Golf etiquette?

Question

i played a round with a friend of mine today, and in front of us were 2 ladies and a man. we were waiting 5 to 10 minutes on each hole for them and they would'nt call us through. i know that if im in a group and theres someone being held up by us we always let them through. what im asking is who should decide who plays through the players in front or behind. and am i in the right to ask to play through.

Answer 1

First you must determine if there is no one in front of them, it could be they are going as fast as they can, but it sounds like there was a hole open.  If they don't ask (and unfortunately many will not) then it is OK to ask them if you might play through, but do so in the most polite way you can.  If they are rude about it and won't let you play through then you must resort to calling for the ranger etc.  Often times novices that are slow simply are ignorant of the fact that they are holding you up and don't realize they should invite you to play through so it's it OK to ask.

Answer 2

If they aren't nice enough to let you play through, you have to take the bull by the horns.  Drive up with your cart while they are on the green and ask them yourself.  If that doesn't work, start driving into them off the tee box.  They should get the hint.  If not, at least you can have some fun.

Answer 3

It is general ettiquette for the players in front to ask you to play through.  However after a 3-4  holes of the group in front holding up for bs reasons (looking for balls for excess amounts of time, talking, etc...) the back group should ask through.

Answer 4

The rules clearly say let faster players through, it's up to the rangers to keep them moving. Public courses often want the money and pack the course so you are always waiting. If you keep meeting them at the tee box they should just let you go through, if not just shoot your next tee shot over their heads. Not really, but it's sure tempting.

Answer 5

Well, you have to look at who's ahead of them.  Are they waiting, too? If so, then you shouldn't get too uptight about the slow play.  But, if they are slowing you down, and it's obvious they know you are waiting, but refuse to let you play through, you have a gripe.  The best thing to do is let a marshal handle it.  That's their job.  If there isn't a marshal around, catch up to them with your cart and ask them to speed up or let you play through.  If they still won't let you go through, pass them up.  I prefer par 3's.  You might be able to go back and play the hole again, or just say "s***w it" and play on.  You can give them the finger as you zip by, and they can't ***** about anything, since you're going to be way out of the range of their their split-tail 110-yard drives a few minutes.

Answer 6

The important question is: were they keeping up with the group in front of them. If yes, then they cant possibly do any more. If no, then of course they should let you through.  Give them a couple of holes and if you're not comfortable confronting them, call the pro shop. We get those calls all the time.

Answer 7

WELL YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LET FASTER PLAYERS PLAY THROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET IT. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE BEING HELD UP LIKE YOU WERE BE TACTFUL. YOU CAN ASK THEM POLITELY BUT THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. WAITING FOR A RANGER OR MARSHALL CAN BE VERY IMPRACTICAL. MY ANSWER WOULD BE CALL THE PRO SHOP WITH YOUR CELL PHONE AND DIRECT THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I HATE CELL PHONES ON THE GOLF COURSE BUT IF YOU MUST HAVE ONE OUT THERE USE IT FOR THAT.

Answer 8

I would actually ask. Send one of you up to the group to ask the players if they would mind moving so they don't get hit by the flying ball your partner is teeing up. Then go back and play through. Remember, a closed mouth never gets fed. So if you don't actually ask, you will never get through. As a courtesy always check the group ahead of them. If it is that group slowing both of you guys down then there is no where to go. Otherwise, just ask. It has never failed me.

Answer 9

The course I play at has a sign on the 1st hole with some rules.....one being to let faster players play through.  Nobody enforces the rule, but most of the players will wave us through if they are holding us up.  I think it's up to the slow players to wave you through.  If they don't, I would ask them to let you play through since you're playing faster.

What if they are being jerks and won't let you play through?  That's when I become a jerk and hit a ball or two into them to send a "message".  =)

Answer 10

Absolutely!

You could ask them, or call the Marshal on duty. They were slowing it down for everyone. The Marshal will tell them to pick up the pace or let you thru, in case they get an attitude if you ask them.

Answer 11

could ask to play thru tho generally people in front offer so they were being a little inconsiderate.

Answer 12

The one big thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is that the people in front of you may not even know that they're holding you up... and more importantly they may not know the etiquette of letting you play through.  They could be beginners and just don't know golf etiquette.  

So yes, I think you could've politely ask them if they were aware that they were a hole or two behind.  I would then asked them if you could play through explaining to them that is the proper golf etiquette.  This is a win-win because you get to play through and the slow group just learned something new about golf etiquette.

Answer 13

I generally allow the players to play through since my usual playing partners are the ones that are slowing me down.  That's what should happen.

Answer 14

Ok, I have a number of ways to handle this:

First you are a twosome, you can easily skip a hole. Don’t ask or make a fuss, just walk/ride passed and keep playing, provided they’re no one in front of them. Make sure no one is playing in front of them!!! Don’t get sandwiched.

You could pair up with a single or twosome playing behind you.

You can tuff is out, take some extra shots and practice your short game. I like this idea, if you’re in no real hurry take your time. Maybe pass at the turn.  

If you play through, ask, then get you as$ moving. Nothing is worse that letting someone play through then waiting on them. Skip a shot if you have too. If you play through you should NOT slow down the group you passed, you shouldn’t see the group you passed.

They are wrong for not asking you to play through, you are a little worse for asking to play through. You see, its kind of bad etiquette to ask. You’re saying, “we are playing much faster than you, we are clearly better, get out of the way”. Play through, but the heat is on you to keep pace, you better have the game.

Answer 15

It drives me crazy when that happens!  I have asked to play through, but I've also waited behind - I guess it depends on the day.    

I often golf with friends who are not frequent golfers, and I always let anyone we may hold up go ahead - to me, it's less stressful that way and everyone has a nice day.

Answer 16

I know how u feel.  I had an experience like this just a couple weeks ago.  Our group decided to have a few hotdogs on the turn, the person taking the order took forever.  Anyway the group behind us finally caught us and just went to #10 and proceeded to tee up in front of us.  Now 2 of our 4some decided to leave since it was very windy that day so there was only 2 of us now.  At #11 we asked these guys if we can play through.  They were Korean guys so I dont know if they even understood us but the guy just gave us a dirty look and kept going.  So I called the marshall and since we were in front of them to begin with he asked them for us if we can play through which supposedly the marshall told us they would let us on the next hole so we were cool with that.  We get to the next hole and they continue to hit their balls with no regard to us, I asked them again and was ignored.  So we decided to hit into them, at this point we were pissed.  Then went and hit our second shot while they were messing around looking for their lost balls.  My buddy almost got into a fight with one of the guys and the marshalls came back out and asked the group in front to let us pass or be removed from the course.

This was a bad experience which almost got worse.  So moral of the story, be considerate if you're holding up someone else's play.  And dont tell the marshall one thing and do the oppisite, lol the marshal didn't think highly of them after they lied to him.

Answer 17

You should get the Ranger involved if they won't take action...the etiquette is to ask them politely and they should let you play through...tough one...usually the Ranger will make sure that groups are keeping up...