Poe: No excuse for poor etiquette
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I'm a bad golfer, there's no doubt about it. Having one of the worst seasons I can remember.
But despite the fact that I never know where the golf ball is going to go when I hit it, or even if it's going to be in the air or on the ground, there's one simple rule I've always adhered to.
LET FASTER PLAYERS PLAY THROUGH.
I'm pretty sure that at almost every golf course you set foot on, there are a list of course rules located somewhere near the first tee. And, I'm almost 100 percent certain that is one of the first rules listed.
I'll admit, I'm a pretty fast player. As far as I'm concerned there is no use spending too much time standing over your ball, because unless you're a PGA professional, chances are it isn't going to go where you want it to anyway.
This is not in any way an attempt to advocate speed golf. I'm not saying you have to race around the course in breakneck fashion, unless you're taking part in an all-day marathon of some sort and you need to get finished before the sun goes down.
Steady golf, however, is another story.
If you're playing in a twosome, or even a threesome, an 18-hole round of golf should never take more than three hours. Anybody who thinks differently has been watching too much golf on television.
I realize that a round of golf is supposed to be played in foursomes, not twosomes or threesomes. However, sometimes you can't find four people who can get away to play at the same time.
That's when it's up to the fivesome in front of you to take a mere two or three minutes to step off to the side and wave you through. That's all it takes folks. Two or three minutes. If that.
To me, instead of making the faster group behind you wait five minutes between each shot (and believe me, that's excruciating), it is much easier to swallow your pride, or whatever, and wave faster players through.
When I started playing this wonderful game some four decades ago, I believe that is one of the first rules I learned. It's a shame that too many people ignore it today.
Yes, I'm a very impatient person at everything I do. But I'd be willing to bet that a lot of golfers feel the same way I do. Unless you're playing in a tournament, there is no reason to have to wait five minutes between each shot. All that does is take away any rhythm you could possibly have and create hostile feelings between the slower players, who refuse to let faster players through, and the guys who in a mere two minutes would leave the slower group in the dust.
So next time you decide to take out your ball retriever and go fishing in the lake, think about those guys behind you who just want to play a steady round of golf.
OK, enough ranting for today.
The next major tournament on the Sioux City docket is the River-Cade, set for July 12-13 at Green Valley. Nate Barbee, a former South Dakota state high school champion from Dakota Valley who now plays at the University of Kansas, is the defending champion.
Five days prior to that, however, Siouxland Golf Charities Inc. hosts its annual Pro-Am at beautiful Whispering Creek Golf Club.
The event pairs professionals from the Nebraska Section of the PGA with local amateurs for 18 holes. This is one of the best events for the Nebraska PGA section and local charities have received more than $40,000 from the proceeds.
Remsen native Dan Boever will be on hand for his magical show of trick shots and long-ball bashing. Believe me, if you've never watched one of Dan's shows, you're in for a treat.
The Family Fun Day, featuring Boever, will be 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, on the Whispering Creek driving range. Local professionals will also offer lessons after the show.
The best part of all, Boever's show and the lessons are free of charge.
You may notice that this week's In the Bag featuring Morningside College golf coach Kelly Schmidt includes a mere 10 clubs.
Unfortunately, the missing four sticks from Kelly's bag have met an untimely demise. Trees, golf carts and bodies of water somehow act as magnets to Kelly's clubs.
And, as I've stated in this column before, Kelly's shoes of choice are flip-flops. There still, as far as I'm concerned, isn't a better flip-flop wearing golfer on this planet.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com.
But despite the fact that I never know where the golf ball is going to go when I hit it, or even if it's going to be in the air or on the ground, there's one simple rule I've always adhered to.
LET FASTER PLAYERS PLAY THROUGH.
I'm pretty sure that at almost every golf course you set foot on, there are a list of course rules located somewhere near the first tee. And, I'm almost 100 percent certain that is one of the first rules listed.
I'll admit, I'm a pretty fast player. As far as I'm concerned there is no use spending too much time standing over your ball, because unless you're a PGA professional, chances are it isn't going to go where you want it to anyway.
This is not in any way an attempt to advocate speed golf. I'm not saying you have to race around the course in breakneck fashion, unless you're taking part in an all-day marathon of some sort and you need to get finished before the sun goes down.
Steady golf, however, is another story.
If you're playing in a twosome, or even a threesome, an 18-hole round of golf should never take more than three hours. Anybody who thinks differently has been watching too much golf on television.
I realize that a round of golf is supposed to be played in foursomes, not twosomes or threesomes. However, sometimes you can't find four people who can get away to play at the same time.
That's when it's up to the fivesome in front of you to take a mere two or three minutes to step off to the side and wave you through. That's all it takes folks. Two or three minutes. If that.
To me, instead of making the faster group behind you wait five minutes between each shot (and believe me, that's excruciating), it is much easier to swallow your pride, or whatever, and wave faster players through.
When I started playing this wonderful game some four decades ago, I believe that is one of the first rules I learned. It's a shame that too many people ignore it today.
Yes, I'm a very impatient person at everything I do. But I'd be willing to bet that a lot of golfers feel the same way I do. Unless you're playing in a tournament, there is no reason to have to wait five minutes between each shot. All that does is take away any rhythm you could possibly have and create hostile feelings between the slower players, who refuse to let faster players through, and the guys who in a mere two minutes would leave the slower group in the dust.
So next time you decide to take out your ball retriever and go fishing in the lake, think about those guys behind you who just want to play a steady round of golf.
OK, enough ranting for today.
The next major tournament on the Sioux City docket is the River-Cade, set for July 12-13 at Green Valley. Nate Barbee, a former South Dakota state high school champion from Dakota Valley who now plays at the University of Kansas, is the defending champion.
Five days prior to that, however, Siouxland Golf Charities Inc. hosts its annual Pro-Am at beautiful Whispering Creek Golf Club.
The event pairs professionals from the Nebraska Section of the PGA with local amateurs for 18 holes. This is one of the best events for the Nebraska PGA section and local charities have received more than $40,000 from the proceeds.
Remsen native Dan Boever will be on hand for his magical show of trick shots and long-ball bashing. Believe me, if you've never watched one of Dan's shows, you're in for a treat.
The Family Fun Day, featuring Boever, will be 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, on the Whispering Creek driving range. Local professionals will also offer lessons after the show.
The best part of all, Boever's show and the lessons are free of charge.
You may notice that this week's In the Bag featuring Morningside College golf coach Kelly Schmidt includes a mere 10 clubs.
Unfortunately, the missing four sticks from Kelly's bag have met an untimely demise. Trees, golf carts and bodies of water somehow act as magnets to Kelly's clubs.
And, as I've stated in this column before, Kelly's shoes of choice are flip-flops. There still, as far as I'm concerned, isn't a better flip-flop wearing golfer on this planet.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com.
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