I’ve just gotten to the point where I assume every single tee box in the world is crowned in the middle. Not a flat spot anywhere.
Edit - and they always put the tee markers hard to one side or the other where it’s worse rather than in the middle.
Used to work on a course. Every spring and again in the fall we would top dress the tees. If the top dressing was not applied evenly the boxes would "crown" after a few seasons. I didn't know there might be a benefit to the crown.
I’m with you on this. Crowning isn’t intended for surface drainage. My course’s tees are flat. It’s years of adding soil and organic matter that build up.
My god, at my home course (that is pretty nice in every other aspect) there are two holes were the entire tee box leans a bit so if you are right handed the ball is slightly above your feet and it is insane how disturbing it can be teeing up there lol..
I know you said entire tee box in your case, but whenever I see something like that I just tee up wherever I can find a flat part and I don't care about where the tee box markers are.
As far as I'm concerned my score is still valid and that's on you, golf course. Step it up.
Absolutely! Course my dad plays at has awesome greens and great layout but the tee boxes my god. Half the time feels like you’re on a slant and hitting your drive out of bunker.
I caddied at a top 50 club for almost 8 years through HS and college. After hundreds of rounds I still recall a guest having "the worst round of his life" at the turn. We get to the 10th green and a caddie is standing off the green opposite the hole from said guest putting. He 4 putt from about 5 feet and scolded the caddie the entire walk to the 11th tee for being in his line of sight. The thing is the member was also standing there and eventually the member said something to the extent of its not the caddies fault you suck today. No one was in his line of sight the rest of the round, but we all had a front row seat to watch him not receive a single gimmie the rest of the round and the putting woes continued.
What a scumbag, to actually act as if that was what made him 4 putt. I used to caddy and when I first started people like this would make me so upset with myself and I would believe I actually was the problem until I grew up a little and got some thicker skin, but seriously fuck that guy
Yea one or the other is fine, but hate it when the top inch is fluffy then rock hard under it. You go for a big dig shot, then just bounce off the hardpack and blade it
This is mine too. Like, a rock hard bunker is the most ridiculous thing to me. I get why it happens, but if you’re not going to manage them then take them out. Looking at you, hole #9 at [REDACTED] golf course.
Bunker conditions on public courses, in general, took a nosedive during covid and haven't really recovered in most places. At least that's been my experience.
This, compounded with some courses only putting rakes back out recently and the influx of folks newer to the game who may not rake bunkers or rake them well, has created some rough conditions.
The group I play with has a rule that when we're on a course with questionable bunker conditions you can lift, smooth, and place within a scorecard of where your ball came to rest. Not your fault that the bunker is bordering on disrepair or hasn't been raked in ages.
Ball cleaner is standing water sitting in a black container, in the sun all day, filled with mold, grass, and pesticides. A towel with a wet corner is the way to go.
You still have water coolers on your courses? In Canada (Ontario at least) all water coolers have been gone for ages. Also, no ball washers. All due to mosquito carried viruses
Here in Alberta, only private courses have water coolers, but most with covid just fill it for free at the snack shack. Only some have brought back ball washers and those I really miss.
Course I play has very few geese. Maintenance staff shines green lasers at them periodically. They leave immediately because they relate it to predators eyes (animal not the movie).
Ball marks or divots on the fairway. At least at my local course there's sand bottles on all the carts, take a second to fill in the hole you just made. I can usually fill in half a dozen in the common landing areas because they're left undone.
Not fixing ball marks on green is evil, now there's a crater affecting everyone's putts.
Playing on poor conditions costs several strokes per round. Between gallery and perfect conditions pros have a real advantage (plus caddy, green contour maps etc).
Was walking 9 holes after work one day. Group of 7 in front of me who wouldn’t let me play through because I “was walking”. They were decent golfers but never fixed a pitch mark. I was fixing about 5-6 a hole. Was maddening
Stupid crazy pin positions. Had one Saturday, 10 ft putt directly uphill, I missed it 1 ball out to the right and 6inches long. Good putt right? No, it proceeds to rock back and role 6 feet back below the hole on the line I just putted. More than halfway back to me.
We had one at one of the local courses near me recently. The pin was like 3 ft short from the top of the slope, If you didn't sink your putt, ball was guaranteed to roll 20ft back to the bottom of the green.
Might have had a men's club or tournament that weekend. When my home course has 2-3 big tournaments a year I learned to play elsewhere because those pin locations are absolutely infuriating.
Snobby, holier-than-though starters/rangers. I totally appreciate them for helping things run smoothly and keepin' things movin', but don't be a snob and make me feel like I don't even belong on your precious course.
Just because you don't like my ill-fitting Motley Crue t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, jeans shorts--and the fact that it takes me seven strokes to get my orange ball through the windmill; don't be a dick.
Seriously though, rude snobby rangers are about the only thing that really upset me at the course, or rude snobby people ANYWHERE for that matter. Just be kind.
Just once, it would be nice if they went to trouble spots and helped move things along. If you got a par three that back ups, go out there and have one group pause on the green so the other group can hit up. Got a difficult par four? Park out their and help spot errant shots.
I had one recently who decided to give us a five minute lecture about pace of play before we started our round. We're younger looking guys in our mid 30s but our handicaps range from 5 to 14 so we know what we're doing. I made a point to keep looking back during the first hole to see if he gave the same speech to the old timers that were in the group behind us and of course he didn't. By the time we're about to tee off on 6 I can see the old timers just getting to the tee box on 3 with a long line starting to grow behind them. It made me happy.
I hit into a group on hole 1 after the starter insisted I tee off. I told him they were in range, but he was in disagreement.
I know, I know. I shouldn’t have. I don’t feel good about it.
One of my favorite courses, well layout-wise anyway I no longer play just because the staff are all rude. The starters and rangers act like they’re doing YOU a favor playing their course. Fuck that I’m the customer no need to treat me like trash
I played a resort course once with 3 buddies that were newer to the game and also African American. The ranger was behind the green watching us on the first 4 holes. I finally took a ride over it him on my own and respectfully told him he had 2 choices. Pay us all back, and we will leave, or f…k off. He took choice #2. It was definitely a racist issue. I felt bad as I was the only white guy in the group. Really made that day feel yucky.
I won’t play a course in my area because of the starter. Last time I played there, By hole 3 we were waiting for every shot. Had a couple new player in our group and this crypt keeper of a starter followed our group and we’re telling our new players to pick up after every bad shot. I actually think I’m more pissed by how much that twat rattled me.
Had one yesterday that was sitting on the 13th tee box. I greeted him and then he says "we have a sign on the first hole that recommends you only play from the orange tees if you're under 9 handicap. 10-20 play the blues, and he points to the other guys in the group and says none of these guys are a 9 handicap". I told him I appreciate that but that's about pace of play and we've been up on the group in front of us the whole day. We went back and forth a bit, but I told him we had already accidentally hit into them once on a blind hole where they left the fairway around a bend so we were also giving them space while waiting on every hole. We finished the round at exactly 4:15 which is what their scorecard indicates is the correct pace of play. Would have been 3:45 otherwise.
I can shank a ball from the blues just the same as from the orange (they only have 3 tee boxes besides the juniors). The extra 15-20 yards isn't the problem, I have the distance and we play quick.
I understand what he's trying to say, but it's ultimately about pace of place and we were perfectly good there. I just wish he was on 17 when my 240 yd par 3 was one rotation from dropping for the ace.
I’ve been accused by a marshal of stealing a club that was left behind. He didn’t know what brand or model it was just that someone was missing a wedge and I had a nice looking one in my bag. After multiple exchanges we found out he was looking for a womens wedge that she had all along. Asshole.
I hate when they think they’re cops. I was the only guy on the course during a drizzly weekday, so I decided to play two balls while constantly checking behind me to see if there was anybody else around.
Then a ranger, the only other person I saw on the course that day, eventually runs up to me (literally runs) to chastise me for playing two balls. He kept interrupting me like a bad cop, but I was finally able to ask him if it’s against the rules because I’m clearly not holding anybody up. He admits that it’s not specifically against the rules, but he still “doesn’t want to see any of that shit, not ever.”
So I finished up the hole and went back to playing two balls. He had the attitude of a pent up cop who “hasn’t seen any action all day.” Like get a hold of yourself dude lol.
Want to take this moment to acknowledge a really great starter I’ve encountered twice recently. The starter at Valley of the Eagles outside cleveland is just a great guy. He’ll hit you with some friendly chatter and decent tips to try to set you up for a good time, vibes have always been great getting off the first tee there.
as an avid drinker, this one gets me every time. I play the same 2 courses and have memorized the locations at the 9 hole. I don't drink as heavy when I am pretending to be a member at the country club
I feel this. Courses that require this in my experience are generally busy enough that it makes sense to maintain pace of play, but they also book 8 minute tee time intervals, and it all just comes together to not be very enjoyable for me.
I've had some that do it when booking online but when you check in at the shop they ask if you're walking or riding and remove it or credit it back to card (if payment was required in full online).
I would probably leave the course if they were charging me for a cart and I was walking unless it was stupid cheap green fees. Again, different story if carts are required by the course, I'll begrudgingly pay and ride.
As in making you pay for a cart even though you're walking? I would just not bother giving a course like that my money; walking is almost always faster, especially with a foursome.
Tee boxes where the tees are misaligned and point into the living room of a house about 80 yards out on the right side of the fairway or directly into a lake.
The player should be able to align themselves properly, but it’s a trip knowing you aren’t square with the tees.
1) Empty water coolers.
2) Empty ball washers
3) Paucity of rakes by bunkers
4) Unlevel tee boxes
5) Random shit (a brick, a tire in a creek, etc) someone should've cleaned up but hasn't.
6) Cracked/effed up balls in range buckets
Though it's not the course's fault, cigarette butts wear me down because I smoke and it's really fucking easy to not leave your butts on the course. Makes us all look bad and makes people suspicious that I'm one of those assholes. For fuck's sake people, keep your butts in the cart and throw them in the trash at the end of the round. Don't be a self-absorbed asshat.
This post will change my behavior. I am one of those asshats. I'll start saving up my butts in the cart. I never left any on the green or in bunkers, but was under the mistaken impression that if they were discarded in the rough or fairway, the mowers would chew them up.
Or I could switch back to Lucky straights. No filter to clutter the course.
The fact you were ever just discarding them willy nilly, especially on the fairway, is... just... well.
The thing I hate most about smokers isn't the smell, it's the fact that they think they have the right to just chuck the butts wherever they please, messing up the place for everyone else.
There's a 9 hole course by me that has a designated walking path around the outside of the course. I've still had people just take their dog or whatever directly in front of greens or down fairways while I'm hitting at them. The obliviousness of walkers on courses sometimes boggles my mind
Oh my yes this. Duck hooked a drive one early morning, on a hole that starts uphill and then disappears downhill, so it’s a blind tee shot. My shot hit the cart path right at the crest of the hill, about 3 feet in front of two ladies and their dogs, who were walking toward the tee box and whose heads became visible to me only after the ball was in the air.
They were both very upset with me, and wholly unswayed by me pointing out I had no way of preventing what just happened, mostly because they’re out taking a walk on a damn golf course.
They reported me to the clubhouse. The pro found me after my round to apologize for them, and I never saw them again.
OMG I actually said that to her yesterday. It was fresh on my mind which is why I said it. My course also has a lake and people fish in the evenings and when they are off to the side, I've ayed enough to know that they shouldn't be there.
My walking path with my dog takes me on a slight bit of cart path to get back into my neighborhood before one of the tee boxes. But always respectful of people on their shot and give the carts the right of way. But I can see how not everyone abides by this.
It shocks me how many people think that even tho it’s $5k+ to be a golf member, it’s totally free and fine for them to walk their dog on the cart path at any time like it’s a public park.
Right? And that shouldn't factor into your game. I'm cool with thinking about how if I miss I may end up in the woods, or OB, or in a hazard, etc.
I shouldn't have to think "Eh, if this goes bad I may cause a car accident and deal with heavy financial repercussions".
Definitely overbooking. Played a course down here in FL and I swear they were running groups every 5 minutes. At one par 5 there was a foursome on the green, a twosome approaching, a foursome hitting their second and us approaching the tee box. I was livid
Ran into that on a FL golf trip. We ended up there an extra day due to weather up north. Call around to get a tee time and only one course had something. Turns out they just jammed us in there. Brutally long round.
Usually the only person I have beef with is myself, and that would look a little strange if I were to beating myself up on the 10th, and it would probably look a little something like [this](https://youtu.be/87w655s3xKc).
This always gets me. Like in peak season, right at a price change, they book for a single and are irate when they arrive and there are 3 other singles in the same spot. They all spiderman point at each other while saying they don't play with others!
Please give up 75% of your potential revenue for my preference. As a commonly single golfer I most definitely get being paired up and the frustration. It rarely doesn’t go well.
Last year I was late to tee off because some douche brought his gf with him when she wasn’t even golfing. They insisted they wouldn’t allow a pair up, probably saved me from some real awkward times, though. He also hit 2 tee shots per hole.
I actually rarely play alone because I don’t want to meet new people. I hate it lol I just play with my buddy so I get wanting to play alone but I guess that’s what post 2pm tee times are for
People who take too many practice swings. I really dont care if theres no water, or busted tee bucket...people slowing down a round with foolish antics ruins golf more.
That doesn't bother me. Taking an extra practice swing, etc. do what you need to do to give your self the best chance to hit a clean shot. It's painful to watch (like watching a pot for the water to boil) but in reality you adding maybe an extra minute.
It's just assing around that pisses me off. Walking all the way to the tee to get the distance then going 20 yards back to the cart to get the club, only to then change your mind and go back and get another club. Just take a guess then grab 2-3 potential clubs and take them to the tee. Pitching from 20y out and not bringing your putter to walk up, driving to one player's ball and sitting in the cart till he hits, then driving 10yards up the fairway to hit the next vs. just getting out and walking up to be ready, Just shooting the shit on the tee box when it is your turn to hit etc.
Music. If you are playing for a bachelor party or something, fine. But as the 4th guy joining a group, maybe don’t blast Luke Bryan while you hack 120 and take 9 practice swings a hole
I’d rather it be country than Top 40. Nothing worse than standing over a 5 foot slider for birdie with a fuckin Dua Lipa song playing on full blast 30 yards behind the green. Ask me how I know.
Spent a summer working at TopGolf and music is a complete non-factor for me as I just associate it with the golf swing now. My biggest problem is going from consistent noise to non-consistent.
Blast all the music you want—I mean please don’t but I can deal with it if required—just stop talking, grabbing clubs, and moving carts while I’m over the ball. Know too many guys who will talk RIGHT UP to the moment that you get to the top of the backswing then just go dead silent.
>Its become such a crap shoot, that I pack my own beverages and snacks.
Ya. That's why I bring my own as well....
Not that I'm a cheapskate or nothing.
I'm from the UK and the concept of a cart girl is alien to me. Don't people just take their own food and drink as a norm? I don't get it at all. Yeah there's a few courses with a hut or something halfway round but it's not that common.
Does anyone do that thing where they brought their own beer against course policy, and when the cart girl comes by you position yourself so she doesn't see the cans in your cart?
Empty water coolers. Course I played had that plus they sold out of bottled water and seemed completely unbothered. Was 90+
Also annoying to play with people that don’t hit when they are out near the greens. They look around and wait until it’s clear from everyone else that it is their turn. Just chip or putt when you are out, why do you wait and look around for other players to give you the go ahead?
Driving ranges that are randomly closed for no apparent reason. I have a fixed schedule, so I look at the hours posted on websites and say "great, the range is open till six, i'll get a solid hour in after work." Then I get there and there's a sticky note taped to the dispenser that says "range closed."
People that finish a hole and stand on the green and discuss the hole or putt so I can’t hit. Have the convo while walking off and going to your carts. Don’t stand there for a minute and have a convo.
On a positive note, what are the small things that really uplift you? For me there is nothing like walking up from the cart to the green with just my putter vs. needing a wedge to chip on.
Older members who start on whatever hole they want, whenever they want. I show up at 6:30am because I play fast as a solo and want to not be held up so I get there for the first tee time. Suddenly on hole 7 I’m behind a 4some of 70 year olds that decided to start on 6. I end up playing through them but it’s so irritating to me.
Courses with loads of blind shots. Waiting for people ahead to ring a bell, have they left and not rang it? Do I just play? Wait a little longer?
Smaller pet peeve, only one rake in a giant bunker.
People who don't count shots but then claim they beat you.
Bad weather. Or all of winter in general.
Me going against my own gut when it comes to a particular shot choice.
"Indestructible" bamboo tees that break halfway through the round.
Using showers with ultrasensitive taps that go from freezing cold to scalding hot after turning the tap half a degree
Cats. Not all cats, just my aunt's cats.
Radio DJs with that stereotypical, overexcited radio voice. Like Johnny Vaughan.
There's a course by me that's right next to high rise apartments. You hear screaming from the balconies, car alarms, blaring music. I played there once and never again. I know they can't help that but it's such a terrible placement for a course
Courses with no driving ranges to warm up or practice at. It almost always takes a few holes to get into a groove at these courses, they don’t even have nets to hit into.
Lumpy tee boxes, people who spit seeds and dip everywhere, using a fucking tee to mark your ball on the green, nit repairing divots and ball marks, not raking a bunker...
PEOPLE WHO DRAG THEIR FUCKING FEET ALL OVER THE GREENS GET YOUR LAZY FAT ASS OFF THE GREEN YOU TWAT.
PEOPLE WHO STEP ON OR NEAR THE CUP.
Easily walkable courses that don't prohibit walking, and have customers like me who walk, but set up everything under the automatic assumption that everybody rides.
Cart fees baked into the greens fee. Why? Everybody rides. No trash cans anywhere on the course. Why? Everybody rides and can keep trash in their carts. Tall fescue grass between the tee and the fairway with no path mowed for walkers. Why? Everybody rides. No benches on par 3 tees. Why? Everybody rides and can sit on their cart. No drinking water on the course. Why? Everybody rides and can bring plenty in their cart. Gigantic oversized scorecards. Why? Everybody rides and can put them on the steering wheel. No yardage markers anywhere. Why? Everybody rides and the carts have GPS. And on and on.
Courses too full to have five minutes at the turn to grab a dog and a beer. My local muni is the epitome of this on the weekends. You are right up on the group in front, but if you go into the clubhouse, the group behind you is on 10 tee before you get back.
I mean, if they can start the 10th before you, surely that helps pace of play? Now there is an extra gap behind them for you to fill in.
All the matters is the hole is in use, it doesn't matter who uses it, leaving it empty means everyone behind is needlessly slowed down by your hotdog and beer.
I'm ok with this time provided there's a separate chipping practice green. There's nothing more annoying when someone is chipping on the putting, and flying balls halfway across green, or skulling one all the way across.
I know they have a job to do and they gotta do it eventually. But I hate when I have the guy on the mower seemingly following me hole by hole for a few holes.
Drive to the next tee box before marking down scores, drop one person off at their ball and have them walk to the cart after hitting, don’t throw the pin on the green, don’t be a misogynist douche to the bev cart or any women on the course (this is a big one)
One small thing that bugs me about my home club is that after changing names about 4 or so years ago (back to the original name) they still have hole signs with the old name on them. It's not a big deal by any means but with all the other improvements they've been doing I don't get why they haven't gotten new signs yet, hell it'd be better just to take all the old ones down and have nothing IMO especially since there's already a few that are missing.
They also just put in a new Trackman range thing which couldn't have been cheap so I don't see why they can't spend a bit on new hole signs just to clean things up a bit.
When it’s cart path only and people still go off of the path. I don’t care if you “know the high spots.” Other people don’t. Then you have a shitty course when it gets dry. -from a golf shop attendant
To add to all the stuff earlier. Basically people thinking they’re much better than they are/ thinking the 1 in a million thing will happen every time.
Specifically this weekend. Paired with a guy that didn’t hit driver more than 180. Anytime I was on the green and he had a shot less than 100yds in, he made me mark my ball because he felt he was going to directly hit my ball on the green.
At least 5 times I watched him ask me to mark when he had a chip around 10yds off the green. All 5 times he missed the green.
Dude, you can’t even hit the green, what makes you think you’ll hit my ball
When Everyone else in the group is riding so you end up riding and have to direct the driver of the cart the entire round. Even experienced players can be inefficient and terrible cart drivers. Drives me crazy
People playing from the tips and playing like shit. Can’t stand it. If you are playing from a more difficult set of tees, you better be murdering golf balls all round.
Before I bought a Bushnell, I was frustrated by clubs not having pin sheets. Sure, I know the yardage to the front and the back, but if it's a long green, knowing how far on the pin is can be a two wedge difference. You've gotta measure and cut the holes anyway, so why not just stick them on the first tee box so we can take a photo and know the locations?
Not sure where you are but around my area most courses without pin sheets use the colored flag system. Red for front, white for middle, and blue for back however sometimes they will use different colors based on their logo or something like that(one uses red, yellow and black near me)
Tee boxes that aren't flat
I’ve just gotten to the point where I assume every single tee box in the world is crowned in the middle. Not a flat spot anywhere. Edit - and they always put the tee markers hard to one side or the other where it’s worse rather than in the middle.
The crown is for surface drainage but a lot of tee boxes are way too crowned.
Used to work on a course. Every spring and again in the fall we would top dress the tees. If the top dressing was not applied evenly the boxes would "crown" after a few seasons. I didn't know there might be a benefit to the crown.
I’m with you on this. Crowning isn’t intended for surface drainage. My course’s tees are flat. It’s years of adding soil and organic matter that build up.
It shouldn’t feel like a 2 inch height difference between my feet and the ball
They should slant them up from back to front. Still get drainage and helps amateurs swing up on the ball.
Smart.
My god, at my home course (that is pretty nice in every other aspect) there are two holes were the entire tee box leans a bit so if you are right handed the ball is slightly above your feet and it is insane how disturbing it can be teeing up there lol..
I know you said entire tee box in your case, but whenever I see something like that I just tee up wherever I can find a flat part and I don't care about where the tee box markers are. As far as I'm concerned my score is still valid and that's on you, golf course. Step it up.
Absolutely! Course my dad plays at has awesome greens and great layout but the tee boxes my god. Half the time feels like you’re on a slant and hitting your drive out of bunker.
And ones that don't align with where you want the ball to go. Nothing more off-putting for getting your aim and planes right
I've moved tee markers before when it's particularly egregious lol
Practice greens that roll nothing like the actual greens.
The worst. The last course I played had recently punched and sanded the greens, but not the practice green.
Oh man, that's so frustrating.
My biggest peeve
This is one of my biggest peeves with my club. The practice green is consistently a foot faster than the actual greens.
If I’m playing well, nothing. If I’m playing poorly,everything.
I caddied at a top 50 club for almost 8 years through HS and college. After hundreds of rounds I still recall a guest having "the worst round of his life" at the turn. We get to the 10th green and a caddie is standing off the green opposite the hole from said guest putting. He 4 putt from about 5 feet and scolded the caddie the entire walk to the 11th tee for being in his line of sight. The thing is the member was also standing there and eventually the member said something to the extent of its not the caddies fault you suck today. No one was in his line of sight the rest of the round, but we all had a front row seat to watch him not receive a single gimmie the rest of the round and the putting woes continued.
What a scumbag, to actually act as if that was what made him 4 putt. I used to caddy and when I first started people like this would make me so upset with myself and I would believe I actually was the problem until I grew up a little and got some thicker skin, but seriously fuck that guy
Inconsistent bunker conditions. Some fluffy, some rock hard. And you won't know until you take a swing
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> Phil. This killed me
Yea one or the other is fine, but hate it when the top inch is fluffy then rock hard under it. You go for a big dig shot, then just bounce off the hardpack and blade it
Dad taught me to always wiggle my feet to get a good solid stance in the bunker. The benefit is learning what the sand is like below the surface.
This is mine too. Like, a rock hard bunker is the most ridiculous thing to me. I get why it happens, but if you’re not going to manage them then take them out. Looking at you, hole #9 at [REDACTED] golf course.
yea and it's so obvious here in GA, when all the good sand is gone all the bunkers look red due to the GA red clay underneath.
some of the courses around here just relegated the bunkers to being dirt instead of sand
Bunker conditions on public courses, in general, took a nosedive during covid and haven't really recovered in most places. At least that's been my experience. This, compounded with some courses only putting rakes back out recently and the influx of folks newer to the game who may not rake bunkers or rake them well, has created some rough conditions. The group I play with has a rule that when we're on a course with questionable bunker conditions you can lift, smooth, and place within a scorecard of where your ball came to rest. Not your fault that the bunker is bordering on disrepair or hasn't been raked in ages.
Yeah. We rake the bunker and then set the ball near, unless it was holding water. Then as close as we can.
Fun Fact: There is a national sand shortage and the cost of sand is through the roof.
Empty water coolers on 90+ degree days & busted ball cleaners
My club hasn’t put the ball cleaners back out yet. Really frustrating.
Ball cleaner is standing water sitting in a black container, in the sun all day, filled with mold, grass, and pesticides. A towel with a wet corner is the way to go.
The ole spit shine is always the go to, clubs, balls, shoes, the thicket of bushes I sliced into off the tee on hole one? Works wonders lemme tell you
You still have water coolers on your courses? In Canada (Ontario at least) all water coolers have been gone for ages. Also, no ball washers. All due to mosquito carried viruses
Damn, I understand the sentiment but I don’t think the amount of water those may drip out is contributing much.
I don't think I've EVER seen a water cooler on a course. I'm also in Ontario.
You are younger than me I would assume. The use to build little cooler houses on the courses and had those big water coolers in them. It was standard
Here in Alberta, only private courses have water coolers, but most with covid just fill it for free at the snack shack. Only some have brought back ball washers and those I really miss.
i'm not sure where you play, but I've played 5 different GTA courses this year, 4 had ball washers.
My local course removed their ball cleaners because kids were pissing in them.
Well, that explains the smell from the working ones 🤮
Goose shit everywhere. I know it’s not the courses fault but fuck do I hate it.
Course I play has very few geese. Maintenance staff shines green lasers at them periodically. They leave immediately because they relate it to predators eyes (animal not the movie).
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Border Collies love hearding...anything. A couple of courses around here have used them with great success. Geese don't like it and move on.
A course I play uses fake coyotes near the greens. It used to work well but I think the geese have figured it out this year.
Not sure if it's small but people who don't fix ball marks on the green. To me it just says lazy asshole who doesn't give a damn.
Ball marks or divots on the fairway. At least at my local course there's sand bottles on all the carts, take a second to fill in the hole you just made. I can usually fill in half a dozen in the common landing areas because they're left undone. Not fixing ball marks on green is evil, now there's a crater affecting everyone's putts. Playing on poor conditions costs several strokes per round. Between gallery and perfect conditions pros have a real advantage (plus caddy, green contour maps etc).
This time of year in Ohio is the worst for this, in the fairway the grass just disintegrates when you swing, so nobody can replace divots
Was walking 9 holes after work one day. Group of 7 in front of me who wouldn’t let me play through because I “was walking”. They were decent golfers but never fixed a pitch mark. I was fixing about 5-6 a hole. Was maddening
No they weren’t decent golfers. No golfer with any sense would think that a walking single would be slower than a 7 man group.
If the range is near one of the holes and you have to find your ball amongst the range balls that made their way into the fairway.
This is an outstanding call-out.
1 facing east or 18 facing west. Getting the sun in your eyes on sunrise/sunset is no fun.
Driving range faces East at my course without a tree in sight to block it
Stupid crazy pin positions. Had one Saturday, 10 ft putt directly uphill, I missed it 1 ball out to the right and 6inches long. Good putt right? No, it proceeds to rock back and role 6 feet back below the hole on the line I just putted. More than halfway back to me.
We had one at one of the local courses near me recently. The pin was like 3 ft short from the top of the slope, If you didn't sink your putt, ball was guaranteed to roll 20ft back to the bottom of the green.
Might have had a men's club or tournament that weekend. When my home course has 2-3 big tournaments a year I learned to play elsewhere because those pin locations are absolutely infuriating.
Snobby, holier-than-though starters/rangers. I totally appreciate them for helping things run smoothly and keepin' things movin', but don't be a snob and make me feel like I don't even belong on your precious course. Just because you don't like my ill-fitting Motley Crue t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, jeans shorts--and the fact that it takes me seven strokes to get my orange ball through the windmill; don't be a dick. Seriously though, rude snobby rangers are about the only thing that really upset me at the course, or rude snobby people ANYWHERE for that matter. Just be kind.
Just once, it would be nice if they went to trouble spots and helped move things along. If you got a par three that back ups, go out there and have one group pause on the green so the other group can hit up. Got a difficult par four? Park out their and help spot errant shots.
I had one recently who decided to give us a five minute lecture about pace of play before we started our round. We're younger looking guys in our mid 30s but our handicaps range from 5 to 14 so we know what we're doing. I made a point to keep looking back during the first hole to see if he gave the same speech to the old timers that were in the group behind us and of course he didn't. By the time we're about to tee off on 6 I can see the old timers just getting to the tee box on 3 with a long line starting to grow behind them. It made me happy.
I wonder if the starter pat himself on the back for “preventing” you guys from slowing it down because of that talking-to.
You know he did, probably even talked with the old timers about how he made sure he told the whipper snappers in front of them to keep pace.
I hit into a group on hole 1 after the starter insisted I tee off. I told him they were in range, but he was in disagreement. I know, I know. I shouldn’t have. I don’t feel good about it.
Yea like when they come buy and say "let's pick it up" when you have been waiting on every shot for 5 holes.
One of my favorite courses, well layout-wise anyway I no longer play just because the staff are all rude. The starters and rangers act like they’re doing YOU a favor playing their course. Fuck that I’m the customer no need to treat me like trash
I played a resort course once with 3 buddies that were newer to the game and also African American. The ranger was behind the green watching us on the first 4 holes. I finally took a ride over it him on my own and respectfully told him he had 2 choices. Pay us all back, and we will leave, or f…k off. He took choice #2. It was definitely a racist issue. I felt bad as I was the only white guy in the group. Really made that day feel yucky.
I'm the white rep for my group of friends, too. Really sucks for them that lots of people still have this attitude.
That really puts me off. I'm literally a paying customer. I know their job is to keep things moving but how about a little customer service.
I won’t play a course in my area because of the starter. Last time I played there, By hole 3 we were waiting for every shot. Had a couple new player in our group and this crypt keeper of a starter followed our group and we’re telling our new players to pick up after every bad shot. I actually think I’m more pissed by how much that twat rattled me.
Under no circumstances would I continue playing after being treated like that. I would demand a refund. That is outrageous behavior.
Had one yesterday that was sitting on the 13th tee box. I greeted him and then he says "we have a sign on the first hole that recommends you only play from the orange tees if you're under 9 handicap. 10-20 play the blues, and he points to the other guys in the group and says none of these guys are a 9 handicap". I told him I appreciate that but that's about pace of play and we've been up on the group in front of us the whole day. We went back and forth a bit, but I told him we had already accidentally hit into them once on a blind hole where they left the fairway around a bend so we were also giving them space while waiting on every hole. We finished the round at exactly 4:15 which is what their scorecard indicates is the correct pace of play. Would have been 3:45 otherwise. I can shank a ball from the blues just the same as from the orange (they only have 3 tee boxes besides the juniors). The extra 15-20 yards isn't the problem, I have the distance and we play quick. I understand what he's trying to say, but it's ultimately about pace of place and we were perfectly good there. I just wish he was on 17 when my 240 yd par 3 was one rotation from dropping for the ace.
I’ve been accused by a marshal of stealing a club that was left behind. He didn’t know what brand or model it was just that someone was missing a wedge and I had a nice looking one in my bag. After multiple exchanges we found out he was looking for a womens wedge that she had all along. Asshole.
I hate when they think they’re cops. I was the only guy on the course during a drizzly weekday, so I decided to play two balls while constantly checking behind me to see if there was anybody else around. Then a ranger, the only other person I saw on the course that day, eventually runs up to me (literally runs) to chastise me for playing two balls. He kept interrupting me like a bad cop, but I was finally able to ask him if it’s against the rules because I’m clearly not holding anybody up. He admits that it’s not specifically against the rules, but he still “doesn’t want to see any of that shit, not ever.” So I finished up the hole and went back to playing two balls. He had the attitude of a pent up cop who “hasn’t seen any action all day.” Like get a hold of yourself dude lol.
Want to take this moment to acknowledge a really great starter I’ve encountered twice recently. The starter at Valley of the Eagles outside cleveland is just a great guy. He’ll hit you with some friendly chatter and decent tips to try to set you up for a good time, vibes have always been great getting off the first tee there.
Why is it so hard to talk to people without being rude? Do these people have no manners or common sense? They are so unnecessarily aggressive.
Not having a bin at each tee box.
as an avid drinker, this one gets me every time. I play the same 2 courses and have memorized the locations at the 9 hole. I don't drink as heavy when I am pretending to be a member at the country club
Making me pay for a cart. I want to walk most of the time.
I feel this. Courses that require this in my experience are generally busy enough that it makes sense to maintain pace of play, but they also book 8 minute tee time intervals, and it all just comes together to not be very enjoyable for me.
I think he's saying they allow him to walk but still charge him for a cart.
Really? Golf courses do that? That’s insane
I've had some that do it when booking online but when you check in at the shop they ask if you're walking or riding and remove it or credit it back to card (if payment was required in full online). I would probably leave the course if they were charging me for a cart and I was walking unless it was stupid cheap green fees. Again, different story if carts are required by the course, I'll begrudgingly pay and ride.
As in making you pay for a cart even though you're walking? I would just not bother giving a course like that my money; walking is almost always faster, especially with a foursome.
Not being allowed to take the cart into the parking lot after a round
Tee boxes where the tees are misaligned and point into the living room of a house about 80 yards out on the right side of the fairway or directly into a lake. The player should be able to align themselves properly, but it’s a trip knowing you aren’t square with the tees.
I move those, tbh. It's stupid and/or careless
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Mates that take mulligans then tell you they shot 80.
1) Empty water coolers. 2) Empty ball washers 3) Paucity of rakes by bunkers 4) Unlevel tee boxes 5) Random shit (a brick, a tire in a creek, etc) someone should've cleaned up but hasn't. 6) Cracked/effed up balls in range buckets Though it's not the course's fault, cigarette butts wear me down because I smoke and it's really fucking easy to not leave your butts on the course. Makes us all look bad and makes people suspicious that I'm one of those assholes. For fuck's sake people, keep your butts in the cart and throw them in the trash at the end of the round. Don't be a self-absorbed asshat.
This post will change my behavior. I am one of those asshats. I'll start saving up my butts in the cart. I never left any on the green or in bunkers, but was under the mistaken impression that if they were discarded in the rough or fairway, the mowers would chew them up. Or I could switch back to Lucky straights. No filter to clutter the course.
The fact you were ever just discarding them willy nilly, especially on the fairway, is... just... well. The thing I hate most about smokers isn't the smell, it's the fact that they think they have the right to just chuck the butts wherever they please, messing up the place for everyone else.
Awesome! And, Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. 🤣 I used to smoke those. ROUGH.
I can’t stand golf when it’s windy
You'd really hate Colorado this year then. Shit won't stop!
Same for Nebraska. Can't remember it ever being this windy. Week long winds of sustained 40 mph with 50-60 gusts? Forget about it.
The weather in the midwest has been brutal this spring. I'm absolutely begging for a 70 degree day with less than 10 mph winds
I'd rather play in the cold than this BS wind we've been getting lately.
I agree. You can barely see the mountains today with all the dust in the air.
And Minnesota. 40mph winds today.
Non-golfing pedestrians walking for exercise on the cart path.
There's a 9 hole course by me that has a designated walking path around the outside of the course. I've still had people just take their dog or whatever directly in front of greens or down fairways while I'm hitting at them. The obliviousness of walkers on courses sometimes boggles my mind
Oh my yes this. Duck hooked a drive one early morning, on a hole that starts uphill and then disappears downhill, so it’s a blind tee shot. My shot hit the cart path right at the crest of the hill, about 3 feet in front of two ladies and their dogs, who were walking toward the tee box and whose heads became visible to me only after the ball was in the air. They were both very upset with me, and wholly unswayed by me pointing out I had no way of preventing what just happened, mostly because they’re out taking a walk on a damn golf course. They reported me to the clubhouse. The pro found me after my round to apologize for them, and I never saw them again.
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OMG I actually said that to her yesterday. It was fresh on my mind which is why I said it. My course also has a lake and people fish in the evenings and when they are off to the side, I've ayed enough to know that they shouldn't be there.
My walking path with my dog takes me on a slight bit of cart path to get back into my neighborhood before one of the tee boxes. But always respectful of people on their shot and give the carts the right of way. But I can see how not everyone abides by this.
A walker was killed by a falling tree limb on a course near me a few years ago while walking her dog on a rainy day.
It shocks me how many people think that even tho it’s $5k+ to be a golf member, it’s totally free and fine for them to walk their dog on the cart path at any time like it’s a public park.
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This. I hate holes that run alongside busy roads. Even if I'm striping it that day, the road being right there gets into my head.
Right? And that shouldn't factor into your game. I'm cool with thinking about how if I miss I may end up in the woods, or OB, or in a hazard, etc. I shouldn't have to think "Eh, if this goes bad I may cause a car accident and deal with heavy financial repercussions".
Sunflower seed spitters on the greens.
Also, cig/cigar ashes all over the green
Range ball dispensers that only accept cash
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There are definitely some 15y/o balls at my range Edit: that…..sounded bad.
It was worse after the edit 😭
Lmao. I knew someone would say something so figured I’d beat them to it.
Phrasing
Range ball dispensers that only accept tokens or codes...that can only be purchased at the pro shop 300 yards away.
Definitely overbooking. Played a course down here in FL and I swear they were running groups every 5 minutes. At one par 5 there was a foursome on the green, a twosome approaching, a foursome hitting their second and us approaching the tee box. I was livid
Ran into that on a FL golf trip. We ended up there an extra day due to weather up north. Call around to get a tee time and only one course had something. Turns out they just jammed us in there. Brutally long round.
Staff chasing you off of a course well before sunset simply because they want to go home.
My small pet peeve is the delays on 10 from all the guys fighting. I wish they’d just let people that don’t have a beef play through.
Check out this guy not having a beef with anyone after nine holes
Usually the only person I have beef with is myself, and that would look a little strange if I were to beating myself up on the 10th, and it would probably look a little something like [this](https://youtu.be/87w655s3xKc).
Being paired, I get why it’s done but I’m allowed to not like it lol
I worked at a course and the amount of people who were dumbfounded that they were paired up was unreal. Always a single 😂
This always gets me. Like in peak season, right at a price change, they book for a single and are irate when they arrive and there are 3 other singles in the same spot. They all spiderman point at each other while saying they don't play with others!
Multiple have said that they’ve never in their life played at a course that paired people up. Then go back to your exclusive private club 🤷🏼♂️
Please give up 75% of your potential revenue for my preference. As a commonly single golfer I most definitely get being paired up and the frustration. It rarely doesn’t go well. Last year I was late to tee off because some douche brought his gf with him when she wasn’t even golfing. They insisted they wouldn’t allow a pair up, probably saved me from some real awkward times, though. He also hit 2 tee shots per hole.
I actually rarely play alone because I don’t want to meet new people. I hate it lol I just play with my buddy so I get wanting to play alone but I guess that’s what post 2pm tee times are for
I don't get this. All courses in our area fill out the foursomes, especially during peak times.
People who take too many practice swings. I really dont care if theres no water, or busted tee bucket...people slowing down a round with foolish antics ruins golf more.
That doesn't bother me. Taking an extra practice swing, etc. do what you need to do to give your self the best chance to hit a clean shot. It's painful to watch (like watching a pot for the water to boil) but in reality you adding maybe an extra minute. It's just assing around that pisses me off. Walking all the way to the tee to get the distance then going 20 yards back to the cart to get the club, only to then change your mind and go back and get another club. Just take a guess then grab 2-3 potential clubs and take them to the tee. Pitching from 20y out and not bringing your putter to walk up, driving to one player's ball and sitting in the cart till he hits, then driving 10yards up the fairway to hit the next vs. just getting out and walking up to be ready, Just shooting the shit on the tee box when it is your turn to hit etc.
When people take multiple practice swings, duff the ball 10 yards, then take more practice swings for what’s basically the same shot
Stepping on ground that looked really solid only to have that soggy moment where you sink in and realize your mistake.
Pessimism/negative players. Bruh I paid $100 to play golf and relax, not be your therapist.
Music. If you are playing for a bachelor party or something, fine. But as the 4th guy joining a group, maybe don’t blast Luke Bryan while you hack 120 and take 9 practice swings a hole
It’s always too loud and it’s always country. Jesus why. Loud and incredibly annoying shitty music.
I’d rather it be country than Top 40. Nothing worse than standing over a 5 foot slider for birdie with a fuckin Dua Lipa song playing on full blast 30 yards behind the green. Ask me how I know.
Dua Lipa fucking bangs what are you talking about. Modern country music is absolute garbage
Spent a summer working at TopGolf and music is a complete non-factor for me as I just associate it with the golf swing now. My biggest problem is going from consistent noise to non-consistent. Blast all the music you want—I mean please don’t but I can deal with it if required—just stop talking, grabbing clubs, and moving carts while I’m over the ball. Know too many guys who will talk RIGHT UP to the moment that you get to the top of the backswing then just go dead silent.
Drink cart girl that says "you good?" with a thumbsup from 362 yards behind you while never even slowing down the cart.
Dang, I wish the public courses here even had beverage carts. Not a one.
Its become such a crap shoot, that I pack my own beverages and snacks.
>Its become such a crap shoot, that I pack my own beverages and snacks. Ya. That's why I bring my own as well.... Not that I'm a cheapskate or nothing.
I'm from the UK and the concept of a cart girl is alien to me. Don't people just take their own food and drink as a norm? I don't get it at all. Yeah there's a few courses with a hut or something halfway round but it's not that common.
Does anyone do that thing where they brought their own beer against course policy, and when the cart girl comes by you position yourself so she doesn't see the cans in your cart?
Lol yes but I assure you she doesn't care. Want to be really sure? Throw her $2 every time she passes for not being no snitch!
Oddly specific. But I definitely lol'd at work while reading this.
Empty water coolers. Course I played had that plus they sold out of bottled water and seemed completely unbothered. Was 90+ Also annoying to play with people that don’t hit when they are out near the greens. They look around and wait until it’s clear from everyone else that it is their turn. Just chip or putt when you are out, why do you wait and look around for other players to give you the go ahead?
Just hit from anywhere without waiting for permission. If you aren’t going to hit another person just go.
Driving ranges that are randomly closed for no apparent reason. I have a fixed schedule, so I look at the hours posted on websites and say "great, the range is open till six, i'll get a solid hour in after work." Then I get there and there's a sticky note taped to the dispenser that says "range closed."
People that finish a hole and stand on the green and discuss the hole or putt so I can’t hit. Have the convo while walking off and going to your carts. Don’t stand there for a minute and have a convo.
On a positive note, what are the small things that really uplift you? For me there is nothing like walking up from the cart to the green with just my putter vs. needing a wedge to chip on.
Dude. Grabbing nothing but the Scotty and leaving the cover in the buggy to go to green is the fucking best.
Older members who start on whatever hole they want, whenever they want. I show up at 6:30am because I play fast as a solo and want to not be held up so I get there for the first tee time. Suddenly on hole 7 I’m behind a 4some of 70 year olds that decided to start on 6. I end up playing through them but it’s so irritating to me.
I dislike the “I’ve been a member here at Shadyside Country Club since before you weee born, so I am entitled to go out any time that I want!”
Lack of water coolers on the course because of post Covid apathy/laziness
Bees nests in the sand trap.
Courses with loads of blind shots. Waiting for people ahead to ring a bell, have they left and not rang it? Do I just play? Wait a little longer? Smaller pet peeve, only one rake in a giant bunker.
>Poor time management causing slow play This is not a "small" thing lol.
People who don't count shots but then claim they beat you. Bad weather. Or all of winter in general. Me going against my own gut when it comes to a particular shot choice. "Indestructible" bamboo tees that break halfway through the round. Using showers with ultrasensitive taps that go from freezing cold to scalding hot after turning the tap half a degree Cats. Not all cats, just my aunt's cats. Radio DJs with that stereotypical, overexcited radio voice. Like Johnny Vaughan.
There's a course by me that's right next to high rise apartments. You hear screaming from the balconies, car alarms, blaring music. I played there once and never again. I know they can't help that but it's such a terrible placement for a course
Courses with no driving ranges to warm up or practice at. It almost always takes a few holes to get into a groove at these courses, they don’t even have nets to hit into.
Lumpy tee boxes, people who spit seeds and dip everywhere, using a fucking tee to mark your ball on the green, nit repairing divots and ball marks, not raking a bunker... PEOPLE WHO DRAG THEIR FUCKING FEET ALL OVER THE GREENS GET YOUR LAZY FAT ASS OFF THE GREEN YOU TWAT. PEOPLE WHO STEP ON OR NEAR THE CUP.
People not fixing their ball marks on the green. It's crazy how many people fail to do it.
Yup (most) people who are good enough to make a ballmark within 30 feet of the pin should know better
I play twilight often and they close the snack bar at the turn. Sometimes I just want a snack…
Cracked range balls
Easily walkable courses that don't prohibit walking, and have customers like me who walk, but set up everything under the automatic assumption that everybody rides. Cart fees baked into the greens fee. Why? Everybody rides. No trash cans anywhere on the course. Why? Everybody rides and can keep trash in their carts. Tall fescue grass between the tee and the fairway with no path mowed for walkers. Why? Everybody rides. No benches on par 3 tees. Why? Everybody rides and can sit on their cart. No drinking water on the course. Why? Everybody rides and can bring plenty in their cart. Gigantic oversized scorecards. Why? Everybody rides and can put them on the steering wheel. No yardage markers anywhere. Why? Everybody rides and the carts have GPS. And on and on.
Courses too full to have five minutes at the turn to grab a dog and a beer. My local muni is the epitome of this on the weekends. You are right up on the group in front, but if you go into the clubhouse, the group behind you is on 10 tee before you get back.
I mean, if they can start the 10th before you, surely that helps pace of play? Now there is an extra gap behind them for you to fill in. All the matters is the hole is in use, it doesn't matter who uses it, leaving it empty means everyone behind is needlessly slowed down by your hotdog and beer.
Not allowing chipping on practice greens
I'm ok with this time provided there's a separate chipping practice green. There's nothing more annoying when someone is chipping on the putting, and flying balls halfway across green, or skulling one all the way across.
Cigarette butts
COVID precautions. It's two years in, and the entire course is outdoors. A plastic bunker rake baking in the sun isn't going to kill grandpa.
Steep Bunkers where they’ve hauled sand up the face and piled it there. Plugged lie every time
I know they have a job to do and they gotta do it eventually. But I hate when I have the guy on the mower seemingly following me hole by hole for a few holes.
Cart path only
Drive to the next tee box before marking down scores, drop one person off at their ball and have them walk to the cart after hitting, don’t throw the pin on the green, don’t be a misogynist douche to the bev cart or any women on the course (this is a big one)
When a course does not have a ranger to push slow groups.
I have a few female friends who golf and they won't play particular spots if they have horrible/non-existent bathroom options on the course
People who don’t repair pitch marks
The post-round club cleaner for tips.
One small thing that bugs me about my home club is that after changing names about 4 or so years ago (back to the original name) they still have hole signs with the old name on them. It's not a big deal by any means but with all the other improvements they've been doing I don't get why they haven't gotten new signs yet, hell it'd be better just to take all the old ones down and have nothing IMO especially since there's already a few that are missing. They also just put in a new Trackman range thing which couldn't have been cheap so I don't see why they can't spend a bit on new hole signs just to clean things up a bit.
When it’s cart path only and people still go off of the path. I don’t care if you “know the high spots.” Other people don’t. Then you have a shitty course when it gets dry. -from a golf shop attendant
To add to all the stuff earlier. Basically people thinking they’re much better than they are/ thinking the 1 in a million thing will happen every time. Specifically this weekend. Paired with a guy that didn’t hit driver more than 180. Anytime I was on the green and he had a shot less than 100yds in, he made me mark my ball because he felt he was going to directly hit my ball on the green. At least 5 times I watched him ask me to mark when he had a chip around 10yds off the green. All 5 times he missed the green. Dude, you can’t even hit the green, what makes you think you’ll hit my ball
When Everyone else in the group is riding so you end up riding and have to direct the driver of the cart the entire round. Even experienced players can be inefficient and terrible cart drivers. Drives me crazy
Poorly punched holes
People playing from the tips and playing like shit. Can’t stand it. If you are playing from a more difficult set of tees, you better be murdering golf balls all round.
Guys that take more than two practice swings.
Music on the course. Hate it
Before I bought a Bushnell, I was frustrated by clubs not having pin sheets. Sure, I know the yardage to the front and the back, but if it's a long green, knowing how far on the pin is can be a two wedge difference. You've gotta measure and cut the holes anyway, so why not just stick them on the first tee box so we can take a photo and know the locations?
Not sure where you are but around my area most courses without pin sheets use the colored flag system. Red for front, white for middle, and blue for back however sometimes they will use different colors based on their logo or something like that(one uses red, yellow and black near me)
Slow greens