[sdiver68]

So I'm chipping balls to a hole on a very large practice green at a practice facility. 3 balls, chase, reset. I'm about 5-10 feet off the green.

There are about 9 holes, 2 people were on the green when I got there so I purposely choose the one farthest from everyone else in a corner. I've done about 10 cycles of that routine, obvious to anyone paying attention. Then some other people come up to putt.

1st one walks right to the hole I've chosen in the corner and drops some balls to begin putting. At this point there are at least 6 other open holes so I stare at the Susan Boyles look-a-like with wedge in hand until she gets the point.

Then another young guy, this one with 1/2 a leg no kidding, walks up and does the same thing. I just hit into him, 1/2 a leg or not I was obviously using that hole and there were still several open. But he apparently doesn't care as he just keeps putting.

Well that opens the floodgates. A couple of other people who were apparently using the 9 holes as their personal putt-putt course intrude into the hole. Then an old guy decides he wants to hit cross-green putts into the hole I was using.

I just left at that point for my range session. At no point were there not completely open holes for people to use, but apparently it would be too damn considerate to actually use those.

[lebanontngolfer]

That is the main reason many courses and/or practice facilities have "putting only" and "chipping only" greens. When the two are combined, somebody's going to catch a low, screamer in the cookies! It is inevitable.

Very frustrating for the guy who really wants to work on his short game.

[Johnny]

your practice facility should have a putting green and a chipping green and keep them separate. If they dont then find a new practice facility.

[sdiver68]

They have a green for practicing 10-40 yd pitch shots, but unless the green says no chipping I think it's pretty common at most places to allow <10 foot chip shots.

Regardless, the point is if I see someone working on a routine at a hole and there are several others open I'll choose one of the others to use. Apparently others don't share that common courtesy.

[wolfpackblack]

What really bugs me is when people don't understand the difference between chipping and pitching on chipping greens. Chipping is NOT hurling balls 20 yards from one end of the practice green to the other with your 56* wedge.

[PhillyHack73]

sdiver68, on Jul 26 2009, 08:36 PM, said:

Susan Boyles look-a-like....

Thank you, I really needed a good laugh tonight.

[Greenie]

Most courses I play don't allow chipping on the putting greens. Sounds like it was a putting green since hey! people were putting.I understand that you went to the farthest hole to practice but someone chipping usually runs into problems like you mention trying to chip with others putting.Even though I would respect your right to be there too I look at a putting area for putting and never pay much attention to someone trying to chip while I am putting myself.No I wouldn't crowd your hole but if your chips are not staying around your hole I certainly might mentioned it might not be a good idea chipping with me on the green.When I practice chipping I go to a chipping green .

[blhoff]

I usually only have a chipping session late in the afternoon when there aren't so many other people interested in practicing their putting before their rounds. As for the people who think they have to have a putt-putt session and use every hole, they don't have a clue to begin with.

[ballshagger]

blhoff, on Jul 26 2009, 10:39 PM, said:

I usually only have a chipping session late in the afternoon when there aren't so many other people interested in practicing their putting before their rounds. As for the people who think they have to have a putt-putt session and use every hole, they don't have a clue to begin with.

Unfortunately, for some reason, people still come out of the woodwork when you belly up to a chipping green.
IDK, it reminds of of fishing in Jersey. It could be three oclock in the morning, start catching fish. Guess what happens.

[Hawaiianhacker]

i think people in general are getting stupider...not golf related, but a similar story...a couple of times i go to the store late in the evening and the parking lot is empty. i park in the middle of the lot, do my shopping and sure enough, some chuckle head is parked next to me - despite about 20 open parking stalls all over the place. same thing at the movies. once there were literally just about 8 people in the entire theatre. everyone is spaced out in different areas. just as the previews begins, some couple comes in and sits directly behind me! WTF?!?

[Ronzo]

Hawaiianhacker, on Jul 27 2009, 03:26 PM, said:

i think people in general are getting stupider...not golf related, but a similar story...a couple of times i go to the store late in the evening and the parking lot is empty. i park in the middle of the lot, do my shopping and sure enough, some chuckle head is parked next to me - despite about 20 open parking stalls all over the place. same thing at the movies. once there were literally just about 8 people in the entire theatre. everyone is spaced out in different areas. just as the previews begins, some couple comes in and sits directly behind me! WTF?!?

A friend has a Mini Cooper, and this happens to him all the time. These jerques always seem to have no clue about how far their car door opens, too.

[blhoff]

I don't know if it's a matter of stupidity as much as it is lack of courtesy. Without doubt common courtesy and plain civility is on the downswing across the US. You don't have to go far or out of your way to see it every day.

Maybe it's the outrageousness displayed on television reality shows that make people believe their rude behaviour is acceptable. Or maybe it's just the fact that so many feel entitled or "special" these days.

[Bluefan75]

blhoff, on Jul 27 2009, 03:39 PM, said:

I don't know if it's a matter of stupidity as much as it is lack of courtesy. Without doubt common courtesy and plain civility is on the downswing across the US. You don't have to go far or out of your way to see it every day.

Maybe it's the outrageousness displayed on television reality shows that make people believe their rude behaviour is acceptable. Or maybe it's just the fact that so many feel entitled or "special" these days.

ding ding ding, we have a winner.

[ZBigStick]

Look twice, stupid people are everywhere!

Respect the hole, first one there has dibs, why do people always putt to the hole you are using when you have clearly removed the mini flag, or begin chipping to the hole you are using to do putting drills at? Too many Froot Loops!

[Ping Blackout Grip]

Hawaiianhacker, on Jul 27 2009, 03:26 PM, said:

i think people in general are getting stupider...not golf related, but a similar story...a couple of times i go to the store late in the evening and the parking lot is empty. i park in the middle of the lot, do my shopping and sure enough, some chuckle head is parked next to me - despite about 20 open parking stalls all over the place. same thing at the movies. once there were literally just about 8 people in the entire theatre. everyone is spaced out in different areas. just as the previews begins, some couple comes in and sits directly behind me! WTF?!?

+11111111111111111

[ScooterMcTavish]

When was the last time you were waved on to a Par 3 by the group in front of you? How about when you've hit on to a fairway of a previous hole, and the guys there didn't waive you to play through?

Common courtesy and etiquette is just about gone. Just read the posts of some members in the "Rules of Golf and Etiquette" subjects. They may know the rules, but their etiquette is long gone.

[hos]

As the saying goes - You can fix ugly, but you can't fix stupid!
Remembering this has kept my anger or aggravation in check more than once. Forget about it and move on- nothing more you can do.