The most annoying thing in golf, and it's not pace of play

[launcher]

53 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

Hold up.  You are using a common practice area available to all golfers and think that it can be exclusively yours for 90 minutes?  Any anyone who wants to putt to "your" hole for a bit is a doofus?  Entitled much?

 

I have never seen an area of a practice area "reserved" before.

 

Should wait for him to respond, but I think he means when other areas of a practice green are obviously available, and someone insists on putting to the hole you're obviously using. Just common sense to assess the situation before making yourself at home. 

[Double Mocha Man]

2 hours ago, david.c.w said:

 

Hold up.  You are using a common practice area available to all golfers and think that it can be exclusively yours for 90 minutes?  Any anyone who wants to putt to "your" hole for a bit is a doofus?  Entitled much?

 

I have never seen an area of a practice area "reserved" before.

 

 

Haha. The area where I practice is farthest from the pro shop and farthest from the first and 10th tee, it is essentially off the beaten path. So wandering up there is a conscious decision for another golfer treating the practice green as a mini golf course and having to play each of the holes. Legally, of course, the area where I practice is not really mine so others can intrude but it just seems kinda smarmy. Would you go to a park with picnic tables and if there are other tables available would you still sit down with the folks eating their fried chicken?

[mshills]

2 hours ago, david.c.w said:

 

Hold up.  You are using a common practice area available to all golfers and think that it can be exclusively yours for 90 minutes?  Any anyone who wants to putt to "your" hole for a bit is a doofus?  Entitled much?

 

I have never seen an area of a practice area "reserved" before.

 

I think it’s about situational awareness. 
 

I’m not going to go out there with tees, mirror, chalk line, etc. at prime time when the putting green is busy.
 

But if I am there obviously practicing something at one hole when it’s not busy, the one other guy on the green doesn’t need to putt to every hole. 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, mshills said:

I think it’s about situational awareness. 
 

I’m not going to go out there with tees, mirror, chalk line, etc. at prime time when the putting green is busy.
 

But if I am there obviously practicing something at one hole when it’s not busy, the one other guy on the green doesn’t need to putt to every hole. 

 

It usually happens when about 5 of the 12 practice holes are open. Maybe the guy just wants to strike up a friendship? And he or they are putting up to other occupied holes, as well. I don't think it is the seasoned golfers, it's the ones that see the practice green as a miniature golf course. We need some windmills and small bridges.

[Greenie]

15 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

It usually happens when about 5 of the 12 practice holes are open. Maybe the guy just wants to strike up a friendship? And he or they are putting up to other occupied holes, as well. I don't think it is the seasoned golfers, it's the ones that see the practice green as a miniature golf course. We need some windmills and small bridges.

 

I know the recent posts are referring to the practice green. I am going to add the range to the conversation. 

 

There is a range I go to occasionally. To the right of the clubhouse they have a decent section of roof covered mats then a section of mats. Father down the line they have their grass driving range. I always hike all the way down to the end of the grass range. I say hike because it is some distance from the clubhouse. 

 

One day I had recently started hitting balls at the far end on the grass range. There are people using the mat part of the range and between that mats and me there is no one. I happen to notice a guy walking out on the grass range with his bag and a bucket of balls. 

 

This guy walks all the way down to where I am and sets up shop beside me. He is very friendly. He is trying to start up a conversation with me. I say a few words to him and say enjoy your practice while I pack up my stuff and move to the middle of the grass range.

 

I am situated once again and here comes the guy walking back towards me. He stops beside me and it appears he is going to practice beside me once again. 

 

I look at him and say I let you have that area over there where I was practicing. Why are you beside me again?

 

He replied I was hoping we could be friends. I replied sorry. I like to practice alone. Maybe we can be friends another time.

[Double Mocha Man]

3 minutes ago, Greenie said:

 

I know the recent posts are referring to the practice green. I am going to add the range to the conversation. 

 

There is a range I go to occasionally. To the right of the clubhouse they have a decent section of roof covered mats then a section of mats. Father down the line they have their grass driving range. I always hike all the way down to the end of the grass range. I say hike because it is some distance from the clubhouse. 

 

One day I had recently started hitting balls at the far end on the grass range. There are people using the mat part of the range and between that mats and me there is no one. I happen to notice a guy walking out on the grass range with his bag and a bucket of balls. 

 

This guy walks all the way down to where I am and sets up shop beside me. He is very friendly. He is trying to start up a conversation with me. I say a few words to him and say enjoy your practice while I pack up my stuff and move to the middle of the grass range.

 

I am situated once again and here comes the guy walking back towards me. He stops beside me and it appears he is going to practice beside me once again. 

 

I look at him and say I let you have that area over there where I was practicing. Why are you beside me again?

 

He replied I was hoping we could be friends. I replied sorry. I like to practice alone. Maybe we can be friends another time.

 

I understand you wanting your privacy on the range, I do too when I am practicing. You want to focus entirely on what you are doing which is exactly why I don't invite any of my friends to join in on a practice session.  Maybe your area was the only place in the shade or it had the best grass, without all the prior divots?

[Greenie]

14 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I understand you wanting your privacy on the range, I do too when I am practicing. You want to focus entirely on what you are doing which is exactly why I don't invite any of my friends to join in on a practice session.  Maybe your area was the only place in the shade or it had the best grass, without all the prior divots?

 

It does have the best grass because not many people walk that far. I would say that part gets the most sunlight though.

 

The is plenty of grass range I could use and be happy using. 

 

The main reason I go to the end is to be alone. 

 

The guy evidently came over to where I was not because of anything but for the fact I was there and he wanted to strike up a friendship. He followed me to my new location so having the first location must not have been that important to him.

[Double Mocha Man]

5 minutes ago, Greenie said:

The guy evidently came over to where I was not because of anything but for the fact I was there and he wanted to strike up a friendship. He followed me to my new location so having the first location must not have been that important to him.

 

That's a tough one. He probably read a self-help book about making friends that suggested he go to places like a driving range to find people with a commonality. I do hope he took a hint. You could always plant some IEDs near the end of the range, sort of a "No Bother Me Zone".

[Greenie]

4 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

That's a tough one. He probably read a self-help book about making friends that suggested he go to places like a driving range to find people with a commonality. I do hope he took a hint. You could always plant some IEDs near the end of the range, sort of a "No Bother Me Zone".

 

LOL.......Maybe going to the range to make friends is a good idea. I don't know.

 

"guy shows up at the range looking to make friends" 

 

"guy sees someone at the farthest spot away from the clubhouse"

 

"guy thinks I bet that guy all the way over there is looking for a friend that is why he is so far away from everyone else so we can share some quiet time together to become friends"

 

 

[david.c.w]

4 hours ago, mshills said:

I think it’s about situational awareness. 
 

I’m not going to go out there with tees, mirror, chalk line, etc. at prime time when the putting green is busy.
 

But if I am there obviously practicing something at one hole when it’s not busy, the one other guy on the green doesn’t need to putt to every hole. 

 

90 minutes commandeering one hole and being irritated when someone else is bored of the other 11 and wants to try hole 12?  I don't get it. 

 

Situational awareness is knowing that common areas are common areas for a reason.  

[Double Mocha Man]

37 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

90 minutes commandeering one hole and being irritated when someone else is bored of the other 11 and wants to try hole 12?  I don't get it. 

 

Situational awareness is knowing that common areas are common areas for a reason.  

 

So then you would sit at that picnic table in a park in a common area and join the family there and eat some of their chicken???  Got it.

[david.c.w]

27 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

So then you would sit at that picnic table in a park in a common area and join the family there and eat some of their chicken???  Got it.

 

 Apples and oranges.  But if the park is full I might ask if my wife and I can sit at the opposite end of the table. 

 

Comparing putting to a hole and then putting away from said hole to eating someone's chicken is a bad analogy.

 

edit:  grammar

 

Edited July 18 by david.c.w

[Greenie]

On 7/18/2025 at 2:51 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

 

So then you would sit at that picnic table in a park in a common area and join the family there and eat some of their chicken???  Got it.

 

My wife and I were sitting at a picnic table last week in the park eating ice cream and a family of five came over to us and asked me if they could sit at our table. I didn't mind. All of the picnic tables were in use and we had room. They brought their own ice cream. 

 

 

On 7/18/2025 at 3:08 PM, david.c.w said:

 

 Apples and oranges.  But if the park is full I might ask if my wife and I can sit at the opposite end of the table. 

 

Comparing putting to a hole and then putting away from said hole to and eating someone's chicken is a bad analogy.

 

 

 

Edited July 23 by Greenie

[Double Mocha Man]

8 minutes ago, Greenie said:

 

My wife and I were sitting at a picnic table last week in the park eating ice and a family of five came over to us and asked me if they could sit at our table. I didn't mind. All of the picnic tables were in use and we had room. They brought their own ice cream. 

 

 

 

 

I just think if you want to putt alone, hit balls at the range alone or eat your chicken at a picnic table alone you should be able to do it.

 

I guess my main beef (or chicken in this case) is when people on a crowded practice putting green are trying to get better at sinking three footers why does there have to be a guy who sees it as a miniature golf course, and whether you like it or not, he needs to putt to the hole you are occupying. 

 

I think it goes back to situational awareness that someone else mentioned. And that guy has none.

[david.c.w]

1 minute ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I just think if you want to putt alone, hit balls at the range alone or eat your chicken at a picnic table alone you should be able to do it.

 

I guess my main beef (or chicken in this case) is when people on a crowded practice putting green are trying to get better at sinking three footers why does there have to be a guy who sees it as a miniature golf course, and whether you like it or not, he needs to putt to the hole you are occupying. 

 

I think it goes back to situational awareness that someone else mentioned. And that guy has none.

 

Perhaps you should purchase your own practice area.  Expecting 90 minute private space on a common practice green is crazy.

 

[Double Mocha Man]

 

About a dozen years ago my course swapped out the little flags in each of the holes on the practice putting green. They had the numbers 1 - 18 on them. I think they were trying to dissuade the miniature golf course guy, as well.

[Double Mocha Man]

6 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

Perhaps you should purchase your own practice area.  Expecting 90 minute private space on a common practice green is crazy.

 

 

You are being egocentric. Crazy to you, not to others. 

 

I have let homeless people sit with me at my restaurant table and I've even bought them lunch. So it's not like I want my privacy all the time, just when I am trying to focus on something very specific.  Like the tempo of my putting stroke.

[david.c.w]

3 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

You are being egocentric. Crazy to you, not to others. 

 

I have let homeless people sit with me at my restaurant table and I've even bought them lunch. So it's not like I want my privacy all the time, just when I am trying to focus on something very specific.  Like the tempo of my putting stroke.

 

Wanting something is one thing.  Posting about it in a thread called "The most annoying thing in golf..." is another.

 

I want an empty seat next to me on the airplane.  I am not going to get pissy if someone ends up sitting there.

 

Maybe to make it clear to everyone else you should make some "DMM Only!" signs and put them up around your hole.  Then we will all know to stay away.

 

 

[Double Mocha Man]

31 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

Wanting something is one thing.  Posting about it in a thread called "The most annoying thing in golf..." is another.

 

I want an empty seat next to me on the airplane.  I am not going to get pissy if someone ends up sitting there.

 

Maybe to make it clear to everyone else you should make some "DMM Only!" signs and put them up around your hole.  Then we will all know to stay away.

 

 

 

Now you are just being silly.  (I expect the seat next to me on the plane to be filled)

 

What were your thoughts on the guy on the range who wanted to practice in an isolated way and the other guy wanted to befriend him?

[alittleoverpar]

"Gets popcorn and sits down".

[Double Mocha Man]

2 minutes ago, alittleoverpar said:

"Gets popcorn and sits down".

 

This is pretty riveting stuff, isn't it?

[david.c.w]

4 minutes ago, alittleoverpar said:

"Gets popcorn and sits down".

 

i had another response all written down, but it's not worth it.  No minds are being changed.  

[Double Mocha Man]

16 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

i had another response all written down, but it's not worth it.  No minds are being changed.  

 

Ah, the last refuge of the guy who has no counter argument.  You could change my mind, but your reasoning isn't spot on.  See you on the practice putting green...  😁

[Greenie]

29 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Now you are just being silly.  (I expect the seat next to me on the plane to be filled)

 

What were your thoughts on the guy on the range who wanted to practice in an isolated way and the other guy wanted to befriend him?

 

I love that guy...

[Pepperturbo]

This thread popped up again. Recently I played a few courses with slightly raised greens, false fronts, and tight pin positions on 11+ greens; nobody complained in our groups. Last weekend we played a par 4, pin up front, false front, back-to-front 11+ green that fed a 7' deep crossing front trough, which my buddy discovered after hitting the front apron. I played in a 2-man tournament at a private club, par 3, red pin up front, a few paces on a 12 green, false front that fed a pond, and we pared the hole. There was a full field, and nobody complained. In a few weeks, I will face a 210 slightly uphill par 3, hit the apron with too much spin, and the ball will spin off the false front back down a hill 30 yds. I am heading to Maui soon, where we will play courses that historically have the same conditions. I am reminded of a difficult par 5, a tight front green section surrounded by deep bunkers, and the weekend pin is often on the front. Talk about a testy par.

 

Maybe this is an issue reserved for certain parts of the country or people that don't have a 58' wedge game, don't know.  But it's NOT the most annying thing in golf for anyone I know.  

[bekgolf]

5 hours ago, Greenie said:

 

I know the recent posts are referring to the practice green. I am going to add the range to the conversation. 

 

There is a range I go to occasionally. To the right of the clubhouse they have a decent section of roof covered mats then a section of mats. Father down the line they have their grass driving range. I always hike all the way down to the end of the grass range. I say hike because it is some distance from the clubhouse. 

 

One day I had recently started hitting balls at the far end on the grass range. There are people using the mat part of the range and between that mats and me there is no one. I happen to notice a guy walking out on the grass range with his bag and a bucket of balls. 

 

This guy walks all the way down to where I am and sets up shop beside me. He is very friendly. He is trying to start up a conversation with me. I say a few words to him and say enjoy your practice while I pack up my stuff and move to the middle of the grass range.

 

I am situated once again and here comes the guy walking back towards me. He stops beside me and it appears he is going to practice beside me once again. 

 

I look at him and say I let you have that area over there where I was practicing. Why are you beside me again?

 

He replied I was hoping we could be friends. I replied sorry. I like to practice alone. Maybe we can be friends another time.

 

It was the same guy who takes the stall next to you at a public restroom even though all the other stalls are open.

[david.c.w]

42 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Ah, the last refuge of the guy who has no counter argument.  You could change my mind, but your reasoning isn't spot on.  See you on the practice putting green...  😁

 

I bet you park in front of grocery stores instead of the parking lot because you are just so special, you deserve things that others don't.

[Double Mocha Man]

3 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

I bet you park in front of grocery stores instead of the parking lot because you are just so special, you deserve things that others don't.

 

My staff does my shopping for me.

[mshills]

4 hours ago, david.c.w said:

90 minutes commandeering one hole and being irritated when someone else is bored of the other 11 and wants to try hole 12?  I don't get it. 

 

Situational awareness is knowing that common areas are common areas for a reason.  

I said no such thing and you know it, so I’m not sure what warranted your coming at me hard. Perhaps you replied to the wrong post.
 

All I said is everyone using a shared facility needs situational awareness. Don’t “reserve” a cup when it is busy. Don’t reserve a cup then leave the green with your stuff there. If it’s not busy, don’t insist on putting to a cup where someone is obviously working. Basic courtesy and Southern manners. 

[Saijin]

For me since Covid is people wrecking the course by littering, spitting seeds everywhere, spitting in front of you, smuggling borg, talking loud during tee off,

playing music, complaining about missing a 100yRd putt , complaining on my behalf when I miss a 20ft putt, 

 

driving their damn carts recklessly and on the green, teeing off first when I’m clearly in the back, coming to my fairway after their slice and I’m ready to drive, 

 

I forgot the rest, I’ll come back and rant at a later date when I remember more. 
 

xD