Twice on Sunday I almost got hit by a moron who could simply not wait for me to get out of the fairway, he did not do it once but twice on the front 9. I was with my dad and he was relaxing on his day off, so I did not want to start a confrontation. This happened last time and I almost got into a fight. What do you guys do when someone like this is behind you, I mean if you ever got hit in the head it kill seriously injur you. I'm not looking to fight anyone, but after the first time, something should be said am i right?

Play faster

Was the course stacked up? Were you keeping pace with the group in front? Were the holes blind? There is no excuse for purposely hitting into the group ahead but it does happen to groups who take too much time and hold up the course. The golf course is like a one lane road, if traffic is stacked up behind and there's nobody in front then pull over and let people pass.
If I was keeping pace with the group in front and someone was hitting into me (it's happened) I would let them know I have nowhere to go and ask that they stop hitting into me. That request usually fixes it. If that wasn't good enough for them I'd offer to let them play through. They will have nowhere to go and will not enjoy the rest of their round.

if youre keeping up with the groups in front of you, i would consider contacting the marshal/clubhouse. If there is room for this single, from what it sounds like, let him play through.

Hit it back to him...

I think some of you guys are WAY off base. It doesn't matter if there are 17 holes open ahead, it is NEVER okay to hit into someone.

So you're that guy who doesn't let me play through. If you've got 17 holes open and I'm riding your arse, let me play through or buy a hardhat.

A couple of things, the OP asked if he should have said something to the 'player' behind him, yes. Also, keep in mind, pace of play, if youre lagging behind the group in front of you, then let him play through.

As for hitting into a group KNOWING there is 17 open holes, that is still a no no. If the group doesnt let you play through, skip the hole and come back to it.

Since there are more golfers in this decade than ever before, we all need to know this situation could be either hazardous to your health or your wallet.
Simply, do unto others as you would like to be at the receiving end; a single following the twosomes ahead need to be a little more patient; hit several balls, do somthing else, since if the twosome ahead did not let you go through ( which you have less right if you have less numbers in your group).
For the twosomes followed by the single behind, if you're being pressed and no one else were ahead of you, LET THE SINGLE THROUGH, this way both of you would have a better time.
Should there be other groups ahead of you and it's senseless to let the single play through, either call the club house to have them extract the sigle off the golf course or have a stern look back at the single to deliver the message that you don't appreciate being hit into while the course is packed; and prey the single either has a lot in his bank account or has a great earning potential in his lifetime.
There are more fish in the tank now, and we all need to learn to live with each other and at the same time be more considerate to the others.
Learn to live with the others or you'l pay the price of not able to adapt to changing times.
Remember this is not a video game and you could cause great harm to others and could ended up paying for your mistake your whole life.

Me and my dad are very fast golfers, we can usually get 9 done under an hour and a half. But since we are in season here in florida, rates pretty much doubled (or even more) everywhere so we play later in the day now, because it's cheaper, and of course it's crowded. There was a twosome and two foursome's ahead of them so of course it was gonna be slow. I have golfed over 17 yrs. ( started at age 3), played all over Ohio til I was 13, then moved to florida and, it's definitely a part of course ettiquete (sp?) / rules that is overlooked the most to me. If you have a chance of "getting ahold of one", don't hit.

Hitting it back is always the wrong thing to do. If you are going to complain it's dangerous to be hit into hitting it back is worse. All it proves is you are a jerk too.

First of all a single has no rights on a course, they take the chance of playing through when they go to the first tee.

From what I get from your post is this.

You were a twosome playing behind a twosome and in front of a single, why in the heck were people not matched up by the pro shop?

All of this could have been avoided if the starter and pro shop knew what they were doing.

Last thing, I would have called the pro shop upon the the second ball coming close!

tee it up and let HIM have it! I've done it before...

Nope, just tee up his ball. It's the politest way of letting someone know that they hit into you and that you know they did it. One can be an accident and left alone, the second gets teed up and the next ones just get kicked into the rough or picked up depending on how confrontational you want to be. If you do pick it up and he storms over and asks for his ball, you just act surprised and say that you thought it was a lost ball as you couldn't believe that his ball would be anywhere near you bearing in mind how dangerous and rude it is to hit into someone.

From what you said, this guys sounds like an arse so don't rise to it but just make sure that he knows you aren't going to be bullied. If he had half a brain he would have approached you and asked to be let through. There's no excuse for hitting into someone in my book.

If someone hits near me once thats an accident, but the second time is no accident and they will never see there ball again I wouldn't hit at them but there ball would get launched a long way away. If they hit at me again I would hit them with my Pw.
Todd

What rights would a twosome have in this situation that a single wouldn't?

I've seen this posted before about singles not having rights and it gives me fits. It just seems to be some arcane rule used at private clubs that has no real bearing at public courses.

You semed to be a seasoned golfer and konw the etiquette playing golf.
We have all sorts of golfers on the courses now and really, just look at the drivers on interstate highway; there is not much difference. Facts are, golf should be played under or around 3 1/2 hours, but that's in the past, today on a public course during the "rush" hours of early bird or twilight rate, you'll be expecting 4 1/2 to 5 hours of 18 holes.

If after trying to be friendly and / or you just want to be playing with your father alone, call the proshop and have someone to either come out to monitor his behavior or extract him off the golf course.
Don't get involved unless you're under direct threat, you'll never know what kind of person this guy is; I had seen on the TV News, a guy was knived to death some years ago on a golf course by another golfer over something similar.
Call the proshop and if they don't do anything to better their service and properly pairing the groups and not monitoring the twilight rate golfers, I would give them an unpleasant time when I get back to the proshop and will have a talk to the head pro.

I keep the first tee time at my course mainly to avoid situations such as this. My group likes to play fast and unimpeded, plus the greens are freshly cut with no footprints, etc. Its the best time to play if you can deal with a little morning dew and the cool air this time of year.

I don't know how you can draw that conclusion from my post.

This is a great way to handle it, IMO. I was once playing at a resort course with my wife. We breezed along for a few holes, then ran into some traffic. After a few holes of this, we got to a tee and saw the group in front of us already on the green (I recognized a guy in bright red pants). I hit my drive, and it disappeared in the fairway--there was a depression that wasn't really noticeable from the tee. When I got to my ball, it was sitting on a tee. No question I had hit into someone. It turns out there were guys wearing bright red pants in two consecutive groups. I drove up and apologized profusely. They were very nice about it. You can bet I didn't hit a ball within 200 yards of those guys the rest of the day!

What!!!! a single paid just as much as each member of any foursome.

A single has every right to be out on the course, and should you let a single play through, they will be out of site by the next hole. So just let them though guys!

As a side note, I have not yet hit a ball back to the tee that was hit into me, but once I was chipping on a par 3 and a ball came very close to my head. I looked back at the tee and got the wave. I finished the hole calmly but just happened to step on the guys ball on the way to the next hole. When I looked back, I noticed that his pitch shot did not clear the bunker for some reason. Ahh the sweet smell of revenge.

I think the best idea is to just call the proshop as several others have said. It just doesn't seem worth dealing with the chance that someone could do something stupid and escalate the situation. After all, if they purposely hitting into you, they have already proven their lack of sense. I would rather not deal with people like that. I would let the course workers handle them.

I'll give anyone the first as an "accident." Anything after that, the offender has to start using the embedded ball rule, as his ball is going to be stomped into the ground.

I play as a single pretty often. I also like to play fast. When I show up to the course, if it's even remotely a nice day and not first thing in the morning, I accept that it's not going to be a 3 hour round. Yes, I can play faster than the groups, but if it's group after group after group, do I really think I deserve to be let through by everyone ahead of me? No. If it's a quiet day or the group ahead of me is slow (and there's a gap), then yes, I'll ask to play through. Most people are pretty good about that around here.

The last time I went out as a single it was a pretty chilly day. Got to the course too late, so there were groups ahead of me (but none behind). From the first tee on, I just played two balls, as there was no point in me getting worked up about having to wait. I got two rounds in, didn't get worked up, and had a just fine time.

There are way too many people and probably alot on this site, that seem to refuse to let others play through. The shear fact that you might have to wait 5 to 10 minutes for the group behind you, to hit their shot and and their next to get ahead is simple. The amount of golfers that are not aware of their surroundings is freaking amazing. And there is a good chance some of you are reading this, and are to self absorbed to realize that I am talking about you, that is the sad part.

A singe has the right to use the course, but as far as prferred treatment in playing through not the case.

I've often wondered what's the hurry? You're usually at a beautiful place to be on a nice afternoon, why do some golfers want to get it over with so fast? I don't mind the 5 hour rounds but I will let others go through it doesn't bother me. That being said I won't tolerate people hitting into me but you can't be too careful of some of the jokers on the courses these days.

Subtle solutions are:

Pick their ball up, run it over with your cart, I like the tee it up idea or call the pro shop (which is the safest way).

Be smart be safe, no one should ever be seriously injured in this game.

I've had discussions about the "rights" of singles on other threads, and I have yet to have someone tell me exactly what rights a single gives up. What difference does it make who has some perceived preference to play through when it is entirely up to the group in front to decide if they want to let someone play through or not?

You may have some rule at your private club that says to let certain groups play through or else there may be ramifications, but it just doesn't apply to public courses, and probably doesn't apply at all private courses. It certainly doesn't apply to the original poster's situation.

singles have absolutely no rights on a golf course. this is a long standing rule / guideline of golf courses.

if you go out as a single, rest assured that the clubhouse / marshall will not assist you regarding pace of play. you are up to the mercy of the groups in front of you to let you play through, and if they don't, they have that right.

that said, even though a group may have that right, it would be absurdly rude of them to utilize it, assuming the course in front of them is open. But, if you are a single, don't expect to show up at a course at 10 am and play through 14 groups.

technically, singles have no rights. But you hope people abide by the spirit of the law and not the letter of it.

That's not a rule, it was an etiquette guideline that the USGA dropped a long time ago.

I've had situations (a backup, lost ball causing us to drag behind a few min, our group was plain slow but willing to let people play through) where I've been purposely hit into before.

Granted there are times when it happens and it's purely accidental but when it's not my solution has always been simple. I just pick the ball up and continue playing. I've never had anyone hit into us twice after that or even confront me about picking the ball up (I guess being 6'5" comes in handy on rare occasions). Seems to me that hitting into people is a form of passive aggressive behavior and people that do it hope to get one result out of it and aren't willing to deal with undesired results.

So what planet is your golf course on where a twosome has the "right" to play through 14 groups?

I still don't see what rights a single is forfeiting. The marshall isn't going to assist me? They never assist with pace of play anyway whether I'm in a foursome or I'm a single.

Regardless of group size, you're always at the mercy of the group in front of you. A threesome or foursome can't just hit into the slow group in front of them and simply say, "We're playing through, we have the right." That is absurd.

The USGA website clearly states that slower groups should let faster groups through regardless of size.

There's NOTHING in the USGA Rules and Etiquette manual that states this.

I'd agree that if a group is slow and the course is empty, let them play through. If my boss and I were in front and someone hit into us.... no BS, the group behind them would be calling 911 when they found the guy in the fairway. I've seen him break a dude's eye socket and knock 3 of his teeth out with a 3piece. So I guess to everyone, on the course or in life in general, think about it before you decide to really f*** with someone. Everyone is out there to enjoy themselves, don't ruin the game for beginning golfers by acting like an a-hole.

I must saay... It is indeed scary to see some ppl's attitudes towards what started out as a gentlemans game. The extreme measure of hitting into a group in front of you just because you're not let thru??? I'd say you are missing some of the essence of golf. But this is just my opinion.
And even tho i agree that everyone that pays the fee have the same right on the course, it would appear that a single is gonna play a lot faster than a 3-some, and a 4-some, why do you guys claim that you have a RIGHT to be let thru?
I mean after all you choose to go out on the course alone, and why in gods name would you risk hurting someone just to get you're way??
How would it feel to see the paramedics come out to the course to help someone you hurt more or less intetionally?
I know for myself, that i would be sick to my stomache if i ever were to hit anybody, even if it was unintetional, and i yelled four of the top of my lounges..

I have seen time and time again ppl coming out on the 10th tee to start off the back nine, coming in singles and expecting to have their way on every turn. Messing up the whole back 9 because of this.
And even tho many would argue that it's the starters problem that you come out as 3 singles instead of one 3-some, then you are mistaken. In most of the western culture it is accepted to think individually, and you should come to this conclusion you're self as well.
But then again, if someone here feels that the shoe fits, then you're just an accident waiting to happen and sadly many of us would be better off if you might consider going on the treadmill at the gym instead.

My rant is over, and it comes as a result of beeing hit several times, even on stacked courses, by singles that think they have THE RIGHT to play thru...

I totally agree, when and where was it written about the 'rights' a golfer or a group of golfers have at a golf course. It all amounts to proper etiquetteand good decision making if you think you are holding somone up behind you.
It seems like from many of the posts and other experiences that people have had, that the person/group that was hit into was never asked by the hitter to if he could play thru. Anyone whose golfed w/ me would see that IF ASKED, I would let someone thru that wants to go thru.

If the guy/girl is a single (and you are a 4 some) let them play through if no one is front of you and you know they will not hold you up.
I have had a single hit into us (3 some) we play fast and at the time all right around scratch. The course was just slow, and had no where to go. The guy hit into us I kicked his ball in the rough, he did again and I just picked it up. The guy confronted us on the next tee. All I said was dude can you not see we are not holding you up it is the groups ahead of us. I said relax or you can just join us and play the rest in (he seemed to be good enough to keep up pace) It made it more enjoyable the rest of the round and the guy actually turned out to be pretty cool. I would say if you get hit into a few times, just wait at the next tee and tell the guy when he comes up that you might want to chill as it is going to be a slow day, if he is at your level ask him to join. Who knows you might find someone new to play with.
Kevin

Going back to the original post. The course was crowded and there was no place for the single to go anyway. There a few options at that point.

1) Invite the single to join your twosome.
2) Let the single know the groups are stacked up in front of you on the next tee.
3) Call the pro shop.

It is never ok to compound the problem by hitting the ball back at the player, not to mention you lower yourself to the same level as the guy you did not like in the beginning.

This coming from a player that has been hit about 6 times on the course in similar situations.

Where in this thread did anyone say that a single has the right to play through? Of course they don't. What was stated, and has been stated in other threads, is that "singles have no rights". All I want to know is what rights a twosome, threesome, or foursome has that a single doesn't. No one has ever been able to answer that question for me. It just seems to be some archaic justification for not letting someone play through.

If there is open space in front of you and a faster group behind you, you should let them play through, regardless of the size of the group. It's proper etiquette, the same as fixing ball marks and not stepping in someone's line. But if you're in a faster group and the group ahead won't let you through, that's certainly not a justification for hitting into them.

I play once in a while as a single. If the group ahead lets me through, I say thank you and try to get out of their way as quickly as possible. If they don't let me through, I play 2 or 3 balls and try to get extra practice around the greens. I certainly don't feel as though I have the right to play through everyone.

For those that would hit into the group ahead regardless of the reasoning; I wonder how do these people drive on the Freeway?
Maybe they should go make lots of money and built their own golf course, because they clearly don't belong in a society.

You must not be reading the comments made in previous replies.

More than one person has pointed to A USGA Guidline, someone commented it is no longer on the books, stating a single has no rights.

If it is still on the books or not, it was intended to make sure a single does not feel they have the right to just go on the course and play through groups all the way around and disrupting the whole course and it's flow of play.

If golf is truely a game played by gentlemen, the single would join a twosome or threesome at the first tee, stick out his hand and introduce himself and make a new friend.

Not bomb drives into the group in front that he feels may be holding up his three hour round.

[/quote]
I play once in a while as a single. If the group ahead lets me through, I say thank you and try to get out of their way as quickly as possible. If they don't let me through, I play 2 or 3 balls and try to get extra practice around the greens. I certainly don't feel as though I have the right to play through everyone.
[/quote]

What is meant is that singles don't have the right to show up at the course and expect to play through 14 groups as I previously stated. Slower groups are always supposed to let faster groups play through. But if the course is packed, and you're a single....you better do like the above poster and get ready to get a lot of short game practice in, because you're not going anywhere.

krustyburger:
I do not want to engage in flaming here so i'll keep this short and simple, and try not venture into rules and regulations i know nothing about.
I am merly stating the fact that there are a lot of singles out there expecting the whole course to let them play thru since, in all fairness they are playing faster. However it does not work like this. If you choose to play alone (wich i don't understand why anyone would), must you not face the consequences of having to wait a little bit here and there.. And especially if the course is packed.

I always suggest to singles that they join whatever flight i'm in, or even play thru, but i will not ever let a single thru if the next 3-4 holes is full. And the few times i have gone single, i rather play a 2nd ball, or even stop to enjoy my surroundings and have a smoke while the flight in front holes out and moves on.

But i guess it is all a difference in perception of what golf is, altho i have a feeling that some might have a better day if they get over themselves. And even tho i am only 29, i tend to agree with some other posts here on teh forum, that some of the younger players might need to lighten up a bit. It is after all "just" a game, unless you do this for a living.

I guess this got a bit longer then i intended, but here is the bottom line:

Go out and play good, and play fair. Enjoy the surroundings, and for gods sake, don't let a 5 minute wait throw you off you're game. It's not worth it.

My home course is 6226 yds and it normally takes me and my friends a good 4 hours on a semi busy day. I try to enjoy every second of it.
Thanx for respecting my opinion as i respect yours.

bolded for emphasis.

1. I've read all of the posts.

2. I don't think this was ever a USGA guideline.

3. I've never felt this way as a single, and don't know anyone else who does. The problem I have is if you say singles have no rights, does that then mean that a twosome can show up at a course and expect to play through groups and disrupt the flow of play? I've asked before and I'll ask it again: What specific rights does a twosome have that the single doesn't?

4. I agree 100%. I always try to join another group. However, sometimes you show up at an empty tee and don't catch up to people until later in the round.

5. I agree 100%.

Great going kevin, best outcome possible.
I'm glad that you gave this guy a chance and not escalating it to something ugly.

You aren't flaming me. I agree with you completely.

Plug it, pick it up, send it back where it came from or knock it into the jumanji. Totally unacceptable to deliberately hit into people.

courtesy of todays golfer!
The single player ruling has now changed and single players do have a standing on the course!!

i agree, and i had someone hit OVER me twice on one hole. it was #6 and i decided not to let him play through. his fault.