Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[parbung]

1 minute ago, bcflyguy1 said:

Net golf is beyond saving due mostly to sandbagging and partly to vanity handicaps. The handicap system discourages improvement more than it encourages participation.

golf has got to be one of the few games where it pays off for not being good

[bcflyguy1]

14 minutes ago, parbung said:

golf has got to be one of the few games where it pays off for not being good

The same sandbagging phenomenon is largely responsible for the death of bowling as a competitive amateur activity/sport.

Edited June 26 by bcflyguy1

[Choclab]

How sad is sandbagging anyway?  I'll never understand that. 

 

I know in competitive adult tennis, some players will intentionally lose so they don't get rated too high and thus play against worse players.  Why?  Is a trophy you got from beating inferior players really that important to you?  

[mshills]

4 hours ago, TiScape said:

With all the Ryder Cup talk in the tour sub these days. I’ve realized that I just don’t really care that much about it.  🤷🏼‍♂️

 

The USA vs. Europe! Meh

Three unpopular RC takes:
 

I find many of the Team Europe players more rootable. 
 

Any event with lots of matches going on all over the course is a welcome viewing change from the boredom of events like the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the John Deere Invitational.
 

I am not looking forward to what will likely be a bunch of off the chain gallery behavior….which will be widely excused “oh it’s just the New York Sports Fan” as if that makes it OK. 

[WesternRacing]

The data exists to stop (or dramatically mitigate) sandbagging.  Many clubs simply don’t want to deal with the issue.  My club has gone halfway, by using ParPatrol, but refuses to use probability data to exclude obvious sand baggers.  When the same guy is defying the laws of mathematics by playing 3-4 strokes better than their index in every tournament, you just exclude him from play.

 

On a related note, I played in a charity scramble last week.  We shot 15 under.  And lost by 6 strokes... 😐

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 26 by WesternRacing

[klebs01]

17 minutes ago, WesternRacing said:

The data exists to stop (or dramatically mitigate) sandbagging.  Many clubs simply don’t want to deal with the issue.  My club has gone halfway, by using ParPatrol, but refuses to use probability data to exclude obvious sand baggers.  When the same guy is defying the laws of mathematics by playing 3-4 strokes better than their index in every tournament, you just exclude him from play.

 

On a related note, I played in a charity scramble last week.  We shot 15 under.  And lost by 6 strokes... 😐

 

 

 

 

 

why doesn’t the membership patrol themselves? If they are known baggers why haven’t they been tossed out of the club?

 

handicapped events have been great at the clubs I’ve been a member, but bagging hasn’t been tolerated. 

[WesternRacing]

7 minutes ago, klebs01 said:

why doesn’t the membership patrol themselves? If they are known baggers why haven’t they been tossed out of the club?

 

 

My guess is long term relationships.  But constant complaints finally motivated them to use Par Patrol, which is not a perfect system by any stretch.

 

I’ve always felt that net golf tournaments are goofy anyway.  I’d much prefer a system that just played straight up golf, flighted in 3 to 5 point groups, with indexes determined solely by your play in competition.

[DavePelz4]

Anyone who takes a scramble as a serious golf competition is sadly mistaken.

[PNWGuy]

3 hours ago, bcflyguy1 said:

The same sandbagging phenomenon is largely responsible for the death of bowling as a competitive amateur activity/sport.

 

Your avatar is proof that you are an experienced bowler and your statement is 100% accurate.

[mshills]

2 hours ago, klebs01 said:

why doesn’t the membership patrol themselves? If they are known baggers why haven’t they been tossed out of the club?

 

handicapped events have been great at the clubs I’ve been a member, but bagging hasn’t been tolerated. 

😂😂😂 Are you serious?

 

It’s less of a problem in the memba-memba…but play in a hi stakes MG and there’s no chance members are throwing another member out on account of a bagging guest. None. And that’s where the bulk of the cheating occurs. 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, DavePelz4 said:

Anyone who takes a scramble as a serious golf competition is sadly mistaken.

 

They need a good 4 man scramble tournament on tour.  With beer carts.  That would be fun to watch.

[bcflyguy1]

2 hours ago, PNWGuy said:

 

Your avatar is proof that you are an experienced bowler and your statement is 100% accurate.

[TNwanabe]

I am excited for the patriotism and the USA USA USA chants. USA flags too!!! Can't get enough over the top patriotism here!!! LOVE IT! I could not imagine feeling any different. 

 

American crowds yelling drunk profanities at Europeans I dislike. I dislike it more when Europeans yell drunk profanities at Americans though. No need for the ridiculous disrespect on either side. 

 

 

Edited June 27 by TNwanabe

[klebs01]

13 hours ago, mshills said:

😂😂😂 Are you serious?

 

It’s less of a problem in the memba-memba…but play in a hi stakes MG and there’s no chance members are throwing another member out on account of a bagging guest. None. And that’s where the bulk of the cheating occurs. 

The management of this doesn’t happen at the MG. It’s a culture that needs to be built. Not sure how you would ever have issues at a MM if the members are all expected to have real caps. The members should hold others accountable and that resolves itself.
 

Likewise, the same applies to the guests members bring for a MG. It would reflect very poorly on the member. 

 

I’m not saying jump straight to booting a member after one offense, but a clear warning, and social ostracism should do the trick. If it doesn’t, then booting them is the correct response. 

[Jonnielopes19]

On 6/26/2025 at 3:18 PM, bcflyguy1 said:

Net golf is beyond saving due mostly to sandbagging and partly to vanity handicaps. The handicap system discourages improvement more than it encourages participation.

 This is so true. At my club I was ridiculed by a group of high handicap golfers when I decided that playing in their Handicapped league was not for me. Giving 20 strokes to someone on 9 holes is charity work, not golf.  

That being said I am against all handicap events. When I started playing I did want strokes, I played with kids that were better than me, and into my early adult years I entered competitions that forced me to become a better golfer. 
I never once asked for a stroke, or expected that I would get any sort of help from anyone but myself.

 

The handicap system 100% deters people from improving. 
 

A "10" handicap who is sandbagging and goes out and shoots in the mid 70s will be unstoppable. I see so many of those guys. Which is also not enjoyable for the better players, lets face it we are all human and mistakes happen- maybe less for the better player, but still its happens. Those net events put a tremendous amount of stress on a better players game as they are now required to play a different much more aggressive game that accustomed too. 

Idk maybe im ranting, maybe im making a good point. who knows. But I agree a par should never require a hole in one by another. 

[Mitchell]

Guys that are dismissive and rude to new players, while complaining about costs of membership/condition of their club, are clueless tools. 

[mshills]

I’ve been playing golf since 1989 (I think). Not a beginner. The last two Friday evenings I’ve gone to clinics our pro puts on, geared towards new players, some total beginners. 
 

Veteran players should spend some time around beginners.

 

It’s awesome. The first time seeing someone flush a partial wedge shot or slap one out of a bunker….man, seeing a new player get that feeling is pretty sweet and a nice reminder to a salty old golfer. 

Edited June 30 by mshills

[DavePelz4]

It's time that courses who aren't going to invest in sand remove bunkers from their course and replace them with thick grass. Thick grass can be as penal is sand, if not more.

[PedronNiall]

18 hours ago, mshills said:

I’ve been playing golf since 1989 (I think). Not a beginner. The last two Friday evenings I’ve gone to clinics out pro puts on that are geared towards new players, some total beginners. 
 

Veteran players should spend some time around beginners.

 

It’s awesome. The first time seeing someone flush a partial wedge shot or slap one out of a bunker….man, seeing a new player get that feeling is pretty sweet and a nice reminder to a salty old golfer. 

 

I go let the air out of the new golfer's tires while the clinic is going so they know not to come back. Shrink the game! 

[Jonnielopes19]

21 hours ago, Mitchell said:

Guys that are dismissive and rude to new players, while complaining about costs of membership/condition of their club, are clueless tools. 

Let’s be real — a lot of the new golfers today don’t want to learn the rules, don’t fix their ball marks, don’t rake bunkers, and treat the game like it’s Topgolf. There’s a difference between being welcoming and letting the game lose its integrity. Respect and etiquette are part of what make golf what it is — if you’re not willing to learn that, maybe pick a different hobby....

[Mitchell]

26 minutes ago, Jonnielopes19 said:

Let’s be real — a lot of the new golfers today don’t want to learn the rules, don’t fix their ball marks, don’t rake bunkers, and treat the game like it’s Topgolf. There’s a difference between being welcoming and letting the game lose its integrity. Respect and etiquette are part of what make golf what it is — if you’re not willing to learn that, maybe pick a different hobby....

Nobody said to tolerate inappropriate behavior, there’s a classy way to set a certain standard. So being real, lots of us that have been playing for lots of years were mentored in game by people of character. We can either choose to attempt to pass that on and educate, or be someone that just takes from game without giving back in some small measure, a different tool. Now if folks still choose disrespectful behavior, that’s a whole different conversation. 

[JJFWebster]

You get one ball search per hole—lose it again and you're dropping another and moving on. Your group is not getting paid for constant search and rescue.

[WesternRacing]

Alcohol DOES NOT improve your play.

 

[WesternRacing]

1 hour ago, Jonnielopes19 said:

Let’s be real — a lot of the new golfers today don’t want to learn the rules, don’t fix their ball marks, don’t rake bunkers, and treat the game like it’s Topgolf. There’s a difference between being welcoming and letting the game lose its integrity. Respect and etiquette are part of what make golf what it is — if you’re not willing to learn that, maybe pick a different hobby....

 

But somebody’s gotta teach them.  Why not you, or I?  I played with a couple new members at our club, father and son (12ish), and noticed that they didn’t know how to properly fix a ball mark on the green.  By way of speaking to the son, I politely showed them both how to fix it properly so you don’t leave a volcano.  They were actually very appreciative.  They simply didn’t know.

 

I also helped a woman learn that, on a par five, the group behind does not have to wait until you clear the green before they hit their second shots into layup yardage.  I politely explained to her what being in position meant on a golf course and how it was different on par 3s, 4s, and 5s.  She simply didn’t know.  Contrary to the father-son duo, this woman wasn’t very happy about being taught this lesson, but she begrudgingly accepted it.  So, I considered that a success.

[mshills]

11 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

 

But somebody’s gotta teach them.  Why not you, or I?  I played with a couple new members at our club, father and son (12ish), and noticed that they didn’t know how to properly fix a ball mark on the green.  By way of speaking to the son, I politely showed them both how to fix it properly so you don’t leave a volcano.  They were actually very appreciative.  They simply didn’t know.

 

I also helped a woman learn that, on a par five, the group behind does not have to wait until you clear the green before they hit their second shots into layup yardage.  I politely explained to her what being in position meant on a golf course and how it was different on par 3s, 4s, and 5s.  She simply didn’t know.  Contrary to the father-son duo, this woman wasn’t very happy about being taught this lesson, but she begrudgingly accepted it.  So, I considered that a success.

Golfers seem to fall into three camps on this topic:

 

#1. Those who complain about ball marks on the green, divots not sanded, players not knowing how to use a cart, etc., but the professional complainer won’t take any action and prefers to stay salty. 
 

#2. Those who take a rude, superior, high-handed approach to teaching a new player about how to keep things moving, keep the course nice, and have fun. Unfortunately this happened to my wife, who is a new player, and she dropped out of the ladies group rather than being talked down to.

 

#3. Those who are willing to help, and give a new player a nice experience.

 

We need more #3, less #1, and way less #2. 

[Warrior42111]

2 minutes ago, mshills said:

Golfers seem to fall into three camps on this topic:

 

#1. Those who complain about ball marks on the green, divots not sanded, players not knowing how to use a cart, etc., but the professional complainer won’t take any action and prefers to stay salty. 
 

#2. Those who take a rude, superior, high-handed approach to teaching a new player about how to keep things moving, keep the course nice, and have fun. Unfortunately this happened to my wife, who is a new player, and she dropped out of the ladies group rather than being talked down to.

 

#3. Those who are willing to help, and give a new player a nice experience.

 

We need more #3, less #1, and way less #2. 

I've whined about this before, if people actually taught and explained why something is done and how it's done (if required) you get a much better reaction and a much better chance the person being taught retains the information. You can find a bunch of scientific links supporting this method of teaching. 

[bcflyguy1]

14 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

Alcohol DOES NOT improve your play.

 

 

For the record, I agree with this take. I just didn't want to pass on the opportunity to post this GIF.

[chippa13]

16 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

Alcohol DOES NOT improve your play.

 

Alcohol is a PED for my game.

[Old Tom Morris]

On 6/29/2025 at 9:31 PM, WesternRacing said:

Alcohol DOES NOT improve your play.

 

Alcohol facilitates not being bothered by your lousy shots and putts.

[Double Mocha Man]

7 minutes ago, Old Tom Morris said:

Alcohol facilitates not being bothered by your lousy shots and putts.

 

And being giddy about your good shots...