New players

[goshawk]

I was paired with two guys yesterday at a course near Buffalo. One of them (Bill) was an experienced play, his friend (Jeff) a new player. It was painfully obvious on the first green just how new Jeff was when he walked on my putting line as well as Bill's. On the next hole, while Jeff was hunting in the tall grass for his ball, I asked Bill if he had talked with him about proper etiquette and he said yes. I suggested that he talk with him about it again, especially when on the green. It only took 3 more holes before I had to talk to Jeff myself. Since we were an entire hole in front of the following 4some, I spent 10 minutes explaining to him about walking on putting lines, not talking while other players were hitting, not driving the gas-powered cart while someone was hitting, tee-ing his ball "behind" the tee boxes, only taking 1 mulligan per hole, not dropping trash on the course, sharing the duties with pulling/replacing the flags on the greens, and not taking so much time lining up putts. He was looking at his putts from both sides before choosing his line. When I asked why he was doing that, he said "I saw the pros doing it and thought that's what you had to do". I could have asked him how much money he was making playing golf, but I didn't.
If you're going to bring new golfers to the course, PLEASE explain course etiquette to them. Let them know what's expected of them while out there. It's embarrasing to the new player to have some stranger explaing things like that in front of their friends, and it's very frustrating for the other players to be the one to have to do that. It only takes a few minutes before getting to the first tee, and it saves so much time and frustration later.

[Thimble]

Couldn't agree more. Don't take newbies on a course withtout properly teaching (not just explaining) proper etiquette. They're your responsibility.

As for looking at your putts from both sides: I do that but I make sure I do it before it's my turn.

[goshawk]

Couldn't agree more. Don't take newbies on a course withtout properly teaching (not just explaining) proper etiquette. They're your responsibility.

As for looking at your putts from both sides: I do that but I make sure I do it before it's my turn.
I have no problem with doing it that way. But waiting until it's your turn, and taking the time to do this for a 30 foot putt.....that's a bit too much!! He only did it twice before I just couldn't leave it alone.

[Carlton]

Sounds like a great day on the course! Ouch... you should have given him or his friend a bill for etiquette lessons. No pun intended... purely accidental. :D

[goshawk]

Sounds like a great day on the course! Ouch... you should have given him or his friend a bill for etiquette lessons. No pun intended... purely accidental. :D
Carlton, Bill actually asked me how I was qualified to tell someone how they are supposed to behave on the course. Talk about biting your tongue! It would have been so easy to get into an argument, but I just explained my qualifications and left it at that. After the round, I asked him if he had ever taken lessons and he said no. I suggested going to his local pro and take some etiquette lessons and pass them along to Jeff.
My real issue was that Jeff was enthusiastic about learning to play and really wanted to do it correctly and properly. It's just that Bill had never told him what was expected on the course. Maybe Bill figured they would just be a 2some and just muddle their way around the course. Whatever the reason, Bill may be setting Jeff up to be frustrated and losing interest in the game.

[BOGEY MAN]

Im glad to hear you took the time to teach a little etiquette. As a little etiquette goes along way. It is one of my favorite things about this sport. I believe it should be the first lesson taught to all prospective golfers.

[Heits]

I've taught a number of future links junior programs and it's definately etiquette you try and nail into their heads, above and beyond how to play golf. It's not too bad because with kids you kind of understand, but it feels ackward when you have to teach or hold hands with an adult to get it across!

[Carlton]

Carlton, Bill actually asked me how I was qualified to tell someone how they are supposed to behave on the course. Talk about biting your tongue!

Ouch! Guess he couldn't read what was on your staff bag! :eek:

[jgrisoni]

lol thank you for posting this...

last weekend i was out with a buddy and we were forced to play with another group.

one guy was great the other couldnt hit the ball, and started walkin along our lines, we didnt say anything cause we didnt wanna start a fight but just gave the more experienced player the look.

he then advised us that he spoke to him, then he walks over the line again... lol needless to say at that point, i had to hold my buddy back, other wise he was gonna get a putter up his yahoo.

[goshawk]

You know, it's a damned shame that a person has to get so frustrated to want to misuse a good putter because someone couldn't fess up and say he didn't take a little time to explain some very simple concepts to a new golfer. And if this had been explained, the new golfer would still be enthusiastic about coming back to play, or even taking lessons to learn to play better. It's a game, and we're supposed to enjoy playing this game. But without the etiquette part of this game, it's not very enjoyable.