Smoking Weed on the Course

[Old]

I do believe that this is somewhat of a controversial topic , and I want to understand both perspectives . I'd say about every other round of golf I'll take a few bowls on the course to "elevate" my golf game lol . Ironically the higher I get the lower I score 😂 , but I do understand that weed is somewhat of a public nuisance at least smell-wise. To give myself credit , when I do decide to smoke a bowl on the course , I always ensure that I am at a somewhat hidden/out the way location , so that the smell isn't just lingering the course all day. I also ensure that there is a good distance between any groups ahead or behind as I don't want them to have to smell the devil's lettuce on a good day on the course! I have smelled others smoking on the same course quite frequently though and they seem to be way less discreet about it compared to me. I just want to understand other perspectives on the topic , as I view it as being very similar to drinking on the golf course (which I also partake in  ).  

[bekgolf]

All I can say is it's not going away and it smells better than an old stogie.  Golf is something that I like so much I don't partake in beer or anything else while playing.  Just being out golfing does it for me.  A beer or two after the round at the clubhouse is nice.

[Warrior42111]

I'd say what you're doing is fine. You're being as discreet as possible, and as you say people are way less discreet with other things, cigs/cigars etc. 

[Maine Golfer]

I like to golf sober but Maine courses smell like pot. Whatever you're doing don't be rude to others 

[mshills]

I play sober, but what you are describing is not bothersome as long as you don’t get so baked you don’t keep pace 😁. Sounds like you’re not hotboxing the cart and invading your playing partners space, so you’re fine. However….a gummie might work in place of fumbling around with smoking and all. 

 

 

[Michael Shanker]

Courses often have a policy on this.

My home course openly allows it.

 

I don't partake, but I don't mind if you do.... just use earbuds if you *must* have music playing constantly.

[clinkinfo]

On 5/22/2024 at 8:11 PM, Old said:

I do believe that this is somewhat of a controversial topic , and I want to understand both perspectives . I'd say about every other round of golf I'll take a few bowls on the course to "elevate" my golf game lol . Ironically the higher I get the lower I score 😂 , but I do understand that weed is somewhat of a public nuisance at least smell-wise. To give myself credit , when I do decide to smoke a bowl on the course , I always ensure that I am at a somewhat hidden/out the way location , so that the smell isn't just lingering the course all day. I also ensure that there is a good distance between any groups ahead or behind as I don't want them to have to smell the devil's lettuce on a good day on the course! I have smelled others smoking on the same course quite frequently though and they seem to be way less discreet about it compared to me. I just want to understand other perspectives on the topic , as I view it as being very similar to drinking on the golf course (which I also partake in  ).  

 

 

All those "steps" you're taking, like hiding in the bushes, it doesn't work.  The smell propagates everywhere.  As someone with high sense of smell, it sucks, it is one of the strongest and most annoying smells.  

 

If you HAVE to have THC on course, why can't you just take an edible before you play?  that way, you don't annoy anyone except your playing partners. 

[Wardonation]

Who cares? Let it rip...

[oldmotor]

I would only care if I was paired up with someone and they started smoking with me in the cart next to them. But that also goes with cigars and cigarettes. 

[Maine Golfer]

people smoke on course's , more at 11!

[SnowbirdTom]

Just so's ya know, the aroma clings to ya and travels well.  I don't care, but I'm betting more than 70% don't appreciate it.

[rooski]

The smell of pot lasts in the air for like 20 seconds before you can't smell it anymore. Some of the older guys at my club blatantly take breaks from the range to go back to their custom lifted carts and rip one.

 

IMO Cigar smokers have had a monopoly on the scented air at golf courses for too long, smoke freely and don't feel bad about it! I suppose I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't partake in either but likes the smell of both. Maybe I'm weird though I don't even mind the smell of cigarette smoke

Edited July 7, 2024 by rooski

[Pepperturbo]

I smoke $30+ cigars...  Most people that don't smoke, muchless cigars, surprisingly complement me on the smell of my cigars.  My doctor buddies love the smell yet none of them smoke cigars or dope.  One buddy purposely tries to take in the 2nd hand; it's funny.

 

Anyway, I am as respectful as I can be and make a concerted effort to stay away from others.  A long ways when I walk.  As long as others do the same, it's not a concern.  It's the disrespectful idiots that toke and drink to the point they can't play golf that I have issue with.  That's when their choices and mistakes affect others. 

[mshills]

23 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

I smoke $30+ cigars...  Most people that don't smoke, muchless cigars, surprisingly complement me on the smell of my cigars.  My doctor buddies love the smell yet none of them smoke cigars or dope.  One buddy purposely tries to take in the 2nd hand; it's funny.

 

Anyway, I am as respectful as I can be and make a concerted effort to stay away from others.  A long ways when I walk.  As long as others do the same, it's not a concern.  It's the disrespectful idiots that toke and drink to the point they can't play golf that I have issue with.  That's when their choices and mistakes affect others. 

This is the right take. Smoke cigarettes, cigars, or chronic? No problem. Doesn’t bother me being in proximity as the smoke smell outside is no big deal. It’s being in a confined area OR the ashtray that smells terrible. But that’s me. It is incumbent on the smoker to be reasonably unobtrusive and not disruptive, and the smoker should never put the onus on the non-smoker to ask “hey please don’t blow that in my face” as an extreme example.
 

Getting tore up to the point you can’t play is a whole different thing and never acceptable whether it’s Grizzly Peak or Genesee. 

[Jose c.]

 I always discard my roaches in the garbage, just don't toss on the ground. really messes with the wildlife. obviously make sure the joint is out. I wish people were as courteous with their sunflower seeds (spitting on greens) as I am with my roaches.

[sheepdawg]

I'd rather smell herb than have to listen to Three, Six Mafia on the course. 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

I was on the range early morning once and some guy at least ten mats down (open range) smoked a cigar, and the wind turned in my direction. For a minute, it made me stop and consider asking him to stop it. I don’t like the smell of cigar smoke.

 

I then realized, „where else can he enjoy a cigar and be with his buddies and free from being told what to do (other than tuck in your shirt and don’t talk during people’s swings)?“. Since then, I‘m actually happy for anyone out on the course or range smoking whatever they like. It’s probably their (half) day off from work, wife, family and whatever stuff is going on in their lives. Let them have that freedom. 
Weed also has a strong smell and some courtesy towards others is appreciated. Like with everything else that affects the people around you. 

[Tiretread]

I don't partake, but I'm a cigar smoker so I'd be quite the hypocrite if I had issues with it. My buddy smokes each time we play. Doesn't bother me at all but the smell is pungent. My buddies in Jersey partake but they go with gummies. 

[1puttwoods]

As a golf course operator i'd rather deal with a hundred stoned people than 1 drunk idiot.

[caniac6]

I really don’t like the smell of smoke from anything except a barbecue grill. Cigar smoke gives me a headache. 

[Nickb333]

Wut?

[bobfoster]

This is just my personal opinion: Yuck.

 

I don't really mind the scent of tobacco - and it usually doesn't linger that long. Pot is a whole other story. It is cloying, almost sickeningly sweet, with a nasty, foul top note. Basically it smells like a skunk with diabetic ketoacidosis. (Again - just my personal opinion.) 

 

I've long been a fan of medicinal cannabis. Have a couple of friends that went through chemo (for instance) and apparently nothing worked as well as pot for mitigating the nausea. Trouble is, growing numbers of states are legalizing recreational usage. I somewhat understand this. Some politicians absolutely drool at the thought of the potential tax revenues. But I worry that there is as of yet little knowledge of the long term effects. I do know some people that are long time frequent users, and while it is purely anecdotal, my perception is that it makes you dull witted. Short term memory problems develop. It is far worse on the lungs than even cigarettes. 

 

And further, alcohol is already enough of a societal issue. Many (if not most) use and enjoy it responsibly, but some do not. And the ones that do not can cause real damage to innocent bystanders. Drunk driving is actually the leading cause of preventable death in the US. Nearly 1/3 of traffic fatalities involve alcohol. I have heard the argument "alcohol is legal, why shouldn't pot be?" What occurs to me, however, is that I don't think we really need yet another legalized intoxicant. I've started seeing pot show up on courses just recently (NJ legalized it in 2021). Remember an incident earlier this year. Got paired with some guys that smoked it. A lot. Like, a couple hits every hole or two. Their games started going downhill by the ninth hole. By the end, they were kind of giddy and stumbling around a bit. I remember watching them load up their car in the parking lot, and thinking that I not only had to play golf with them, we were now all going to be sharing the road with these (clearly altered) people. Way not cool.

 

So far as smoking on a course? @Old kind of rocks (presuming he does not drive while high). He's new (just his 5th post to start this thread - BTW, welcome to WRX!), but the question he asks is full of the courtesy and respect that we could use a lot more of on golf courses. Seemed to genuinely want to hear different perspectives. And apparently goes out of his way to not smoke close to people that might not like it. My answer to the OP? If I'm on a tee box, and someone is puffing away - clouds of that smell surrounding me when I am trying to tee off? I hate hate hate that. But I have absolutely zero problem with someone using it as the OP describes - discretely, with the awareness and understanding that he is sharing the course with others. You can write down all sorts of rules of etiquette, but etiquette really is, fundamentally, an attitude - an attitude that says "how can I get the most enjoyment out of my round at the same time as making sure I don't lessen the enjoyment of anyone else"? [Note that this same principle applies to things like PoP, music on the course, and etc.]

 

[Pepperturbo]

On 8/24/2024 at 11:21 AM, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

I was on the range early morning once and some guy at least ten mats down (open range) smoked a cigar, and the wind turned in my direction. For a minute, it made me stop and consider asking him to stop it. I don’t like the smell of cigar smoke.

 

I then realized, „where else can he enjoy a cigar and be with his buddies and free from being told what to do (other than tuck in your shirt and don’t talk during people’s swings)?“. Since then, I‘m actually happy for anyone out on the course or range smoking whatever they like. It’s probably their (half) day off from work, wife, family and whatever stuff is going on in their lives. Let them have that freedom. 
Weed also has a strong smell and some courtesy towards others is appreciated. Like with everything else that affects the people around you. 

Nice to hear. 

 

I'd never smoke in a confined area, and outside do my best to keep my smoke away from others, but like Miguel Angel Jimenez, won't not smoke outside just to accommodate that crowd.  Smoke, like dust and poor air quality, it's fleeting outside.  My nonsmoking buddies (of which I have many) have said multiple times, how much they enjoy my 2nd hand cigar smoke, they include MD's and Ortho surgeon's.  They don't have to pay $30 ea to enjoy them.  I put weed in the same category as my cigar smoke, as long as it's NOT in my face, it to shall pass. Have a pleasant day.

[Warrior42111]

@bobfoster Just wanted to say what a fantastic answer! Not only on the OPs question on Pot, but on all etiquette in general. 

 

I wish more things in life were black and white, my engineering brain would be in heaven, but alas it's a complicated world. We all have different cultures, expectations, and ways we enjoy this beautiful game of golf. 

 

As most have seen on this internet forum aka the ThunderDome, there's strong opinions on many etiquette concerns. Now how much is exaggeration or venting, I don't know. But if more people had you attitude on discretion and moderation, this forum would be a whole lot less entertaining. 

[DJDJ]

Doesn’t bother me. Lots of people take gummies pre round as well. If you are concerned about the smell there is always a vape pen as well.

[bigred90gt]

Back before I used to get drug tested with any kind of regularity (early/mid 2000s), I enjoyed a bit of herb on the course from time to time. I also smoked cigarettes at the time. I no longer smoke either, but do enjoy a cigar from time to time. Since I no longer play random rounds with random strangers (most of my rounds it is my wife and I, or my semi regular group), I do not worry too much about my cigars. I do intentionally try to keep the smoke away from my wife. While she doesn't mind the smell of a cigar, and has on occasion smoked one with me, her lungs are not great and the inhalation of even the 2nd hand smoke is not great for her. I typically hold the cigar out of the cart while moving, and get out as soon as the cart stops. I don't puff on it when she is sitting next to me in the cart to avoid a big cloud. In my regular group, I'd say 75% of them smoke cigars or cigarettes, and the one guy who is always my cart partner smokes cigars(we take turns bringing them). I will stand down wind on the tee box to avoid smoking them out. 

 

If by chance I do play the odd round without my wife or regular group (usually a couple of times per year for a work related scramble), I will always make sure that who ever I am with does not have an issue before I light a cigar, and I follow the same rules I do with my wife (don't puff on it with them in the cart, and hop out as soon as we stop so they're not just sitting in it, stand down wind on tee box or green). 

 

All of that being said, even though I do get drug tested on a regular basis, and when I have to go offshore it is usually hair tests, I cannot name a single time that someone else smoking weed has bothered me. Even if they are in the cart with me, I just do not care. If I didn't have regular tests, I would probably still smoke. Same as it is with cigarettes, even though I do not partake in either, I do still enjoy the smell of both. 

[TNwanabe]

It does not bother me at all. It sure is better than the folks who cant control their alcohol. 

[ColoradoS14]

You are probably fine if you are doing it as described.  I mean I live in Denver so I can't really complain about the smell at this point....   With that being said I prefer the smell of cigar smoke to pot, and pot to cigarettes.

[Jose c.]

i always stay away and down wind when smoking. I'm A walker so its easy to isolate. wish people who ate Sunflower seeds had the same curtesy, didn't spit seeds on greens.

[BobHatcher]

Just curious, what is it about golf that is not satisfying enough that you find the need to be stoned?  Maybe you should find another activity that suits you better.