Do you feel you should be able to pick up a lost ball, before it stops rolling?

Question

Just kidding. My real question is: When somebody in the group behind you tries to put one in your back pocket, how do you criticize him/her? Do you hit the ball back at him/her? Do you step on it and bury it? Do you throw it hard...into the rough? What is the protocol for this problem?

Answer 1

That is extremely rude of the player behind you but there could be a valid reason.  For example he genuinely may not have thought he could reach - this sort of thing does happen.

If you were playing slow - remember it is up to you to keep up with the four ball in front of you and not stay ahead of the fourball behind you - he may have been frustrated.  But then he should have asked you to play faster or asked to play through.

If you were playig too slow you should let them through.

The correct way to handle it is to report it to the committee.  Do not touch his ball.

Answer 2

I'd say it depends on if it was a one time thing or not.  This kind of thing happens everyday around he country.....let it slide its not worth the aggravation.

Answer 3

It is the wrong thing for them to do, as well as being very annoying, but just let it go, if you were to get angry at them who knows what they could do.  There are some pretty violent people in the world.

Answer 4

shoot the other group

Answer 5

one time thing, let it go.  if it continues ask them to hold back a bit.  If you've been courteous and it still happens.  Keep the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball back to them,  step on it.  You tried to be nice and they want to be jerks, tell them to step up to the tee box.

Answer 6

If people are hitting in to you, call the pro shop and have the ranger come out and warn them.  Hitting their ball, stealing it, or stomping it into the ground is a far worse breach of golf etiquette than hitting into somebody.  They probably thought you were farther away than you really were, or they didnt think they could hit it that far.  If they continue to hit into you after being warned by the ranger, then you might go back and have some words with them....but leave their balls alone.  Keep your hands on your own balls...

Answer 7

Phone the pro shop or tell the course marshall what is going on. People have been brutally injured by getting into confrontation after one group hits into another, etc.

Answer 8

Never happened to me...

But I'd turn around, smile, and say "Thanks for the free ball"

Answer 9

If they warned you with a shout of 'Fore!' then as an isolated incident I would just let the moment pass. Sometimes we all hit the ball a bit better than we expected to or the wind gives us extra carry. If its a continued issue with the same player then report to it but dont do anything to their ball, its not worth the aggravation.

Answer 10

Politely talk to the group; it's entirely possible that the guy didn't know how far out you were.  

Again...politely.  Calmly.  

Make sure you keep up with the group in front of you to eliminate the "we were trying to play through" argument.

If it happens again, talk to a marshal or someone at the course.

Answer 11

There will come a time, that we will take a shot with the intentions of just laying up.   We guage our limits on distance and feel safe to bring the ball up, and then it happens...

The perfect relaxed swing results in a sweetspot shot and the ball takes off...it goes farther than we ever expected...the ball rolls up and even passes the player in front of you...would that person understand what just happened to you?  how would you prefer that person to react?  with anger?  having a cloud over your head knowing that your going to have to confront that person sooner or later?  are you so deserving to get such an *** chewing to the point of humiliation in front of others?  

On the other hand...so a ball rolled up and passed you...were you in danger of serious injury?  or is this a perfect opportunity to break out your alpha male side to show that you will tolorate such actions form anyone?  this is your chance to dig your heals into them, to make them feel really sorry for invading your air space?

Golf...this is a game of character...how we handle ourselves with our own faults of the game defines us a who we really are...If this actions from another golfer causes a temper of such magnatude to erupt...you need to find something else to do, cus, you have no idea my friend...that the person that hit into you, has a temper worst than yours, and can make both your day a bad one...

Be of good character, because one of these days, you will do the same when you least expect it.  

Answer 12

wtf ?!@*&?$%