Fights on a Golf Course

[caeye0710]

Wow. I can't believe I forgot this when I told my stories above. 

 

Same course where I was an AP. Running a tournament and this one happened to be the inaugural memorial event for a very well known and liked individual who had passed away from illness.

 

After the tournament, they had a 50/50 raffle (or whatever it's called). It's important to note that the proceeds from the tournament went to set up a scholarship fund and I believe it might have been for his children, but if it wasn't directly for them it was for other children in the area. 

 

Anyways, as with any scramble tourney there was a team or two of non-locals that joined. Of course one of the non-local teams won with a 49 (different story for another day), but the problem came when one of them won the raffle (which I believe had to be somewhere between $500-1000). 

 

Since 90% of the players in the tournament were members, friends or family, it was agreed upon them that whoever won the raffle would donate the money back to the scholarship fun. It honestly seemed to be common practice at every scramble tournament that the raffle money would get donated back. 

 

Anyways, the out-of-town guy wins and pockets the money as he's walking away. This caused an absolute uproar and about 8 people got into an all out brawl. I kept my @$$ on the scoring bench because most of them doubled me in size and I had no desire to get knocked out. Eventually the dust settled apart from some jawing back and forth, and the guy left. 

 

I get why they were ticked off. They wanted to do something special for the guy the tournament was made for, but I personally think it was a bit out of line. The guy who won the money had no idea, nor was anyone who would've won it required to give it back. 

[RmoorePE]

1 hour ago, caeye0710 said:

. 

 

I get why they were ticked off. They wanted to do something special for the guy the tournament was made for, but I personally think it was a bit out of line. The guy who won the money had no idea, nor was anyone who would've won it required to give it back. 

 

Raffling money is a bad idea specifically because of this. Raffle a prize because then no one feels like they have to give it back.

 

I never win anything except 50/50 raffles. I got invited as a one-off to a scramble for some charity through a client, that I had no idea what it was. Probably some rich family's foundation, and won I a nice $600 raffle and could feel the eyes on me as I walked up to get my prize and had to do the "just keep it" hand signal. The emcee actually said "He donated it back folks! Thanks guy that nobody knows."

 

The only near altercation I have ever been in was at a drunken charity scramble. We were playing behind a group all day and early on we asked if music was cool and they were all "heck ya this is just for fun!" On a par 5 we were about 150 yards behind them waiting to hit our second shot while they hit their third. One of them topped a fairway wood 3 times in a row (not sure what scramble rules they were following). Then he drives straight back to where we were sitting red faced, spittle flying "It is rude to play music on the course!" Guy was right in my face angry. His cart partner was sitting there shocked. I said "I'm glad I'm not on your team", he said "At least we have morals!". And drove off.

 

Later at the dinner he came up and apologized. I figure he just was pissed about sucking at golf. Funny thing was, neither of us knew it but we had a business meeting with each other the following week. I used the suction to my advantage, but it turns out the guy is a full time Word not allowedhole in real life too.

 

 

 

[Fairway14]

2 hours ago, getitdaily said:

 

 

 He said something about me being rude and that "there's nowhere to go", insinuating that there were groups ahead. This was on 14 tee. I said "I've been doing this a long time and I can get through groups if I'm a single".

 

If you honor golf etiquette and, or, have experience playing the game you should know that (on a golf course full of a players) a single or a twosome should not expect to play thru. As the guy ahead correctly told you "there is  nowhere to go".

[getitdaily]

13 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

If you honor golf etiquette and, or, have experience playing the game you should know that (on a golf course full of a players) a single or a twosome should not expect to play thru. As the guy ahead correctly told you "there is  nowhere to go".

Um, no. Faster players, especially a single, plays through and every group observes etiquette to let faster players through

Edited August 6, 2021 by getitdaily

[Fairway14]

3 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

Um, no. Slower players, especially a single, plays through and every group observes etiquette to let faster players through

 

My take from reading your story is that you've never learned about proper golf course etiquette. For example, you've written about taunting an opponent on the 18th green of a match, your son teeing up a ball and hitting into a group of players/carts 30 yards ahead, trying as a single on a packed golf course to play thru group after group, believing you were entitled to do so etc...

The above are all examples of poor etiquette, but remember it's never too late to learn.

 

Here is a link to a book about golf course etiquette:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Etiquette-Barbara-Puett/dp/1250017165/ref=asc_df_1250017165/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312149988622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13459413787871351975&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031948&hvtargid=pla-570202820621&psc=1

[getitdaily]

13 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

My take from reading your story is that you've never learned about proper golf course etiquette. For example, you've written about taunting an opponent on the 18th green of a match, your son teeing up a ball and hitting into a group of players/carts 30 yards ahead, trying as a single on a packed golf course to play thru group after group, believing you were entitled to do so etc...

The above are all examples of poor etiquette, but remember it's never too late to learn.

 

Here is a link to a book about golf course etiquette:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Golf-Etiquette-Barbara-Puett/dp/1250017165/ref=asc_df_1250017165/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312149988622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13459413787871351975&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031948&hvtargid=pla-570202820621&psc=1

What I said was that my son teed up a ball and hit it before I knew he was going to hit so I wasn't able to stop him.

 

What I wrote was that I razzled someone I knew and who was in a 9hole 2man scramble with a lot of side bets. There's a lot of etiquette that gets thrown out when there's drinking and gambling in a large group where everyone knows everyone. 

 

What I wrote was that i went out for a Wednesday afternoon round on a course i had played many times and is never packed on a Wednesday afternoon and a 6 some didn't want to let a single through. As i wrote, there were 2 groups on the course ahead of me with 5 holes to play. It wasnt packed. 

 

Try harder. Etiquette says that faster players play through. I always allow faster players through. If I'm in a 4 and a 3 is waiting on us, even if it's packed, I'll let them through. Etiquette is for slower players to allow faster players to play through. ESPECIALLY a single in an afternoon round. 

Edited August 6, 2021 by getitdaily

[Quasimoto]

9 hours ago, Blonde Line Lizard said:

With the whole "growing the game" BS along with playing music on the course for every one to hear, I think on-course confrontations are just going to increase in the future.

I am absolutely dreading the day I hear a newscast report that someone pulled a Mac 10 out of their golf bag and “took care” of a perceived offender.

[Soloman1]

One time I was at a boxing match and right in the middle of it, they started playing golf.

[MPAndreassi]

A friend of mine, he’s an older gentleman now, he was playing in a US Open qualifier down in Florida. Him and his caddie got into a fight after the round just off of the 18th green. He’s since been banned from Florida State golf events. 

[KBong]

Saw a fight behind the 18th green back in the 70's.

 

Just found out 2 weeks ago of a fight at the course.

In a 5some...some guy ran over another guy and the fists started flying.

Cops were called to make a report.

The guy who ran over a guy is supposedly a bit of a drunk and trouble maker...his membership was terminated.

 

[lefthack]

I could see a fight at the club, but I haven't yet. The crowd can be questionable at times based on the location.

 

 

[RainShadow]

We apparently had an altercation at my local last Sunday.

It was hot out, the course was backed up and there were quite a few "not regular golfer" types out. 

 We were off at 7:30 and it still took us 5hrs. ( Normal is 3:30-3:50)

Came out to play Tuesday and it was the talk of the club. Rumor has it that punches were thrown, and maybe clubs swung. I'm sure there was alcohol involved.

 

Edited August 5, 2021 by RainShadow

[Duffer222]

1 hour ago, getitdaily said:

What I said was that my son teed up a ball and hit it before I knew he was going to hit so I wasn't able to stop him.

 

What I wrote was that I razzled someone I knew and who was in a 9hole 2man scramble with a lot of side bets. There's a lot of etiquette that gets thrown out when there's drinking and gambling in a large group where everyone knows everyone. 

 

What I wrote was that i went out for a Wednesday afternoon round on a course i had played many times and is never packed on a Wednesday afternoon and a 6 some didn't want to let a single through. As i wrote, there were 2 groups on the course ahead of me with 5 holes to play. It wasnt packed. 

 

Try harder. Etiquette says that slower players play through. I always allow slower players through. If I'm in a 4 and a 3 is waiting on us, even if it's packed, I'll let them through. Etiquette is for slower players for faster players to play through. ESPECIALLY a single in an afternoon round. 

Your attitude in this reply pretty much supports @Fairway14 point.

I walk single over 90% of my rounds 4-6 /week, I’ve been offered to play through on many occasions, but I won’t do it when there’s no where to go with groups directly in front of me. Why? Because it’s rude, and even more so when you ask. 
take a deep breath, slow down and enjoy the game.

[NoTalentLefty]

I’m a lover not a fighter.

[cadoipi]

One time I witnessed a fight on a golf forum regarding when a single should be allowed to play through.  A lot of big talk and insults were thrown.  I still don't know how it ends. I will keep you updated.

Edited August 6, 2021 by cadoipi

[GolfTurkey]

Haven't seen one, but one event got pretty close. I was paired with a young hothead who had just got out of hospital after alcohol poisoning after a night on the town two nights prior.

 

First nine he played badly and was totally sullen. He started playing better after the turn and then hit a par 5 in two. He missed the eagle putt by about a foot and casually slapped at his tap in and missed. I marked "5" at which point he demanded that I give him the putt that he missed.

 

No amount of explaining that it was a strokeplay event and I couldn't give him a putt worked. The clown kept on insulting me and carrying on, and eventually I started ignoring him totally which only made him madder.

 

A couple holes later he piped a big drive on a par 4 and had a little lob wedge left. Someone missed a putt on a green about 150 yards away and yelled out the f-word really loudly on this guy's back swing, and then he laid the sod over his wedge.

 

He started ranting and raving like a lunatic and sprinted off to the other green and confronted the offender, shouting and screaming all the way. The rest of us in the group were like "ROFL, is this idiot going to end up in the hospital again?"

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

My dad and uncles have tales that they tell of the 80's, post-Caddyshack era leagues at one of the local munis.  Wet t-shirt contests, dudes handing out shots of booze at the anti-turn (the holes furthest away from the clubhouse), shirtless and sweaty 300 pound guys, and weekly fistfights in the bunkers.

[RSinSG]

When I was a working LEO I got called to a couple of "fights" on our local muni. Unless you are a violent person, or a boxer or MMA you are probably not used to actually getting hit in the face. Most fights are more akin to something you'd see on Seinfeld, and once someone does get popped hard for the first time, the bloody nose or blood in their mouth usually ends the fight.  We also had some stabbings and a homicide on a golf course so I think it's best to not puff out your chest at someone you don't know.

 

That being said I was have a great old man fight story that happened last week after league play. We have a couple of guys who are notorious cheaters. They've been called on it in the past, had winnings forfeited  and you would think they would would be shamed enough to stop. Nope - they keep rolling putts back not making each other finish, get creative in finding lost balls etc. This is the retired guys league and they are both mid-70's and not in the best of shape. Well, last week another retired guy was on an adjacent hole and saw them not putting out. He went to the pro and asked to see their scorecard and sure enough the one guy took a par, and as a team they tied for 1st net. The guy who saw them is a retired contractor and former HS football coach and is is good shape and health for his age. He confronted one of the guys and told him he told the pro and their score was DQ's. The cheater got all hot and got in his face calling him all kinds of F-bomb names. His mistake was when he flipped the hat off the other guy, because the next thing he knew he was lifted up and dropped on to his back. It was hilarious and all the cheater could do was threaten to sue. I figure he knew he wouldn't have any corroborating witnesses if he were to file a battery report. 

 

Again, my advice is to not try to prove your manhood to someone you have no idea of what his capabilities are or his mental stability is. 

[nitram]

In over 40 years of golf I've witnessed a few dust-ups and all were attributed to rudeness and alcohol. I've accidentally hit into the group ahead, I've been hit into, and even been hit twice. There is nothing a sincere apology and a bit of humility can't settle. Just understand good people make mistakes and don't be a d!ck.

 

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

1 hour ago, cadoipi said:

One time I witnessed a fight on a golf forum regarding when a single should be allowed to play through.  A lot of big talk and insults were thrown.  I still don't know how it ends. I will keep you updated.

Kind of like the debate about hats on or off in the grill room. It was all fun and games until a guy called another a mouthbreather 🙂

[LeftDaddy]

Not a fight, but I accidentally hit into a group once on the 2nd hole (blind shot, partner told me I was clear, I proceed to hit the 5 iron of my life right into the group in front of me).  I ask my partner in horror why they OK’d me, and they say basically they didn’t know what I was asking and thought I could see the group ahead. 
 

Anyway, I run up to the group ahead and apologize profusely and explain the situation. One guy seemed OK but the other three clearly weren’t. Evil eyes and won’t talk to me, etc. But I deserve it. Anyway, they are a 4some and we are a 2some and we run up onto them the whole round and it was so uncomfortable. I tried to apologize again but they just told me to save it. So I did and played one of the slowest rounds I’ve played in a long time. 
 

In the parking lot after I go to the “nice” guy and apologize again, and he just says “It’s fine, I apologize for how the other dudes treated you also…let’s let bygones be bygones”. I truly felt bad about it but I also understood. 

[LeftDaddy]

Oh, and on the “single playing through” point, I yelled at a guy in my old club who was notorious for riding up on a group and just playing through without asking. He did it to me while I was putting on a green once and he just rode on past. I picked up my ball and jumped in my cart and rode up to him while he was trying to tee off on the next hole and he stops and looks at me like “what?  I’m trying to tee off here”. And I basically tell him in no uncertain terms that I didn’t wave him up, and that I was in the middle of putting, he’s done this before, and he’d better not ever do it again. He just says that he’s pressed for time and trying to get through, and I say so am I and why does he think his time is more valuable than mine?  He basically says “do you want to pair up then?” and I say “No, just go ahead and get out of my way and I’d better not have to wait on you later.”  

[MikeW2]

8 minutes ago, LeftDaddy said:

Not a fight, but I accidentally hit into a group once on the 2nd hole (blind shot, partner told me I was clear, I proceed to hit the 5 iron of my life right into the group in front of me).  I ask my partner in horror why they OK’d me, and they say basically they didn’t know what I was asking and thought I could see the group ahead. 
 

Anyway, I run up to the group ahead and apologize profusely and explain the situation. One guy seemed OK but the other three clearly weren’t. Evil eyes and won’t talk to me, etc. But I deserve it. Anyway, they are a 4some and we are a 2some and we run up onto them the whole round and it was so uncomfortable. I tried to apologize again but they just told me to save it. So I did and played one of the slowest rounds I’ve played in a long time. 
 

In the parking lot after I go to the “nice” guy and apologize again, and he just says “It’s fine, I apologize for how the other dudes treated you also…let’s let bygones be bygones”. I truly felt bad about it but I also understood. 

I’m guessing you didn’t get to play through 😂

[EmperorPenguin]

None of these compare to this one.  This was a melee that happened nine years ago in Fort Worth, and it made national news.  I will copy and paste.

 

 

A man who was allegedly stabbed during a fight at a Texas golf club over being allowed to play through could lose the use of a leg as a result, The Star-Telegram of Fort Worth reported.

The 48-year-old man, whose name was withheld by the newspaper over his fear of retribution, suffered a punctured femoral artery when he was stabbed in the leg with the shaft of a broken golf club, a Tarrant County Sheriff's Department spokesman said, according to the report.

The attack happened on Jan. 27 at a golf course at a resort near Eagle Mountain Lake, after the alleged victim's group asked to play through, believing the group ahead of them was playing too slowly, according to the report.

A club official had instructed the golfers in the group ahead to let the alleged victim's group play through, the alleged victim said.

But an argument broke out and became physical, and in the process a golf club was broken, said Terry Grisham, a spokesman for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department, according to the report.

The alleged victim said the attacker stuck the broken shaft of the golf club through his leg and pulled it out, puncturing his femoral artery twice, the newspaper reported.

Muscles in the injured leg have atrophied from lack of blood flow, the alleged victim said, according to the report.

"If it does not regenerate, it will be no good to me," he said, the Star-Telegram reported.

A criminal investigation is ongoing, Grisham told the newspaper.

Edited August 6, 2021 by EmperorPenguin

[LeftDaddy]

29 minutes ago, MikeW2 said:

I’m guessing you didn’t get to play through 😂

Lol, nope. Just had to sit there very sheepishly and look away while I waited what felt like hours for them to hit. 

[Shakester]

12 hours ago, double_d said:

 You almost got into a fistfight over they way someone was looking at you? He didn't say anything? He didn't touch you or your stuff? He just looked at you?

I get it.  I was in my younger days and thinking about it kind of surprises me too.  But I remember that day vividly.  My reasoning, although some may it see it like that, was that I knew I was in the wrong and I sincerely apologized for my action.  The others in his group accepted my apology and moved on.  If he had something to say, then he should have gotten it off his chest instead of giving me a dirty look for 2 holes trying to act tough in front of his buddies.  So yes, I almost did get into a fight for someone looking at me like that.  

[1t2golf]

2 hours ago, cadoipi said:

One time I witnessed a fight on a golf forum regarding when a single should be allowed to play through.  A lot of big talk and insults were thrown.  I still don't know how it ends. I will keep you updated.

 

 

UPDATE: 

 

They were reported. 🗣️

Their posts were removed. 🙈

Both were issued warmings. 👥

The End. 🔚

 

 

[cadoipi]

56 minutes ago, LeftDaddy said:

Oh, and on the “single playing through” point, I yelled at a guy in my old club who was notorious for riding up on a group and just playing through without asking. He did it to me while I was putting on a green once and he just rode on past. I picked up my ball and jumped in my cart and rode up to him while he was trying to tee off on the next hole and he stops and looks at me like “what?  I’m trying to tee off here”. And I basically tell him in no uncertain terms that I didn’t wave him up, and that I was in the middle of putting, he’s done this before, and he’d better not ever do it again. He just says that he’s pressed for time and trying to get through, and I say so am I and why does he think his time is more valuable than mine?  He basically says “do you want to pair up then?” and I say “No, just go ahead and get out of my way and I’d better not have to wait on you later.”  

 

Insane single forcing their way though another single.

[Ghostwedge]

5 hours ago, Quasimoto said:

I am absolutely dreading the day I hear a newscast report that someone pulled a Mac 10 out of their golf bag and “took care” of a perceived offender.

IDK... how heavy is a Mac 10 ?

[LeftDaddy]

9 minutes ago, cadoipi said:

 

Insane single forcing their way though another single.

This guy was such a ******. He would play late afternoons and just motor through any hole where there was a backup without ever asking anyone if he could play through. But he would do it while you were playing. He did it to me once while I was preparing to hit in the fairway…just motoring right on through. He would play “18” holes but skip 7 of them because apparently he wanted to finish in an hour or so. 
 

On the hole that I confronted him, he hit a terrible tee ball about 70 yards, then went to hit that one and then just went to his ball and picked it up after another poor shot. I just thought “what is he accomplishing out here?  Just wants to zip through and picks up anytime he gets too much out of position”. 

Edited August 6, 2021 by LeftDaddy