Marshalls=Babysitters?

[dblock]

I was just wondering if anyone else gets "babysat" by marshalls on the course? I've been playing a lot of evening rounds (5-9), so obviously the course dies down during my back 9, which is when I start having a permanent spectator in the marshall. Not joking, me and my buddy have been playing Casselview for 5 years now, as members for 3 years, and the marshalls still watch our every move, comment on shots, lead us to the clubhouse after 18 (I think I know where it is, thanks) etc etc.
Does anyone else ever get annoyed by marshalls? If so, does it ever happen at your home course?

[3Jack]

That is kind of odd. I was thinking that the marshalls might be trying to make sure you don't play any 'extra' holes - but the fact that you're a member would / should allow you to play as many as you like, provided you're not jumping in front of another group - but if it's during the evening, then you should pretty much have the run of the joint.

[Steelhead]

Maybe they're bored, At most courses you rarely see marchalls after 4:00pm because like you said it dies down. As members you should bring it up with them and politely ask them to stop following you.

[macspesh]

That's a little weird. It's good to see marshalls establishing a presence, as a lot of courses don't, but there's also something to be said for personal space.

[Golfer_Gofer]

this seems to be 'the year of the marshall' .. The couple rounds i've played at cassleview this year i've noticed the marshalls really watched me and my playing group as well. I assumed it was because we're all realitivily young guys.

i've also noticed after a couple rounds at meadows this year that they have more marshalls then golfers some evenings.

[NoBack]

Maybe they like you

[rancherJ]

probably bored, lonely?. that and maybe he gets to see some decent Golf Shots?
I've had the Marshall "shadow" me in an "encouraging" manner in the past, commenting on shots etc. I think he just needed a friend

[dblock]

i guess they are all kind of old and lonely... and you know they see some tight shots!

[dblock]

I assumed it was because we're all realitivily young guys.

I tend to beleive this as well... unfortunate because some of us young guns would definately clean out a lot of "more experienced" guys

[leftylucas]

At least they are watching you and not searching for balls in the woods. Yesterday at Vieux Moulins 13th hole the back was very slow and what do I see but the marshall coming out of the woods with some balls in his hand behind the 12th green. I could see he had at least a dozen balls in his cart. I could not believe my eyes and I guess he realised I saw what he was doing so then, you guessed it, he is escorting us it seemed on the entire hole. Near the green he pipes up and says look at all the groups ahead. So I turn and see a group on the par 3 14th tee ahead, 1 on the green and 1 on 15 tee, OK looks pretty packed but then!!! the entire 15th hole is open right to the green where that group is leaving. I immediately turned to him and said there is an entire hole open right there. What does he do, he heads back to the 13 tee. I was so frustrated, no training for marshalls seems to be hurting the public golfers game.

[dblock]

no training=so true. Lack of knowledge of the game as well. Sucks when they're not doin what they're supposed to... course could put that salary money to good use!

[Golfer_Gofer]

no training=so true. Lack of knowledge of the game as well. Sucks when they're not doin what they're supposed to... course could put that salary money to good use!

most marshalls are unpaid... they just do it for free rounds of golf, something to do and people to talk to.

[Steelhead]

Marshalls rarely get a salary they get to play the course for free assuming they put in a certain number of hours.

[justsomeguy]

this seems to be 'the year of the marshall' .. The couple rounds i've played at cassleview this year i've noticed the marshalls really watched me and my playing group as well. I assumed it was because we're all realitivily young guys.

i've also noticed after a couple rounds at meadows this year that they have more marshalls then golfers some evenings.

They're probably making sure you haven't brought your own alcohol onto the course (especially after the cart girl has gone home). An unfair stereotype perhaps, but I bet that's the reason.

[Kiwi]

Funny this should come up today. Just got back from Nation. Great course and I have never had a problem there. Teed off 10 minutes late and all slow foursomes in front of us. Not a problem. At the end of the second hole the Ranger asked us to keep up with the group ahead. So we did. The Ranger did not see that we took our time on the second fairway looking for our balls as one of the tractors had backed into a ravine and had to be pulled out. Ranger did not know this, so be it. For the rest of the round, 16 more holes, we had the Ranger stop next to us at the green no less than 8 times. Never a word said, just held his clipboard. We saw the group ahead on and off depending on the terraine but we were never more than a hole behind (them on the green and us on the tee box). Can't say it bothered me/us but it could get old soon if it continues.

[mcgoo]

I tend to beleive this as well... unfortunate because some of us young guns would definately clean out a lot of "more experienced" guys

dlock; Want to try me for big $$$?

[big mac]

I was waiting to see if the Nation would be mentioned--played there last week in a 5some---us and the Ranger---every hole---finished in just under 4 hrs After the round we all went to him and said "your are not invited for a beer"

[leftylucas]

I was waiting to see if the Nation would be mentioned--played there last week in a 5some---us and the Ranger---every hole---finished in just under 4 hrs After the round we all went to him and said "your are not invited for a beer"

Ok, I do not get it, obviously if you played in under 4 hours the Marshall should have had an idea that you were never slow and how is he supposed to watch the whole course if he follows 1 group. That is frustrating Big Mac.

I think the only way to stop this is to complain to the Manager at the clubhouse, not the minimum wage kid behind the desk. I know Marshalls are not paid but man can they at least know how to do their jobs?????

[dblock]

I was waiting to see if the Nation would be mentioned--played there last week in a 5some---us and the Ranger---every hole---finished in just under 4 hrs After the round we all went to him and said "your are not invited for a beer"

Hahaha I was gonna mention nation but forgot Cass and Nation - the two courses I play the most, and the most useless supervision (hence babysitting). VERY ANNOYING

[leftylucas]

Hahaha I was gonna mention nation but forgot Cass and Nation - the two courses I play the most, and the most useless supervision (hence babysitting). VERY ANNOYING

I would suggest that you bring it up at the Pro shop before you start your next game, politely of course. Get your message across and if you get escorted, let the tanger know that what he is doing is taking away from the game. It may help.

[dblock]

dlock; Want to try me for big $$$?

Well, I do enjoy making money

[Golfbum]

i guess they are all kind of old and lonely... and you know they see some tight shots!

Now that is funny right there. Do you think only young guns can hit em tight? I played with a 72 year old who told me he shot his age the day before. He was -5 on the back nine. I think he must have hit some tight shots.

There are no marshalls at the course I work and things run just fine. Then again it is a private course and members usually are not slow.

I have only had to deal with a marshall once in the past. He asked us to speed it up as we were two holes behind. I politely pointed out that we started two holes behind the group ahead of us due to the fact the tee times right in front of us were no shows. He drove away and we never saw him again.

[dblock]

I played with a 72 year old who told me he shot his age the day before. He was -5 on the back nine. I think he must have hit some tight shots.

wow! i hope i can stand at that age, let alone play scratch golf! thats impressive

[il-terrifico]

I think the free golf bringing in marshalls is the problem.

Many get credit for a shift of xx hours for working the evening until 'close'.

'Close' means whenever the course is empty, they go home, so a lot of crabby old dudes see your presence as an irritation if you are among the last groups, and they want you out of there.

Obviously, the course owners have not thought this one through, as it provides the exact opposite incentive to good customer service. Think of it - if they piss off late golfers and you don't come back, they get to go home even earlier.

[dblock]

I think the free golf bringing in marshalls is the problem.

Many get credit for a shift of xx hours for working the evening until 'close'.

'Close' means whenever the course is empty, they go home, so a lot of crabby old dudes see your presence as an irritation if you are among the last groups, and they want you out of there.

Obviously, the course owners have not thought this one through, as it provides the exact opposite incentive to good customer service. Think of it - if they piss off late golfers and you don't come back, they get to go home even earlier, upping their chances of a "Viagra moment" from 1 in a million, to 2 in a million.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA great point!!!

[Kilroy]

This is getting a bit ridiculous. We don't need "lets all pile on the marshals" threads.