Etiquette question about teeing off

[LeoLeo99]

Some of the folks here advocating for hitting tee shots while another group is in the fairway are the same guys that would get mad if they were on the green at a par 5 and a ball came rolling onto the green, hit by a guy that "didn't think he could get there".

 

Not me.

[Cwing]

Wait. My drive goes 350 up hill against the wind so no way they are clear. I'm a golfwrxer after all.

 

Seriously, I'd wait. It's not worth hitting someone.

[Noles]

Thanks for the replies. I was in Group 1 in the scenario and I believe that Group 2 should wait. We had it out on the 18th tee and safe to say that myself and the guys in Group 2 will not be speaking to each other around the club any time soon.

 

So you "had it out" with a group who had the audacity to hit some tee shots that could not possibly reach you? Did that make you feel so much better that it was worth being on non-speaking terms with four of your fellow members from now on?

 

P.S. I'd suggest you might want to hold off on running for the Board any time soon.

Our club has an owner, we do not have a board. As for the 18th tee, I did not begin that discussion. In fact, I was not going to say anything to the group about it. However while waiting for the group in front of me to clear, the group behind arrived at the tee. One of the members of the group immediately got out of his cart, walked on to the tee and asked "What's the hold up here?" They also refused to turn the music down coming from their cart while my group hit on 18 tee. So, I do not regret the fact that I will not be speaking with any of these guys as I believe them to be inconsiderate.

[Noles]

If the group in front is out of range, I don't understand why this is even a question?

 

Also perfectly OK to let a shorter hitter in your group hit first if the group in front is out of that particular players range. It's all part of playing ready golf.

To me, I think it's being considerate to wait. When I'm over the ball for my second shot, I'd prefer not to hear the sound of a drive being struck, wondering if its going to reach me and hearing the hooting and hollering of the drunks as the ball is in the air. There is no benefit to the group behind hitting. They just have to wait longer on the next shot.

[2bGood]

Wait. My drive goes 350 up hill against the wind so no way they are clear. I'm a golfwrxer after all.

 

Seriously, I'd wait. It's not worth hitting someone.

 

I didn't read this thread about 'that' discussion. I would never knowingly hit a ball that had a chance of rolling into a group, but If I am hitting a 250 yard shot from the tee and they are 350 away (but still waiting for the green to clear) I am going to hit. I have no reason to wait until they have all hit their approach shots.

 

This kind of thing happens in our groups all the time. I play with a few guys who are lucky if they hit it 200yards. They will often hit first with the group 300yards away. It ends up working out well as on long par 4's these short hitters can't go for the green on their second shot anyway, so it buys them a bit of time to hit an additional shot.

[flog2]

It's just like traffic.

 

Someone is clogging the lane. You have 2 choices:

 

1.Ride their tail. Is dangerous, can cause accidents, leads to road rage. You still will move at the same pace they allow.

 

2. Back off and maintain pace. Less crowded, less dangerous, and slightly less road rage.

 

There's always "that guy" that allows a large gap to grow in front of their car, behind the car ahead, even though traffic is moving fairly slowly. Now I know his name: "Mr. Jones!"

you do know it's good to keep up with the Jones's?

[VOX]

I found the email:

 

Ready Golf

Over the past year or so there has been quite some discussion on this subject by the golf authorities and club golfers in general. In the past, the etiquette of golf always gave the “honour” to the player with the lowest score at one hole in medal play to tee up first at each hole once the 1st hole has been played.

So now we, The St Andrews Golf Club, would like to slightly amend the way we play in stroke-play events by adopting Ready Golf.

Studies have shown that an average additional time that 3 or 4 people take per hole under the etiquette system, is 100 seconds for a 3 ball and 125 seconds for a 4 ball. The problem arises from the order in which the group plays from the tee.

If the “honour” is with a golfer who must wait for the group in front to clear to a safe distance before he can play, the delay is estimated to be 3 minutes at its longest. In an average round, therefore, not counting par 3s, there is a potential saving of up to 42minutes per round. If we could see even a 30 minute saving per round that would be a great benefit to us all.

Some members of the Club are currently using this method, but it is not the norm.

The Committee of Management is now asking members to start adopting the Ready Golf method in an effort to speed up play. If you are safely able to play when the group in front of you are out of range please do so regardless of the scoring at the previous hole. Prior to teeing off in a stroke play competition please try to make sure that the Ready Golf method is promoted. Thank you all in advance.

This will not apply to Matchplay events.

[Hook'n'Loop]

I was playing on seventieth hole and had a shot over the trees that rolled up on the green where the group ahead of me was still putting out. I was surprised it went that far. The next hole, I did the same thing. I was shocked. I saw one of the guys in the group about a week later and apologized. He said he knew who did it and it was cool. I can't imagine getting mad at someone rolling up a ball in me. Flying it by my head, is another story. He has it right, danger is

danger. Prentending danger is just being a jerk prentending danger. If the ball lands 15 feet behind me, you're fine. If you're waiting to hit 250 after your drive was 225 you're not.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I was playing on seventieth hole and had a shot over the trees that rolled up on the green where the group ahead of me was still putting out. I was surprised it went that far. The next hole, I did the same thing. I was shocked. I saw one of the guys in the group about a week later and apologized. He said he knew who did it and it was cool. I can't imagine getting mad at someone rolling up a ball in me. Flying it by my head, is another story. He has it right, danger is danger. Prentending danger is just being a jerk prentending danger. If the ball lands 15 feet behind me, you're fine. If you're waiting to hit 250 after your drive was 225 you're not.

hey dude, just a FYI, to the rest of us 15 feet away ain't no pretend, that's ''danger is danger''.

[Augster]

I was playing on seventieth hole and had a shot over the trees that rolled up on the green where the group ahead of me was still putting out. I was surprised it went that far. The next hole, I did the same thing. I was shocked. I saw one of the guys in the group about a week later and apologized. He said he knew who did it and it was cool. I can't imagine getting mad at someone rolling up a ball in me. Flying it by my head, is another story. He has it right, danger is danger. Prentending danger is just being a jerk prentending danger. If the ball lands 15 feet behind me, you're fine. If you're waiting to hit 250 after your drive was 225 you're not.

hey dude, just a FYI, to the rest of us 15 feet away ain't no pretend, that's ''danger is danger''.

 

The post was quite garbled and hard to follow but I believe he meant, "If you're going to land it 15 feet away from me, then you are fine to wait. If you are 250 out after driving it 225, hit away. It's not fine to wait."

 

That's what I got from that mess anyway.

[flog2]

If the group in front is out of range, I don't understand why this is even a question?

 

Also perfectly OK to let a shorter hitter in your group hit first if the group in front is out of that particular players range. It's all part of playing ready golf.

and there lies the problem!

 

just wait, its only a few more seconds and the group in front doesnt get flustered by balls landing near them, it does put you off I assure you, you then wait to see the next guy drive in case he reaches you etc etc

 

 

so just wait and not only will you enjoy your round but so will others

 

You just described why pace of play is so slow these days.

seriously!

 

ok, just play up to them and have confrontations, arguments and a spoilt round...............even the OP admitted they 'had it out' on 18 and there's now bad blood. Take a chill pill and ask nicely to play through (if the way ahead is clear).

 

My 3 ball takes just under 3 hrs to play 18 (3 and a quarter if we get a blockage and we play through within 2 holes by asking)

[HatsForBats]

Our club has an owner, we do not have a board. As for the 18th tee, I did not begin that discussion. In fact, I was not going to say anything to the group about it. However while waiting for the group in front of me to clear, the group behind arrived at the tee. One of the members of the group immediately got out of his cart, walked on to the tee and asked "What's the hold up here?" They also refused to turn the music down coming from their cart while my group hit on 18 tee. So, I do not regret the fact that I will not be speaking with any of these guys as I believe them to be inconsiderate.

 

Sounds like there is a lot more to it than a simple should Group 2 hit when they can't reach group 1. If there was no music playing and the guys behind drove up and from their cart asked in a non-confrontational way 'what's the hold up here?" would the hitting 'early' even have been an issue?

[Noles]

Our club has an owner, we do not have a board. As for the 18th tee, I did not begin that discussion. In fact, I was not going to say anything to the group about it. However while waiting for the group in front of me to clear, the group behind arrived at the tee. One of the members of the group immediately got out of his cart, walked on to the tee and asked "What's the hold up here?" They also refused to turn the music down coming from their cart while my group hit on 18 tee. So, I do not regret the fact that I will not be speaking with any of these guys as I believe them to be inconsiderate.

 

Sounds like there is a lot more to it than a simple should Group 2 hit when they can't reach group 1. If there was no music playing and the guys behind drove up and from their cart asked in a non-confrontational way 'what's the hold up here?" would the hitting 'early' even have been an issue?

As I stated, I would not have said anything about it to them had the encounter on 18 tee not taken place. But I did find it rude when it happened a few holes earlier, and other times playing golf. That's why I asked the original question, to see if other people thought it was rude or if it was just me. I purposely did not include many details in the OP because I wanted to get opinions about just the hitting up scenario without the details of what happened later influencing opinions.

[hybrid25]

Agree, should wait. It's just good form even if you cannot reach them, No one likes to be hitting a second shot into the green and hear a ball land behind them - which you can still hear drop even if 50-100 yards back. At least let them get in the cart or start walking.

I think this comment is a good one.

[Sun Devil]

This is not that difficult. You tee off when it is safe to do so. Too many variables to make this black and white. If, by chance you get too close to the group in front of you .... apologize for your mistake. Golf is a game to have fun and spend time with your buddies.

[sprcoop]

In automobiles and golf I live by the "keep up but don't tailgate unless you plan on passing" rule. Tailgating in an automobile is the "2 second rule" meaning if you pass that road sign less than 2 seconds after the car in front of you, you're tailgating and being dangerous. Sadly this is not the norm.

 

In golf it's "can they hear your ball land", that's pushing it. Nobody wants that. My group will hustle to pass on a PAR 3 if there is a reason but not be dangerous or obnoxious.

 

Had a kid (twenty something?) roll a drive up to us on a 340yd PAR 4 once while we were putting out. He drove his cart up to the green in order to apologize obviously scared to death. We all congratulated him and asked for his autograph.

 

I had a playing partner that nutted a 3W on a PAR 5 that rolled about 60yds to within 40yds of the green. The older lady golfer (late 70's?) putting out waited for us on the green to let us know "that was pretty close". We apologized profusely, to her, and had a good laugh over it after she was out of ear shot. We kept our distance for the rest of the round.

 

It's all about perspective.

[szaino]

If the group in front is out of range, I don't understand why this is even a question?

 

Also perfectly OK to let a shorter hitter in your group hit first if the group in front is out of that particular players range. It's all part of playing ready golf.

and there lies the problem!

 

just wait, its only a few more seconds and the group in front doesnt get flustered by balls landing near them, it does put you off I assure you, you then wait to see the next guy drive in case he reaches you etc etc

 

so just wait and not only will you enjoy your round but so will others

 

If balls are landing near the group in front, then they are not out of range.

[flog2]

If the group in front is out of range, I don't understand why this is even a question?

 

Also perfectly OK to let a shorter hitter in your group hit first if the group in front is out of that particular players range. It's all part of playing ready golf.

and there lies the problem!

 

just wait, its only a few more seconds and the group in front doesnt get flustered by balls landing near them, it does put you off I assure you, you then wait to see the next guy drive in case he reaches you etc etc

 

so just wait and not only will you enjoy your round but so will others

 

If balls are landing near the group in front, then they are not out of range.

you are contradicting yourself

[teejaywhy]

If the group in front is out of range, I don't understand why this is even a question?

 

Also perfectly OK to let a shorter hitter in your group hit first if the group in front is out of that particular players range. It's all part of playing ready golf.

and there lies the problem!

 

just wait, its only a few more seconds and the group in front doesnt get flustered by balls landing near them, it does put you off I assure you, you then wait to see the next guy drive in case he reaches you etc etc

 

 

so just wait and not only will you enjoy your round but so will others

 

You just described why pace of play is so slow these days.

 

No.

 

[Buzzkill]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

[Hot Rod 71]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

 

A group on the green and group in the fairway, and the group on the tee should tee off in an effort to press forward? I don't see it. It makes zero sense.

 

The group on the green is already being pressed by the group waiting in the fairway, and I'm sure the group in the fairway knows there is a group on the tee waiting. If there are three groups on the same hole then the issue is either the group on the green or a group ahead of them. Pressing the group in the fairway solves nothing.

[agoose10]

I believe the scenario needs to be read. This is easily determined based on pace of play of groups around you. I always like to think there is no hurry and no need to continue pushing up on the group in front of you.

[Noles]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

 

A group on the green and group in the fairway, and the group on the tee should tee off in an effort to press forward? I don't see it. It makes zero sense.

 

The group on the green is already being pressed by the group waiting in the fairway, and I'm sure the group in the fairway knows there is a group on the tee waiting. If there are three groups on the same hole then the issue is either the group on the green or a group ahead of them. Pressing the group in the fairway solves nothing.

Agreed

[hybrid25]

question:

who would be startled, while addressing the ball in the fairway, with a ball landing 50 yards behind you?

[bladehunter]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

 

A group on the green and group in the fairway, and the group on the tee should tee off in an effort to press forward? I don't see it. It makes zero sense.

 

The group on the green is already being pressed by the group waiting in the fairway, and I'm sure the group in the fairway knows there is a group on the tee waiting. If there are three groups on the same hole then the issue is either the group on the green or a group ahead of them. Pressing the group in the fairway solves nothing.

 

 

im with you Rod.... my driver can be plus minus 40 yards easy... add in wind etc..who knows.. im not hitting into a group i the fairway if its remotely close.... pushing the group in the fairway isnt helping pace of play.. its being obnoxious....

 

after reading alot of posts here i see a divide .... if you are spraying drives, or someone in your group is spraying drives it seems you want to hit up so as to have time to look for balls... if you play most rounds without loosing a ball it seems that it doesnt appeal to you to hit into groups ahead... Nothing worse than being over an apparoach and having a drive land behind you , or worse hit a tree behind you..... let that happen to me more than once while we are waiting to hit every approach shot and ill turn into a very deliberate ( read slow) player the rest of the round...

[George1174]

One of the members of the group immediately got out of his cart, walked on to the tee and asked "What's the hold up here?" They also refused to turn the music down coming from their cart while my group hit on 18 tee. So, I do not regret the fact that I will not be speaking with any of these guys as I believe them to be inconsiderate.

 

Anyone listening to music on the course that can be heard by anyone else is not entitled to courtesy by all means. If you have no etiquette you deserve none in return.

[2bGood]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

 

A group on the green and group in the fairway, and the group on the tee should tee off in an effort to press forward? I don't see it. It makes zero sense.

 

The group on the green is already being pressed by the group waiting in the fairway, and I'm sure the group in the fairway knows there is a group on the tee waiting. If there are three groups on the same hole then the issue is either the group on the green or a group ahead of them. Pressing the group in the fairway solves nothing.

 

 

im with you Rod.... my driver can be plus minus 40 yards easy... add in wind etc..who knows.. im not hitting into a group i the fairway if its remotely close.... pushing the group in the fairway isnt helping pace of play.. its being obnoxious....

 

after reading alot of posts here i see a divide .... if you are spraying drives, or someone in your group is spraying drives it seems you want to hit up so as to have time to look for balls... if you play most rounds without loosing a ball it seems that it doesnt appeal to you to hit into groups ahead... Nothing worse than being over an apparoach and having a drive land behind you , or worse hit a tree behind you..... let that happen to me more than once while we are waiting to hit every approach shot and ill turn into a very deliberate ( read slow) player the rest of the round...

 

I am not sure which group you have me in. But I said if the group is 100 yards past your driving distance, then hit away. So I assume I am in the middle ground, as I don't care if you are hitting an approach shot or not, I just care if you are out of range.

[bladehunter]

If the group ahead is safely clear I'd hit up. I'm an advocate of "pressing forward" to advance the pace of play. Way too many players/groups "relax backwards" and don't push forward and the result is mass insanity where the pace of play slows down.

 

This!^

 

A group on the green and group in the fairway, and the group on the tee should tee off in an effort to press forward? I don't see it. It makes zero sense.

 

The group on the green is already being pressed by the group waiting in the fairway, and I'm sure the group in the fairway knows there is a group on the tee waiting. If there are three groups on the same hole then the issue is either the group on the green or a group ahead of them. Pressing the group in the fairway solves nothing.

 

 

im with you Rod.... my driver can be plus minus 40 yards easy... add in wind etc..who knows.. im not hitting into a group i the fairway if its remotely close.... pushing the group in the fairway isnt helping pace of play.. its being obnoxious....

 

after reading alot of posts here i see a divide .... if you are spraying drives, or someone in your group is spraying drives it seems you want to hit up so as to have time to look for balls... if you play most rounds without loosing a ball it seems that it doesnt appeal to you to hit into groups ahead... Nothing worse than being over an apparoach and having a drive land behind you , or worse hit a tree behind you..... let that happen to me more than once while we are waiting to hit every approach shot and ill turn into a very deliberate ( read slow) player the rest of the round...

 

I am not sure which group you have me in. But I said if the group is 100 yards past your driving distance, then hit away. So I assume I am in the middle ground, as I don't care if you are hitting an approach shot or not, I just care if you are out of range.

 

 

sure 100 yards yes... BUT if you can see the group from the box how many times is there going to be a 100 yard cushion? maybe 1 in 100? it would need to be the perfect storm of a 500 yard hole where the group in the fairway hit it 340 and the group on the box is going to hit it 240..... not to common... more common will be where the guys in the fairway hit it 265 and are standing near the 150 marker waiting to hit and the guys on the box says " i would have to hit a perfect ball to get to the 150...i normally am laying 175 out here so im going ahead"...... guy hits and lands ball 20 yards behind group whos in the fairway... is this cool? not in my book.... to many variables that could lead to someone getting hit at worst or a ball landing close while a guy is in his backswing.... best... but still something that shouldnt be OK..

[golfortennis]

If the group in the fairway starts moving, then we hit. If they are waiting, so are we. All you can do is spook them, and for what? The benefits being bandied about here are quite small, frankly, with far too much downside.

 

Rather than hitting the second they are clear of the perceived landing zone, why don't people actually just step up and hit the ball when it is their turn rather than their minute long pre shot routines? Not "pressing forward" is not the problem. Not getting on with it when it's time is.

 

And agreed on ready golf with one exception: don't step in front of a birdie. Bad karma if you do.

[North Butte]

My attitude is no doubt influenced by playing 95% of my rounds at the same private club. After a couple thousand times playing the same tees shots we all have a good idea when it is safe to hit and when not. So we seem to mostly allow a 20, 30, 40 yard buffer to keep from hitting right up behind people and if that's clear we hit. Virtually always, it's pretty much the universal practice among our members.

 

When I play an unfamiliar course, naturally I leave more than ample safety margin because I don't know how my tee shots interact with the actual terrain. But still, if my laser tells me the group waiting in the fairway are 280 away I hit my little 210-yard tee shot. If someone wants to be bothered at a ball landing 50+ yards behind them, that's on them not me.

 

It's not all that unusual when playing amongst the members of my own club to hear a ball landing behind us in the fairway. There's one long, uphill Par 4 for instance where if the course is crowded, while we're putting there will almost always be a ball or two rolling up to 30 yards short of the green. That's where a lot of guys hit it with a good tee shot and good fairway wood. They know they've not reached that green in the last 20 years and we know who is playing behind us.

 

So maybe this is yet another thread where my own personal experience is 180 degree opposite that of the vast majority of golfers. I can't count how many times stuff that seems, frankly, pretty stupid is brought up on this forum and I can't for the life of me figure out where it's coming from. I'll add this to the list.