Golfin
Active member
I have been playing golf for close to 20 years. I primarily play with my dad, who gave me the golf bug by dragging me to the range at age 28. As a two-some, we generally get around a course in good time while still enjoying ourselves without rushing. We tend to play during the week, which doesn't affect as many groups as it would if we played on the weekend.
However a recent round got me thinking. Is it wrong if a faster-playing two-some asks to play ahead of a slower two-some? This was the situation:
Between holes 1-5 we past a 4-some (2 males with 2 kids) who allowed us to play through. We didn't push them, but happened to meet them on the tee at hole 2 and they had not teed-off. By hole 6, we had a 2-some in front of us, and as far as we could see, no other group in front of them. The hole ahead was open. We noticed they were sharing something (We assumed a joint), and the older gentleman was taking two and 3 swings off the tee (His coordination looked off) between holes 7 and 9.
On the tee at hole 9, we literally watched the older gentleman swing 3 times ( 2 pop ups and 1 WAY right, about 20 yards each) when my dad walked to the tee, citing their lack of etiquette and performance and hit away (I kept saying, dad, don't do it. Stop!). It led to name-calling from the younger/older guy and made me feel very awkward. My dad plays white tees and the guys were playing the blue tees. I also played the blue tees and now had to make a decision. Do i accept my dad's decision to force his way onto the tee and deal with the possible ramifications from the two-some? I made my way to the tee. The first thing I did was apologize for his behaviour. I didn't think what he did was right (And i told him so when we walked to our tee shots). The younger guy appreciated my take on the situation and let me tee off. I had a stern conversation with my dad on the 10th tee, citing no less the possible physical confrontation it may have led to or worse, a police record of a physical record.
It got me thinking. Playing through can be a sensitive situation. How do you handle it, and does it matter if you are a 2-some or 4-some whether you let others play through?
However a recent round got me thinking. Is it wrong if a faster-playing two-some asks to play ahead of a slower two-some? This was the situation:
Between holes 1-5 we past a 4-some (2 males with 2 kids) who allowed us to play through. We didn't push them, but happened to meet them on the tee at hole 2 and they had not teed-off. By hole 6, we had a 2-some in front of us, and as far as we could see, no other group in front of them. The hole ahead was open. We noticed they were sharing something (We assumed a joint), and the older gentleman was taking two and 3 swings off the tee (His coordination looked off) between holes 7 and 9.
On the tee at hole 9, we literally watched the older gentleman swing 3 times ( 2 pop ups and 1 WAY right, about 20 yards each) when my dad walked to the tee, citing their lack of etiquette and performance and hit away (I kept saying, dad, don't do it. Stop!). It led to name-calling from the younger/older guy and made me feel very awkward. My dad plays white tees and the guys were playing the blue tees. I also played the blue tees and now had to make a decision. Do i accept my dad's decision to force his way onto the tee and deal with the possible ramifications from the two-some? I made my way to the tee. The first thing I did was apologize for his behaviour. I didn't think what he did was right (And i told him so when we walked to our tee shots). The younger guy appreciated my take on the situation and let me tee off. I had a stern conversation with my dad on the 10th tee, citing no less the possible physical confrontation it may have led to or worse, a police record of a physical record.
It got me thinking. Playing through can be a sensitive situation. How do you handle it, and does it matter if you are a 2-some or 4-some whether you let others play through?