Golf Digest really needs a short column on course etiquette in at least every other issue. Manners these days on the course are just atrocious. I, and my wife, are older. We golf a few local shorter courses. We encounter a lot of rude golfers. Today we were on the 6th green when a ball landed less than 10 feet away. I looked back to the tee and saw a young man admiring his handiwork. I could have sent the ball back via Air Mail, sent it over the hill, or place it in the cup [and he would falsely forever more thought he hit a hole in one]--I shot it off the green with my putter. He arrived with his cart, and blonde girlfriend, and started strutting around like a rooster because I dared hit his ball off the green. No "I am sorry," etc. For our safety we let him play through.
Is this what golf has become? A free for all? You may be better than others on the course, but guess what?--you're not that good in God's eyes. If you are pro material try out for the tour, otherwise play nice, and ask to play through. Some slow golfers are also rude. It seems that today's golfers need Etiquette training. Is Golf Digest willing to run some text on this once in a while, or will some of us out there continue to be physically threatened?
Tim Guentz
We're big here at Golf Digest on pace of play, but not on the kind of impatience and rudeness this young man exhibited. One of my favorite golf quotes comes from the great instructor Seymour Dunn on perseverance. Dunn wrote: "Continue in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory." Some golfers only get the glory part, and golf without grace is just another sport.
We appreciate your suggestion. Digest section editor Ron Kaspriske covers etiquette occasionally, and columnist Stina Sternberg, who edits the Golf Digest Woman section, does all the time. (Women, unfortunately, are treated to too much of the rudeness you describe). We also did a memorable "10 Rules" column with Arnold Palmer on the subject. But we get that you'd like to see more such coverage.
Bob Carney
