We have all had some amazing times on the golf course, be it visiting exotic courses, shooting personal bests or enjoying time with friends. Once in a while, the course isn’t a ton of fun.
What was the worst experience you have ever had on the golf course and why?
On the flip side, I probably couldn’t tell you my best experience on a course either. Too many to count.
I guess there was one time where a buddy and I got paired up with a twosome at Kiawah on the ocean course. THese guys were from just across the state looking to play it for the first time. Dressed super fancy haha, talked about how they were good players, ready to tackle the course, etc. Well they were not so good. Normally isn’t a problem with me because Ive been there and still have really bad days.
Any way. They were not the most gifted players, but what made the day super bad for my buddy and I was the constant complaining. The greens are too fast/the pins are ridiculous (they had multiple 3/4/5 putts), this hard pan (the OCs cart path/bunkering) is impossible and not fair, the fairways aren’t wide enough (if you’ve never played the OC the fairways are supppppper forgiving), etc. Well this unfortunately took a toll on us and while we shot pretty decent for us (mid to high 80s, they shot well over 100), we didn’t get to really enjoy our normal mojito and burger on the porch like we usually do after a round there. They just ruined it.
Funny thing was, my buddy had enough of it at one point and mentioned, "well it looks like Josh has gotten out of the bunkers pretty well after adjusting and I’ve putted pretty darn well with less than 25 putts through 15" they didn’t get the hint though haha. THe famous 17th par 3 was interesting that day. Super heavy head wind. From our tees it was 155 but I hit a 4 iron haha. Landed middle of the green. These two knobs hit their "150 club" smooth 7 and made it maybe halfway.
(literall sat here thinking of a time and when that one hit me, it all came rushing back haha)
bro that’s not a you being a fast player and others being slow issue, that’s a course not knowing what they’re doing issue.
Completely inexcusable
but my worst experience is getting into arguments with other golfers. it takes away from your day and the fun i am having playing with my dad.
Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen between now and next weekend for our club championship this year. I would say if those are my worst experiences then I’ve had some good times golfing!
I always try to enjoy the game, the company, the outdoors etc…but it just wasn’t happening that day.
That’s the worst I’ve got. I almost always love being on the course and have made peace with my abilities. Since no one will pay me to play this game I guess I should really enjoy it.
On a side note, I got stuck behind a maintenance guy mowing greens for about 4-5 holes. Had to wait for him every time. Usually they will turn the mower off when you are trying to putt….this guy didn’t.
The reason I bring this up is, today at another club to which I belong is playing a Partner best ball event today — This Mr Attitude is in the group directly behind me. Holy Crap Batman..
Epidemy of old country club perception, walked in club house and ended my membership.
Tournament day rolled around and it was cold and windy. A few minutes into the round, it began to rain, and continued to rain and pour and rain through the hole round. Living in Las Vegas, I don’t have much rain gear, and I was soon soaked and freezing. If it weren’t for the fact that it was a tournament, I would have left as soon as I was chilled to the bone, but instead I played 15 more holes of terrible, freezing, wet, expensive and crappy golf.
A friend of mine just witnessed that same unfortunate incident the other day- the guy had to leave.
I was on the guys golf trip a few years ago playing in the Birch Bay area of Washington state.
Since I was the best player in the group of 12, I was paired with the worst player as a teammate.
He is in the bunker and takes 3 swipes at it and never gets it out, so his score won’t be used and he picks up the ball.
I’m already on the green and have a 3 foot par putt so I am tending the flag for the other teams putts.
The next thing I know, I am flat on my back and looking up at the other twosome playing with us and they are asking if I am alright.
My idiot teammate had decided he wanted 1 more crack at the bunker without letting me know he was going to try.
He was only 15 feet from me and bladed the ball while I was holding the flag for the other guys.
The ball hit me right behind the left ear and knocked me out for a few seconds.
Now I used to box and fight full contact karate against some pretty big guys in the past and have been hit pretty hard in doing so, but never had I been close to being knocked out. It’s amazing what a little ball can do when it hits you in the right spot at the right speed.
I recovered quickly and went on with the round, but I had to listen to my partner apologize about 10 times on every hole after that.
The headache that ensued and his constant apologies ruined the round for me.
I would have crawled into a ditch if I could have! I just turned my white shorts mostly pink with lots of water, untucked my shirt and went on about the round! hahaha
It was mortifying though…
Somehow I got par on the par 3 next hole. But not being able to put weight on my back foot, the next hole I proceeded to hook my drive into the bush, as well as my provisional, and the shot after that… I used my 7 iron to put one out there. I can’t even remember much of the round, just how disappointed I was.
Earlier in the season I had won my flight in the match play tournament, basically against the same guys, so I had a great shot at winning both that year. And I was playing well and really confident.
I think that is my worst experience. I’ve been angry/miserable at things/people, but nothing like that day.
Unfortunately, this popped out last TH at my league, so I have some apologizing still to do tonight.
I had a bad day with work & I barely slept the night before….these are my poor reasons (excuses) for my behavior.
I hadn’t lost my (bleep) like this in 4 years.
So disappointed in myself.
Pebble is famous for no rain checks, but nevertheless, we demanded someone come out to the 3rd to see the condition of the course. I ended up having a huge barney with the head pro who came out and insisted the course was still playable. Not even close to being that thoroughly pissed off on a golf course before. I did get a rain check in the end after firing off a very harsh email. Complete joke they expected people to play an unplayable course though. I remember getting home and almost bursting into tears LOL.
Okay, that does bring one round in particular to mind. We play an annual tournament/guys’ trip that we’ve been doing for over 20 years. A few years ago I shot mid 80s in the practice round and first tournament round – a couple of the better golfers who usually win or contend had a bad day, so I ended up in the final foursome. In the second tournament round I completely melted down and shot a 104. I couldn’t hit a decent shot to save my life and putted like I was blindfolded and wearing steel mittens. I still enjoyed the company/camaraderie and it was a beautiful day for golf, but I think that has to be the most frustrated I’ve ever been on a golf course. It still burns in me to this day.
Round over.
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I went back two days later and played 18. A really bad smell suddenly came over the course and the ditches has moving water in them. My caddie told me that they used city grey water for the course every day at 1:00 pm.
OMG…..what a **** hole.
Go Navy!
I was going to say the 6 hr 15 minute 18 hole scramble I played last week was pretty bad, but that right there absolutely takes the cake.
The other was a stomach bug that hit all of a sudden and caused an accident of monumental proportions.
The fact that Las Sendas gets mentioned in the same post as the aforementioned butt-splosion should emphasize the disdain I have for Las Sendas, a course that some of my AZ friends still like.
I’ve played in a lot of those 6+ hour charity scrambles – they never bother me because I know going in that it’s going to be a long day, we go out there and just have fun with good friends, and the alcohol is usually flowing. Maximal hijinks and minimal "serious" golf. But 8 hours to play 10 holes?!? Noooo thank you on a 14-15 hour round!
All my bad experiences usually turn into good stories so it’s ok. One that stands out was getting paired up with another single one time. Separate carts. He’s was an Asian gentleman. Good swing. Good player too. Didn’t track his score but he was mid 70s I imagined. I tried several times, that turned into 8-10 times to strike up a conversation with him. Each time he just kind of semi-grinned with a “Don’t talk to me during my round please” look on his face. Even ignored my compliments of a shot or a high five/fist bump (pre-COVID mind you). Then he completely ignored me on most of the back 9. I honestly thought he was being standoffish borderline rude to me.
Only did I find out later (as in a week later from the starter) this gentleman did not speak English at all. And was rather shy to boot. He was in town from Japan visiting family. On his first trip to the US. ???????????? Yeah Facepalm on me. ?
But hey as I said….makes a great and funny story now!