Golf story...what’s wrong with these people?

[GK4Herd]

So... was playing Esquire Sunday and the back nine came to a crawl with this foursome group of elderly golfers a few groups ahead of us. It wasn’t that they were bad, but they were so deliberate. When they got to the greens they all had these long rituals that left four or five open holes in front of them and several groups backed up behind them. Older people...in which category I now squarely fall into, are so oblivious of their surroundings. But that’s not the story...

When we arrive on 18, there’s a single about 100 yards behind us in the fairway, and a foursome behind them also in the fairway. There was a decent sized group on the hill above the 18th beside the clubhouse/putting green waiting to go off. This lug of a guy in the group proceeds to walk over above the green and starts teeing up balls and driving them up the fairway of 18...over the head of the single behind us and in front of the group behind them. Over this guys head. He looks up and kind of gives a shrug and says what are you doing? The guy doesn’t hear him and continues to tee up balls. So I couldn’t take it anymore so I yell at the guy. Hey...what the hell are you doing? Can’t you see you’re hitting balls into people? This guy looks puzzled then it turns to anger. He slams his club on the ground and starts yelling, “Oh my God!” He picks up camp and then incredulously curses his way back to his group...none of which appear to be lending him any consolation.

I mean...what the hell? How are people so unaware of their surroundings?

 

[GreenDuke]

That’s been the emergency practice tee for years, especially after they stopped manning the practice range in the early 80’s. Get 3-4 old balls and whack em down 18. I’ve got a pretty good idea who you saw doing that but I wont call him out because he’s a good guy. He’s just, as you pointed out, oblivious.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

Where the hell was the marshal? I would have gone straight to the club house to complain about the pace of play. That’s ridiculous.

 

[GK4Herd]

Where the hell was the marshal? I would have gone straight to the club house to complain about the pace of play. That’s ridiculous.

The marshal does very little to speed up play at Esquire. They usually don't have one and operate on a very limited staff but the last few rounds I've played they've had one. I really haven't seen them trying to pick up play.

 

[GreenDuke]

They were removed along with the sand bunkers, the balls were being hit from the clubhouse area lol. Seriously I haven’t seen a marshal out there in years, but I don’t play the course regularly.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

The marshal does very little to speed up play at Esquire. They usually don't have one and operate on a very limited staff but the last few rounds I've played they've had one. I really haven't seen them trying to pick up play.

That's unfortunate. No reason every golf course in America can't afford to pay a retiree minimum wage to serve as a starter/marshal. Hell, some might do it for free.

People like me and you will come back because we're addicted to the game but five plus hour rounds are a sure-fire way to make sure newbies never do.

 

[GK4Herd]

That’s been the emergency practice tee for years, especially after they stopped manning the practice range in the early 80’s. Get 3-4 old balls and whack em down 18. I’ve got a pretty good idea who you saw doing that but I wont call him out because he’s a good guy. He’s just, as you pointed out, oblivious.

I have no problem with people hitting balls out of play or down a vacant fairway. But not over someone's head. Even the pros hit bad shots. That's just dangerous.

But you're hitting on the root of the problem with local courses. There's just not enough real estate to have driving ranges. For the life of me I don't understand why Esquire doesn't operate their driving range. At the very least, lease the land and let someone come in and run it for profit. As much as this course struggles financially and changes owners, this is a missed opportunity I would think. Pay someone minimum wage to man the range. You'd only need to sell two bags of balls and hour to pay their salary.

And for crying out loud get some ball washers on the tee boxes. And the few they do have put cleaner in them. They're drier than the golden girls.

 

[i am herdman]

That's unfortunate. No reason every golf course in America can't afford to pay a retiree minimum wage to serve as a starter/marshal. Hell, some might do it for free.

People like me and you will come back because we're addicted to the game but five plus hour rounds are a sure-fire way to make sure newbies never do.

Most of the marshals/rangers at most courses are working for free tee times or reduced green fees. The golf industry is very tight in terms of profit and that is one way they cut costs.

Not sure what the hell that guy was thinking though. Probably just in his own world for a few minutes.

 

[Chris McLaughlin]

Most of the marshals/rangers at most courses are working for free tee times or reduced green fees. The golf industry is very tight in terms of profit and that is one way they cut costs.

Makes all the sense in the world. I'd 100% do it after I retire.

 

[WV-FAN]

"Esquire" . . . you sure you wasn't in a strip club or some low end bar/night club?

 

[GreenDuke]

Most public courses have guys who work 2-3 days a week in exchange for free play. It’s a great gig if you like being outdoors and love the game.

 

[GreenDuke]

"Esquire" . . . you sure you wasn't in a strip club or some low end bar/night club?

You know, I think you’re right.

 

[GK4Herd]

Retirees in Myrtle Beach do this.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Nutty guy tries to kill golfers

The solution: everyone tee up and return fire.

 

[i am herdman]

The solution: everyone tee up and return fire.

exactly. Hit the ball back at the idiot.

 

[Dreh_Nagi_HC_IM]

When they hit into me, I take their ball, and wipe it across my asshole a couple of times, aka, marking the ball. But, that's just me.

 

[GreenDuke]

I

When they hit into me, I take their ball, and wipe it across my asshole a couple of times, aka, marking the ball. But, that's just me.

“You’ll never be a member at Bushwood sir”.