Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[mshills]

28 minutes ago, bigred90gt said:

I tend to get a chuckle at people that think everyone should have to walk unless handicapped, especially the European ones. They have obviously not spent any time on the gulf coast and cannot fathom the ungodly temperatures and humidity we endure. I have walked more rounds in Texas coastal summers than I care to remember, but the older I get, the less desire I have to do it again. You can call me lazy, you can say I'm not playing "real golf", you can think or say whatever you please, but until you huff it around a course in 100* degree heat with near 80-90% humidity, that is an opinion born of pure ignorance.  

Man no kidding. Texas is hot, but come play in middle GA or AL. Similar heat and humidity and you get terrain that isn’t nearly as flat. Good luck with that. 😆
 

Look, I prefer to walk when I can…when the body is willing and the weather is good…but I don’t react well to the martyr / hero stuff either. 

[CJ17]

Golf is more of a game than an actual sport.

 

There's nothing enjoyable about watching a US Open where it's almost impossible to ever score.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

To move away from the walking/riding a cart topic:

 

Collection areas around greens, especially when added to be deliberately punitive, are dumb because they punish decent shots more than bad shots, and on heavily used courses the player who finds herself in a collection area is invariably hitting out of a divot, which adds an extra layer of punishment.

 

To explain my first reason a little more, you can hit a decent shot a few feet short and see your ball roll down from the front of the green into a collection area, or fat it and see the ball bounce and hop along into the collection area. One was hit well and almost good, the other was a lousy chunk, but the end result is the same.

 

Yes, I recently came up about a yard short on a long par 3 in swirling winds and rolled back into a collection area over 6ft below the hole and into a divot😅

[david.c.w]

2 hours ago, bigred90gt said:

It takes you 9 holes? I'm usually visibly wet by the time I make it from the car to the club house, and dripping by the time I leave the range and head to the first tee. 

 

My range time in the summer is very limited.  we have a steep climb from 4 green to 5 tee.  That is what gets me really started, and then the walk from 8 tee to 9 green finishes me off.

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

To move away from the walking/riding a cart topic:

 

Collection areas around greens, especially when added to be deliberately punitive, are dumb because they punish decent shots more than bad shots, and on heavily used courses the player who finds herself in a collection area is invariably hitting out of a divot, which adds an extra layer of punishment.

 

To explain my first reason a little more, you can hit a decent shot a few feet short and see your ball roll down from the front of the green into a collection area, or fat it and see the ball bounce and hop along into the collection area. One was hit well and almost good, the other was a lousy chunk, but the end result is the same.

 

Yes, I recently came up about a yard short on a long par 3 in swirling winds and rolled back into a collection area over 6ft below the hole and into a divot😅

 

I'd much rather be in a collection area with the options of chipping, pitching, or Texas wedging than having to hit the same 'ol pitch from thick rough.

 

Edited April 7 by Argonne69

[JoeSchmoe]

-On weekends, everyone should be required to play "ready golf" until you get on the green.  It would speed up play.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

6 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I'd much rather be in a collection area with the options of chipping, pitching, or Texas wedging than having to hit the same 'ol pitch from thick rough.

 

 

On the other hand, I'd rather be in thick rough by the green than in an old divot so far below the hole the that I can only see the top of the flagstick. 

 

That was the situation I found myself in recently after a good shot from 200 yards out in windy conditions that was a yard short of being a Very Good Shot. 

 

I'm not altogether against collection areas, but I dislike ones that are more like funnels than swales, so the ball always ends up in one little area where everyone hits from, creating permanent divots.

[vtpachyderm]

Again, I'm not advocating for no carts. By all means, do what you feel works best for you to enjoy the game, or in the case of 100+humid weather allows you to play the game.

 

All I'm trying to say is that by not walking you get no physical benefits, and for me, an activity that takes up the better part of 6.5 hours door to door, I would like some physical benefit to all that time spent. Not trying to be a martyr or a hero here, just saying how I best enjoy playing the game.

 

In addition, you are making the game a bit easier since you're removing one of the physical challenges to playing golf. That's got to be the reason why the PGA Tour doesn't allow carts?

 

But please - by all means, let this discussion die. It's obviously one of the more unpopular opinions 😅.

 

 

 

[DJDJ]

The pga makes them walk because watching them ride in carts looks ridiculous. Just look at champions. It’s a tv thing, not an exertion thing. They aren’t carrying their bags. Humans evolved to walk extreme distances with a low level of energy output.

 

[GowerND11]

1 hour ago, DJDJ said:

The pga makes them walk because watching them ride in carts looks ridiculous. Just look at champions. It’s a tv thing, not an exertion thing. They aren’t carrying their bags. Humans evolved to walk extreme distances with a low level of energy output.

 

Exactly. I haven't walked in 10 years. If I had someone caddy for me, I could walk 18 and see minimal fatigue compared to riding. 

[klebs01]

12 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

On the other hand, I'd rather be in thick rough by the green than in an old divot so far below the hole the that I can only see the top of the flagstick. 

 

That was the situation I found myself in recently after a good shot from 200 yards out in windy conditions that was a yard short of being a Very Good Shot. 

 

I'm not altogether against collection areas, but I dislike ones that are more like funnels than swales, so the ball always ends up in one little area where everyone hits from, creating permanent divots.

Collection areas that need drains shouldn’t exist. I would even go further and say drains shouldn’t exist on golf courses. If a design needs a drain it means you messed up. The design should be able to move water without drains.  Those areas always have significant issues with playability. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, klebs01 said:

Collection areas that need drains shouldn’t exist. I would even go further and say drains shouldn’t exist on golf courses. If a design needs a drain it means you messed up. The design should be able to move water without drains.  Those areas always have significant issues with playability. 

 

Well done! I didn't actually say there was a drain in it, but that was indeed the case.

 

The collection area I ended up in had a drain at its lowest point, and I had was able to take a drop, but everywhere around the drain was pretty much one big divot. I dropped and ended up in another divot.

 

It seems to be a thing at my home course, as there are a lot of collection areas like that.

[Ranchobob]

Some players a bunch of whiny prima donnas and Jack was right.  Bunkers should be penal at the PGA level.  Either take the rakes away entirely or use rakes that leave furrows. 

 

https://www.golfmagic.com/tour/pga-tour/pga-tour-pro-jack-nicklaus-do-again-and-im-never-coming-back

 

"Wah wah wah.  If you make it harder for me I'm taking my balls and staying home."

[pawnShopShotmaker]

anything but a solid piece of metal as a club head should be illegal

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, pawnShopShotmaker said:

anything but a solid piece of metal as a club head should be illegal

 

Lol. I'd really like to see a solid driver head. Thing would be massive.

 

[dugue4]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. I'd really like to see a solid driver head. Thing would be massive.

 

Thats something Peter Gabriel would swing

[Double Mocha Man]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. I'd really like to see a solid driver head. Thing would be massive.

 

 

There goes your swing speed but the mass hitting the ball would be incredible. 

 

Of course, at one time there were solid driver heads, but they weren't metal.

[Argonne69]

15 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

There goes your swing speed but the mass hitting the ball would be incredible. 

 

Of course, at one time there were solid driver heads, but they weren't metal.

 

Gotta patent the idea of a solid iron driver. 

 

 

[Argonne69]

You tee off at 9:50 am. Is it absolutely necessary to stop for drinks and a chat with the cart girl in thei middle of the 2nd fairway? 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 minute ago, Argonne69 said:

You tee off at 9:50 am. Is it absolutely necessary to stop for drinks and a chat with the cart girl in thei middle of the 2nd fairway? 

 

 

Chatting with the cart girl is mandatory. The cost of the drink pays for her time and gives the imbiber some false social time with a younger woman.

[Argonne69]

Anybody ever hear about ready golf? Crazy concept. Instead of standing around on the green while two of your playing partners look for a ball, you so the wacky thing and putt. Might help limit the 5 hour rounds. 

 

Edited May 6 by Argonne69

[knock it close]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

You tee off at 9:50 am. Is it absolutely necessary to stop for drinks and a chat with the cart girl in thei middle of the 2nd fairway? 

 

Why's the cart girl on the second fairway. Course issue

[Argonne69]

1 minute ago, knock it close said:

Why's the cart girl on the second fairway. Course issue

 

Split tee start on both nines. 

 

[knock it close]

2 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Split tee start on both nines. 

 

Still you just were at the club house whether you just teed off or made the turn, zero reason to be on the second hole

[The Pearl]

There are exceptions but the golf course industry is ran about as poorly as some of the industries with long-standing notorious poor reputations,  cable, cell-phone providers, airlines, etc.   Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way and most of them deserve to suffer greatly from a business stand point, however we than all suffer.  Post-COVID, golfers and golf course operators are in a completely dysfunctional relationship.

[Argonne69]

21 hours ago, The Pearl said:

There are exceptions but the golf course industry is ran about as poorly as some of the industries with long-standing notorious poor reputations,  cable, cell-phone providers, airlines, etc.   Eventually the pendulum will swing the other way and most of them deserve to suffer greatly from a business stand point, however we than all suffer.  Post-COVID, golfers and golf course operators are in a completely dysfunctional relationship.

 

Playing a different course practically every day, courses with unique/different rules than the norm really stand out. Makes me wonder how the other 98% of courses survive. 

 

The one that jumps out are the no booking singles policy. Only a small fraction of courses won't book a single in some fashion, whether it's calling or booking online with a existing twosome or threesome. Sure, some singles are willing to show up as a walk on and hope they get out in a reasonable amount of time, but many won't. I wonder how much revenue these courses lose when they have numerous groups with less than four players. 

 

The handful of courses that are stay and play only are head scratchers. Yeah, exclusivity is nice, but many of these courses are half empty and missing out on a lot of revenue, especially since they could easily charge a premium for non-guests. 

 

I've noticed quite a few courses in the past few weeks with late start times. Having the first group go off an hour after sunrise seems odd given that most courses get players out early. I understand wanting to give the maintenance crew some time, but since the vast majority of courses somehow manage to keep their courses in shape with early tee times, it makes me wonder. 

 

Edited May 7 by Argonne69

[PedronNiall]

On 5/7/2025 at 9:36 AM, Argonne69 said:

 

Playing a different course practically every day, courses with unique/different rules than the norm really stand out. Makes me wonder how the other 98% of courses survive. 

 

The one that jumps out are the no booking singles policy. Only a small fraction of courses won't book a single in some fashion, whether it's calling or booking online with a existing twosome or threesome. Sure, some singles are willing to show up as a walk on and hope they get out in a reasonable amount of time, but many won't. I wonder how much revenue these courses lose when they have numerous groups with less than four players. 

 

The handful of courses that are stay and play only are head scratchers. Yeah, exclusivity is nice, but many of these courses are half empty and missing out on a lot of revenue, especially since they could easily charge a premium for non-guests. 

 

I've noticed quite a few courses in the past few weeks with late start times. Having the first group go off an hour after sunrise seems odd given that most courses get players out early. I understand wanting to give the maintenance crew some time, but since the vast majority of courses somehow manage to keep their courses in shape with early tee times, it makes me wonder. 

 

 

After someone mentioned a hemisphere of a chopped up ball almost catching them in the head coming out of a course mower I'm all about them not having maintenence going during the round. That's not even getting into how often the crews will pick some insane places to sit to let groups go through, as in spots no one would be even if pros were the ones hitting shots into and around them. 

[TNwanabe]

On 5/5/2025 at 3:31 PM, Ranchobob said:

Some players a bunch of whiny prima donnas and Jack was right.  Bunkers should be penal at the PGA level.  Either take the rakes away entirely or use rakes that leave furrows. 

 

https://www.golfmagic.com/tour/pga-tour/pga-tour-pro-jack-nicklaus-do-again-and-im-never-coming-back

 

"Wah wah wah.  If you make it harder for me I'm taking my balls and staying home."

Great idea!!! Why not? 

[mshills]

8 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

 

After someone mentioned a hemisphere of a chopped up ball almost catching them in the head coming out of a course mower I'm all about them not having maintenence going during the round. That's not even getting into how often the crews will pick some insane places to sit to let groups go through, as in spots no one would be even if pros were the ones hitting shots into and around them. 

Gotta let the maintenance crews get ahead and finish their work unless there is no other choice. How is this even a debate? Yes, the maintenance work is much more important than the guy who wants to tee off at sunrise and be home at 9am. 

[PedronNiall]

4 hours ago, mshills said:

Gotta let the maintenance crews get ahead and finish their work unless there is no other choice. How is this even a debate? Yes, the maintenance work is much more important than the guy who wants to tee off at sunrise and be home at 9am. 

 

I'm referring to crews still present well into the day. I'd need many more hands to count the number of times I've been out somewhere and they're mowing and whatever else into the afternoon somewhat regularly.  Even that wouldn't be the worst if they'd wave people through from better positions and always cease mowing when anyone is getting close, but neither is the case.