CartShedCop

A few years back, back when I was married to my second wife (cough cough), I used to play two or three times a week with her father and his 11 o'clock senior's group. My father-in-law was the youngest of the group (myself excluded, obviously) and he was in his early 60s. The other gentlemen spanned the upper 60s to darn near 80. It was not uncommon for us to play as five or six 5-somes. That's right, 5-somes... seniors, some walking, some riding, some even had the handicap flags. I don't remember a single time that the last group was not in, checking bets and dealing cards in under 4.5 hours. They all played ready golf, even on the greens if need be, and picked up at double. To their credit, there were very few doubles between them. This group played Monday through Friday, year round - weather permitting of course. Why not on the weekends? The course was too slow... with "young" people sweating out 20 foot bogey putts, trying to find "the groove" in the their 10th practice swing, and being hellbent on looking for that ball that was last seen entering the woods 50 yards in. Fast forward to my present golf situation/group: My regular golfing buddy and I can ride or walk, and if we even near 3 hours as a two-some, something bad has happened. It is nothing for us, during the summer, to get three full rounds in - sometimes adding 1 or 2 players, sometimes just as a two-some. On the weekends? Our courses get antsy at anything over 4 hours. You can feel the swell of discomfort around the joint. What do we do? Call a ranger and insist that he be a ranger. A few weeks back at the course I work, I booted a four-some off the course. Got word in the shop of the culprits through phone calls and complaints at the turn. Heard that 5s and 6-somes were forming just to ease the waiting game. I headed out, saw the dreaded group... they were blasting two balls a piece tee to green (they were horrible) and there were THREE open holes in front. I gave them a warning and drove around a bit. Came back 15 minutes later and they were now FOUR holes out of synch. Guys, guys, listen... listen... you must leave now. Pick your balls up (all 10 of them) and please leave the course. They barked a bit and gave me the "we paid good money..." line and that they demand a rain-check. I scoffed back that EVERYONE else had paid good money and that because they made the turn and that we in no way ever wanted to see such play and lack of respect out there again, they would not be getting anything from the course that would encourage their return, rain-check or otherwise. It's group effort, but all to often I feel that employees of the course - from the Pro Shop to the ranger(s) fall short in their duty of enforcing ready golf and stopping slow play. The money argument rings hollow to me: If you are worried about approaching the slow groups for fear of not getting their return money, you run a high risk of not getting the monies from the many groups behind them in return.

The staggered tees is the idea in the works currently. Myself and my usual group of 5 or 6 have been playing the tips for about a month now just to change it up and hit some different clubs and shots into the greens. We play the same three courses 4 to 5 times a week. Scoring really hasn't changed... in fact I'm going to 6.5 at Midnight tonight (down from a 6.9). In regards to the 6-10s making the birdies, I can vouch... as I am one of them. I'm normally good for 2,3, or 4 on any given round. (Short 380-400 yard Par 4s and usually have a solid look or two on the a few of the 5s). The lower handicapped buddies of mine will lull you to sleep with strings of pars. Haha! I understand ALL TOO WELL that such a quantity of birdies should make me a lower handicapped player, but until I firmly grasp the concept of Course Management (and for some frustrating reason, my bunker game), such is my current state of affairs. Maddening, but correctable. So we'll see. Probably shove the ringer to the tips, the rest play from the blues, and let the $20s fall where they may. That's about a 350-400 yard difference over the 18 holes, with the Par 3s showing the most (2 clubs) difference. I'll take my chances with my 8 and 9 irons from 160-170 yards over his 5 and 6 irons from the 200+ tee boxes that the tips present for the Par 3s. At the end of the day, it'll just be a good sunny and warm 36-hole Saturday, right?

Every other Saturday or Sunday, a group of 12-16 of us get together and have a friendly little skins game. $20 to get in, birdies or better. For the most part we all range from 10s to 3s. It tends to be rather even amongst us playing birdies or better because it's the 8s, 9s, and 10s that actually make a few birdies (along with a few doubles) while the 3s to 5s tend to be more par machines. This weekend however, we have a good buddy of a few of the guys that is going to come out and play. He will probably continue to do so going forward. Here's the thing... dude's +1 or +2 legend has it and looking him up on/through GHIN, yep... he's a ringer. Good for 3 or 4 birdies a round with the occasional 5 birdie round. So, how do we square things up with him in the mix? Have any of you guys or girls faced such? Or at the end of the day, is it better to just suck it up, throw your $20 in and hope for the best. I'm bringing a few new guys aling as well and they want to get in on "the action," but I don't want it to seem like they were invited for their contributions to The Ringer's bar tab and meal.

Thanks for all the information and discussion on this matter. One thing that I have learned, especially from the last few posts, is that what I wish more than anything is that the Club(s) that I play and are employed by would do a better job of being on the lookout and policing the sandbaggers. This time of year especially, with all the clubs matches and tournaments on schedule, there seems to be a bumper crop of them. Never have I seen/heard of so many 10+ guys have "the rounds of their lives." And for what? A close parking spot, name on a trophy? But at what cost? Have some pride, boys. Ok.. to bring it back towards the original topic - my topic... it just seems awfully askew if a club were to drop the hammer on someone like myself who enjoys playing out two balls on a non-crowded, non-rushed course. I understand the rule and the meaning of said rule, don't get me wrong... it just seems like a strange area to harp upon when I'm seeing 10s and 13s run the table on 1s and 2s.

Thank you, sir. I had a feeling that might have been the case. Glad I didn't report/post the scores. I guess the thinking is that maybe "you" are more warmed-up, in tune to wind/conditions following the first ball or something... or there may/might be some people that are more likely to fudge in their score keeping if given this opportunity? Who knows the reason... but I am glad I know the answer.

I have a question regarding something that I did yesterday... I was lucky enough to almost have the entire course to myself yesterday due to recent and impending rains. Since there was not going to be anyone behind me for a long while, I decided to play two balls for the entire 18 holes. Now, I was not hitting two from the same location, but actually playing two balls to completion on every hole for 18 holes. The Pro Shop had packed up by the time I completed my round or I would have bounced this off of them. Before I enter two scores (79 and 82), I want to know if I am allowed to do so.

Exactly. Seriously? I guess it at least speaks well of this board that it took THIS long for "those guys" to show up. Those guys are easy to spot and always garner the most laughs and head-shaking from the rest of us. You know the type: lean over the cart with one arm on the roof... almost "trapping" her, stand a BIT too close to the girls while waiting on their beers, the chest puffed out while the gut is sucked in, oh... and usually married... with a parcel of kids. Their best comments are usually to be heard after the beer cart has pulled away. Those comments are the best and provide insight into their desires and abilities. Don't let their 200 yard drives fool you - they are beasts!! *rolls eys* With that being said - Those Guys will tip the heck out of you because in their minds, they and their funds have a solid chance. Good luck out there! Be safe and enjoy the sunshine, cash money, and networking! There are GREAT contacts to be made working for a course - male or female, young or old.

Something tells me, given your location, that we are talking about the same jack-wagon. I know that he cost Dick's hundreds if not thousands of my golf dollars since I crossed the company off of my list due to his "I'm too good for this store and YOU " attitude.

The only way I knew that there were PGA Pros in the Dick's Sporting Goods that I USED to frequent was when I was getting some information together before I "filed" a complaint against a "Pro" at my local store. A few years back I was in the market for some new(er) gear. I had busted my butt on my part-time lawn care business and business had been good. The Golf Galaxy that I now pour money into was not yet up and running, so Dick's was my spot. Well, I walk in and wish to demo/hit some drivers and irons. After FINALLY getting the attention of a real sad-sack looking guy, I asked if I could hit a few drivers that I had picked off the rack. He responded, "Well I'll have to tape them up... are you sure you want to hit all of them?" I had three. Ummm.... yes, please. I would like of you do your JOB and assist me and in exchange I'll hand over a few hundreds of dollars. (That what I was thinking, at least.) So he taped them up like it was the most difficult task he's ever undertaken, unlocked the door for me to bang some balls into a net, and left me to my devices. "Hey, can you look at them with me.. see what you think might be best?" His response, "It's your swing and your feel... how can I tell you what's best?" I don't know.. maybe that fancy little computer and launch monitor you got in the corner? (That was what I was thinking, at least.) Final straw came when I asked how did this or that driver compare to what I was using at the time. "Well, what are you using now?" In 2009 I was using an R7 Draw. "Damn... anything we got is better than THAT... but I'm not a TM guy... but even if I was, I sure as hell wouldn't hit THAT thing." My response - "Really, ***hole... YOU should've told me that when YOU recommended it and sold it to me a few years back." All of a sudden, that hang-dog look of his came alive and he started backtracking. I heard some of it over the clanging of the three drivers I was holding hitting the hard floor. Like a fool, I subjected myself to another horrible experience with that dude before I finally penned a letter to the head office and swore off the entire store - fishing, clothing, etc... ALL OF IT! I even threw away the $50 "We're sorry" gift certificate that they sent me. Last I heard the same guy was still there... moping around and acting like customers are the devil. I try to not paint everything or everybody with the same broad brush, but the stores near my home (we have around 4-5) are known for horrible customer service from the Golf Shop. Look, I know you'd LOVE to be teaching and playing at some country club or grass-track, but until that day comes, it's not my my fault you are having to stock some brush tees on Black Friday at 3 in the morning. I have seven or eight REALLY close golf buddies and probably 15 to 20 more acquaintances that I play rounds with off and on. They ALL at one time or another completely stopped buying ANY golf item or product from Dick's due the lack of customer service and attitude specifically from the ones with PGA on their name tags. We now have a BassPro Shop, a Gander Mountain, and soon to have a Cabela's. Combine those with a HUGE Golfsmith and two nearby Golf Galaxy locations... Dick's has bigger problems than losing PGA Pros. They better start pushing mouth and shin guards and shine up the basketball goals. It IS horrible that so many of these men and women are out of job and I hope that they can find new and greener pastures. I am sure that all 500 are not like the 3 or 4 I've dealt with or heard accounts of. I just hope that "my favorite ***hole:" doesn't resurface at the golf shops/store that I DO still pump money into.

80 (38/40) from "The Tips" today. 133/74.1 and 7200 yards. Second time playing from back there and my mistakes were not due to length or even from having to hit different shots into the greens than I am used to... just a REALLY bad double and two more of those 3-putts that keep me awake at night. Decided last week to give the Tips a shot. My handicap had recently dropped to a 7.3 and I was really just looking to get different views of the courses that I play in a pretty regular rotation. I will say this - the tee boxes are MUCH nicer back there. I think it will be my new home at least until the weather turns cold again.

80 from 7150yds. Two doubles and 2 three-putts. Ugh!!! So close... so far! Left hand low is hurting my distances (leaving them short) but I'm going to grind through it. Overall it's is a better grip for me... I think...

Not starting THAT debate on such a site as this, but I will allow myself to say that I disagree with you on that last part. I grew up hunting and was exposed to long guns at an early age. Not all people are/were. However, "we" can not and should not "madate" gun safety classes or training onto people (kids) who express NO interest in learning such. Guns are NOT for everyone, nor should they be. Driving classes are not mandatory for people who do not wish to drive. That being said, we ALL have the equipment needed and prudent to become planned or unplanned parents. I for one was better served by the "Basket of Protection" in the school nurses' office by any school-run gun safety class that could have existed. I had far better control over my Browning during my teenage years... especially during The Rut. :) To steer the thread a bit more back onto course, let me say this... I think if courses did a FEW things, just a FEW, contrary to trying to squeeze every last dollar out of a sunny day, then this would likely become a Thread or Conversation that's not even needed. How about courses spread just a little more time in between tee times to avoid the jamming up of people (especially on the weekends) and I would also love to see course bars and grills be little more proactive in "cutting people off." Drunk people are annoying enough. I know because sometime I am one :) (never on the course!) Stuck behind a group of drunks for 5-plus hours on a golf course is no fun. Playing in front of the same drunk group can be even worse sometimes (hitting into you, talking obnoxiously and loudly, etc.) and these are the instances where I have witnessed, been apart of, and intervened on the course when things were getting a bit to damn "real" for a leisurely game. And don't even get me started on the guys who leave the course after drinking during the round like it's their last day on earth and then feel the need to have a good power hour at the clubhouse bar before setting their vehicle's course to "General Motoring Public." Want the "cop" in me to come out while I'm off-duty, wearing a polo and shorts... make it obvious you're intoxicated and attempting to leave. Self-absorbed jackass. Oh you're a member? Great... then you can afford to fix the tires I just flattened. Guns and alcohol don't mix? No. They don't. But neither does alcohol, 90 degree days, 6 minute tee times, rangers and starters doing nothing, slow play, and courses that are overly greedy for all your money. Combine ALL of those with egos and you'll see more and more smokewagons being brandished around the tee boxes and fringes.

As a 16-year Law Enforcement veteran - one that actively trains and practices with issued AND off-duty weapons, my chances of hitting my target(s) has been proven and shown to only be approximately 25% of the time when under true distress, active gunfighting, or when I do not have "the jump." That's for me... someone who fires pounds of lead down-range every month just to stay sharp; someone who worked crime scenes invloving officer-invloved shootings for nine years... 15 rounds of "Good Guy" lead fired, two or three make impact, one may do real damage. What do you think YOUR chances are... AFTER you dig your handgun out of your Ogio and get your fine motor skills and shaking fingers and rapid breathing in check enought to simply take the safety off. You think that 3 footer you stood over to win that $5 was tough? Hurry up now. Get on target. Front sight, front sight front sight! That yelling guy is getting closer with his 7-iron. I say this as a fan of CCWs. I carry pretty much 24/7 off-duty. On the golf course? Sure. Is it in my bag? Ummm.... why would it be in my bag? I am not in my bag. It's on my person - the small of my back, not in the way of my swing but also not visible to playing partners (My regular group knows I carry.). I felt compelled to Reply to this thread because their seems to be a BUNCH of bravado and "if it was me..." going on. All of you that practiced and trained with your weapon to attain that CCW from that $90 class you took one Saturday afternoon... when is the last time you fired it? Cleaned it? Exactly. Do yourself a favor - go shoot, then go shoot more, and then a little more. If not, then leave it in the house under lock and key until you know how to use it. Why do I carry on the golf course? One, because I can... void of alcohol consumption; Two, because that guy I arrested last week for his third DWI in three years might decide to come play today; Three, because that drunk guy with a 7-iron might be wearing you out while you fumble at the 36 YKKs on your cart bag where you stashed that dusty/rusty yet "trusty" Ruger P89 with a rattle. Just beyond the drunk or not drunk or who knows at this point guy "yelling" and "charging at you" is a child in the backyard adjacent to the fairway; there's an innocent bystander teeing off two holes away, there's the worker trimming branches just inside the woodline. Oh but you looked and checked for all that right? Sure you did. Guns are great. I love guns. They serve their purpose for varied reasons - sport, protection, collection. However, in the hands of the wrong CCW carrying tough guy or, let's be honest - chicken little, they are as useless as a football bat and do more harm than good. Don't be the one that gets shot with his own gun because he was too scared to do anymore than just point it. Feared for your life, huh? Works both ways, bud.

Wow - this has been one of the most entertaining threads I have read in a while, which is saying a bunch because there is wonderful information and discussion throughout this site. That being said - I have never NEVER EVER EVER seen/read someone "defend" their favorite golf ball like I have been reading here. This thread was meant, I believe, to bring attention to a new line of balls by Calloway. Nothing more. Nothing less. Apparently "Union Jack" takes great offense to ANY ball or brand other than Titleist and their precious PRO V line being discussed, uttered, or mentioned. A few things from me on this matter: I have played a few of these new Calloway balls for the past month or so. Found some. Was given some. I can tell you this - the SR2 and SR3 are wonderful golf balls. I have probably enjoyed them almost as much as Penta TP5s and for a long time that was my ball of choice. Why do I like the SR2 and even moreso the SR3? Iron play/response... for me at least. And yes, my clubhead speed (driver) is 112-118 consistently. Will I go out and purchase a dozen or two of these gems any time soon? No. I work at a course once or twice a week and I walk 4 to 5 rounds a week. I find far more than I ever need and have 5 gallon pales full of balls that I play and some for my 15 year old son to play as well; then I have tubs of "rocks" that I'll bang into the nearby woods while getting the grill going or blowing off some steam. Here's what I see from Titleist, and have seen for a long while. Again - MY OPINION... At work I see 16 and 17 year old "kids" that have just recently started the game rip each others' heads off fighting over a random V1 or V1x that made its way onto the range or left in a cart. They'll discard other "Tour" balls becase "these are the best balls... ever." Of course, they hit these "best balls ever" with either 1500 dollars worth of clubs or a 50 buck hand me down set... but the point is, they MUST have the "best ball ever" to shoot their 120s and 130s. Fine by me - I'll use that discarded or lost SR2, SR3, Penta, or god forbid... Srixion TriSpeed Tour for a round or two and sweat out a 80 to 84. I doubt that I pull a putt or two, or fire at tucked flags because I am not playing The Number One Ball in Golf. So don't tell me Titleist doesn't market. Heck, watch any golf coverage on CBS or NBC and you'll get the silky smooth voice of "Hello Friends" telling you all about their product every commercial break. Do not get me wrong - THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL collection of golf gear. Their irons? Love them! Drivers and fairway metal? Wow! Their tour balls - great... not for me for SOME reason (please don't shoot me), but they are great balls. At some point "you" have to wonder, when it comes to their golden geese - their V1s and V1xs, if it really is the quality that makes the 30 to 20 handicappers spend their last golfing dime on these balls that they lose at rapid clips or maybe, JUST MAYBE, it is the "I want to be like Mike" mindset that led me and other kids of the 80s and early 90s to demand that our parents outfit us in the newest Jordans. I never could dunk... but damn my outside jumper looked good. It's gotta be the shoes, man!!