Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[The Pearl]

"Ball Hunt" guy needs to go.  Ball hunting and looking for a ball that is obviously lost is a huge red flag of several ongoing psychological issues. I have developed a whole theory on this. It should be in the DSM-5

[IndyArcher]

7 minutes ago, The Pearl said:

"Ball Hunt" guy needs to go.  Ball hunting and looking for a ball that is obviously lost is a huge red flag of several ongoing psychological issues. I have developed a whole theory on this. It should be in the DSM-5

 

Speaking of ongoing psychological issues... 

 

J/K!  

[The Pearl]

6 minutes ago, IndyArcher said:

 

Speaking of ongoing psychological issues... 

 

J/K!  

Totally!

[st1800e]

Threads titled “the worst _________” , are the worst.  

[betarhoalphadelta]

3 hours ago, mshills said:

Yep, I meant the full swing practice swing. It’s not a PoP thing, it’s a myth buster thing. “I have such a great, perfect practice swing!” No you don’t. If your sequencing is no good in your golf swing it’s the same in your practice swing. Furthermore, you take most who think they have an awesome practice swing and put them on Trackman…..you’ll find clubface open 30* right and low point all over the place swing to swing. The full swing practice swing does no good. 
 

On wedge play with uneven stances and different lies, the practice swing is totally helpful, that’s a different situation. 

 

I generally take one practice swing on a full swing. I have no illusions that my practice swing is "good", or even that it's truly "practice". I've heard about the fact that the clubface is typically wide open in a practice swing, and all the other reasons why people think their "practice swing" is so good--it's not because your brain knows it doesn't actually have to make all the little compensations needed to hit the ball straight. 

 

For me, I do it for two reasons:

 

1. It's part of my pre-shot routine. It gets me mentally ready to hit the ball. 
2. It to an extent helps me feel where the ground is, i.e. if there might be some level of uneven lie that's not easily visible due to other slopes/etc, how the turf feels under my feet, etc etc. All those little variables of a specific golf shot that are the same 90% of the time--but aren't the other 10%. 

 

The only times it's a true "practice" swing would be when it's a massively uneven lie, when it's a partial shot where I need to get to the right "feel" for distance and strike, etc. But even then it's not exactly "practicing the swing", as much as it's figuring out the adjustment(s) necessary for a specific situation. 

[Shallowface]

On 5/9/2025 at 7:28 AM, 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. 

The greens need to be mown in order, 1-18.

 

All other maintenance should be done 18 to 1.  That way I only cross paths with them one time.

 

The greens need to be mown early enough to accommodate the early players.  Golf is a sun up to sun down business.  Green mowers are available with headlights.  I don't care if they have to start work at 3 AM.  That's the life they chose.  If you don't want to get up early and your degree is in agronomy work for some lawn care service. 

 

I used to go to bed at 7:30 PM and was up at 1:30 AM to go to work.  I have zero sympathy for anyone who can't get out of bed in the morning.  Do what you have to do.  I did.

[mshills]

23 minutes ago, Shallowface said:

The greens need to be mown in order, 1-18.

 

All other maintenance should be done 18 to 1.  That way I only cross paths with them one time.

 

The greens need to be mown early enough to accommodate the early players.  Golf is a sun up to sun down business.  Green mowers are available with headlights.  I don't care if they have to start work at 3 AM.  That's the life they chose.  If you don't want to get up early and your degree is in agronomy work for some lawn care service. 

 

I used to go to bed at 7:30 PM and was up at 1:30 AM to go to work.  I have zero sympathy for anyone who can't get out of bed in the morning.  Do what you have to do.  I did.

How dare that restaurant not be open for dinner at 4pm! That’s when I’m hungry, and I’m entitled to eat! Restaurants are a when customers are hungry business. Open the doors. Prep? Their problem, not mine!

[Argonne69]

10 hours ago, Shallowface said:

The greens need to be mown in order, 1-18.

 

All other maintenance should be done 18 to 1.  That way I only cross paths with them one time.

 

The greens need to be mown early enough to accommodate the early players.  Golf is a sun up to sun down business.  Green mowers are available with headlights.  I don't care if they have to start work at 3 AM.  That's the life they chose.  If you don't want to get up early and your degree is in agronomy work for some lawn care service. 

 

I used to go to bed at 7:30 PM and was up at 1:30 AM to go to work.  I have zero sympathy for anyone who can't get out of bed in the morning.  Do what you have to do.  I did.

 

Working hole 18 to 1 would be great, but there is one issue. If you have a tournament, then later groups are going to have different pin positions. Of course they could always leave the hole where they are if a tournament is going to be played that day.

 

 

[PedronNiall]

6 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Working hole 18 to 1 would be great, but there is one issue. If you have a tournament, then later groups are going to have different pin positions. Of course they could always leave the hole where they are if a tournament is going to be played that day.

 

 

 

If it's a scramble you run into issues as well, but mowing 1 to 18 takes care of it most days of the week. Most courses have enough crews and equipment they could start cutting on 1 and 10 if players are going off both sides for a standard tourney.

[Shallowface]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:54 PM, mshills said:

How dare that restaurant not be open for dinner at 4pm! That’s when I’m hungry, and I’m entitled to eat! Restaurants are a when customers are hungry business. Open the doors. Prep? Their problem, not mine!

If they're not open when people want to eat, then those people go somewhere else.  And that restaurant ceases to exist.

 

Not as likely for golf courses.  But if the golf business had continued its pre-2020 decline many of the GCSAA would be working for lawn services or posting those little signs on street corners offering to mow grass for food.

 

You don't have to get up so early for that, so they do have that choice, even today.

[Warrior42111]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:28 PM, Shallowface said:

The greens need to be mown in order, 1-18.

 

All other maintenance should be done 18 to 1.  That way I only cross paths with them one time.

 

The greens need to be mown early enough to accommodate the early players.  Golf is a sun up to sun down business.  Green mowers are available with headlights.  I don't care if they have to start work at 3 AM.  That's the life they chose.  If you don't want to get up early and your degree is in agronomy work for some lawn care service. 

 

I used to go to bed at 7:30 PM and was up at 1:30 AM to go to work.  I have zero sympathy for anyone who can't get out of bed in the morning.  Do what you have to do.  I did.

Well most towns, counties, even HOAs, where courses are located have noise ordnances and/or rules of when you can mow lawns, run power equipment, etc. 

[knock it close]

On 5/23/2025 at 7:28 PM, Shallowface said:

The greens need to be mown in order, 1-18.

 

All other maintenance should be done 18 to 1.  That way I only cross paths with them one time.

 

The greens need to be mown early enough to accommodate the early players.  Golf is a sun up to sun down business.  Green mowers are available with headlights.  I don't care if they have to start work at 3 AM.  That's the life they chose.  If you don't want to get up early and your degree is in agronomy work for some lawn care service. 

 

I used to go to bed at 7:30 PM and was up at 1:30 AM to go to work.  I have zero sympathy for anyone who can't get out of bed in the morning.  Do what you have to do.  I did.

They don't have to do it, insane to appease the psychos, join somewhere else or build your own place, do what you have to do!

[Shallowface]

4 hours ago, Warrior42111 said:

Well most towns, counties, even HOAs, where courses are located have noise ordnances and/or rules of when you can mow lawns, run power equipment, etc. 

Golf is a sun up to sun down business, which means the preparation has to begin before the business starts.

 

If you don't want the noise, don't live next to a golf course.

 

But if you do live next to a golf course, you don't mind the noise.  

Edited May 28 by Shallowface

[Shallowface]

1 hour ago, knock it close said:

They don't have to do it, insane to appease the psychos, join somewhere else or build your own place, do what you have to do!

There's nothing psycho about wanting to start as the sun is rising.  It's the best part of the day.

 

And what makes it even better is not having to be around people like you.

 

Shanks for your contribution.

[knock it close]

19 minutes ago, Shallowface said:

There's nothing psycho about wanting to start as the sun is rising.  It's the best part of the day.

 

And what makes it even better is not having to be around people like you.

 

Shanks for your contribution.

So join somewhere that can accommodate your needs, do what you need to do, I did. 

[Forged4ever]

On 9/24/2019 at 2:45 AM, Gautama said:

4) Michele Wie is a goddess.

I happen to agree with every one of your stated opinions, and while I can count on three fingers the number of females that I would classify as a "Goddess," and Michelle ain't one of em, I will say that belly to belly(in person), she is stunningly Beautiful, she is sweeter, nicer and kinder than she is Beautiful, and most importantly to me, she's the real deal, not that fake plastic superficial facade that so many exhibit as soon as they enter the public domain. 

 

Regarding her game, She's the real deal, and yah, it could be said that with her talent that she should have won more, though with her familial background, I am amazed that she reached the heights that she did as a Major Champion(Winning THE Major to win if ya can win only one, the US Womens Open🏆), along with Top-3's(1) or Runner-Ups(2) in three of the other Majors, along with bein a 5-Time Solheim Cup Member. Others who were raised as she was, either never panned out as Pros, they burnt out early or in a few cases, they checked out of this thing called life way too soon.

 

Also, FWIW, she is one of two Females  that I ever Played with that carried a ball three bills💵💵💵 on the course, myriad times when she had to(Laura Davies bein the other). 

 

No, she's not a Goddess, though Michelle is indeed a special person🤙

 

Fairways & Greens 4ever My Friend⛳️

RP

[Warrior42111]

45 minutes ago, Shallowface said:

Golf is a sun up to sun down business, which means the preparation has to begin before the business starts.

 

If you don't want the noise, don't live next to a golf course.

 

But if you do live next to a golf course, you don't mind the noise.  

1. business hours are determined by the owners as are their practices, when they mow, close for maintenance etc. 

2. Doesn't matter who lives by the course (maybe they won't call it in) but laws are laws no owner is going to skirt them for the 1% of people that want what you do. Also, if you want to hire the best workers you have to have some benefits perks. So I'd assume unless pay is astronomically higher the best workers aren't clamoring for a 3am start when the course down the road has a 6am start.

3. congrats for waking up at 130 every morning for work as dictated by management I'd guess? Do I also get an award or get to act like I'm better than you for waking up at 6 to get to my job on time? 

[BallHooker]

Some views:

 

1) Golf rounds should have a max 3 hour duration. It takes me 2 hours to play 18 holes with a friend. This means that half of time spent on the course is wasted on waiting, if 4 hours is acceptable. My morning round took 3 hours today as I spent the last 8 holes waiting for greens/fairways to clear. As I have a family, it is hard to justify standing and waiting for hours every time I play golf. I should rather spend this time with my kids.
 

2) Carts should not be allowed for healthy people. When I started golf in the 90s, one needed papers from a doctor confirming that a cart is needed. Without proper reasons, it was not ok to drive a cart on the course. US influence apparently changed things and now even teenagers drive those carts. In general I think that carts slow down the pace of play and the world would be a better place without them. Players are not ready to hit when it’s their turn, because the cart needs to be driven next to their ball first. 
 

 

Edited May 30 by BallHooker

[BallHooker]

On 5/9/2025 at 2:28 PM, 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. 

Mixed feeling about this. The only time it is possible to play a quick round these days is in the morning. If these only remaining slots are given to greenkeeping, hope is lost. Spent an hour this morning waiting for staff to move out of the way and had to cancel an appointment because if this. While the work obviously needs to be done on the greens, it should be planned to happen when players aren’t there. It doesn’t even get dark during summer nights here up north, so there is plenty of time when the course is not open for playing. 
 

Tbh, I would rather like to see maintenance closing a course for half a day instead of the workers being in the way when people play. I bet the workers would also like this approach. 

[Warrior42111]

Not sure if this is unpopular or just a dose of reality that people don't want to hear.

 

But see this a lot with people looking for irons. "I'm a 13, 14, 15 Handicap but am an good ball striker"

 

No you are not, unless you have the worst course management, or putt the ball with your shoe. 

[Double Mocha Man]

Just now, Warrior42111 said:

Not sure if this is unpopular or just a dose of reality that people don't want to hear.

 

But see this a lot with people looking for irons. "I'm a 13, 14, 15 Handicap but am an good ball striker"

 

No you are not, unless you have the worst course management, or putt the ball with your shoe. 

 

That always amazes me.

[Bad9]

3 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

Not sure if this is unpopular or just a dose of reality that people don't want to hear.

 

But see this a lot with people looking for irons. "I'm a 13, 14, 15 Handicap but am an good ball striker"

 

No you are not, unless you have the worst course management, or putt the ball with your shoe. 

You forgot to add "I can work the ball both ways on command but if I could putt I'd be scratch".

[Double Mocha Man]

12 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

or putt the ball with your shoe

 

I use a foot wedge so I suppose I should check out a shoe putter, couldn't hurt.

[Warrior42111]

11 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I use a foot wedge so I suppose I should check out a shoe putter, couldn't hurt.

Foot wedge is a great get out of trouble club.

 

I'm imagining one of those square caps you'd put on a football shoe for kicking back in the day. Could even have a soft insert or milling haha

[parbung]

1 hour ago, Warrior42111 said:

Not sure if this is unpopular or just a dose of reality that people don't want to hear.

 

But see this a lot with people looking for irons. "I'm a 13, 14, 15 Handicap but am an good ball striker"

 

No you are not, unless you have the worst course management, or putt the ball with your shoe. 

from my experience, anyone that says they are good at something in relation to golf or ask what your handicap is on the first tee are usually the worst players i've ever played with. 

 

good players don't need to say anything. they let their game do the talking, and you can tell within 1 or 2 holes. 

Edited May 30 by parbung

[Old Tom Morris]

4 hours ago, BallHooker said:

Mixed feeling about this. The only time it is possible to play a quick round these days is in the morning. If these only remaining slots are given to greenkeeping, hope is lost. Spent an hour this morning waiting for staff to move out of the way and had to cancel an appointment because if this. While the work obviously needs to be done on the greens, it should be planned to happen when players aren’t there. It doesn’t even get dark during summer nights here up north, so there is plenty of time when the course is not open for playing. 
 

Tbh, I would rather like to see maintenance closing a course for half a day instead of the workers being in the way when people play. I bet the workers would also like this approach. 

Close a golf course for half a day and forego half a days revenue so you can make your appointments?  You're not that special.

[BallHooker]

16 minutes ago, Old Tom Morris said:

Close a golf course for half a day and forego half a days revenue so you can make your appointments?  You're not that special.

That was not even close to the point. People can plan in advance, if maintenance books their slot. Besides, like today when I waited hours for the maintenance crew to move, there were no greefee players all morning, so no revenue impact. Had there been a maintenance booking, I (and others) would have chosen other tee times. 

[Warrior42111]

13 minutes ago, BallHooker said:

That was not even close to the point. People can plan in advance, if maintenance books their slot. Besides, like today when I waited hours for the maintenance crew to move, there were no greefee players all morning, so no revenue impact. Had there been a maintenance booking, I (and others) would have chosen other tee times. 

What type of maintenance was being done that delayed you for hours? Usually standard work is done either 1-18 or 18-1 so you can skip 1 hole and miss all of it. 

[BallHooker]

25 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

What type of maintenance was being done that delayed you for hours? Usually standard work is done either 1-18 or 18-1 so you can skip 1 hole and miss all of it. 

3 people on the green. Aeration holes, applying sand, changing hole position. The same crew on 5 greens in a row. Got past them finally and then there was another crew raking greenside bunkers. Basically the last 8 holes I had to wait till someone waved a hand signaling me to hit. On a few holes there was another guy stuck in front of me. 

[Double Mocha Man]

9 minutes ago, BallHooker said:

3 people on the green. Aeration holes, applying sand, changing hole position. The same crew on 5 greens in a row. Got past them finally and then there was another crew raking greenside bunkers. Basically the last 8 holes I had to wait till someone waved a hand signaling me to hit. On a few holes there was another guy stuck in front of me. 

 

My course doesn't even let you on the front nine or back nine on aeration days. They do one nine on a Monday and the other on Tuesday. So there is always nine holes wide open.