Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[Bad9]

8 hours ago, Old Tom Morris said:

Alcohol facilitates not being bothered by your lousy shots and putts.

 

That's the polar opposite of 99% of the drunks I have seen on the course.

[Ghostwedge]

On 6/30/2025 at 8:17 AM, mshills said:

Golfers seem to fall into three camps on this topic:

 

#1. Those who complain about ball marks on the green, divots not sanded, players not knowing how to use a cart, etc., but the professional complainer won’t take any action and prefers to stay salty. 
 

#2. Those who take a rude, superior, high-handed approach to teaching a new player about how to keep things moving, keep the course nice, and have fun. Unfortunately this happened to my wife, who is a new player, and she dropped out of the ladies group rather than being talked down to.

 

#3. Those who are willing to help, and give a new player a nice experience.

 

We need more #3, less #1, and way less #2. 

Good take on #2, happened to my wife years ago also.  Lasted one league night as a newbie, catty, jealous, rude bunch of Karen's. My wife is the the nicest person on plane earth. I watched her hit the longest first hole tee shot by 35-40 yds easily and she's been playing two years. Told myself this isn't going to go well for her. lol

 

[mshills]

20 minutes ago, Ghostwedge said:

Good take on #2, happened to my wife years ago also.  Lasted one league night as a newbie, catty, jealous, rude bunch of Karen's. My wife is the the nicest person on plane earth. I watched her hit the longest first hole tee shot by 35-40 yds easily and she's been playing two years. Told myself this isn't going to go well for her. lol

Yeah, it wasn’t a great situation…and I inflamed it by causing a confrontation a day later. Probably didn’t handle that so great. 😂
 

Grateful it didn’t drive the missus away from the game, just away from that group of rude (blanks). We play one a week, and she is actually at the club now, taking a lesson! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[Jonnielopes19]

On 9/24/2019 at 2:04 AM, BarrySanders said:

If you took a poll, over 50 percent of people would be against your opinion. Mine:

1. There is nothing wrong with courses discriminating on who plays on their courses

2. Fat and non muscular golfers that win are bad for golf

3. There is nothing to be proud of when you shoot well with game improvement or most graphite irons.

4. Every single golf advertisement is worthless. If they affect you purchases, you are naive

5. 99.99 percent of the time you don't average X score, you don't average Y driving distance, and you didn't Pick your head up

• The handicap system is broken. It rewards mediocrity and punishes grinders. If you’re putting in work every day, playing at or near scratch, you shouldn’t be giving shots to someone who posts four scores a year and doesn’t even play by the rules.

• You didn’t shoot a 41. I watched the round. You topped a drive, chunked a hybrid, fluffed a chip, gave yourself a 4-footer, and picked up twice. That’s not a 41—it’s fiction.

• “Grow the game” is just an excuse to lower the bar. Golf isn’t for everyone—and it shouldn’t be. If you can’t keep up with pace, respect etiquette, or understand the rules, maybe find a new hobby.

• Most people lie—about their scores, their yardages, and their swing flaws. No, you didn’t “just pick your head up.” You hit a bad shot. It happens. Own it.

• Gimmies, mulligans, and “improved lies” don’t belong in any round where scores are being kept. If you’re keeping score, play real golf. Otherwise, just say you’re out for a hit and giggle.

• Tournament golf is not the same game as weekend golf. There’s pressure, real rules, and no safety nets. Fast greens, tucked pins, scorecards that matter. That’s when you find out who’s got it.

• Not all swings are “unique.” Some are flat-out awful and need a total rebuild. Sugarcoating it just holds people back.

• Private clubs should be allowed to say no. It’s not discrimination—it’s standards. You don’t like the rules? Don’t join.
  
  If this pisses you off it's probably about you....

[TNwanabe]

19 hours ago, Jonnielopes19 said:

 

• The handicap system is broken. It rewards mediocrity and punishes grinders. If you’re putting in work every day, playing at or near scratch, you shouldn’t be giving shots to someone who posts four scores a year and doesn’t even play by the rules.

• You didn’t shoot a 41. I watched the round. You topped a drive, chunked a hybrid, fluffed a chip, gave yourself a 4-footer, and picked up twice. That’s not a 41—it’s fiction.

• “Grow the game” is just an excuse to lower the bar. Golf isn’t for everyone—and it shouldn’t be. If you can’t keep up with pace, respect etiquette, or understand the rules, maybe find a new hobby.

• Most people lie—about their scores, their yardages, and their swing flaws. No, you didn’t “just pick your head up.” You hit a bad shot. It happens. Own it.

• Gimmies, mulligans, and “improved lies” don’t belong in any round where scores are being kept. If you’re keeping score, play real golf. Otherwise, just say you’re out for a hit and giggle.

• Tournament golf is not the same game as weekend golf. There’s pressure, real rules, and no safety nets. Fast greens, tucked pins, scorecards that matter. That’s when you find out who’s got it.

• Not all swings are “unique.” Some are flat-out awful and need a total rebuild. Sugarcoating it just holds people back.

• Private clubs should be allowed to say no. It’s not discrimination—it’s standards. You don’t like the rules? Don’t join.
  
  If this pisses you off it's probably about you....

Ok then. Raw take for sure. 

Edited July 5 by TNwanabe
Grammar

[KamT]

I think Takomo’s are really good clubs for the money. 

[Shallowface]

Broken tees are litter.

 

If you break one, don't toss the remainder aside.  Throw it in the trash or stick it in your pocket or the cart and dispose of it when you can.

 

You can always save them for use on the Par 3s.  Then you can tell your wife not to buy any more of those little one inch tees she gets you for a stocking stuffer at Christmas.  She saw them and the fact they were short reminded her of you.  

 

That is, how you are always complaining how you left that putt short or how you dunked your second shot in the water short of the green.  Get your mind out of the gutter!

[Shallowface]

Tee times should be sold in the same way as reservations at Topgolf are sold.  One set price for the reservation and in this case you can split the cost up to four ways.  At Topgolf I believe it's six.

 

That way I can book a time on the weekend and play alone or with one other person if I choose without hearing complaints from the management.  At this point in my life I have the money.  What I don't have is the patience to deal with the current influx of new players for whom shame was never taught as a relevant concept.  When I started, shame prevented me from going to a course before I was ready.  When I started in February of 1974 my first round was 118 on a deserted course in Winter.  After a lot of practice I returned to that course in June and shot 92.  By the end of that Summer I was breaking 80.     

 

But what I didn't do was show up at the course with a brand new box set, remove it from the box in the parking lot and proceed to go out on the course having only been to a driving range one time.  This is a true story of which I am personally aware and the management had to come and remove him after three holes.  But that doesn't always or even often happen.       

 

I shouldn't be expected to devote my time and attention to dragging people around who aren't ready to be there and aren't ashamed of that fact. 

[Shallowface]

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, Shallowface said:

... and proceed to go out on the course having only been to a driving range one time.  This is a true story of which I am personally aware and the management had to come and remove him after three holes. 

 

 

Similar story here. Mark and I are playing early in the morning and we come upon this guy on the second tee who has already spent 25 minutes playing the first hole. Seems he was losing balls left and right even though he brought out more than a dozen. By the time he reached the second tee he was completely out of balls. So Mark and I loan him several old clunkers, wished him well and played through. Turns out they didn't have to remove him from the course... he removed himself.  He ran out of balls on that second hole and walked in.

[Argonne69]

5 hours ago, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

 

Oy. Maybe you should consider building your own course, or joining an uber exclusive private. 

 

If you really want to play by yourself, book a foursome, pay for all  four slots, and show up with less than four. Can't imagine there's a course that would toss players into a group if the four spots were paid for.

 

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Similar story here. Mark and I are playing early in the morning and we come upon this guy on the second tee who has already spent 25 minutes playing the first hole. Seems he was losing balls left and right even though he brought out more than a dozen. By the time he reached the second tee he was completely out of balls. So Mark and I loan him several old clunkers, wished him well and played through. Turns out they didn't have to remove him from the course... he removed himself.  He ran out of balls on that second hole and walked in.

 

The courses in Illinois were closed for two months in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic. When they reopened it was twosomes only at 20 minute intervals.

 

Thought it was brilliant. Showed up for my first round, and as my playing partner and I were ready to tee off a couple of guys emerged from the trees on the left side of the hole. No idea who they were. We asked the starter what was going on, and he had no idea either. He jumped in his cart and drove out to talk with them.

 

He came back and told us that it was the two nitwits that had teed off 20 minutes before us. They spent 20 minutes looking for their balls in the trees. Oy. Veh. Lucky for us these two clowns let us play through on the 3rd hole. Thus began the influx of Covid golfers.

 

[mshills]

22 hours ago, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

Definitely got the title of the thread here!

 

My take:  Go ahead and take that open slot at 8:20 for your twosome. You will immediately be paired with another twosome when you show up. 
 

Insist on playing as a single? Ok no problem. We have a great practice facility here and a bar and grill for lunch. Enjoy, and feel free to hit the first tee at oh, about 3:45P. Otherwise I’m pairing you up. 

[Warrior42111]

Yeah slow play sucks, but if you go out mid day or later on a holiday, father's day. etc. that is 1000% on you. It was always slow then even before covid. 

[Warrior42111]

On 7/6/2025 at 8:29 AM, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

who hurt you?

[Double Mocha Man]

3 hours ago, mshills said:

Definitely got the title of the thread here!

 

My take:  Go ahead and take that open slot at 8:20 for your twosome. You will immediately be paired with another twosome when you show up. 
 

Insist on playing as a single? Ok no problem. We have a great practice facility here and a bar and grill for lunch. Enjoy, and feel free to hit the first tee at oh, about 3:45P. Otherwise I’m pairing you up. 

 

Speaking of pairing up. Yesterday morning Ron and I were paired up with a delightful couple, Sean and Anna, who were deaf. On the 8th hole the couple were walking ahead of and to the right of Ron when he hit a shank. He screamed "Fore!" but the folks never turned around and the ball threaded its way between them. A narrow miss.  That was a moment, glad everyone was okay.

[TiScape]

On 7/5/2025 at 5:59 PM, KamT said:

I think Takomo’s are really good clubs for the money. 

Good for the money

 

Reminds me of when I told a lady that she looked good for her age… If looks could kill!! 😬

[parbung]

On 7/6/2025 at 7:29 AM, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

now THIS is an unpopular opinion!

[FuzzyDunlop69]

10 hours ago, parbung said:

now THIS is an unpopular opinion!

but at what point is it so unpopular that its just bad? 

[Obee]

On 7/6/2025 at 5:29 AM, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

PLEASE tell me this was tongue-in-cheek.

[Warrior42111]

12 hours ago, FuzzyDunlop69 said:

but at what point is it so unpopular that its just bad? 

I hate using this word as it's overused but I'm going with entitled

 

Yeah I may try to book a twosome alone. If it works out cool, if not I'm not mad or anything.

[WesternRacing]

On 7/6/2025 at 5:29 AM, Shallowface said:

Online tee time system etiquette.

 

If you are a twosome looking for a tee time and there are open tee times available, don't book over top of someone who got there first.

 

And if there are no open times available, play someplace else.  Don't inflict yourselves upon someone and ruin their day in the process.

 

You really don't want to play with them.  And they really don't want to play with you.  Be considerate.  

 

🤣  New to golf?

 

BTW, there’s an easy way to get your entitled way.  Just book and pay for the entire foursome.  Problem solved.

[FuzzyDunlop69]

On the topic of Mister I-Won't-Play-With-Randos...

 

I guess one of my unpopular opinions, or rather, more of an uncommon preference...I really like playing with randoms.  I always play my best golf when I join on as a single somewhere - and its actually how I met my current regular group.  The small talk and general BSing takes my mind off my game in a good way.  

[MountainKing]

On 7/7/2025 at 7:35 AM, Warrior42111 said:

 It was always slow then even before covid. 

 

Most of the pre-covid slow rounds still came in at 4:30, you might have 1 round a year hit the 5 hour mark if you go out at the wrong time.   These days somehow 4:30 just became the standard, and 5 hours is almost a regular thing if you're out at the wrong time of day.   There's more people viewing the golf course as a hang out spot/bar than ever before. Golfing almost feels like it's the secondary thing at times.   Could be region specific, but that's what we're seeing here.   

[mongoosegolfer]

On 7/7/2025 at 8:35 AM, Warrior42111 said:

Yeah slow play sucks, but if you go out mid day or later on a holiday, father's day. etc. that is 1000% on you. It was always slow then even before covid. 

That's the frustrating part. You used to be able to just play early and get finished before a lot of the nonsense started. Now I'll tee off at 7am or earlier and there's already people in front of us or people we get paired up with who look like it's the first time they ever stepped foot on a golf course. I'm talking about people that dont hit a single ball farther than 50 yards the entire day and are buying drinks at the turn when its not even 9am yet. If you're just there to goof around and drink, why are you teeing off at 6:30am on a sunday morning? 

I've never really experienced slow play too often before since 95% of the time I play super early but this year in particular even the early tee times have been invaded. You can't even tee off early to beat the slow play anymore. 

[MidwestHacker]

10 minutes ago, mongoosegolfer said:

That's the frustrating part. You used to be able to just play early and get finished before a lot of the nonsense started. Now I'll tee off at 7am or earlier and there's already people in front of us or people we get paired up with who look like it's the first time they ever stepped foot on a golf course. I'm talking about people that dont hit a single ball farther than 50 yards the entire day and are buying drinks at the turn when its not even 9am yet. If you're just there to goof around and drink, why are you teeing off at 6:30am on a sunday morning? 

I've never really experienced slow play too often before since 95% of the time I play super early but this year in particular even the early tee times have been invaded. You can't even tee off early to beat the slow play anymore. 

If you're there to drink and be social more than you're there to play golf, that's fine, but you should be teeing off after 2:00pm. What if to book the first 15 slots of the day you have to hold an official handicap? This would at least imply that you have to have some sort of idea of proper play.  

[Warrior42111]

29 minutes ago, mongoosegolfer said:

That's the frustrating part. You used to be able to just play early and get finished before a lot of the nonsense started. Now I'll tee off at 7am or earlier and there's already people in front of us or people we get paired up with who look like it's the first time they ever stepped foot on a golf course. I'm talking about people that dont hit a single ball farther than 50 yards the entire day and are buying drinks at the turn when its not even 9am yet. If you're just there to goof around and drink, why are you teeing off at 6:30am on a sunday morning? 

I've never really experienced slow play too often before since 95% of the time I play super early but this year in particular even the early tee times have been invaded. You can't even tee off early to beat the slow play anymore. 

I'd agree it's happening more and more but I'm not sure how to stop it. Especially at a public course where you can't see who's making a time and how good they are or aren't. You can employee marshalls but most people don't want to deal with that for what they're 'paid'

 

I will say having 2 kids now early morning is all I get if anything, I loved 3-330 hour early rounds. Now if it 4-430 there's not much I can fix about that so I just go with it. Golf is social for me, not saying we don't play ready golf or stop the cart between balls and both walk or a drop off and the other drives up to theirs (huge pet peeve to people who don't). But I'm not going to me mad at a course that's stacked up. If there's an open hole I'll make a pass if not I'll enjoy the time with friends and a drink.

[Argonne69]

38 minutes ago, mongoosegolfer said:

That's the frustrating part. You used to be able to just play early and get finished before a lot of the nonsense started. Now I'll tee off at 7am or earlier and there's already people in front of us or people we get paired up with who look like it's the first time they ever stepped foot on a golf course. I'm talking about people that dont hit a single ball farther than 50 yards the entire day and are buying drinks at the turn when its not even 9am yet. If you're just there to goof around and drink, why are you teeing off at 6:30am on a sunday morning? 

I've never really experienced slow play too often before since 95% of the time I play super early but this year in particular even the early tee times have been invaded. You can't even tee off early to beat the slow play anymore. 

 

I have a hunch that many of the early groups don't really want to be out there that early, but teesheets are often packed, so they grab what's available. 

 

Played a round in Vegas last year. Third group out on a busy Saturday. The group ahead took 20 minutes to play the first hole, and were still on the 2nd teebox when we got to the teebox. The lead group was already off the 2nd green. They were on a 6 hour pace. They didn't seem to be in any hurry to catch up to the lead group. 

 

[parbung]

21 hours ago, FuzzyDunlop69 said:

On the topic of Mister I-Won't-Play-With-Randos...

 

I guess one of my unpopular opinions, or rather, more of an uncommon preference...I really like playing with randoms.  I always play my best golf when I join on as a single somewhere - and its actually how I met my current regular group.  The small talk and general BSing takes my mind off my game in a good way.  

i've gotten so used to at this point, i don't even think twice about it. If there's an opening, im playing. 

[NRJyzr]

For what little it's worth...  most of the 20+ person email list we have for the weekend group of which I'm a part has been added after a random join with us.  <shrug>

 

One of my best friends was a rando situation at the local course, 18 years ago.