Your most unpopular Golf opinions?

[PuffyC]

8 hours ago, jda said:

Old, conservative golf fuddy-duds who want to tell other people how to enjoy their leisure time will kill your sport.  You mostly have to let people enjoy the way that they want to and sometimes this includes rule changes.  I am not saying that anybody who buys a ticket can do whatever they want and assault is not cool, but if they want to jeer or cheer, then you have to let them - after all, the players do like the money that they get to perform.

 

Pitchers duels with good defense in baseball are great for the hardcore, but not the casual fans - rules got changed.  Horse racing was tamed down and now you only have a drunk fest once a year and people care the most about the terrible mint juleps and the hats anyway.  The list goes on and on.  The popular sports get it... you don't find any NBA or NFL players all mad that the fans get drunk and yell at them... just stay off of the court/field and those that get into fights get arrested (or at least removed).

Well, those are certainly unpopular opinions so 👊 for nailing the topic.

 

 

[BigDivotEnergy]

There should be a combined handicap group limit. A 4.5 hour round should not be the normal

[akronswitness]

This isn't unpopular but more just something I wish the game/courses would change--but I wish starters on the tee box put more effort in no matter where you play. I've played 2-3 really nice courses and the starter is usually a nice older man who gives you a 2-3 min breakdown of the course before you tee off. Tells you some history about the course, how its playing that day, things to lookout for on certain holes, how long the round should take, where to aim certain shots, ect. You all have probably played at a course like this before to know what I'm talking about.

 

I feel like it would be really nice if that was the standard at every course that has a starter employed. Even if it's your $70 round local course. It would add a lot to the experience and make each person who plays there feel a bit more.....valued? special? 

 

It would also tell you that the course is happy that your playing there and they take their course seriously. Instead 95% of the courses I play just have a random dude in a golf cart

that says 'tees open go ahead'.

 

 

Edited February 17, 2024 by akronswitness

[BHI 99]

5 hours ago, akronswitness said:

This isn't unpopular but more just something I wish the game/courses would change--but I wish starters on the tee box put more effort in no matter where you play. I've played 2-3 really nice courses and the starter is usually a nice older man who gives you a 2-3 min breakdown of the course before you tee off. Tells you some history about the course, how its playing that day, things to lookout for on certain holes, how long the round should take, where to aim certain shots, ect. You all have probably played at a course like this before to know what I'm talking about.

 

I feel like it would be really nice if that was the standard at every course that has a starter employed. Even if it's your $70 round local course. It would add a lot to the experience and make each person who plays there feel a bit more.....valued? special? 

 

It would also tell you that the course is happy that your playing there and they take their course seriously. Instead 95% of the courses I play just have a random dude in a golf cart

that says 'tees open go ahead'.

 

 

Spot on. Good starters can make all the difference in the world. 

[bcjim]

6 hours ago, akronswitness said:

This isn't unpopular but more just something I wish the game/courses would change--but I wish starters on the tee box put more effort in no matter where you play. I've played 2-3 really nice courses and the starter is usually a nice older man who gives you a 2-3 min breakdown of the course before you tee off. Tells you some history about the course, how its playing that day, things to lookout for on certain holes, how long the round should take, where to aim certain shots, ect. You all have probably played at a course like this before to know what I'm talking about.

 

I feel like it would be really nice if that was the standard at every course that has a starter employed. Even if it's your $70 round local course. It would add a lot to the experience and make each person who plays there feel a bit more.....valued? special? 

 

It would also tell you that the course is happy that your playing there and they take their course seriously. Instead 95% of the courses I play just have a random dude in a golf cart

that says 'tees open go ahead'.

 

 

Eh,  I don't need a spiel at a course I play regularly but I do wish they'd emphasize pace of play.  Not because it's a big problem but if everyone gets put on notice,  then when problems do happen,  they can't say they weren't warned.

[King_Slender]

People who think that handicaps should be used for skins outside of any group larger than your foursome.  I get in arguments about this all the time, which is why I run our league and set skins handicaps at 50% with a max 1 stroke on Par 3's.  

 

[PedronNiall]

On 2/17/2024 at 7:42 AM, bcjim said:

Eh,  I don't need a spiel at a course I play regularly but I do wish they'd emphasize pace of play.  Not because it's a big problem but if everyone gets put on notice,  then when problems do happen,  they can't say they weren't warned.

Pace of play, letting faster groups through--on courses that aren't so packed it's impossible to--and repairing ball marks should be explained by every starter. Annoying that it's not the case everywhere.

[akronswitness]

9 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

Pace of play, letting faster groups through--on courses that aren't so packed it's impossible to--and repairing ball marks should be explained by every starter. Annoying that it's not the case everywhere.

 

Honest question, was there ever a time in modern golf where Starters did more than just tell you when it was your turn to tee off and who you are paired up with? Was there ever a universal standard where all courses did it

[Denny100]

Unpopular opinion: People should not drink beer whilst playing golf.

[acemandrake]

All bunkers should be waste areas.  ⛳

[mshills]

Golf clothing should be more athletic. 
 

PGA Tour professionals should be allowed to wear shorts. 

[BHI 99]

Fittings are a waste of time

 

Your driver lasts longer than a year

[Double Mocha Man]

7 minutes ago, BHI 99 said:

Fittings are a waste of time

 

I have a friend who had an extensive fitting, went through a lot of irons, settled on a particular set that the fitter said was a perfect fit.  Mark hit all the irons indoors, off a mat.  Bought the set.  Went to the course, they didn't work at all.  Went to the course again... still didn't work.  Got a refund and picked up a new set, of the brand he preferred in the first place.  Went to the course, struck them very well.  He's back to shooting in the 70's.

[BHI 99]

This is about as far as I go. 

[RmoorePE]

On 2/24/2024 at 11:32 AM, Denny100 said:

Unpopular opinion: People should not drink beer whilst playing golf.

 

That will be an unpopular opinion. Most people I know think those Seltzer drinks are gross.

[Jim53]

Someone should limit the distance balls go🤪 then at least a few people would have something to obsess over all winter. 

 

[503Mike]

On 2/6/2024 at 11:09 AM, gripandrip said:

I have no issues with using people using iron covers.

 

You monster.

[Warrior42111]

On 2/24/2024 at 2:32 PM, Denny100 said:

Unpopular opinion: People should not drink beer whilst playing golf.

Liquor it is then

[GowerND11]

58 minutes ago, Warrior42111 said:

Liquor it is then

Liquor is quicker, but candy is dandy

[ECgolf]

Preferred lies in the fairway on unkempt munis should be a standard local rule. Shouldn’t be penalized by having to play out of dirt or weeds from middle of the “fairway” just because you can’t afford/choose not to play fancy/expensive courses.

[Espy42]

7 minutes ago, ECgolf said:

Preferred lies in the fairway on unkempt munis should be a standard local rule. Shouldn’t be penalized by having to play out of dirt or weeds from middle of the “fairway” just because you can’t afford/choose not to play fancy/expensive courses.

When our kids were 9 and 7, we traveled to FL and I found a par 3 to play with them. It had some designation as a "junior certified course" or something. The fairways were rough and the greens . . . challenging. But it's a course for kids learning the game so no biggie.

 

The real prize was 1 green that had 2 tree stumps, about 16 inches across and 3 inches tall, in the middle of the green. 

 

That said, I play 2 local courses (1 muni, 1 public) that have interesting sand traps. The par 3, 9 hole muni has a trap that has a large, semi-dead tree overhanging it and the trap is usually filled with leaves and branches, plus the sand is like concrete because it's the lowest point on the course and collects water. The public course has a trap with a fallen tree laying across side to side.

[CarlLipbaum]

Players that play super fast are just as annoying as players that play super slow. 

[BHI 99]

If you don’t have 4 hours, you don’t have 3 either. 

[PuffyC]

10 hours ago, ECgolf said:

Preferred lies in the fairway on unkempt munis should be a standard local rule. Shouldn’t be penalized by having to play out of dirt or weeds from middle of the “fairway” just because you can’t afford/choose not to play fancy/expensive courses.

100%. If I could always play off the same lush fairways the pros do my hdcp would easily drop by 6 strokes or more. I always thought it would be interesting seeing a pro tournament at some of the budget munis we’ve played this winter where the fairways are equal parts hardpan, sand, mud holes, cracked clay and tree roots, and many greens were little more than dirt with patches of dead grass painted green. I hit an iron shot last weekend where I legit thought my club might have broken when it slammed into hardpan that must have had a hardness rating approaching concrete.

[akronswitness]

14 hours ago, PuffyC said:

100%. If I could always play off the same lush fairways the pros do my hdcp would easily drop by 6 strokes or more. I always thought it would be interesting seeing a pro tournament at some of the budget munis we’ve played this winter where the fairways are equal parts hardpan, sand, mud holes, cracked clay and tree roots, and many greens were little more than dirt with patches of dead grass painted green. I hit an iron shot last weekend where I legit thought my club might have broken when it slammed into hardpan that must have had a hardness rating approaching concrete.

 

Thats why my friends and I play 'winter rules' at all times. One, we are amature golfers and Im not hitting out of a divot in the middle of the fairway. Its the dumbest rule in golf and its even dumber for a 15 hcp player. Second, the local courses we are playing all have their turf problems. This is why everybody is allowed to roll their ball in a 6" radius to fluff it up or get it on a better lie. If its sitting on a root, Im not going to tell my friend to hit his 6i off a root. Just roll it lol

Edited February 28, 2024 by akronswitness

[mark174ace]

3 hours ago, akronswitness said:

 

Thats why my friends and I play 'winter rules' at all times. One, we are amature golfers and Im not hitting out of a divot in the middle of the fairway. Its the dumbest rule in golf and its even dumber for a 15 hcp player. Second, the local courses we are playing all have their turf problems. This is why everybody is allowed to roll their ball in a 6" radius to fluff it up or get it on a better lie. If its sitting on a root, Im not going to tell my friend to hit his 6i off a root. Just roll it lol

Another item that does not get talked about enough is how tight the tee boxes are mowed in tour events.  Not catching any long grass behind the ball off the tee on par 3's is a huge difference. I always strike my irons better on tee boxes and fairways that are cut nice and tight.

 

You are absolutely correct about having to hit out of divots. Plain stupid.

[akronswitness]

18 hours ago, PuffyC said:

100%. If I could always play off the same lush fairways the pros do my hdcp would easily drop by 6 strokes or more. I always thought it would be interesting seeing a pro tournament at some of the budget munis we’ve played this winter where the fairways are equal parts hardpan, sand, mud holes, cracked clay and tree roots, and many greens were little more than dirt with patches of dead grass painted green. I hit an iron shot last weekend where I legit thought my club might have broken when it slammed into hardpan that must have had a hardness rating approaching concrete.

 

I tell ya... thats not wrong. I play significantly better when I play on vacation in Florida than I do back in the Midwest. Shot a 78 last time I was there. A huge reason being the turf. Florida courses (because of the type of grass I assume) are all cut much tighter in the fairways and the soil is a bit sandy and hard. Your clubs bounce off the grass there and I pure my irons. Back in the Midwest where its thicker grass and muddier(?) soil, I hit shots with my irons consistently worse. Its so much easier to chunk shots and have poor turf interaction because the ground/soil is softer and the grass is thicker.

 

Not to mention the greens are easier to putt on because they are all hard and roll true. Everything about Florida golf is easy. Its like a built in handicap playing down there.

 

I'm a 10 hcp there, but in Ohio I'm a 15 lol

 

 

Edited February 28, 2024 by akronswitness

[jda]

I played in college with guys who earned money and even won on tour.  They don't mind any of those conditions and can usually shred public munis - just the ability to spin and attack every pin makes up for anything.  Perhaps the biggest thing that they miss is the gallery that will show them where their ball is in 2 feet of heavy rough or around doglegs and stuff where they won't ever lose a ball.

 

This is probably not unpopular, but I do think that there needs to be rules by division of play.  I don't think that a normal am needs to play out of a 3/4 inch divot that nobody even bothered to replace or put some sand/substrate/whatever into.  In a mid-am and up, these things are not a problem.  Any rule that requires courses to be maintained by honor, being a gentlemen or etiquette should be relaxed a bit where these oft mythical creatures are not always present.

 

[PhilsFanDrew]

4 hours ago, akronswitness said:

 

Thats why my friends and I play 'winter rules' at all times. One, we are amature golfers and Im not hitting out of a divot in the middle of the fairway. Its the dumbest rule in golf and its even dumber for a 15 hcp player. Second, the local courses we are playing all have their turf problems. This is why everybody is allowed to roll their ball in a 6" radius to fluff it up or get it on a better lie. If its sitting on a root, Im not going to tell my friend to hit his 6i off a root. Just roll it lol

 

Yeah we allow 3 foot roll in the fairway but its got to be to the side or behind and it has to be for a divot or temporary grounds issue.  If it lands where the fairway is designed to have a slope and the ball is above or below your feet, too bad.  

[BHI 99]

I don’t believe there’s as much reward for rolling the ball as there is punishment for hitting out of a divot.