lemmiwinks
Mark it 8, Dude.
This is going to be a long post but I'm still kinda fired up. Understand completely if ya skim or skip, haha.
So Friday, I decide to take my little guy out for another round of golf.
He's come with me about 3-4x in the past 6 weeks. He's 4, has a set of clubs for his size (D, 9i and putter). I decide to hit this little Par 3 Executive course down my way that I haven't been to in a few years. You have to walk (not an issue as I carried the little guys bag when he was tired), but it's pretty short (1200 yds).
Greens Fee is $13.00 for out of township player, no big deal.
I get there, my son is pumped. Loves playing golf. I go in and ask what the Jr. rate is. The guy looks at me like I have 6 eyes in my forehead. He's like we don't have one. I said ok, what can you do for me, he's 4 and I usually just tee him up about 30 yds from the green and let him play in. He says nothing, it's full price for both of us. I say ok - it's still about the same as 2 buckets and drinks at the range.
After I pay, the gentleman behind the counter says "You're gonna play best ball with him right?". To which I reply, "Whadya mean?". He then says that they're starting to get busy and he doesn't want us holding up play so I should tee off and then let him (my son) play from where I hit to. At this point, I'm thinking I should just ask for money back, go to a more accomodating course and be done with it. I didn't because T-storms were rolling in and I wanted to get some play in. Based on the fact that I paid a full green fee for him, I thought it was a bit out of line of to request that so I told him, I paid for a full round so he's playing for tee to green (not really cause I don't wanna be there for 5 hours), but you know what I mean.
I wish I could say that it got better from here and we had a great experience. Way wrong answer. On the 1st tee, I get paired up with 2 guys that came off from playing a round of 9 already, separately. One a young guy maybe 2 or 3 years younger than me and the other was a guy that was probably my dad's age. I say to both in the tee box, "If you wanna play ahead, go ahead. I'll wait till you clear the green and then go. I don't want to hold anyone up and he's just really learning the game." They both say, no big deal, so off we go.
Seeing that he's 4, there's only so much information he can retain. The main things I'm instilling in him right now are 1. Don't talk when someone is swinging 2. Don't touch other peoples balls (a lifelong lesson here on many levels and because he does like to "help" everyone get closer to the hole) 3. Always stand behind or to the side of someone when they're swinging. The younger guy thinks it's great. Telling him great shot, encouragement, etc. The older guy, not so much. I can tell he's annoyed by the 2nd green. I say, if both or either of you guys wanna play up, by all means. I won't be insulted and I don't want to hold up anyone. They both say no and we're off to number 3. After #4, you have to cross the road to play #5 and #6. The older gentleman (and I use that term loosely) decides he's skipping those two holes and is gonna play 7, 8 and 9. Sure, no problem. He proceeds to shake the younger gent's hand and says "Nice playing with ya" to him. Walks right passed me and my son without even a glance and keeps going off to #7. Me being me, I say "Hey nice playing with ya buddy", he turns and gives me a sideways glance and keep's going. I say to our other playing partner that if he wants to play up, go ahead and he was like no way, I don't mind. Your boy is a trip. Everytime he hits he takes a deep breath and says "ok, relax and 1. 2. 3." and hits. The guy laughed every time.
Sorry for the rant but this just really chapped my arse. Needless to say, I won't be going back there which is a shame because it's great for short game practice, but I'd rather pay $50+ and go to a course that's more accomodating for the kiddies and I can ride too.
So Friday, I decide to take my little guy out for another round of golf.
He's come with me about 3-4x in the past 6 weeks. He's 4, has a set of clubs for his size (D, 9i and putter). I decide to hit this little Par 3 Executive course down my way that I haven't been to in a few years. You have to walk (not an issue as I carried the little guys bag when he was tired), but it's pretty short (1200 yds).
Greens Fee is $13.00 for out of township player, no big deal.
I get there, my son is pumped. Loves playing golf. I go in and ask what the Jr. rate is. The guy looks at me like I have 6 eyes in my forehead. He's like we don't have one. I said ok, what can you do for me, he's 4 and I usually just tee him up about 30 yds from the green and let him play in. He says nothing, it's full price for both of us. I say ok - it's still about the same as 2 buckets and drinks at the range.
After I pay, the gentleman behind the counter says "You're gonna play best ball with him right?". To which I reply, "Whadya mean?". He then says that they're starting to get busy and he doesn't want us holding up play so I should tee off and then let him (my son) play from where I hit to. At this point, I'm thinking I should just ask for money back, go to a more accomodating course and be done with it. I didn't because T-storms were rolling in and I wanted to get some play in. Based on the fact that I paid a full green fee for him, I thought it was a bit out of line of to request that so I told him, I paid for a full round so he's playing for tee to green (not really cause I don't wanna be there for 5 hours), but you know what I mean.
I wish I could say that it got better from here and we had a great experience. Way wrong answer. On the 1st tee, I get paired up with 2 guys that came off from playing a round of 9 already, separately. One a young guy maybe 2 or 3 years younger than me and the other was a guy that was probably my dad's age. I say to both in the tee box, "If you wanna play ahead, go ahead. I'll wait till you clear the green and then go. I don't want to hold anyone up and he's just really learning the game." They both say, no big deal, so off we go.
Seeing that he's 4, there's only so much information he can retain. The main things I'm instilling in him right now are 1. Don't talk when someone is swinging 2. Don't touch other peoples balls (a lifelong lesson here on many levels and because he does like to "help" everyone get closer to the hole) 3. Always stand behind or to the side of someone when they're swinging. The younger guy thinks it's great. Telling him great shot, encouragement, etc. The older guy, not so much. I can tell he's annoyed by the 2nd green. I say, if both or either of you guys wanna play up, by all means. I won't be insulted and I don't want to hold up anyone. They both say no and we're off to number 3. After #4, you have to cross the road to play #5 and #6. The older gentleman (and I use that term loosely) decides he's skipping those two holes and is gonna play 7, 8 and 9. Sure, no problem. He proceeds to shake the younger gent's hand and says "Nice playing with ya" to him. Walks right passed me and my son without even a glance and keeps going off to #7. Me being me, I say "Hey nice playing with ya buddy", he turns and gives me a sideways glance and keep's going. I say to our other playing partner that if he wants to play up, go ahead and he was like no way, I don't mind. Your boy is a trip. Everytime he hits he takes a deep breath and says "ok, relax and 1. 2. 3." and hits. The guy laughed every time.
Sorry for the rant but this just really chapped my arse. Needless to say, I won't be going back there which is a shame because it's great for short game practice, but I'd rather pay $50+ and go to a course that's more accomodating for the kiddies and I can ride too.