trying to vent here. Yesterday I was walking alone on a local goat farm I got stuck behind a 5-some after passing up a couple of slower groups who where happy to let me play through. I caught up with them on a par 3 and they had yet to tee off so I asked if I could play through, and they gave me crap because they said I would be slow because I was walking, never mind the fact that I had been waiting to hit for about 5 minutes on each shot on the previous 3 holes because of them. They ended up reluctantly letting me hit and they gave me evil stares so I just picked up my ball which was about 20 feet off the green and went on to the next hole. I gave myself a bogey.

Certain courses, if not most courses, have rules regarding which group has precedence over another group or individual. However, it was foolish of the group you described not to wave you through, much less make a fuss when asked by you to play through. Life is pretty fast paced and getting to play a three or four hour round of golf is a privilege. We all should make it as nice as possible for each other.

[MPS67]

I also believe that most of the time, a group of four on carts should let the single walker through, but.....

On the occasions when I ride along with another cart in a foursome, we happily allow singles to walk through. There are times though that three, four or more singles playing through can add up to an hour to your match and ruin our tempo. Additional requests to play through are looked at disparagingly.

It's not the walker's fault, but rather the pro shop's, in my opinion. If they have a lot of singles that day, they should try to pair them up to make everything flow better.

[TourSpoon]

  marathongolf said:

one walker is usually faster than two riders - never mind 5. A single may not have "privileges," but common sense should always prevail.

Exactly. I would think that a single has about the priveledge as a five-some. You should have finished the hole.

[JaY_B]

If I have groups not letting me through i just hit balls at them, childish I know but it gets the appropriate point across, I remember once I had about 150 in to a green, the group in front putted out, looked at me and then practiced putting...... needless to say a barrage of balls came their way and they swiftly moved on lol

[g-funk13]

So here's the flip side of this: a 4some on carts lets a twosome walking play through. Then one walkie proceeds to hit a ball into the woods, and spend 5 min looking for it like a total idiot. No wave-through, no apology at the next tee. . . happened to me. I let em know that if you ask to play through you DON'T look for lost balls, and you play ready golf for a few holes out of courtesy.

Stupid behavior is not the sole property of big groups, cart riders, or women. People just need to be told.

Sorry for your stupid people encounter. It ALWAYS sucks riding OR walking.

BY THE WAY, I have never heard the expression "goat farm" for a course. Funny, in a historically accurate kinda way.

[jrm1493]

When I am walking I always try to be very considerate of the group I passed up. Usually if I come upon a group of 2 or 3 I'll join up unless they don't want me to.

As far as the term "goat farm", I picked it up from some friends at work. Basically we use it to describe any poorly-maintained course. The one where I was playing when this happened is only $11 to walk during the week (and thats for a full 6700 yd 18 hole course). Its the best deal around here and it actually has some interesting holes, but the maintenance is poor (bad greens, no real difference between rough and fairway, sand trap full of weeds, etc).

[lamebums]

  JaY_B said:

If I have groups not letting me through i just hit balls at them, childish I know but it gets the appropriate point across, I remember once I had about 150 in to a green, the group in front putted out, looked at me and then practiced putting...... needless to say a barrage of balls came their way and they swiftly moved on lol

Heh...good to know I'm not the only one that does that. I get irritated and extremely impatient when they are disrespectfully slow - I think some people deliberately play more slowly when you come up behind them, especially as a single or twosome. Sometimes I'll bomb it

over their heads, though.

[Big_M]

Two years ago I was playing behind some real morons. It was midday during the week and they were all about 45ish and terrible. Worst of all they were loud. I had been following them for about 6 holes and hitting shots into the green sooner and sooner, but they didn't get the picture. Finally we came to a long par 3. I watched the last two tee off while walking up and as I tried to request to play through they drove off (and I know the pricks heard me). Fortunately the two I saw tee off both found trouble and one was well short. Both carts were sitting 45yds short of the green on the right side, near some tall heather (links course). I said screw it and knocked my 5-iron to about 15 feet. As I walked by them they gave me icy cold stares and I heard one mumble something. I two putted, waived, and promptly left the flag laying on the green.

Maybe this was uncalled for, but it sure felt good. By the time I hit eighteen they were no where in sight (and I could see three holes).