The most annoying thing in golf, and it's not pace of play

[PedronNiall]

On 7/18/2025 at 5:29 PM, bekgolf said:

 

It was the same guy who takes the stall next to you at a public restroom even though all the other stalls are open.

 

The post being referenced is exactly what got on my nerves for a minute recently and what I came to post about. I've had a number of times where someone will come grab an open spot right by me when there are plenty to go to that would leave space so they can enjoy their peace and I can enjoy mine. Was thinking it should be exactly like stall etiquette, haha. Came up in some other threads and I recall one poster saying the guy who parked next to him responded with "I thought you might like some company," when asked why he came to where the first guy was with so much space open. @Greenie's experience isn't a one-off.

 

Beauty is best admired from afar, and though I know many want to bask in the ambiance of my glorious swing, I'd prefer they give me a little room to breathe, especially if for whatever reason we're on mats and it's not like I'm in a spot with premium grass. Maybe if one marks their territory with scent by putting on so much cologne no one will want to be near it will work as elsewhere in the animal kingdom and interlopers will stay clear? 

[DavetheDuffer]

I saw a new one the other day, a guy and his wife, baby in a stroller, and a three-year-old on a bike.  Dad's pushing the bag carts, Mom's pushing the stroller, and the three-year-old is cruising the fairway.  They moved along fairly well, but not knowing where the kid was going to head from moment to moment was a bit annoying. 

[RoyalMustang]

Worst thing in golf? Effing cheaters who break the rules to brag about shooting XXX, who just straight up cheat when nobody is looking, that won't play you in a money game when you call them out, or worse, get called out for cheating during the money game and want to argue about it. 

 

My grandfather always said that you can tell a man by playing a round with him. Cheating on the course? Do not do business with him; you'll get screwed. Do not spend time socially with him: eventually you'll be tarred by association. A person of good character is so on or off the course; same with a person of poor character. Another wise person said "it's what you do when nobody is looking that defines you, not how you act when everyone is watching you".  

 

I think Ichiro put it best in his HOF speech, paraphrased: "if you want to be a good teammate, be responsible and accountable to yourself. If you didn't get the hit or dropped a fly ball, it wasn't because you were up against a great pitcher or the sun was in your eyes. It's because there was something you could have done better." 

 

Golfers who cheat aren't accountabie to themselves. Nor will they be accountable to anyone else if they can get away with it. 

 

One thing I always loved about golf is that it supposedly a game of honor and more than "just golf". 

[Looper34]

On 7/18/2025 at 12:03 PM, Greenie said:

 

I know the recent posts are referring to the practice green. I am going to add the range to the conversation. 

 

There is a range I go to occasionally. To the right of the clubhouse they have a decent section of roof covered mats then a section of mats. Father down the line they have their grass driving range. I always hike all the way down to the end of the grass range. I say hike because it is some distance from the clubhouse. 

 

One day I had recently started hitting balls at the far end on the grass range. There are people using the mat part of the range and between that mats and me there is no one. I happen to notice a guy walking out on the grass range with his bag and a bucket of balls. 

 

This guy walks all the way down to where I am and sets up shop beside me. He is very friendly. He is trying to start up a conversation with me. I say a few words to him and say enjoy your practice while I pack up my stuff and move to the middle of the grass range.

 

I am situated once again and here comes the guy walking back towards me. He stops beside me and it appears he is going to practice beside me once again. 

 

I look at him and say I let you have that area over there where I was practicing. Why are you beside me again?

 

He replied I was hoping we could be friends. I replied sorry. I like to practice alone. Maybe we can be friends another time.

You should have said he'd have better luck making friends in the bar after he plays.

[596]

The most annoying thing is people that pull/park golf carts just off the cart path at tee boxes and greens!! There's a reason why there's no grass left in that spot!!  It ain't a parking space!! Stay on the path.

[phizzy30]

Used to work at the course that my father was part of the ownership group.  Started in the pro shop but they needed me over in maintenance.  The super told me the most important rule for hole placement is to find a flat spot on whatever tier and punch the hole there.  Not only does it not slow down pace of play, it also keeps the golfers from getting pissed and filing complaints, LOL.  

Edited July 31 by phizzy30

[mshills]

8 hours ago, 596 said:

The most annoying thing is people that pull/park golf carts just off the cart path at tee boxes and greens!! There's a reason why there's no grass left in that spot!!  It ain't a parking space!! Stay on the path.

Man that is the worst. I’ve heard people say “but what if someone needs to get by?” when I’ve asked them why they are doing that. Just think about that for a hot minute. Incredible!

[Ghostwedge]

17 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Used to work at the course that my father was part of the ownership group.  Started in the pro shop but they needed me over in maintenance.  The super told me the most important rule for hole placement is to find a flat spot on whatever tier and punch the hole there.  Not only does it not slow down pace of play, it also keeps the golfers from getting pissed and filing complaints, LOL.  

I'm one of those guys who is intrigued by pin placements, when I play a nice course with tiered greens and see 12-14 in the front and a few scattered it bugs me. 

To me 6-6-6 front, middle and back is the right combo. Left, center, and right sides if possible. Combinations are endless.

I'm know it's grunt work and did it for a few weeks, years ago to help out a short staffed crew. 

[jholz]

17 hours ago, mshills said:

Man that is the worst. I’ve heard people say “but what if someone needs to get by?” when I’ve asked them why they are doing that. Just think about that for a hot minute. Incredible!

 

On the odd occasion where "some random person in a cart needs to get by", leaving your cart on the path and making that random person drive onto the grass will result in much less turf damage. The guys who "constantly and consistently pull over in the same place" next to tee boxes, greens, practice facilities and the like are the ones that cause damage. This is all very similar to the "scatter" directive at the end of a cart path. 

 

But, you espouse a very common "theory" concerning the practice. It's the - "I pulled over onto the grass so that other cart drivers don't have to go on the grass to get around me" - theory. Heard that a million times - generally from golfers who ride in carts. 

 

However, if one listens to turf managers and golf course operators... your "theory" is nonsense. It places the needs of random cart drivers over those of golf course operators, maintenance crews, superintendents, grass, and fellow golfers.

 

So, you may think you are being thoughtful, but your "thoughtfulness" ends up making countless people's lives harder. And all to support the needs of a "supposed group of cart riders who need to get by" and may, or may not, ever show up. Poor logic and poor humanitarianism, if you ask me. 

[Looper34]

Dang, I thought spitting sun flower seeds was just a baseball thing that benchwarmers did.

Seriously, I've never seen a golfer throw a handful of seeds in their mouth to work through on the course and always blamed some random birds for leaving spent seeds on the green. lol. 

What irks me;

Golfers that don't repair their divots and those that ignore larger pitch marks on the green (even if you didn't put it there).

Unfortunately music has become commonplace so I just grin and bear it but if I can hear your music from the next fairway, you're being downright rude.

Paying a hundred bucks + for a round and then being charged another $7 for a small bag of range balls.

Courses that do not have any drinking water, especially during the summer months.