Friend gets hit, no sorry

[Sakuraba]

I just thought I'd relate a story from our first local round of the year yesterday at Prescott.
We were on the 11th green, and my buddy having just chipped to about 2 feet from the hole was tapping in his putt, I was standing in front of him after tending, when whizz snap! he was nailed with a line drive tee shot in his right shoulder from #6 tee. He winced around for a minute, we finished the hole, and the guy that smoked him wandered over to look for his ball. My other buddy (forum legend Boudman) said "you should shout FORE, you hit my friend." & the guy said "well, I didn't see you there"...
What drives me nuts is that the idiot never even said "sorry"

[3Jack]

Geez, nice way to start the year. Pure class. Hope the bruising won't be too bad. I tagged a dude last summer at Mississippi, one hopped him with my tee shot. Glancing blow, but I was was apologizing left right and center.

[Sakuraba]

It was such a great day that I really forgot about this until now, (easy enough to do because it was not my shoulder) The ball was going super-fast & hit my buddy on the fly. The only saving grace was it got him right on the meat of his shoulder. I'm pretty sure his shoulder hurts worse than hoolio's sunburn.

[Sphere Hunter]

That's sucks that he didn't get an apology but he's lucky he didn't get really hurt. This stuff will happen from time-to- time. It's a risk we all take on when we play. I think, if you hit someone, at the very least, after your apology, you need to buy the group a round of drinks (I think). I hit someone many years ago in Mrytle beach and the round of beers went a long way toward smoothing things over. Golf balls can do a lot of damage, be careful.
SH

[Marcos]

That is bad and the fact that the guy did not say anything makes it worse.I hope your friend is not hurt to seriously and will be able to play on.Scary stuff.Thanks for sharing this story and it makes us think if it ever happens to one of us.

[Andy4Par]

Ok Sak...tell the truth. It was you that drove the ball and your buddy was standing beside you wasn't he.

[foxman]

That is one think i don't understand when they say i did not know you were there thats more reason to yell fore .And not to say i'm sorry is just not right .When i even come close to a person and yell fore and i always say sorry about that.The good think is most golfers are pretty good and would say sorry and yell fore.Hope your friend can still move without to much pain.

[LobWedge]

Man, that didn't take long.

[hoolio]

It wasn't pretty, and I think Mr. Sak underestimates the size of the putt that our lad made with a wedge while getting hit. I would say it was more in the 4-5 foot range, not the mere 2 footer as previously stated.

I don't think a "Fore!" would have made a difference at the speed the ball was coming in at, but an apology was definitely in order, even if we were rather brash in our inquisition of the lad who fired the low slice. I do agree that a round of drinks would have been nice .

I've hit into many a group before, and I've got a bag of apologies ready for each and every occasion.

[3wood]

for the ones that don't yell fore, if the ball they hit, comes even or past the group i'm in, i pick it up and move on, that usually pisses them off more than i am, if at the next tee, they start whining, did you see my ball, i just say thanks

[Felix]

My buddy got hit a couple of years ago so he teed it up and hit it back at them Pretty scary I thought

[Kilroy]

There's a pretty big difference between a bad swing or judgment error and an attempt to "get revenge".

[Sakuraba]

I think we took it pretty well.

I recall my titanic drive on a 327 par 4 in Phoenix this March, & I rolled it onto the green while the guys were putting, & I apologized profusely on the next tee & bought them a pitcher in the clubhouse.

I don't know what defense the guy who hit my buddy has. He displayed no class or concern for his fellow golfer.

[Hacker]

We all might not be able to control where are golf balls are going, but we CAN all control the level of class and appropriateness that we display after a poor shot.......this guy's reaction was simply unacceptable in my book

[Bullet]

Being one for hitting all over the place and also have nailed some much longer then expected drives. I will yell fore and usually my playing partners will also do the same. I have had a situation on a very windy day that my top of tme lungs FORE was never herd. So when I approached the group, the were on edge. Even if I had done what I could to warn them, I was still very very appologetic. I still think that they didn't believe that I had yelled but yet, it was all my bad and did send the cart over for a round of beers that was refused.... that didn't help me feeling any better about the situation.

[Sakuraba]

Sorry, Bullet, did you say they REFUSED a free round of drinks? Thats crazy talk.

[Bullet]

Yup they did refuse! I was like wow they must be really **. It was an approach shot from 150 out. Use a 6 iron with a 3/4 swing, face must have been still open cause it went way right. Bounced between their bags next to the Tee off. Didn't hit anyone either. But they wouldn't take the drinks and the cart girl (a Forum Fav Marie-France) at Casselview said they were really dry with her when she offered.

Ah well save me 20$ I guess but did feel terrible. I also asked the Pro if had herd anything after the round and he said no.

[northern33]

It's too bad because there seem to be so many great people playing golf but then an over abundance of idiots also. I guess it's like that with most other sports but golf relies on etiquette more than other sports. Hopefully your friend is ok. I have a little story... last year I hit a drive on a short par 4 while the group ahead was finishing up on the green. First of all I NEVER thought I would reach the green so went ahead....of course I hit probably my best drive ever and it rolls onto the front of the green. The pin was at the back of the green so the ball rolled to probably 30 feet from the closest guy. One the guys proceeded to walk up to my ball, look back at us as and hit my ball off the green into the surrounding swamp with his putter. Luckily I found my ball in the tall grass right before the water. My buddy and I couldn't believe what just happened and when we caught up them 2 holes later, I just avoided confrontation and figured I would be the bigger person. I didn't figure an apology on my part was necessary after what he did without me having a chance to apologize. My buddy wanted to fight them and looking back on it, I sort of wish I would have at least said something because people will never learn unless they get confronted for their behaviour.

[MikeA]

I'd like some serious feedback on this "spin" on the topic being discussed. I'm not sure quite what to do and probably what we did do was not the correct resolution to an issue that had to be addressed.

My son and I were playing on a course with low Slope Ratings (111). It's short, however there are several holes where those on the tee cannot see the group in front of them hitting their second shots (hills!)

We had made the turn and played the first par 4. A walking threesome was in front of us playing at an acceptable speed so, while we were waiting on the tees for them to clear our hoped-for drives, we weren't waiting all that long. #11 is a long par 3 and we had waited for the group in front of us to leave the green before hitting our drives.

A twosome had caught up with us just as we were replacing the flag. We weren't even off the green before a drive landed on the back of the green on the fly! At that time, we just stopped and starred at the two guys behind us on the tee but walked on off to the next hole...another par 3 (220 yds uphill).

We waited on the tee for the group in front to clear and had just tee'd off when the twosome behind us came to the tee. I said something to the effect that we might as well enjoy it as the group if front was playing as fast as they could be expected to play. We went on up to the green and while putting, a ball landed just short of the green. Again, we both turned to the teebox and starred an them. Didn't say anything but no one but a total fool would have had any doubt that we weren't pleased. Once is excusable but twice in a row?

We go on over to the next hole, a par four and one of those where the second shots are not visible from the teebox. My son took the cart and drove down the fairway until he could see the group in front and after all two of them had hit their approach shots he came back and we hit our tee shots.

The group in front was on the green and we were waiting for them to clear. I took my son on down to his ball and drove the cart back up to the top of the hill so the twosome behind us could clearly see that we were waiting. I parked there and just waited. A ball from the tee came flying by us landing maybe 20 yards between my son's ball and the green!

What do you do at that point? Hit the offending drive out into the lake? Wouldn't have done any good because they couldn't see the ball from the teebox! Call the Marshall on the phone? No Marshall on the course this early in the year. Drive back and wrap a 9-iron around someone's head? Shout threats of slow death by torture if they hit into us again?

Seriously, what do you do?

[hoolio]

...story

Personally after the second ball landing at my feet I would wait on the next tee until they got up there and inform them that we're letting them play through (using some colorful language, of course). It might seem like you're rewarding them for being jackass', but if it doesn't seem like they're going to stop, then why risk catching one in the skull just to prove a point to these guys.

Then depending on how many pints I'd had and how spiteful I was feeling, I might just fire one up their ass to see how they like it.

[3Jack]

I agree with Hoolio. Hitting into a group more than once isn't unintentional. I'm sure we've all hit into a group unintentionally, and I know when I have done it I have made extra sure that it doesn't happen again at any point during the rest of the round. Hitting into you three holes in a row is nothing short of ignorant. Waiting on the next tee and then telling them to play through is what I would do too. I'd say something polite yet pointed that will leave them without doubt that you're not impressed. "Hi guys... thought we'd let you play through as you seem very anxious to finish your round. Feel free to use the group in front of us as target practice. Play well!"

[macspesh]

Personally, in a case where some fools are whizzing balls past my son and me, not once but twice in a row, time for talking is over.
I can guarantee these jerks wouldn't intentionally endanger anyone again on the course after a nice black eye.
Harsh? Sure, but IMO, the time for civility is over once this kind of nonsense occurs. Some folks simply can't be reasoned with, very unfortunate, but sadly true.

[MikeA]

I like your replies better than what actually happened with us. After that drive flew over my son's head, he went a bit balistic. Took of runing back towards then waving his hands shouting explitives that left no doubt as to what would happen if another of their balls landed within a hundred yards of us! It accomplished the purpose but not with the finese that a more refined reaponse as you guys described. I think that if that were to happen again, I'd offer to let them play through SO THAT WE COULD USE THEM for target practice.

[3Jack]

Personally, in a case where some fools are whizzing balls past my son and me, not once but twice in a row, time for talking is over.
I can guarantee these jerks wouldn't intentionally endanger anyone again on the course after a nice black eye.
Harsh? Sure, but IMO, the time for civility is over once this kind of nonsense occurs. Some folks simply can't be reasoned with, very unfortunate, but sadly true.

No reason to make more of it than it is though really. If someone's tailgating me, I'll pull over to the side to let him pass rather than slamming on the breaks just to teach him a lesson.

[3Jack]

I like your replies better than what actually happened with us. After that drive flew over my son's head, he went a bit balistic. Took of runing back towards then waving his hands shouting explitives that left no doubt as to what would happen if another of their balls landed within a hundred yards of us! It accomplished the purpose but not with the finese that a more refined reaponse as you guys described. I think that if that were to happen again, I'd offer to let them play through SO THAT WE COULD USE THEM for target practice.

One thing is for sure, it's never fun nor condusive to a lower score to have someone hitting into your group. I know that I get somewhat easily annoyed by many other things far less dangerous than this, so I can't be one to say you nor your son be ticked at this instance...

[macspesh]

No reason to make more of it than it is though really. If someone's tailgating me, I'll pull over to the side to let him pass rather than slamming on the breaks just to teach him a lesson.

For sure, I'd take, and do take the same approach to tailgating as yourself. I just think that firing golf balls at me or my loved ones, intentionally, would be a highly mitigating circumstance.
Anyhoo, that's me. Tomato - tomaato.

[Bidou]

Almost the exact thing happen to me while playing at Chateau Cartier. The course was backed up and we were a threesome with a duo behind us. Booked solid so allowing others to play through made no sense since we were all waiting. On the second hole, we were taking our second shot, they tee'd up and fired. The balls goes whizzing by at head level, we look back and they were laughing and then raised their hands to gesture an apology, we do they same, accept the gesture and move on. Par 3 is next and they tee up just as my buddy taps in and we close out the hole. Again they snicker and raise their hand. Next hole goes by without incident. Par 3 over the water and it happens again. This time I walk up to his ball, which was in the rough and chip it into the river. He starts yelling and we try to reason with him. We explain that we were in danger 3 times with no FORE to be heard, once we can forgive but 3 times on what seemed to be on purpose? Marshall pays us a visit and tells us that we are to remove ourself from the course, guess the duo behind called the clubhouse. After he heard our side of it, he escorted the duo off the course. Frigg'in clowns.

[leftylucas]

MikeA, I understand that this was unacceptable but waiting and letting then through is the best solution given there were no marshalls out. the reason I say this is that I had a similar incident at the Kingsway a couple of years back and the perp was doing it on purpose and was trying to incite an altercation. We kept our cool, called the Clubhouse about it and let them through. You just never know what the idiot is up to and you may regret an altercation although quite justified. With each party holding 14 weapons in their bags it could get ugly quickly. In my case absolutely nothing was done because it was obvious the idiot at the Kingsway was there as a guest of the Pro there. I called one of the Kingsway owners who I knew throough business dealings and explained what happened and he called back to ask me to bring it up to the Pro once again. I went to see the Pro and told that what happened was very distasteful and he did apologise and did remark that there would be no more invitations to his course for that player.

[MikeA]

My son did have a phychological justification for the response. He was hit in the eye by a golf ball from no more than ten yards by a little girl maybe 8 years old and my son no older. His fault. He walked in front of the little girl at a family reunion having no idea of the dangers. He now knows what a golf ball can do to a person!

Letting them through is the correct action I think. Even if the course is congested. I would also recommend followup with a call to the clubhouse even if the Marshal is not available. Honestly, a Marshal is the best bet. Sometimes a warning from them will get the attention of the offenders and a threat to remove them from the course would carry quite a bit of weight with most players.

[justsomeguy]

I think anyone who intentionally hits a golf ball at someone should not be allowed to play through. In fact, they should not be allowed to play at all. They should be removed from the course by the course owner and told to never return.

Letting them play through does not solve the problem - all you're doing is the passing the buck to the group in front of you. Plus you're rewarding them for their dangerous behavior, thereby ensuring that they will do it over and over again in the future.

Personally I would speak with them to ascertain that it was indeed intentional. If it happens again after that, I'm contacting the proshop.