Most ridiculous thing heard on the range

[Conrad1953]

[quote name='Reasonability' timestamp='1416783085' post='10493319']
I never know what to say when someone shares a story of poor beginnings in golf at the hands of over-the-top dads. Genuinely feel kicked in the gut.

We once had dad post his son's video here on Wrx not long before the fall school season began. Mind you this youngster had some issues with his swing... nothing that couldn't be managed. The point being this father and son looked inside our WRX "community" for a boost. This kid couldn't have been much beyond his early teen years....that age when kids can be mortally brutal on each other. and here he stands on public display about to head back to school. For all I know the kid was thinking about trying about school golf try-outs....who knows about that one.

The virtual online whipping this kid got about his swing was something I'll never forget. Caused a fellow member on WRX to blast me to hades and back for trying to boost the young man's morale and be encouraging to him.

Could be argued dad should never have put his son out there like that knowing how harsh online comments can be. Personally, I saw it as a dad trying to find something out there which "could" extend their bond. For all we know that kid's dad just couldn't pony up for lessons at this point. What we do know is he started school within days of a public beat down stating his swing is a total train wreck.

I still think about that young man and his dad quite often.

...Always hope both are closer to each other and golf than ever. Hate it that myself and another WRX-er had such words over it, Sad on so many levels. My bet is father/son are just fine. Sounded like they also enjoyed fishing together and had quite a bond despite what may have happened over those few days online. Some little things are easier to forget but those two linger in my mind to this day.
[/quote]

It's amazing the simple life lessons that so many have never learned
Reason. Lessons that should have been learned by age 12. Sad.

[aussiegolferer]

backswing is overrated

[Lloyd_Christmas29]

A buddy and I were warming up in the short game area before a tournament last spring and we were hitting bunker shots. My buddy bladed one a long ways and it hit a player from another team square in the head and broke his Oakleys. His sunglasses saved him from a head injury. My buddy won the tournament too which makes it more funny. I still laugh about it haha.

[BigBee216]

[quote name='NDGolfer13' timestamp='1416765835' post='10492143']
[quote name='BigBee216' timestamp='1416433066' post='10474253']
[quote name='Reasonability' timestamp='1416291966' post='10465269']
Hmmm....

It was nice of you guys to let him play along with you. He may well be in for a very rude awakening if that is indeed his plan. Its a 'maybe' - but he might have been one of those very dry witted and dead panned guys who just wanted to see your reaction. I know my attempts at sarcasm sometimes are taken seriously by others who had no idea I was kidding. On the chance he believes exactly what he told you.... That thread was already passionately debated not too long ago. [i]That one taught me about live-and-let-live in real life vs the internet - LOL.[/i]
[/quote]

I'll play with anybody once, so it was no big deal to pick up with him. I'm not sure we would've played with him again, though.

I'm pretty sarcastic, too, but this kid was dead serious. He had a plan, and I'll give him that. Has anyone stormed the tour the past few years from Terre Haute, IN? If so, that might be him
[/quote]

Have you been to Terre Haute??? Very interesting place (sarcasm)....
[/quote]

Been there once. Interesting, indeed.

Also, got to go to a "mechanical rodeo" on that trip. The local trash collectors had a "competition" at a landfill. My buddy's neighbor was the GM for the company, and invited us. We had 3 boys who were all under 7 years old at the time, so they loved getting around all the machinery. Us dads, not so much - the smell was...

[NavyMustangGolf]

Nice drive, you must be a scratch golfer!!!

[Millbrook]

Not on the range but the local municipal many years ago.

Long queue at the first tee, at least an hours wait. The queue is about 40 yards in front of the tee and 40 yards to the side. 2 guys in the twenties waiting with girlfriends for their turn.

Turn comes and the guys walk to the tee with a ball and driver each, leaving the golf bags on trolleys with the girls.

Guy 1 knocks his down the middle.

Guy 2 hits a low screamer right which passes between the 2 girls and goes inside his golf bag with a loud bang.

2 guys walk back to the girls one of whom says 'What do we do now'. Guy 1 grabs his trolley and says 'just start walking'













As Guy 2 that was the longest 40 yd walk in my entire life.

[spezza11]

about 5 years ago i go to a range at my old course (no longer a member there). This course is a glorified cow pasture. Even thought the greens are great to roll putts on. Anyway, i am at the range and there was an old fella running it. I am hitting balls pretty decent that day, i play to a 6 index. The range is so rough you have to move all over your area to find decent fairway type areas to hit. (not able to create the typical divot box) so its easier for maintence to repair. long story short, the old guy comes over to me and growls me about not keeping my divots together for this reason!, i explained that i understood however the condition was so poor it didn't allow it. he growls some more and tells me that tiger always keeps his divots on the range together among other things and walks away shaking his head. After i hit 2-3 buckets, i pack up to leave and intentionally leave my buckets on the range. he starts with attitude about going back to return my buckets.......
i proceed to calmly tell him, do you ever see Tiger Woods return his buckets!
he never said a word or any day after that.........boom! lol

[JJShanley]

[quote name='spezza11' timestamp='1418145518' post='10567535']
about 5 years ago i go to a range at my old course (no longer a member there). This course is a glorified cow pasture. Even thought the greens are great to roll putts on. Anyway, i am at the range and there was an old fella running it. I am hitting balls pretty decent that day, i play to a 6 index. The range is so rough you have to move all over your area to find decent fairway type areas to hit. (not able to create the typical divot box) so its easier for maintence to repair. long story short, the old guy comes over to me and growls me about not keeping my divots together for this reason!, i explained that i understood however the condition was so poor it didn't allow it. he growls some more and tells me that tiger always keeps his divots on the range together among other things and walks away shaking his head. After i hit 2-3 buckets, i pack up to leave and intentionally leave my buckets on the range. he starts with attitude about going back to return my buckets.......
i proceed to calmly tell him, do you ever see Tiger Woods return his buckets!
he never said a word or any day after that.........boom! lol
[/quote]

Range tee condition seems like a chicken-egg scenario: the range would be in better condition if everyone used the linear divot pattern, but the fact that people don't makes it harder for those of us in the know to use it ourselves.

[MidwestGolfBum]

[quote name='JJShanley' timestamp='1418152911' post='10568155']
[quote name='spezza11' timestamp='1418145518' post='10567535']
about 5 years ago i go to a range at my old course (no longer a member there). This course is a glorified cow pasture. Even thought the greens are great to roll putts on. Anyway, i am at the range and there was an old fella running it. I am hitting balls pretty decent that day, i play to a 6 index. The range is so rough you have to move all over your area to find decent fairway type areas to hit. (not able to create the typical divot box) so its easier for maintence to repair. long story short, the old guy comes over to me and growls me about not keeping my divots together for this reason!, i explained that i understood however the condition was so poor it didn't allow it. he growls some more and tells me that tiger always keeps his divots on the range together among other things and walks away shaking his head. After i hit 2-3 buckets, i pack up to leave and intentionally leave my buckets on the range. he starts with attitude about going back to return my buckets.......
i proceed to calmly tell him, do you ever see Tiger Woods return his buckets!
he never said a word or any day after that.........boom! lol
[/quote]

Range tee condition seems like a chicken-egg scenario: the range would be in better condition if everyone used the linear divot pattern, but the fact that people don't makes it harder for those of us in the know to use it ourselves.
[/quote]

I agree completely here. There have been times that I will work around a group of them when only hitting a few shots before a round or when I am just working on something little at the end of a round. Been able to take some that were terrible and make them into something that was a little more manageable after seed mix was put over the top. Granted, this only happens at our club if we have a large outing, otherwise people tend to stick to the much more accepted manner.

[Mych]

The guy next to me on the range today asking me "are you a professional?" is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard.

I was flattered, but it took me a couple swings to start hitting the ball well again after being so confused and surprised by his question. I also started feeling pressure to hit the ball well, because he was in the spot behind me and I could tell that he was stopping to watch when I was swinging. I should've grabbed my 4 iron to remove any doubt and prove that I'm definitely a hack. :-)

[BillyZ2]

[quote name='Mych' timestamp='1418326775' post='10579451']
The guy next to me on the range today who asked me "are you a professional?" is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard.

I was flattered, but it took me a couple swings to start hitting the ball well again after being so confused and surprised by his question. I also started feeling pressure to hit the ball well, because he was in the spot behind me and I could tell that he was stopping to watch when I was swinging. I should've grabbed my 4 iron to remove any doubt and prove that I'm definitely a hack. :-)
[/quote]Lol, Those low irons have a way of humbling a golfer, don't they.

[DON SVO]

Getting unsolicited advice is the best.

We had a local company come through doing a demo with flightscope and high speed video on the range. It was slow, so one of the techs was 'walking the line' and commenting on everyone's swing. I naturally play a baby push fade from wedge to driver. I'm hitting a 6 iron (the only club I brought) that isn't fading much but 5ish yards and I've been hitting the last few with the same height, trajectory and distance. He watches 2 swings and asks in a highly flippant tone if "I know why I [b]slice to the left[/b] with my driver".

I'm a VERY sarcastic person... I look back and he's standing there with a handful of business cards. I dead pan him with "because I'm a lefty?" and look at him with a stone face. He has this mouth half-open, not sure how to respond look. I pull a range ball over and purposely pull-hook the next shot into the trees 30 yards right. He stands there with a quizzical, uncomfortable look for several seconds. Silent. I pull over another ball and hit another tight little fade. Finally, he walks off without saying a word.

[jjgreen]

So I'm playing a round by myself I meet up with an older guy, probably 40ish so not super old, me being 24 at the time. But we end up meeting another golfer to join in with us and this guy is good. Scratch golfer at the club but we didnt know at the time. Hes younger probably 18-20 years old. Basically this kid drives almost 300yds each drive, after he hits one of these monster drives the guy goes, "Damn how do you hit the ball that far?" With the kid still in the tee box watching his shot he turns around looks at the guy and says "Youth" and turns back around and walks to his bag.
Me an the older guy look at each other and kind of smirk. But man that came off so bad, and it only continued for the rest of the round.

[Exactice808]

[quote name='jjgreen' timestamp='1418823853' post='10606185']
So I'm playing a round by myself I meet up with an older guy, probably 40ish so not super old, me being 24 at the time. But we end up meeting another golfer to join in with us and this guy is good. Scratch golfer at the club but we didnt know at the time. Hes younger probably 18-20 years old. Basically this kid drives almost 300yds each drive, after he hits one of these monster drives the guy goes, "Damn how do you hit the ball that far?" With the kid still in the tee box watching his shot he turns around looks at the guy and says "Youth" and turns back around and walks to his bag.
Me an the older guy look at each other and kind of smirk. But man that came off so bad, and it only continued for the rest of the round.
[/quote]

LOL....the Truth hurts though..........If I was as flexible as I was when I was 18......

[wadesworld]

[quote name='Lefty94' timestamp='1405524924' post='9712755']
[quote name='LouLogsdon' timestamp='1405387455' post='9701437']
Well I don't know if this counts because I didn't hear it on the range I heard it from a guy that I was paired up with on the course. He was talking about how he used to play a lot of golf in high school. He used to play at least 140 holes a day. He also said that he averaged 325 off the Tee and not once did he hit it that this distance not even close. I outdrove him every time and I rarely get to 300. I just don't understand what compels people to lie like that when the proof is right in front of my eyes.
[/quote]

Not to mention 140 holes is 7.7 rounds a day. If he plays each of those rounds in 3 hours that would be 21hrs of golf in a 24 hour day and assuming he is playing in Alaska since nowhere else has anywhere near 21hrs of daylight. Someone should tell that guy that if your gonna lie at least make it something reasonable.....like I had a hole in 1 on a 375yd up hill par 4 or something along those lines.
[/quote]

I used to play in a father's day tournament with a bunch of crazy guys. We'd tee off at 6 am, before the sun fully came up and we had to guess where our balls went. We'd play until it was so dark we could not see our balls anymore. Where we were, it didn't get dark until about 9:00 pm. We would have about an hour break for lunch, but that was it. It was a scramble. Our record was 107 holes. So yeah, I don't think 140 holes is happening....

[JJShanley]

[quote name='wadesworld' timestamp='1419056673' post='10620001']
[quote name='Lefty94' timestamp='1405524924' post='9712755']
[quote name='LouLogsdon' timestamp='1405387455' post='9701437']
Well I don't know if this counts because I didn't hear it on the range I heard it from a guy that I was paired up with on the course. He was talking about how he used to play a lot of golf in high school. He used to play at least 140 holes a day. He also said that he averaged 325 off the Tee and not once did he hit it that this distance not even close. I outdrove him every time and I rarely get to 300. I just don't understand what compels people to lie like that when the proof is right in front of my eyes.
[/quote]

Not to mention 140 holes is 7.7 rounds a day. If he plays each of those rounds in 3 hours that would be 21hrs of golf in a 24 hour day and assuming he is playing in Alaska since nowhere else has anywhere near 21hrs of daylight. Someone should tell that guy that if your gonna lie at least make it something reasonable.....like I had a hole in 1 on a 375yd up hill par 4 or something along those lines.
[/quote]

I used to play in a father's day tournament with a bunch of crazy guys. We'd tee off at 6 am, before the sun fully came up and we had to guess where our balls went. We'd play until it was so dark we could not see our balls anymore. Where we were, it didn't get dark until about 9:00 pm. We would have about an hour break for lunch, but that was it. It was a scramble. Our record was 107 holes. So yeah, I don't think 140 holes is happening....
[/quote]

Perhaps he played two balls per round.

[sprcoop]

This guy is hitting driver and acting all hyped up like he's on speed. For some reason he turns to me pointing at a tee broken off in the ground and says, "See, that's how you're supposed to do it. So it breaks the tee every time." Huh?

[Parker0065]

Not trying to revive this thread but had a classic one today at our local golf dome.

I let my son(H.S. Junior) skip the last day of school before x-mas break to go hit balls at our local dome(I know, I'm a horrible parent and a bad influence).

Now I've been going to this dome for the last 7 years and it is my mainstay of practice over the winter months. When I go to practice I put headphones on, go to the farthest end away from everyone and never bother anyone! Up to this year there have been one or two roving retirees that roam around giving unsolicited advice and they can tell you [b]"exactly how Hogan did it"[/b][i](puff, puff - somebody pass the reefer)[/i] all the while slapping it around with a hackiest of hackers swings.
This winter the dome changed their pricing and format and hoora, hoora, hoora it has appeared to have driven out those self proclaimed swing experts and guru's!!

Well when you drive one set of riff-raff out what tends to happen? A new set of riff-raff moves in to take their place! They are like the fricken Taliban! Thus sets up todays story!


My son and I are sharing a bay while he works on something he wanted to improve on from our last video session. Out of the blue appears our new self appointed resident swing guru that couldn't break 80 even if Tiger hit all his shots and putts for him(lol, not possible I know but you get the point)!

He was a nice enough guy and I'm sure meant no harm but he had to anounce that he was a retired baseball coach that had led a traditionally medicore H.S. team to their only state championship(this is golf b****, who gives a f***) then he immedietly jumped into how my son had a great swing but his setup was all wrong.

So I have to go into the "smile and stare", "smile and stare", "smile and stare"(is this retard done yapping yet) mode!

Now I know my son's setup is not PGA Tour level, and it is/was already on the list of things he is working on this off season, but for this particular day we had already planned and discussed what he was going to work on(one thing at a time people).

But wait, there's more. So then he goes into how he caddied for a local guy in some tournament at Bethpage and the guy was blasting 350 yard drives( i wish I could have made that number up but that's what came out of his mouth) In fact he made the statement that most the guy's in the tournament were pounding it 350!

So I got to hand it to all you Bethpage guy's pounding it 350 all day. I'm sure there are some Bethpage players here at G-WRX, can any of you guy's confirm that you pound it 350 all day long,,,lol?


OK, I got that off my chest, it just amazes me how some people are. Look, he was an old retired guy and he saw my son pounding the ball better than anyone out there so he wanted to be a part of it, I get it. But we were trying to get some serious work done and the new format at the dome is time based so we just don't have time anymore to accomodate that foolish jiberish!!!!!

[shakey]

The church I used to attend that was about a minutes walk from my house had a softball practice field. I used to walk over there and hit practice balls. You could hit PW max, so I'd hit lots of SW and LW.

I'm out here one day when I notice a car had pulled up and stopped on the road behind me. A guy was just sitting there watching. I kept glancing at him so he finally said "I'm just watching you hit." Kind of creepy. After a few more swings he yelled out "do you wanna know what you're doing wrong?" I told him thx but no. Just goofing off for a few mins."
He then told me that he had read Nicklaus' book and could fix my swing in a heartbeat. I decided it was time to go to the other end of the field to pick up the balls I had hit. Thankfully he left and I got back to practicing.

[Hateto3Putt]

[quote name='shakey' timestamp='1419433977' post='10637105']
Kind of creepy. After a few more swings he yelled out "do you wanna know what you're doing wrong?"
[/quote]

you should have replied: "Talking to idiots?"

[Lime Shark]

@Parker0065,

A number of ranges in my area have gone to a time based system (you rent the bay for 30, 45, or minutes and it's all the balls you can hit in the allotted time).

Consequently, instead of the patient "smile and stare" and hope they go away soon, I'm going to be more blunt.

[Lime Shark]

[quote][color=#282828]He then told me that he had read Nicklaus' book and could fix my swing in a heartbeat. [/color][/quote]

You should have said "And I've just read Emily Post's book on manners and etiquette. Do you want to know what you are doing wrong?"

[Exactice808]

LOL Gotta something that made me laugh a little.....

So I am at the range the other day...... 2 guys and 2 girls.....looks like they are working out a double date or something....you know one of those situations.....

Anyways... the girls cant hit, but trying the guys can kinda hit,...... Conversation ensues


Guy 1 - Hits a decent shot off the tee

Guy 2 - "Wow look at that, in 1 day I can teach you how to hit that" (Shanks his shot)

Guy 1 - Hits another decent shot and smiles

Guy 2 - "Wow I sometimes impress myself, look at that" (Duffs another shot)

So this goes on for a little while.... Guy 2 I guess feels the need to talk loud enough so the girls can hear him....Guy 1 takes a break and sits down while Guy 2 is still hitting balls. He hits a couple of good ones and next thing .......

Guy 2 - "Eh Dude, what should I hit, a Draw or a Cut?"

Guy 1 - "Seriously I dont even know what you are talking about?"

Guy 2 - "Its a precision shot, Draw is blah blah blah....."

Guy 1 - "Yeah ok whatevers"


Guy 2 - " Ok I am going to hit a Draw shot" Shanks it.....

Guy 2 - "Damn I missed, ok let me try again" Duffs it almost whacks the stall barrier LOL


Granted this is loud enough for probably the next 3 stalls including myself to hear with headphones on, just to impress the girl.......

Yikes....... I just wanted to turn around and say..... BRO YOU ARE TRYING WAY TO HARD!

[Sean2]

"Range is still closed."

It's been WEEKS...

[oregongolfguy]

this last weekend. At the range. In my neck of the woods its just starting to thaw out. Hitting off matts. Range ground is rock hard. There are different holes cut at different distances etc. Guy shows up with his girlfriend. probably in their mid 20's. he is giving it a good go, trying to explain the game to her etc. She is obviously got drug there, probably almost against her will. She is very bored. The gent is trying to dial in the 100 yard pin, and having some issues....she starts throwing some snide remarks at him etc. Mind you she is not hitting or anything, just sitting there watching.
She finally says" wow, your not very good at this, the hole is like 100yds away, anyone can get the ball there" he turns around pissed and asks if she would like to give it a shot. Mind you they are talking pretty loudly. Now everyone is stopping to watch the action along the range. She is pissed, but not gonna back down. She walks up, takes off her heels...he hands her a club. She says no thanks....grabs a golf ball and throws it down the fairway. It was a pretty good heave, probably makes it about 60yds, hits a sprinkler head, bounces up and land just in front of the pin, two more bounces and it hits the flag and goes in......Myself and a bunch of other gents on the range..after a moment of shock bust up laughing. She says not a word, puts her heels back on and walks to the car....
I have no idea what the chances are of pulling that off...but it was pretty darn funny....

[Ringer]

I overheard a guy tell the range attendant he wanted to rent some irons with extra stiff shafts because his swing speed was fast enough to bend regular flex shafts.

[BobbyDPlaysGolf]

I hate range guru's. You know the guy that will talk smack about ben hogan, with about six beers in his system. Then you see him hit a ball and its laughable. Those people, are by far the worst.

[hunter1995]

[quote name='sompin2do' timestamp='1379598829' post='7876897']
A dad forcing his 5 year old son to learn a pre-shot routine. Have seen him and his wife forcing the kid to hit balls almost daily for well over a year now. Most of their sessions turn to negotiations where Jr is trying to get done sooner so he can get off the range.
[/quote]

That is very common...it's too bad

[Interpol]

Not something I heard, but I saw this ridiculousness today at my local range: some dude who cleaned the clubface with water and a towel after EVERY shot. He would step off the mat, walk a few steps back to his bag, pull out a spray bottle, spray and wipe until absolutely clean, and then step back on the mat for his next shot.

The bucket of 110 balls he had must have lasted about 4 hours.

[BillyZ2]

[quote name='Interpol' timestamp='1427425521' post='11225125']
Not something I heard, but I saw this ridiculousness today at my local range: some dude who cleaned the clubface with water and a towel after EVERY shot. He would step off the mat, walk a few steps back to his bag, pull out a spray bottle, spray and wipe until absolutely clean, and then step back on the mat for his next shot.

The bucket of 110 balls he had must have lasted about 4 hours.
[/quote]There may have been more to it then just cleaning the club face. He may have been monitoring where each shot made contact on the face of the club, to see how consistant he actually was.