Multiple ball ettiquete

julio arca

Hi folks, long time lurker here.

I have only started playing frequently in the last year and will be looking for a membership somewhere in the North Wicklow / South Dublin area if i can find a couple of golfing buddies.

I played Blainroe as a guest two ball on Saturday. This was the first time i played the course when it wasn't a glorious summers day and the place was in excellent condition. The winds made some holes very tough but a great challenge. Some of the views on the course are breathtaking.

The round was very slow due to groups of society 4 balls ahead of us. Directly in front of us was a solo golfer (headphones on and no interest in joining us) who was playing multiple balls on every hole. This obviously had a knock on effect of holding us up on pretty much every tee / approach shot. We eventually called in a day after 15 holes that took 4.5 hours.

What is the etiquette here with regards hitting multiple balls when there are people being held up behind?

Cheers

Rikand

It shouldn't be done. I play multiple balls when I'm out practicing. But I will always call people through as soon as I see them. And if they offer me to join them, most of the time I inform them that I just want to spend the time practicing.

Playing with headphones on though is not only rude, but extremely dangerous. What if someone shouted fore and he didn't hear the shout and got decked.

Honestly, he should have been reported. Even if it was just a word in the pro shop. Someone needs to tell him he was out of line

rickis tache

I can't imagine how tedious it must of been to watch this person do that in front of you.
In my opinion they should of just of given up the idea playing alone when it was quiet obvious there was a 2 ball behind them waiting for them to walk to both balls and play.
Granted it was a long time out there for them too but they may as well of joined you.
Just my opinion.

moycullen14

Just had a little smile at the though of this guy running into some of our more 'forthright' members. Headphones and multiple balls? Let's just say he wouldn't be doing it again.

Seriously, never heard the like. You don't use headphones because it's downright dangerous and never play multiple balls when there is someone behind you.

d15ude

julio arca wrote: »

Hi folks, long time lurker here.



The round was very slow due to groups of society 4 balls ahead of us.

Cheers

Sounds like he was waiting for the groups in front of him!?

stockdam

Did the solo guy keep up with the group in front? If so then he was not holding you up.

Yes he shouldn't be playing more than one ball but it's probable that you were being paced by other groups ahead.

prawnsambo

Rikand wrote: »

It shouldn't be done. I play multiple balls when I'm out practicing. But I will always call people through as soon as I see them. And if they offer me to join them, most of the time I inform them that I just want to spend the time practicing.

Exactly what I do. Or skip to an adjacent hole and pop back when they've gone through. Practice is practice and I always give way to guys playing a round. I'd hate to hold anyone up.

Seve OB

I don't see anything wrong with paying 2 balls
a golfer playing alone is fine and doesn't have to team up with the 2 ball behind
playing with headphones is idiotic
not calling people through is rude, something he probably should have done even he was keeping up with the group in front

First Up

A single player has no standing and is obliged to make way for groups. Him waiting for the group in front of him is no excuse for delaying you.

That's been a rule of golf for centuries but getting it enforced is the hard part.

paulos53

First Up wrote: »

That's been a rule of golf for centuries but getting it enforced is the hard part.

Wasn't that removed years ago?

PhuckHugh2

paulos53 wrote: »

Wasn't that removed years ago?

Yes it was removed at least 10 years ago. I think there is even a mention in the rule book now that a group can contain just one player.

**I should re-phrase that but.... They reference groups in the etiquette referring to pace of play and then it is stipulated that a single player is still classified as a group.

First Up

PhuckHugh2 wrote:

Yes it was removed at least 10 years ago. I think there is even a mention in the rule book now that a group can contain just one player.

Playing perhaps but not practicing.

PhuckHugh2

First Up wrote: »

Playing perhaps but not practicing.

Yes he should not have been practicing or playing 2 balls. But you said that the group in front of him delaying was no reason for him delaying you. Well frankly that is the only reason needed.

First Up

PhuckHugh2 wrote:

Yes he should not have been practicing or playing 2 balls. But you said that the group in front of him delaying was no reason for him delaying you. Well frankly that is the only reason needed.

It is worth noting that the group ahead of him either didn't offer or didn't agree to let him through. Or perhaps the single was not inclined to ask but wasn't bothered about holding up those behind by practicing.

Unacceptable in all scenarios.

paulos53

If the single player is being held up then he is under no obligation to allow those behind him to play through.

Even if it was just some extra chipping or putting I would also be playing extra shots if out on my own and being held up

First Up

paulos53 wrote:

Even if it was just some extra chipping or putting I would also be playing extra shots if out on my own and being held up

As would I, but not if people playing in the competition were waiting for me.

Whatever the circumstances, it doesn't show the club or its members in a good light.

prawnsambo

First Up wrote: »

As would I, but not if people playing in the competition were waiting for me.

Whatever the circumstances, it doesn't show the club or its members in a good light.

Apart from the considerations of etiquette, I'd not be comfortable practicing and looking over my shoulder at lads waiting on me, even if I'm held up by the group ahead. I'd just meander off to another hole and clear the way. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Dtoffee

First Up wrote: »

Playing perhaps but not practicing.

If he was playing in any competition, then he would not have been alone as he would have required a score keeper.

prawnsambo

Dtoffee wrote: »

If he was playing in any competition, then he would not have been alone as he would have required a score keeper.

You can play a casual round and are quite entitled to do so.

osarusan

I wonder did it start out with him playing multiple balls, or did he just decide to do that after realising he was going to be behind fourballs all day.

Wearing headphones is way off though.

First Up

prawnsambo wrote:

You can play a casual round and are quite entitled to do so.

Does that include hitting multiple balls?

Practicing in front/ahead of people in a competition is disrespectful and rude. If it was a club member doing it during an open competition it does not reflect well on the player or the club ethos.

prawnsambo

First Up wrote: »

Does that include hitting multiple balls?

Practicing in front/ahead of people in a competition is disrespectful and rude. If it was a club member doing it during an open competition it does not reflect well on the player or the club ethos.

No. Just replying to the poster's point about needing a marker.

slave1

There is nothing wrong with what the lone golfer was doing and because he was a single golfer he is considered a group and has full standing on the course.
It appears it was the society 4balls determining the pace of play and not the single golfer so as long as he was keeping right behind them he was doing nothing wrong and as such there is no right to play through him because you were in a 4ball and he was single.
There is nothing wrong with playing 2+balls as a single golfer, again it's pace of play, so if he played two balls and was right behind the trail of 4balls then he's perfectly fine.
Nothing wrong with headphones, obviously he puts himself at risk not hearing FORE but that's a risk he took on.

Some clubs do not allow a single golfer to use multiple balls off the tee or maybe do not allow multiple balls on approach because of multiple divots from the same patch of ground, but this is course specific so the only way to determine is to phone the club themselves.

Had he not been there you would no doubt have been walking in after 4hr and 30minutes albeit probably 10minutes earlier because you would have teed off 10minutes earlier in the absence of the lone golfer.

First Up

slave1 wrote:

Had he not been there you would no doubt have been walking in after 4hr and 30minutes albeit probably 10minutes earlier because you would have teed off 10minutes earlier in the absence of the lone golfer.

Every player on the course - especially in a competition - is expected to play at a reasonable pace. Hitting two or three balls is contrary to that.

There is no way of knowing if the OP's group was playing quicker than the fourball in front of the solo. It is possible that if they had been able to be directly behind them, they would have been invited to play through.

The solo was obviously not in the competition. A properly run club would not allow a solo out on the course to practice in the middle of a competition. I have played Blainroe a few times and quite enjoyed it. However this instance would put me right off it.

prawnsambo

First Up wrote: »

Every player on the course - especially in a competition - is expected to play at a reasonable pace. Hitting two or three balls is contrary to that.

There is no way of knowing if the OP's group was playing quicker than the fourball in front of the solo. It is possible that if they had been able to be directly behind them, they would have been invited to play through.

The solo was obviously not in the competition. A properly run club would not allow a solo out on the course to practice in the middle of a competition. I have played Blainroe a few times and quite enjoyed it. However this instance would put me right off it.

It's clear from the OP that it wasn't a competition. He was a guest and it's very inlikely that there'd be an open competition on a weekend. And there was a society out in front of them.

And of course you can hit extra balls while you're waiting. He doesn't have to allow the other group through if he's not the hold up.

First Up

prawnsambo wrote:

It's clear from the OP that it wasn't a competition. He was a guest and it's very inlikely that there'd be an open competition on a weekend. And there was a society out in front of them.

I don't think its clear; most clubs have competitions on the weekend and it could have been a member/guest.

I'm open to clarification on that but allowing a solo player out amidst fourballs is still unacceptable in my view, especially when he disregards others on the course.

prawnsambo

First Up wrote: »

I don't think its clear; most clubs have competitions on the weekend and it could have been a member/guest.

I'm open to clarification on that but allowing a solo player out amidst fourballs is still unacceptable in my view, especially when he disregards others on the course.

Yeah, it's not clear, but I read it as a casual game because of the circumstances with societies out and casual golfers out as well. My club wouldn't allow casaul golfers out during a competition unless there was a good gap on the time sheet.

julio arca

Just to clarify, I was a visitor playing with a fellow visitor and not in any competition. Also the solo golfer was not on the timesheet per the course staff so i assume it was a member out practicing that morning so the club can be absolved of any blame here. My aim here was to get an understanding of the rules so i know how to approach a similar situation should it arise in the future and was certainly not intended as a slight to the club or its staff who i actually found to be very helpful.

bmc58

Rikand wrote: »

It shouldn't be done. I play multiple balls when I'm out practicing. But I will always call people through as soon as I see them. And if they offer me to join them, most of the time I inform them that I just want to spend the time practicing.

Playing with headphones on though is not only rude, but extremely dangerous. What if someone shouted fore and he didn't hear the shout and got decked.

Honestly, he should have been reported. Even if it was just a word in the pro shop. Someone needs to tell him he was out of line

Practicing on the course is not allowed where I played.End of.If you were on your own you were allowed to play 2 balls but practicing on the course...no way.How much damage would you do to the course hitting multiple balls from the same area?There is usually a "practice area" in most courses for practice.And a player on his/her own on any course has no rights,he/she MUST leave any group behind through.

prawnsambo

bmc58 wrote: »

Practicing on the course is not allowed where I played.End of.If you were on your own you were allowed to play 2 balls but practicing on the course...no way.How much damage would you do to the course hitting multiple balls from the same area?There is usually a "practice area" in most courses for practice.And a player on his/her own on any course has no rights,he/she MUST leave any group behind through.

No problem doing it at my course either. Though to be fair, it's very rare at weekends and never during competition slots.

First Up

julio arca wrote:

Just to clarify, I was a visitor playing with a fellow visitor and not in any competition. Also the solo golfer was not on the timesheet per the course staff so i assume it was a member out practicing that morning so the club can be absolved of any blame here. My aim here was to get an understanding of the rules so i know how to approach a similar situation should it arise in the future and was certainly not intended as a slight to the club or its staff who i actually found to be very helpful.

Fair enough but at a minimum it was poor behaviour by the solo player and doesn't reflect well on the club's standards.

He should have let you through or moved out of your way; you probably couldn't insist but you shouldn't have to.

chicorytip

First Up wrote:

Every player on the course - especially in a competition - is expected to play at a reasonable pace. Hitting two or three balls is contrary to that.

The OP did not state explicitly that the solo in front was the cause of the hold up. I presume he drove three or four balls off the tee and then what? Did he then play each of those balls from where they landed or only the best placed one or two? Did he appear to be a good player rather than a hacker?

First Up

chicorytip wrote:

The OP did not state explicitly that the solo in front was the cause of the hold up. I presume he drove three or four balls off the tee and then what? Did he then play each of those balls from where they landed or only the best placed one or two? Did he appear to be a good player rather than a hacker?

It doesn't matter.

chicorytip

First Up wrote:

Fair enough but at a minimum it was poor behaviour by the solo player and doesn't reflect well on the club's standards.

First Up wrote:

He should have let you through or moved out of your way; you probably couldn't insist but you shouldn't have to.

Is this an explicit rule of the game or just regarded as proper behaviour?

First Up

chicorytip wrote:

Is this an explicit rule of the game or just regarded as proper behaviour?

There is some scope for interpretation on that. It used to be very explicit - a single had no standing - but the most recent version omits that phrase in favour of saying a single can constitute a group. It does not however say anything about the single just practicing and infers they are playing a "proper" round.

But that isn't really the point; a single hitting multiple shots with others waiting to play is inconsiderate and discourteous and that should be enough.

Ryder

I'm a bit biased here because most of the golf I play is unfortunatly solo (for family reasons). if I'm caught behind a group I'll sometimes play 2 or 3 balls so as to use the time BUT will at all times keep pace.

I don't see the issue here, presuming the single was himself held up by the group in front. surely if he let the 4 ball through then they would have been stuck at the next hole?

CalamariFritti

'Single player has no standing' has been done away with some time ago, but I feel once I start playing more than 1 ball I'm entering a grey area.

Logically as long as I keep up with the group ahead I can play any number of balls and I'm not actually holding the group behind me up. But I doubt many people behind me would see it that way. They are in for a slow round already and now they're looking every hole at a solo golfer hitting 2 or 3 balls. I just couldn't practice comfortably under their glares. I'd let them through or go a hole back or so.

First Up

Ryder wrote:

I don't see the issue here, presuming the single was himself held up by the group in front. surely if he let the 4 ball through then they would have been stuck at the next hole?

They might be let play through.

FixdePitchmark

The biggest issue I have with multiple ball play is damage to the course.

If you are in the habit of multiple ball play you can slip into poor course repair habits.

I've watched these lads and seen multiple shots from one location with damage.

It actually takes a bit of time to repair course properly. And you simply can't repair an area that has been practiced from on course.

I play a good bit alone and a bit of art/sense to staying out of way and routing your round.

I play the odd 2nd ball and if I'm getting too close to group in front I'll putt till a gap is restablished or change route. I'll have to put hands up and say the putting green is not practice area either.

I wouldn't report someone for anything . Only thing that pisses me off is slow play and course damage.

A good few people actually hate single players . Its a bit bizarre. One I came across is a multiple ball hitting lunatic. Drop bang . Drop bang . No sandbag or repairing ground.

A big problem between golfing parties is the failure to communicate . There will be bitching and moaning. When communication happens . It tends to be at the point of over agression and smart comments.

Golf seems to attract very frustrated angry men.

GreeBo

No issue with playing more than one ball but not if that is delaying anyone behind, even if the solo is gong to have to wait in the next tee you can't delay anyone behind you.

From the OP it seems he was delaying others so shouldn't have played multiple balls.

ShriekingSheet

I'm all for solo golf and multiple balls within reason, but crazy that this guy was doing it while people were waiting. Maybe if it was two quick balls and he was an efficient player, but it sounds like more.

Totally disagree with those defending him saying the 4 balls were setting the pace anyway, and once he keeps up with them he's not in the wrong. It's like saying, on a slow day, you can practice your putting on every green rather than waiting on the next tee - even if there's guys behind you waiting to hit in from the fairway! You don't delay - you finish out and go and wait on the back of the next tee.

The reality it its highly, highly unlikely there wasn't another part of the course available that the guy on his own couldn't have cut over to at some stage and played away. That's what I do all the time. When you are by yourself, you are much more flexible and mobile, so it makes sense to just stay away from groups playing a full round 1 to 18.

The telling thing for me is there's no way he was enjoying his day - behind larger slower groups and in front of two lads miffed at him for holding them up. He definitely knew he was being a d*ck, or kept doing what he was doing out of some sort of misguided principle. Not on.

CalamariFritti

Yes they may be waiting for the single guy on every single hole. Watch him hitting shots into the green while the four-ball has moved on. But unless the 4ball ahead actually gets away from them it makes no difference.
The 4ball is setting the pace and even if the lone guy lets them through they’ll be waiting just as long only behind someone else.
Their round will take the exact same time.

First Up

CalamariFritti wrote:

Yes they may be waiting for the single guy on every single hole. Watch him hitting shots into the green while the four-ball has moved on. But unless the 4ball ahead actually gets away from them it makes no difference. The 4ball is setting the pace and even if the lone guy lets them through they’ll be waiting just as long only behind someone else. Their round will take the exact same time.

For all we know, the fourball in front of the solo could have lost two holes on the people ahead of them. In that case, the OP's group could have been called through and made up a lot of time.

It was NOT the solo's place to dictate the pace of play. He was way out of order on several fronts. I don't know if anyone from Blainroe is reading this but if they are, someone deserves a severe talking to.

Euphoriasean

if the guy kept up with the group ahead then what's the issue,the 4ball are setting the pace. Whether he was there or not the round would have taken the same time. This just seems to be another case of people getting annoyed over nothing.

If he was offered to play through and didn't then that's another case. If they didn't offer to the guy on his own why would they have offered to the 4ball behind him.

Euphoriasean

First Up wrote: »

For all we know, the fourball in front of the solo could have lost two holes on the people ahead of them. In that case, the OP's group could have been called through and made up a lot of time.

It was NOT the solo's place to dictate the pace of play. He was way out of order on several fronts. I don't know if anyone from Blainroe is reading this but if they are, someone deserves a severe talking to.

A formal inquiry need to be launched IMMEDIATELY!

First Up

Euphoriasean wrote:

if the guy kept up with the group ahead then what's the issue,the 4ball are setting the pace. Whether he was there or not the round would have taken the same time. This just seems to be another case of people getting annoyed over nothing.

We don't know if there were holes open in front of the fourball. It may have suited the solo to stay where he was but the OP's group wanted to play quicker. They were not given the opportunity because of the solo.

Euphoriasean wrote:

If he was offered to play through and didn't then that's another case. If they didn't offer to the guy on his own why would they have offered to the 4ball behind him.

You don't need to be invited. You ask.

Euphoriasean

First Up wrote: »

We don't know if there were holes open in front of the fourball. It may have suited the solo to stay where he was but the OP's group wanted to play quicker. They were not given the opportunity because of the solo.



You don't need to be invited. You ask.

Exactly we don't know. Speculating and calling out a club when you don't know what was happening on the course at that time is bewildering.

First Up

Euphoriasean wrote:

Exactly we don't know. Speculating and calling out a club when you don't know what was happening on the course at that time is bewildering.

Not bewildering at all. Its about consideration for others. The solo showed none and such behaviour does not reflect well on the club.

Euphoriasean

First Up wrote: »

Not bewildering at all. Its about consideration for others. The solo showed none and such behaviour does not reflect well on the club.

The OP has not provided enough information for you to come to your conclusion, you're just speculating.

With regards to him playing with headphones, that's not on. A few warning shots might make him take them off.

If he was playing 2 balls and not holding anyone up I personally don't see the issue.

First Up

Euphoriasean wrote:

The OP has not provided enough information for you to come to your conclusion, you're just speculating.

I'm not speculating about anything.

Board Boy

Hi Julio

As a member of Blainroe I’m sorry to hear about your experience last Saturday with that solo golfer playing multiple balls and wearing headphones. The club will investigate this - it was poor behaviour. In addition to causing unnecessary damage/ wear and tear to the course, there are etiquette and safety considerations that would be of concern. If you are happy to take a call from one of our Office staff on the matter, I will arrange that - just pm me.

I know your thread was a question about the etiquette of the solo golfers actions but I was glad to hear you say “the place was in excellent condition. The winds made some holes very tough but a great challenge. Some of the views on the course are breathtaking.”

We are actually very proud of the Blainroe golf offering and always looking for new members, new green fee guests and new or return Society golfers! Please do consider Blainroe when you get to that final decision on what club to join!