Unsuitable behaviour at a golf course

ene

I was playing at a golf course today I haven't played In before and I witnessed some shocking behaviour. I was wondering what we should have done differently or what you would do in this situation?

We were playing behind a 4 ball with a caddy who hit of shots at every hole and then a 2 ball. Behind us was a 4 ball of 4 teenagers who had a caddy car which the 4 were all riding.

On one hole they asked if they can play through, we explained that there was a 5 ball and then a 2 ball so that was what was keeping us.

We then walked down the fairway to hit our second shot and 1 of the boys teed off missing us by about 20 yards and they screamed fore. We gave them a filthy look and continued to finish the hole afraid that they would hit us. My friend was not happy putting with her back turned as they may hit her.

The next hole was a short par 3 and we had to wait firstly for the 5 ball to finish and then the 2 ball I front of us to finish. The men's tee was behind us and up a few steps and the boys went up to wait.my friend teed off and I was just about to tee off when I glanced at the green and I noticed a ball had just landed on it. I heard the boys laughing and I was just taking my shot when I noticed a second ball landing on the green beside mine. The boys were laughing and saying fore.

We were walking away when another 4 ball were walking towards us and noticed this they said we would speak totne boys. My friend then went and said they are being really dangerous. We then played through the hole.

We teed off on the next hole and my hands were shaking we were so annoyed. We were about to take our second shots and the boys drives landed close to us again. We were really shaken.

On another hole as my friend was swinging her club to drive they screamed fore and started laughing again.

After the front 9 we went to the club house and spoke to the manager about the behaviour. He said he would speak to them.

On the next hole they were fine but the same behaviour continued right through the round. We joined up with the 2 ball in front as the play was so slow and we got annoyed at waiting.

On 3 other occasion they hit balls which landed really close to us. The park ranger approached us and asked if they had improved and we said no and said what they had done. The other couple also told him what the boys had done.

We finished the round but still we were annoyed and when we were leaving the club the boys drove right up behind me as I was driving and beeping there horn continually they all screamed fore at us laughing there heads off.

We left the club feeling like we were bullied and intimidated.

Just wondering did we act appropriately I'm this situation?

Sorry for the long post.

Ene

EvanCornwallis

Honestly, I would of taken out my putter walked up to them and explained if it happens again, I will cave their skulls in.

Was it a public course ?

Complete scumbags! Having to put up with that on a golf course is a disgrace.

Ilik Urgee

I would've rang the clubhouse right off. Mongs like them don't belong on the course.

3DataModem

Back to clubhoue, politely request green fee back, explain why, blow off steam at range.

clickhere

Absolute muppets , and if the ranger was any good he would have told them to leave the course. I admire your self control. Ring the course and get a free game for the way you were treated.

PhlegmyMoses

Those guys were fúcking dickheads. I presume you are both ladies? Guaranteed they wouldn't have had the bollocks to do that if it were a group of 6ft plus men were in front of them.

As an aside, that 5 ball should have called the two ball through and then probably you guys afterwards.

ene

No it wasn't a public course, we had booked it through golfnow.

That's what we both wanted to do, in fact my friend said she almost wanted them to hit her so she could get them.

We felt more intimidated because we were two girls playing on a unknown course like honestly I didn't even feel safe but we wanted to persevere playing as we had paid in advance.

I didn't really think the manager gave two ****s about there behaviour, I wouldn't have thought of getting money back.

Mr. Larson

Scrotes. Deserved a hiding and hopefully they will get one soon. That's criminal behaviour and nobody is exaggerating here.

tayto lover

Name and shame the club.
5 balls playing not allowed anywhere.
Bad manner and dangerous play not allowed anywhere.

PhlegmyMoses

tayto lover wrote: »

Name and shame the club.
5 balls playing not allowed anywhere.
Bad manner and dangerous play not allowed anywhere.

TBF, it sounds like they just booked as a 4 ball and their mate hit shots. Unless they were spotted by someone at the club, they would get away with it.

blindside88

tayto lover wrote: »

Name and shame the club.
5 balls playing not allowed anywhere.
Bad manner and dangerous play not allowed anywhere.

+1 the club officials were informed twice during your round and did nothing so obviously don't care, I'd name and shame so others don't have a nice days golf ruined

eagle eye

Those guys don't belong anywhere near a golf course. If I was there I'd have found out who they were and made a complaint to the GUI.

Mr. Larson

Frank Black wrote: »

If you'd stood up for yourself like a man when the first incident happened you wouldn't have had to put up with all the subsequent incidents.

Act like a doormat - get waked on.

LOL. Wtf??

copacetic

Shocking, especially the clubs apparent inability to sort it out. As noted above, clearly a cowardly attempt to bully. You probably did the right thing OP by trying to stay above their level. Personally I'd follow up with the club and look for m money back and information on what they have actually done about it.

tayto lover

Frank Black wrote: »

If you'd stood up for yourself like a man when the first incident happened you wouldn't have had to put up with all the subsequent incidents.

Act like a doormat - get waked on.

Don't think she's a man.

EvanCornwallis

ene wrote: »

No it wasn't a public course, we had booked it through golfnow.

That's what we both wanted to do, in fact my friend said she almost wanted them to hit her so she could get them.

We felt more intimidated because we were two girls playing on a unknown course like honestly I didn't even feel safe but we wanted to persevere playing as we had paid in advance.

I didn't really think the manager gave two ****s about there behaviour, I wouldn't have thought of getting money back.

Management and the park ranger are a joke.

For two women to be harrassed and nearly assaulted multiple times on a golf course by a group of men is unbelievable. Really wish I had of been of the course behind this. Cowardly scumbags.

A free round is the minimum you should demand, you paid money for a round, but couldn't play it.

Frank Black

Mr. Larson wrote: »

LOL. Wtf??

Well allow me to elaborate.

ene wrote: »

We then walked down the fairway to hit our second shot and 1 of the boys teed off missing us by about 20 yards and they screamed fore. We gave them a filthy look and continued to finish the hole afraid that they would hit us.

Ene

I would have went back to the little pricks and told them if they pulled that **** again I'd wrap my driver around their heads.

I'd imagine the subsequent incidents wouldn't have occurred.

blindside88

Frank Black wrote: »

Well allow me to elaborate.




I would have went back to the little pricks and told them if they pulled that **** again I'd wrap my driver around their heads.

I'd imagine the subsequent incidents wouldn't have occurred.

I'd say that'd go down well coming from 2 women up against 4 lads who clearly have no regard for said women's safety

KDII

Ene's mate she was playing with today here.

Frank, with the doormat comments. It's pretty easy to sit on your laptop and say you would walk back and threaten someone. Perhaps naively we put the first few incidents down to immaturity, maybe a bit of laddish behaviour, but assumed it was harmless and would stop with a quiet word on the next tee box. Clearly we were proven wrong. However, I really wouldn't feel confident as a pretty averagely built 5 foot 7 23 year old girl taking on four guys who were behaving so obnoxiously. It was really intimidating.

We were just out to enjoy a round of golf on a gorgeous sunny afternoon. To be basically harassed and bullied around the course wasn't on our agenda. Seems a bit out of line that you should insinuate someone else's aggressive and downright rude behaviour is somehow my fault for not intervening soon enough to be honest.

Jimdagym

Don't mind him, you done all you could have.

Fwiw I wouldn't even try get a free round out of the club. I'm stubborn enough to get my revenge on places that let me down by boycotting them and bad mouthing them to everyone I know

Senna

Christ i'd be raging at the ranger/manager who did nothing. You will get these little scumbags everywhere, but once the club has been informed, they should have been thrown off the course.

Goldenjohn

Hi Kd & ene,

Sorry to hear you had such a poor experience, fortunately I don't Think it's reflective of 99% of golfers, To me it sounds like youngs lads acting in a juvenile and completely unacceptable manner.

At this stage I would suggest you put a complaint in writing to the club, explain how you felt unsafe on their golf course and it was their responsibility to provide a safe environment for you to enjoy your round and could they confirm if the individuals in question were members of their club. If so, you wish to make a formal complaint to the committee regarding their behaviour. If not did the capture their GUI or booking details as you wish to make a formal complaint to their home club/ The GUI (unlikely due to data protection, if they won't ask them pass on your complaint to their home club)

sorry to hear about you experience, keep golfing these knobs are in the minority.

ForeRight

You are 23 yes?

What age were these lads?

KDII

ForeRight wrote: »

You are 23 yes?

What age were these lads?

Lookswise maybe ranged from 15-19. Why?

ForeRight

KDII wrote: »

Maybe 18-19. Why?

Just wondering was there immaturity down to flirting?

Unfortunately with golf having become a very accessible game the last few years these sites like golf now and teetimes are attracting loads of little toe tags onto the courses.

The amount of times I've seen scum on the courses in track suit bottoms and sharing clubs etc etc is a joke. Not just public courses either.

CastingCouch

Sickening behaviour.

You have to name and shame the club.

PARlance

Sorry to hear about that, absolutely disgraceful behaviour and I don't think ye could have done much more.
(You possibly should have let them through just for your own safety though.)

The club should be named and shamed.

ForeRight

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about that, absolutely disgraceful behaviour and I don't think ye could have done much more.
(You possibly should have let them through just for your own safety though.)

The club should be named and shamed.

Let them through then drive balls up their arses would hav been the job

KDII

I definitely didn't get the impression it was flirting or trying to initiate banter or anything. When I tried to confront them after they basically pitched over Ene's head on the par 3 they brushed by me, ignored me and then laughed in my face. It was just so bizarre and disconcerting to be subjected to it over a number of hours. They sustained this for about 14 holes. Everything we did, the group of men behind them or the couple we ended up joining seemed to spur them on. Just a group of disrespectful little brats. One of them looked mortified up close but from a few dozen feet would still be shouting and jeering with the lads..

ForeRight

KDII wrote: »

I definitely didn't get the impression it was flirting or trying to initiate banter or anything. When I tried to confront them after they basically pitched over Ene's head on the par 3 they brushed by me, ignored me and then laughed in my face. It was just so bizarre and disconcerting to be subjected to it over a number of hours. They sustained this for about 14 holes. Everything we did, the group of men behind them or the couple we ended up joining seemed to spur them on. Just a group of disrespectful little brats. One of them looked mortified up close but from a few dozen feet would still be shouting and jeering with the lads..

Just scum simple as that. Unfortunately for them they know no different than that behaviour. It's breed into them. Their parents were scum, their grandparents were scum and their kids will be scum.

I deal with scum alot and I've always found they only understand one thing. In this case it would have been an iron scarf for the day.

Two girls can't do that obviously and it's an absolute living disgrace the club did not deal with this immediately when reported.

Name and shame the club.

callaway92

Ya the lads were definitely trying to flirt with ye. (Pathetic way obviously)

I know it's easy to say behind a keyboard but I would have thrown their ball off the green when they hit onto it or else would've just taken the ball and thanked them for it.

What are they going to do? Hit you?

If the continued I definitely would've thrown a dig. (I have had a couple of heated situations golfing).

If I was a girl (and not being sexist here but since there was only 2 of you and 4 of them) I 100% would've rang the clubhouse and say you want someone out on the course immediately because your safety is being threatened (which it was).


Put this down to 4 prícks being prícks. Don't let it get to you.

KDII

ajcurry123 wrote: »

(You possibly should have let them through just for your own safety though.)

I was probably being a bit stubborn by not letting them initially, and kind of assumed maybe they were just a bunch of kids and didn't get the whole etiquette thing.

Our tee time was for 13.56 and we ended up not teeing off until after quarter past because the 5-ball took our spot. We asked the manager had it been double booked and he was all "nah you're grand head out after them" so we said grand. Then the couple were delayed and were then slotted in before us too. We just wanted to get going.

When they initially asked we were waiting to tee off on a par 4. There was the couple about 150 yards ahead. It wasn't safe to tee off. The course then dog legs left. The green was out of sight to us but it was clear the couple were waiting for the 5-ball (4-ball and "caddy") to clear the green. They basically rocked up and said "we're playing through". We kind of explained there was no point, that it was busy and would be slow it made no sense for us to be pushed back behind four more players.

PARlance

KDII wrote: »

I was probably being a bit stubborn by not letting them initially, and kind of assumed maybe they were just a bunch of kids and didn't get the whole etiquette thing.

Our tee time was for 13.56 and we ended up not teeing off until after quarter past because the 5-ball took our spot. We asked the manager had it been double booked and he was all "nah you're grand head out after them" so we said grand. Then the couple were delayed and were then slotted in before us too. We just wanted to get going.

When they initially asked we were waiting to tee off on a par 4. There was the couple about 150 yards ahead. It wasn't safe to tee off. The course then dog legs left. The green was out of sight to us but it was clear the couple were waiting for the 5-ball (4-ball and "caddy") to clear the green. They basically rocked up and said "we're playing through". We kind of explained there was no point, that it was busy and would be slow it made no sense for us to be pushed back behind four more players.

You shouldn't have had to, was just saying it might have saved serious injury.

Still no mention of the club in question though?
Any reason why you're not saying?

r27

Two of my mates had a similar experience they were playing in a two ball being followed by a four ball with two caddies both hitting aswell . Whenever a ball landed near them or was hit over them they just hit the ball OB, they called the club after 5 holes from the course and after 9 they walked in and demanded a refund which they were given . It seems in your case that confrontation would have made matters worse or not helped the situation , but you should have at least gone into the club and demanded a refund . Also the club seems to be very badly managed , name and shame at this stage

KDII

callaway92 wrote: »

Put this down to 4 prícks being prícks. Don't let it get to you.

Ah I know. We're well and truly bitten by the bug at this stage so won't let a few children stop me from being able to go pro and quit the day job :cool:

I suppose we just wanted to get others opinions on how far we could have taken in. In hindsight we probably should have hit their ball back to them but I suppose we're still getting used to the etiquette etc and didn't want to stoop to their level. Just wanted to keep the head down until we got back to the clubhouse after the 9th hole and inform the management.

When we were returning after the 17th we happened upon the staff member we said it to. We called him over, told him their behaviour had persisted and probably worsened. On a short par 3 (maybe 110 yards from mens tee box) they hit onto the green just as we picked up our balls. The female member of the couple we joined let out a very effective and 'scary Mammy-type' roar at them, but alas, they continued.

After we said it to him we kind of forgot about it, enjoyed the tricky 18th and started packing the car. They then started shouting "FORE" repeatedly from behind a tree in the carpark. We packed the car and left, pretty unwilling to take them on and cause a scene and frankly feeling pretty exhausted from what turned into a five-and-a-half hour sweaty ordeal!

Then driving back to the road they drove up behind us, hand pressed on the horn. We drove straight on through a cross roads and they went right. Had they followed us down the little country I said I would have likely called the police... I may have been all talk as I'm sure they were harmless but still we really felt intimidated. Also I know it would have been a huge waste of police time and probably wouldn't have gone through with it but we were feeling really harassed at this point.

I'll probably ring the club tomorrow, make a complaint with them both about the group of guys and the way it was handled. I'll name and shame thereafter.

KDII

Sure feck it, I'm not getting my money back. Was Highfield, in Carbury, Co. Kildare.

PARlance

KDII wrote: »

Sure feck it, I'm not getting my money back. Was Highfield, in Carbury, Co. Kildare.

Not a club I've heard of but I hope the lose a few green fees due to this.

You should follow up with the club tomorrow. Even if you're never going back. It'd be in the interest of your fellow golfers to help put a stop to this.

For all we know the ranger may known these guys well and is letting them away with it.
I'd try to speak to someone senior there. Any decent club member, never mind member of staff or committee member would be embarrassed and I couldnt see them taking it anything but seriously.

Pity about this evening... That definitely can be classed as a good walk spoiled.

Arsenium

KDII wrote: »

Sure feck it, I'm not getting my money back. Was Highfield, in Carbury, Co. Kildare.

That's an absolutely terrible experience. God I'd love to meet those assholes. Lovely day for golf. You've got the bug as you say so I'm sure you were looking forward to it. Only to have the day ruined. Definitely ring tomorrow and give them hell.

Is that the place where you tee off from the roof on the first hole? I've been there I'm sure.

Cedrus

.

Wichita Lineman

I played Highfield once many years ago and they had a tee box situated behind out of bounds stakes. I didn't go back since. Absolutely shameful that this behaviour was not dealt with immediately by the club and I hope you get some sort of grovelling apology as a minimum.

I'd suggest you write a letter of complaint to the Club Secretary so it's dealt with at official level and not just fobbed off by shop staff / ranger who didn't do much for you on the day in question.

Ilik Urgee

KDII wrote: »

Ah I know. We're well and truly bitten by the bug at this stage so won't let a few children stop me from being able to go pro and quit the day job :cool:

You've got it as bad as the rest of us so:p

KDII wrote: »

I'll probably ring the club tomorrow, make a complaint with them both about the group of guys and the way it was handled. I'll name and shame thereafter.

Most definitely do! Don't let them fob you off with a free round, you want an apology and those lads at least ejected from that club, and the GUI if they're members.

No-one should have to put up with this shit.:mad::mad:

ene

I see kd has gotten in before me. Ye it's highfield golf club, and yes it's the one you tee off from the roof on the first.

I did ask the boys if they were members and they said no, I would have assumed that they were a member of some club or at least played a lot, as they were actually pretty good at hitting the ball.

I am still shaken by the whole experience but I will wait till kd wakes up to ring the club as she is definitely much more intimidating then me. If I rang I would properly end up giving the club money or me apologising to to them!!

Arsenium

Andy Dunne11 wrote: »

I played Highfield once many years ago and they had a tee box situated behind out of bounds stakes.


Not meaning to be light hearted about such a serious topic but I am just wondering how this would work? You play your tee shot from OB, so in effect it is already your third? And since you are OB, it then becomes your fifth...which is also OB so then it's your 7th.....is that what they call a divergent series in Leaving Cert maths? What could you write down on the score card for that hole?

Sorry for being flippant OP.

Kevinmarkham

KDII wrote: »

Sure feck it, I'm not getting my money back. Was Highfield, in Carbury, Co. Kildare.

Read all the other responses and seems 99% of people are behind you. Sorry to hear you had such an unpleasant experience in your early golfing adventures - I hope it doesn't put either of you off the game. It is a rare enough occurrence so chalk it down to experience. There aren't that many morons out there!

If they weren't members then there is no recourse and no effective way of reporting them. Highfield, however, have a different case to answer. If they really were that dismissive/uninterested and let such a dangerous situation continue, then you should report the people involved. How far you take it is up to you. At the very least you should write to the club - I'd suggest the Captain and Lady Captain - but they could both ignore you. If you're as upset/angry as you sound, then write to the GUI and report the club for allowing the dangerous play to continue (as well as the five ball in front), and then send copies to Highfield's Captain, Lady Captain and General Manager - it will certainly make the club sit up and take notice.

There will always be kids that muck about and behave badly, but it's the club's responsibility to monitor and prevent such situations.

Good luck.

Ken.

https://www.facebook.com/HighfieldGolf
Retell your story here KD. Might make them sit up and notice.

The Premier Man

is there a cart parked on the green in the pic?

Mikeyt086

Sadly there are far too many young lads in Ireland who have absolutely no respect for others. Bit of a joke when 2 women can't enjoy a round of golf because nobody taught those kids how to behave in public, and when you put them in a group it gets worse as they are showing off trying to look cool.

I'm only 24 so this is by no means a "Kids these days!" post but it's far too regular an occurrence, normally not on a golf course granted, but cinemas, shopping centres, you name it, there will be a group of kids acting like little ****s to people if they think they can get away with it. If my parents found out I was acting like that they would give me hell, sadly it seems far too many parents couldn't give a monkeys as long as they are out of their hair for the day.

OP, you were in a tough situation, from the sounds of it the pair of you are the type to avoid conflict (I could be wrong here, and theirs nothing wrong with that, in fact I tend to prefer those types of people) but I honestly believe the best thing you could have done was casually walk up to their golf balls, pick them up, stroll to the nearest water hazard or bush, look at the lads while you feck their ball away, then walk off doing that Confident woman/Beyonce strut to the clubhouse where you tell the manager what is happening on his course and politely ask to be reimbursed for your ruined round.

All it takes is one manager who isn't a complete pushover to confidently tell these idiots that they are no longer allowed on the premises and to grow the **** up. And after they get kicked out hopefully they all agree that "golf is **** anyway" and nobody has to put up with their crap in the future.

Wichita Lineman

Well it was quite a few years ago now and I haven't been back.

Arsenium wrote: »

Andy Dunne11 wrote: »

I played Highfield once many years ago and they had a tee box situated behind out of bounds stakes.


Not meaning to be light hearted about such a serious topic but I am just wondering how this would work? You play your tee shot from OB, so in effect it is already your third? And since you are OB, it then becomes your fifth...which is also OB so then it's your 7th.....is that what they call a divergent series in Leaving Cert maths? What could you write down on the score card for that hole?

Sorry for being flippant OP.

slave1

A sad read, don't let the extreme minority of immature ruin this game for you OP.

Unglika Norse

The club can do very little in this really unacceptable situation. The problem they face is along with all other propriotory courses is that they do not have the say in who plays the course or indeed when.

They can (the club) of course complain to the manager, who is probably the owner and the guy that the girls originally complained to, He appeared to be disinterested and probably because he was looking at his green fee income.

I am sorry that this happened to you ladies and would suggest you try edenderry a little further down the road.

sodbuster77

Played Highfield a few weeks ago and to call it a dump is an insult to dumps. They are on their last legs and obviously just letting any fool in that's willing to hand over a few quid. The standards of some clubs these days are shocking and there needs to be sanctions imposed by the GUI.