There's a lot of discussion on etiquette, protocol, respect for the game, etc here. A lot of it seems to be based on traditions, poor attitudes and actions by uneducated/inexperienced golfers, or people that are just self-centered and rude in general.
So my question is this - is the removal of one's hat and shaking of their playing partners hands important to you? Do you find it disrespectful if someone doesn't shake? Doesn't remove their hat? Or their glove?Does it all, but sourly?
I ask this because almost every time I watch golf I notice MANY pro golfers remove their hat, run their hand through their sweaty mop (presumably to make sure their hat-head is camera acceptable), and IMMEDIATELY shake their partners hands, the caddies hands, etc. To me, it seems very disrespectful. I've recently started to pay attention to it, and I almost never see a player so much as wipe their hand off on their pant leg before reaching out for the handshakes.
Personally I feel that the handshakes are a valuable and important part of the end of round ritual. A sign of respect and appreciation for your partner, opponent, others that helped, etc. I could care less if you take your hat off. Even keep your glove on. Some people are weird about germs or being touched and that's fine by me. I expect you to shake my hand when offered though, or I'll take it as a sign of disrespect or poor sportsmanship. That said, if you're going to pull your hat, reflexively run your hand through the sweaty and or product filled hair that's been festering under that hat for the last five hours and then shake my hand, I'll consider you just as rude as if you hadn't. From my side, you may as well have spit in it.
As I've written this I've thought back on the variety of people I've played with this year and realized that many haven't removed their hat, and at least two have had their gloves on (they putt with them, too), but they've all given a good shake and I felt they were sincere in their appreciation for the competition and camaraderie. So I guess that's all that really matters to me. That and the fact that none of them felt the need to wipe a well soiled part of their body before offering it!
So my question is this - is the removal of one's hat and shaking of their playing partners hands important to you? Do you find it disrespectful if someone doesn't shake? Doesn't remove their hat? Or their glove?Does it all, but sourly?
I ask this because almost every time I watch golf I notice MANY pro golfers remove their hat, run their hand through their sweaty mop (presumably to make sure their hat-head is camera acceptable), and IMMEDIATELY shake their partners hands, the caddies hands, etc. To me, it seems very disrespectful. I've recently started to pay attention to it, and I almost never see a player so much as wipe their hand off on their pant leg before reaching out for the handshakes.
Personally I feel that the handshakes are a valuable and important part of the end of round ritual. A sign of respect and appreciation for your partner, opponent, others that helped, etc. I could care less if you take your hat off. Even keep your glove on. Some people are weird about germs or being touched and that's fine by me. I expect you to shake my hand when offered though, or I'll take it as a sign of disrespect or poor sportsmanship. That said, if you're going to pull your hat, reflexively run your hand through the sweaty and or product filled hair that's been festering under that hat for the last five hours and then shake my hand, I'll consider you just as rude as if you hadn't. From my side, you may as well have spit in it.
As I've written this I've thought back on the variety of people I've played with this year and realized that many haven't removed their hat, and at least two have had their gloves on (they putt with them, too), but they've all given a good shake and I felt they were sincere in their appreciation for the competition and camaraderie. So I guess that's all that really matters to me. That and the fact that none of them felt the need to wipe a well soiled part of their body before offering it!