Good evening,
I just got off the golf course and a situation occurred that requires some constructive criticism. I play once or twice a week and I currently play to around a 4 handicap, but have been as low as scratch. The strongest part of my game is my driver. I have made it through regional qualifying for the REMAXX long drive competition and rarely play with anyone that keeps up with me. The rest of my game is pitiful, but that is for a different post. I decided to play a new course today and was rather excited because the State Amatuer Qualifier will be held there in a few months.
I get to the course about an hour early and notice that there is a Junior tournament for 15-17 year olds going on. I check in at the pro shop and they tell me they are running a little behind. I eventually get to go off the back nine directly following one of these Junior threesomes. They are playing kind of slow, but it is alright because it gives me a chance to take a better look at some of the holes. We eventually get to a 611 yard par 5. It is fairly narrow with another fairway running parallel to it on the right side. I hit my drive fairly poorly and block it into the other fairway. I wait for the oncoming golfers to finish their teeshots and I approach my ball which lies perfectly in the opposite fairway. I see that the group in front of me is just getting to the green, and I try to evaluate how far out I am. It is a pretty open shot but I immediately start to figure out what I should hit to give myself a good leave. After spending 20 seconds or so trying to figure it out, I decide that I was probably at least 310 yards out and my best play was to advance it as far as possible and take my chances with a 40-60 yard pitch rather than guessing how much to leave with a layup. By this time things are getting backed up behind us and rather than anger the people behind us for waiting for the green to clear (which I normally do if I even have a small chance of chasing it near the green) I take a hack at it. Needless to say, I catch it perfectly and it lands about 20 yards short of the green, bounces up and hits one of the fathers in the brim of his hat (so he claims). I immediately realize what had happened and took off towards the green to apologize. Before I get within 50 yards, I notice the man is walking towards me. I start apologizing emphatically as soon as we are in range telling him as sincerely as possible that is was obviously not intentional. Understandably, the man was very upset and I gave him a chance to vent and tell me how irresponsible a person I am and try my best to explain the circumstances. After the pleasantries had passed (about 30 seconds) he asks me for my name and I tell him my first name. He then asks for my last name, which I find rather awkward. I am in my mid thirties and have been a law enforcement officer for 8 years so I am pretty sure he did not mistake me for being in the tournament and want to tell my mom on me! I told him my last name was irrelevant and he insisted that he wanted to inform the pro shop of my actions (I'm sure the 18 year old at the counter was going to scold me). He was raising his voice at me like like he was yelling at his son and after a few more rude statements from him, I started to raise my voice a little, still keeping my composure. After he realized I was not going to be yelled at like a child, he lowered his voice and moved on.
I understand I was in the wrong and I am not looking for anyone to say that what I did was acceptable, but its an unfortunate part of the game as I do no think that i should wait for every 370 yard par 4 or 650 yard par 5 to clear before I hit my shot on the very rare chance that i might chase one on. It happens to me a few times each year and I am very sorry when it does happen, but I piss way more people off that are waiting for me, to wait for a green to clear than people I have to apologize to for hitting into them. To add, I have never ever flown a ball into a group in front of me. Am I a complete jerk? How much scolding should I have to take from someone when I am truly not intentionally trying to do it and properly convey my sincere apologies? What is the proper distance to wait?
Sorry for the length!!!
