Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[bcjim]

On 6/2/2025 at 11:42 AM, BallHooker said:

 Forgiving means that errors are harder to spot. 
 

[jda]

Unpopular and also true - most fitters are number readers and shaft swappers.  A really good fitter is awesome and do a great job.  The vast majority of folks see the former and have no idea who the latter even is.

[BallHooker]

I think range finders should be banned. It's one of the most annoying things on the course when people constantly need to check distances. We were able to play the game well before these were invented and we sure can do it now as well. I myself use a range finder maybe once per round. Some annoying players use them for every shot and it does not make them better at golf.

 

Maybe there should be a penalty stroke for checking a distance shorter than 150 meters. It can be difficult to know if the distance is 170 or 190 meters, but really though... If one is close to the pin (less than 150), it is quite easy to visualize a shot and pick the club accordingly.

 

 

Edited June 5 by BallHooker

[mshills]

Unpopular:

 

Rangefinders definitely save time. 
 

Aimpoint….done properly….usually saves time. 
 

Forum golf instruction doesn’t help most players improve. 

[parbung]

1 hour ago, mshills said:

Unpopular:

 

Rangefinders definitely save time. 
 

Aimpoint….done properly….usually saves time. 

 

it helps me hit less shots, so i 100% agree 😄

[Shallowface]

On 6/2/2025 at 1:19 PM, Cbfodalo said:

Who the hell wants the game to grow. I think the game has grown enough already!

The more people that golf, the more crowded the courses get and as demand for tee times rise so will greens fees. I say enough already.  

Growth can be cancerous.

[Double Mocha Man]

On 6/2/2025 at 10:19 AM, Cbfodalo said:

Who the hell wants the game to grow. I think the game has grown enough already!

The more people that golf, the more crowded the courses get and as demand for tee times rise so will greens fees. I say enough already.  

 

There needs to be a balance. When golf isn't growing golf courses close. A little bit of growth guarantees a maintenance staff that can keep the course in good shape. I remember pre-Covid when golf courses were just saying, "Oh screw it, we need to lay some people off."

[Warrior42111]

Yup steady growth or upward trend is what's needed, then there's proper time and money to adjust accordingly.

 

The covid boom caused the steady state to explode exponentially. It's hard to adjust to that curve and predict when it will return to that steady state for courses, and developers.

 

Prior to 2020 the boomer generation was the largest share in golfers, going back through time that age frame was almost always the majority think ages 50-65. After 2020 the Millennials became the largest share. So now you have 2 large demographics instead of the usually one. Eventually in time the millennials will phase out (age) and the question will be are the Gens behind them going to match their participation or return to pre 2020 leveling. 

[parbung]

I really don't like the whole "golf to have fun bro" notion or the "you're not good enough to get mad" thing. 

 

let's be real. playing bad golf sucks and is not fun at all, but it's all part of the process. 

 

That just makes playing "good" golf so much more rewarding ("good" in quotes since everyone's definition of what's good is different). 

 

it's natural to get frustrated when things are not going your way. 

 

As Palpatine said, let the hate flow through you. 

 

 

 

[WesternRacing]

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

There needs to be a balance. When golf isn't growing golf courses close. A little bit of growth guarantees a maintenance staff that can keep the course in good shape. I remember pre-Covid when golf courses were just saying, "Oh screw it, we need to lay some people off."

 

I agree, but I also think that it culls the herd and puts the good courses that survive on better footing.  Courses opening and closing is just a natural part of the order of things.  I can’t think of a course that I know of, that closed, and then I said ‘man, that’s sad, it was such a great, well run, course’…

 

Edited June 5 by WesternRacing

[J-Blade]

"I think my bag is set for this year".... 😉

[parbung]

On 6/2/2025 at 4:11 PM, BallHooker said:

So be it. Still quite sure I’m not wrong when it comes to the provided views. It is a hard pill to swallow. Just like the ”fact” that fitting is a flawed scam approach. It’s like a religion to some, so many will be quick to call me an idiot for stating the obvious. (Instead of learning to hit different gear, people try different stuff with their current swing. Instead of learning to hit different clubs/shafts they pick something that works with their swing, because that swing obviously is perfect. Very dumb and unlikely to be the best way forward. It’s a religion-like thing though, so I’m wrong no doubt.) 
 

My wife thinks I’m always wrong, but I doubt she’d say that regarding these views. Or maybe she would… wouldn’t be surprising. 😄

 

 

fitting is so overrated lol. 

i've never seen a good golfer unable to hit a club well because the club isn't fit for them. 

 

if a stranger tells you they got their club fitted, 90% of the time, they're horrible. 

good players keep their mouth shut. 

[PedronNiall]

11 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

 

I agree, but I also think that it culls the herd and puts the good courses that survive on better footing.  Courses opening and closing is just a natural part of the order of things.  I can’t think of a course that I know of, that closed, and then I said ‘man, that’s sad, it was such a great, well run, course’…

 

 

Sometimes that's the case, but you can have okay courses near better quality ones, then the meh course closes, and suddenly you have a large influx of players from the old site. Not only is it now more crowded but it can also end up with conditions worsened not just by the traffic but from players not used to doing their part to maintain better green surfaces. Rarely is a better quality course closing shop while the those that aren't as well maintained keep operating.

 

What's increased revenue at the remaining course or courses matter if it becomes a chore to play them and the greens end up marked up?

[Brokensticks]

Good players using Aimpoint and Rangefinders are improving pace of play. 

 

Sure if you cant hit a target for s***, noone of those are doing any favors but if it helps you hit the green and lag a put close its different. Many of us shave strokes of the game with those techniques and that means saving time.

 

Edit: Pace of play is fine but all you people running and driving around the course like its a game of running golf is just destroying whats fun. Sure, noone likes waiting a few minutes between every shot but the culture of trying to make 18 holes under 3 hrs is just ridiculous. Go play a par3 course then.

Edited June 6 by Brokensticks

[Shallowface]

13 hours ago, parbung said:

 

fitting is so overrated lol. 

i've never seen a good golfer unable to hit a club well because the club isn't fit for them. 

 

if a stranger tells you they got their club fitted, 90% of the time, they're horrible. 

good players keep their mouth shut. 

Agree completely.  The used racks at Galaxy or Superstore are loaded with drivers that don't even have a month's play on them (although many of them have skymarks), and every one of those drivers was "dialed in" when it was purchased.

 

Tour pros used to win majors with clubs they found in barrels or attics.  Either you can hit a golf ball or you can't.  A golf club isn't a suit (does anyone still buy those?) or a pair of shoes.

 

 

[Shallowface]

50 minutes ago, Brokensticks said:

Good players using Aimpoint and Rangefinders are improving pace of play. 

 

Sure if you cant hit a target for s***, noone of those are doing any favors but if it helps you hit the green and lag a put close its different. Many of us shave strokes of the game with those techniques and that means saving time.

 

Edit: Pace of play is fine but all you people running and driving around the course like its a game of running golf is just destroying whats fun. Sure, noone likes waiting a few minutes between every shot but the culture of trying to make 18 holes under 3 hrs is just ridiculous. Go play a par3 course then.

Any foursome who is boasting about playing 18 holes in three hours is picking up every short putt and that isn't golf.  They aren't grinding over three footers, and they couldn't make one to save their lives. 

[retch10]

New here...just coming back to the game after a long time away (life).  I really missed it and I'm thrilled to be back.

 

I certainly haven't read through all 84 pages ( i might) but I'll drop my unpopular opinion right away..

 

The equipment in the vast majority of amateur golf bags is about 95% about ego/vanity and 5% about performance.  I can shoot the same 85 with a $500 set (bag, added wedges and a dozen good but not premium golf balls included) that I can from a bag that cost $2000.

 

ESPECIALLY putter.  I think the putter in your hands makes so little difference that you can steal one from your local putt-putt course IF* you trust it.

 

* If you buy a putter for $300 and it gives you belief, great.  But if you have the stroke, the feel and can read greens and you believe in that putt-putt putter, you'll get the same result.

[WesternRacing]

3 hours ago, Shallowface said:

Any foursome who is boasting about playing 18 holes in three hours is picking up every short putt and that isn't golf.  They aren't grinding over three footers, and they couldn't make one to save their lives. 

 

LOL.  My foursome of low single digit indexes would beg to differ.  And we putt everything out.

 

Methinks you’re a slow player and looking for an excuse for that?

 

BTW, if you’re having to ‘grind’ over your three footers, that’s why you’re having trouble playing in three hours…

 

Edited June 6 by WesternRacing

[parbung]

1 hour ago, retch10 said:

New here...just coming back to the game after a long time away (life).  I really missed it and I'm thrilled to be back.

 

I certainly haven't read through all 84 pages ( i might) but I'll drop my unpopular opinion right away..

 

The equipment in the vast majority of amateur golf bags is about 95% about ego/vanity and 5% about performance.  I can shoot the same 85 with a $500 set (bag, added wedges and a dozen good but not premium golf balls included) that I can from a bag that cost $2000.

 

ESPECIALLY putter.  I think the putter in your hands makes so little difference that you can steal one from your local putt-putt course IF* you trust it.

 

* If you buy a putter for $300 and it gives you belief, great.  But if you have the stroke, the feel and can read greens and you believe in that putt-putt putter, you'll get the same result.

high handicappers with Scotty's are coming after you with their pitchforks right now haha.

With that said, Scotty Cameron putters are for suckers. 

[Ty_Webb]

On 6/5/2025 at 2:35 PM, WesternRacing said:

 

I agree, but I also think that it culls the herd and puts the good courses that survive on better footing.  Courses opening and closing is just a natural part of the order of things.  I can’t think of a course that I know of, that closed, and then I said ‘man, that’s sad, it was such a great, well run, course’…

 

 

Tallgrass on Long Island. Good course designed by Gil Hanse. I think it was profitable. Outside of Bethpage Black and Red, it was probably the best public on LI (IMO). Wound up being turned into a solar farm.

[knock it close]

If you can't "feel" your miss hits with cavity backs you're not good enough to be trying to fix your misses on your own.

[WesternRacing]

41 minutes ago, Ty_Webb said:

 

Tallgrass on Long Island. Good course designed by Gil Hanse. I think it was profitable. Outside of Bethpage Black and Red, it was probably the best public on LI (IMO). Wound up being turned into a solar farm.

 

Then that’s not a closing based on economics, which is what I’m referring to in my comment.  Courses that can’t financially survive, shouldn’t survive.  The overall golf ecosystem is healthier over the long term if they don’t, as those displaced customers are driven to other, better run, more economically sound courses, which then in turn get even more so.

[chippa13]

12 hours ago, Shallowface said:

Any foursome who is boasting about playing 18 holes in three hours is picking up every short putt and that isn't golf.  They aren't grinding over three footers, and they couldn't make one to save their lives. 

If your group is "grinding over 3 footers" then you are the problem. Take a look and putt it already. 

[Shallowface]

20 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

 

LOL.  My foursome of low single digit indexes would beg to differ.  And we putt everything out.

 

Methinks you’re a slow player and looking for an excuse for that?

 

BTW, if you’re having to ‘grind’ over your three footers, that’s why you’re having trouble playing in three hours…

 

 

Of course you do.  

 

 

[Shallowface]

11 hours ago, chippa13 said:

If your group is "grinding over 3 footers" then you are the problem. Take a look and putt it already. 

I don't have to.   I make most of them.  Making one isn't any trouble because I do it all the time.

 

But get in the habit of picking them up and then try to make one when you have to for some reason.  The failure will leave scars that never go away.   

 

Edited June 7 by Shallowface

[DJDJ]

On 6/6/2025 at 5:20 AM, Brokensticks said:

 

Edit: Pace of play is fine but all you people running and driving around the course like its a game of running golf is just destroying whats fun. Sure, noone likes waiting a few minutes between every shot but the culture of trying to make 18 holes under 3 hrs is just ridiculous. Go play a par3 course then.

I haven’t seen foursomes running around trying to finish in under 3 hours. What I HAVE seen a lot of is ridiculously slow groups playing in 4.5+ hours accusing people playing at a 3.5 to 4 hour pace of running around trying to play in under 3 hours.

 

without waiting it just doesn’t take 4 hours unless you are 1) terrible or 2) glacial or 3) not even trying to play ready golf and usually a combination of the 3.

 

 

 

 

[WesternRacing]

4 hours ago, Shallowface said:

I don't have to.   I make most of them.  Making one isn't any trouble because I do it all the time.

 

But get in the habit of picking them up and then try to make one when you have to for some reason.  The failure will leave scars that never go away.   

 

 

I agree with you 100%, which is why I putt EVERYTHING out.  I’m a zealot about it.  The words good good drive me freaking nuts.  Go read my comments in the vanity handicap thread.

 

Where I disagree with you is the idea that it has anything to do with pace of play, as I’m probably the fastest player in my club and our foursome can easily play in three hours (or less) if we’re not held up by other groups.

 

Edited June 7 by WesternRacing

[WesternRacing]

People that think that a three hour round requires playing ‘speed golf’ are the problem with golf.

[Brokensticks]

6 hours ago, DJDJ said:

I haven’t seen foursomes running around trying to finish in under 3 hours. What I HAVE seen a lot of is ridiculously slow groups playing in 4.5+ hours accusing people playing at a 3.5 to 4 hour pace of running around trying to play in under 3 hours.

 

without waiting it just doesn’t take 4 hours unless you are 1) terrible or 2) glacial or 3) not even trying to play ready golf and usually a combination of the 3.

 

 

 

 

American?

 

In Europe where there is a walking culture and carts is pretty much only ”for fun” or immobile seniors a round without waiting is 4h. 

4.5h with seniors walking and 5h if you are trailing a tournament. 
 

3hrs is single walking without hurrying. 

[WesternRacing]

4 hours ago, Brokensticks said:

American?

 

In Europe where there is a walking culture and carts is pretty much only ”for fun” or immobile seniors a round without waiting is 4h. 

4.5h with seniors walking and 5h if you are trailing a tournament. 
 

3hrs is single walking without hurrying. 

 

This doesn’t surprise me much at all, if you’re talking 100% walking, though I’d challenge any foursome who can’t walk a course in 3.5 hours to explain why they couldn’t do so.

 

In the U.S., where carts are prevalent, those times are ridiculous IMO.  But that’s life here and complaining about it is akin to spitting into the wind.  You’re not going to change the disrespectful golfer who doesn’t understand the meaning of ready golf, particularly post COVID when they’ve multiplied like cockroaches.  You just have to work around them.  Private club, early tee times, etc.

 

Edited June 7 by WesternRacing