Etiquette: Walking off the green...

[thug the bunny]

If what you've described happens in a tournament, the player who hit the tee shot has left his assigned group in breach of Rule 6-3b and is disqualified.

No. You're making assumptions that are not evident in the post. It is possible that would be the case. It is not absolute, given the post you responded to.

 

Here's the post I was responding to:

 

Have you ever played golf? If one player goes over to the next tee and hits, there is one less person and one less shot to hit when the rest arrive there. I believe the math can be stated as 4 shots - 1 shot = 3 shots, and 3 < 4, which equals less time. But if the course is backed up then that one guy is going to be standing there until everyone else arrives anyway.

 

Apologize for being facetious, in a strange mood tonight ;-)

 

There is no assumption made, it clearly says the player hit his tee shot. If the tee shot is struck before all players in the group have holed out on the previous hole, that player has left the group and is disqualified.

 

You are very clearly assuming the player tees off before the rest of the group has finished putting.

 

I was just referring to a casual 4some..

[upanddown52]

One point missed is that OP was walking with caddies. For the majority here, its typically a decision to head to the cart versus waiting greenside. Not a huge timesaver IMO.

 

Could you imagine cranking up a gas powered EZ-Go with an opponent lining up a four footer?

 

Now that would be rude.

[rogolf]

If what you've described happens in a tournament, the player who hit the tee shot has left his assigned group in breach of Rule 6-3b and is disqualified.

No. You're making assumptions that are not evident in the post. It is possible that would be the case. It is not absolute, given the post you responded to.

 

Here's the post I was responding to:

 

Have you ever played golf? If one player goes over to the next tee and hits, there is one less person and one less shot to hit when the rest arrive there. I believe the math can be stated as 4 shots - 1 shot = 3 shots, and 3 < 4, which equals less time. But if the course is backed up then that one guy is going to be standing there until everyone else arrives anyway.

 

Apologize for being facetious, in a strange mood tonight ;-)

 

There is no assumption made, it clearly says the player hit his tee shot. If the tee shot is struck before all players in the group have holed out on the previous hole, that player has left the group and is disqualified.

 

You are very clearly assuming the player tees off before the rest of the group has finished putting.

 

I've made the point about leaving the group that I intended to make, even if that required reading between the lines.

[Arb8889]

All I was trying to say was first person to putt out should walk to the edge of the green and do things like put their clubs away, mark down their scores, etc. while waiting for the others to finish. Then when everyone has holed out, there will be one or two guys who are more ready to take the tee box on the next hole. My words were taken very out of context. Just think it's dumb for the first guy to hole out to sit and hold the flag for usually 6 putts from a group, when the third player to finish can grab the flag and wait for one or two putts while the others at least make some positive progress. Everyone needs to chill, jeez.

[rsj1360]

All I was trying to say was first person to putt out should walk to the edge of the green and do things like put their clubs away, mark down their scores, etc. while waiting for the others to finish. Then when everyone has holed out, there will be one or two guys who are more ready to take the tee box on the next hole. My words were taken very out of context. Just think it's dumb for the first guy to hole out to sit and hold the flag for usually 6 putts from a group, when the third player to finish can grab the flag and wait for one or two putts while the others at least make some positive progress. Everyone needs to chill, jeez.

Exactly. Everyone needs to chill and stop worrying about shaving seconds off a round of golf.

[joyjlg]

On 5/19/2016 at 11:40 AM, CAT GOLFER said:

I'm fine with the caddy moving ahead, I think players should stick "close" to the green.

 

On 5/19/2016 at 11:32 AM, Edaw68 said:

I agree with you, I won't leave the green until everyone has holed out, absent some exigency. I'll give some leeway to caddies depending on their role. At a lot of places they aren't just traditional caddies, but also have kind of hybrid roles as course marshals for pace of play. Since I am in favor of a brisk pace of play, it doesn't bug me if caddies do that.

I agree the PLAYERS should remain on the green until ALL player have holed out.  I am a good putter and find it distracting if the players leave.  I tend to rush my putt and have missed the putt because I don't line up or am distracted by their rudeness.  Etiquette is just as important as rules.  Both should be taught by the pros and USGA.

[Carl Spackler3]

caddy walks off early no problem, player should stay til group holes out

[jlbos83]

Since I have been walking, and can take a little longer to get to the next tee than guys in carts (depending on the distance), I have been cheating towards the edge of the green if I have putted out.  Kind of backward steps, until I am near the edge, or maybe just off.  I might turn and start walking if the last guy is just tapping in.  This weekend I was playing with a couple of younger guys, quite athletic, but golf was not their first sport!  But they were trying to learn, and they were actually fun to play with.  But they could get slow, and we started to lose ground.  I was actually in a cart, I was pushing from the front as much as I could, and clearing the green as quick as I could.  They thought I could play (I shot 86), so I was trying to set a bit of an example, without calling them slow.  It think it worked.

 

[miamistomp]

 There is a difference between playing at a good pace and racing to get done

[antip]

IMO, there is no one-size-fits-all correct answer here. If you are up and close to the group in front, no problem with hanging around while the last to putt buddy is realigning their ball line and ball marker six times. But if that next tee is vacant, I'm always asking myself what helps get the foursome hitting off expeditiously. Sometimes that means being the flagstick holder to the end, sometimes it means heading straight off the green after putting, marking the card etc, with due care not to distract any further putting green action.

Anyone who links their enjoyment of golf to keeping me on the putting green while they putt, regardless of the situation, is probably going to enjoy their golf more playing with someone else.

[rogolf]

24 minutes ago, antip said:

IMO, there is no one-size-fits-all correct answer here. If you are up and close to the group in front, no problem with hanging around while the last to putt buddy is realigning their ball line and ball marker six times. But if that next tee is vacant, I'm always asking myself what helps get the foursome hitting off expeditiously. Sometimes that means being the flagstick holder to the end, sometimes it means heading straight off the green after putting, marking the card etc, with due care not to distract any further putting green action.

Anyone who links their enjoyment of golf to keeping me on the putting green while they putt, regardless of the situation, is probably going to enjoy their golf more playing with someone else.

Obviously, some of it is also about pace of play.  When we had players' meetings for championships and I had to remind the players about pace of play, it was like this,

- get to a par 3 tee and there is nobody on the green, you might be behind the expected pace

- get to a par 4 and there is nobody on the hole, you are very likely behind the expected pace, so pick it up

- get to a par 5 and there is nobody on the hole, you are definitely behind the expected pace, best to start running

Edited April 21, 2021 by rogolf

[HyzerFlipDG]

I walk with a push cart. If I'm already putted out I will walk over to my push cart and wait there until everyone else putts out. That puts me closer to the next tee and I wont slow down the rest of the group who are riding.  

I personally couldnt care less if anyone stood around to watch my putt or not.  Has no impact on my game.

Edited April 22, 2021 by HyzerFlipDG
Typo

[trilerian]

With Covid and still being frowned upon to pull flags it makes it more difficult.  Personally, it annoys me when I am still putting and everyone is walking away.  It feels like they are going to the next hole and I need to hurry up, this has caused me quite a few times to miss my putt.  What I do when I finish putting is walk to my push cart and watch and wait.  Used to be I would walk to my push cart and put my club away then pick up the flag, because it is definitely rude for the last person to have to putt and then grab the flag.  

[4x4GGG]

I wouldn't be a fun guy for a lot of you to play with. 

 

Played yesterday with 3 guys in their early 30's. I'm pushing 50. They all rode, I walked and carried. I'd often putt out and walk over to my bag, replace my head cover and put the club away. As soon as I could I'd get the bag on my shoulders. I'm not in a hurry, I'm just trying to keep from getting too far behind. 

Same thing on the Tee box. I noticed they'd pull up and discuss the last hole. So I'd walk up after them and head right to the box. Put my bag down, grab my club and tee up my ball. Hit first, and have my bag on my shoulders by the time #4 hits. I'd be 50 yards away before they zommed past me in their carts. 

[nitram]

Patience is truly a virtue, self-awareness has surrendered to selfishness, and rudeness sucks.