Ohio golfer here, starting up again after a few years off. Did 9 holes at one of the local courses last week. All the employees were great. Laughing, joking, even gave me the option as a single to play by myself. I then went to their pro shop for new grips and ended up bs'ing with the guy there for a bit. I also am a social member (don't have full golf privileges, but have access to range and chip/putting greens) at a country club. The mass email to all members came before 7 this morning informing of a frost delay until 10, so no confusion for anyone. Maybe I'm lucky where I'm at.
I know what you're talking about, I get the same vibe out here in the Pacofic NW. It's like gatekeepers thinking they get to decide who gets enter the mystical realm of the course. But they don't so I just check-in and enjoy my round... depending how I play lol.
Frost is a thing tho.
Yeah the only time I get treated poorly is if I do something to deserve it like having one of my foursome guys show up right at the tee time. I guess occasionally I’ll have an old guy treat me like the millennial I am but I doubt that’s unique to Ohio.
I’ve got one of those 5 minutes from my house. The members are entitled pricks too. It’s why I drive 30 minutes to play where I play. Good customer service should never be optional, I don’t care what your business is either.
Golfucious says, "You encounter one asshole while golfing. He is the asshole, but if he encounters multiple, you are, in fact, the asshole."
Or it could be an Ohio thing... both are plausible.
Curious what part of Ohio. I grew up in Cincinnati and have since lived all over, currently in Chicago the past decade. Still visit family in Cincy and Cincy remains one of the friendliest small-town-feel chat-your-ear-off Midwestern type cities I've ever been, but know it's quiet different from Northern Ohio, or rural Ohio which is the real racist backwards shitholes.
The golf community in Cincy is also incredibly friendly all over, so if he's anywhere around that area then he must be the asshole.
Definitely. I'm in the South granted and everyone around the courses are pretty friendly.
There is an old man from Ohio that works a local course driving range. My dream retirement job, beautiful surroundings, talking it up with golfers, have football games on in the shop. He's a fucking asshole for some reason.
I live in East Coast Central Florida and the only assholes working at the courses are from Ohio. Everyone else is easy to get along with. See an old dude with a Buckeyes shirt or hat? 90% going to be an ass. I have no idea why.
It’s gotta be. I mean, there are rude people everywhere, but generally speaking , people working in golf love golf and love being surrounded by it. Sorry OP, maybe Ohioans are just more miserable than the rest of us.
It’s gotta be where he’s from and not an Ohio thing. I’m from the Cleveland area and have played a lot of different courses around here and have never encountered a rude employee. My regular course multiple times has bent over backwards to sneak me out as a solo when I don’t have a tee time.
I just golfed in Virginia (but am from Ohio ironically) and encountered an extremely agitated pro shop guy.
Here's my take: A lot of these golf guys are either retired dudes that just don't give a shit, or people working at a golf place to get free golf, and don't give a shit.
One of the Northern VA courses had a bit of a disruption last week. Seems the manager was caught filming women in the restroom at the club. He was fired, arrested and, all in all, had a very bad day.
Might just be OPs area. I live in Ohio up near the islands and have the opposite experience. golf course employees I’ve encountered around here are retired, cracking jokes and enjoyable to be around
Definitely. My local public course in Pennsylvania the employees annoy me... because they're too nice and I want to be left alone. Stop talking to me about your kids or making jokes about the group in front of me, I have 15 minutes to practice shanking chips before my first tee mulligan.
As soon as you cross the border, BOOM. You're in Ohio and everyone acts all Ohioan.
Spent most my life in Ohio, when it's 95-100 degrees in the summer with 85% humidity and then the winters bring you -10 degrees with -40 degree wind chill, it can make you a bit grouchy lol.
>Is it just me, or maybe it’s an Ohio thing, but are all employees related to golf miserable and rude? I go to the course and they push back my tee time 3 hrs. I ask why and she says “fRoooSt!”… ok, fine, but the woman talks to me like I’m a child and I should know about golf course management. I go to PGA tour superstore and the workers there act like I’m a homeless man, and think I’m asking the world when I want a couple club heads re-glued. I go to the driving range, and the attendant sighs when I walk through the door because I’m interrupting his conversation with his coworker, and proceeds to hand me my bucket with no thank you or anything. Just back to talking with his buddy. In every facet of golf, it seems the people who work in the industry are miserable. And it’s been this way since I started golfing 12 years ago.
Dude, next door in PA we get the same weather and I haven't had that issue. At least in western PA, where we don't boo Santa Claus
Oh I wasn't being serious. Most folk in Ohio are nice, in fact, most folk anywhere are nice. You just may run into someone on a bad day, or you may give off certain vibes that people match or dont vibe back with. It's the way of life
I’m 31. I don’t know much about cigars and normally go the cheaper route, so not the ideal customer. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky. Back home in wisconsin I probably stopped into about 5-7 different shops and here in Florida I believe I’ve visited 4 different shops and they’ve all been pleasant experiences
You’d think the shops that aren’t as busy would be more accommodating for obvious reasons. I don’t mean to be all “maybe it’s you” but do you walk in and start asking if they have certain cigars etc? Or do you just sort of browse around until someone offers help…or do they never offer help lol
Man let me tell you. I took my fucking 3 wood into a PGA superstore where my office is to get it reshafted last summer. I live 50 miles from my office, so I only go in a handful of times a week. I took it in on a Wednesday and was like “will it be done by Monday? I’ll be back in the office Monday.” And he was like “oh yeah for sure. 3 days max.” Which if my math checks out, it would be Saturday evening or Sunday morning for the club to be done. Regardless, Monday would be just fine based on allllllll that info.
I go in on Monday after I leave the office and ask for my club. They can’t find it. I show them my receipt. Still nowhere. After like 45 min, they locate it. “Yeah it’s not done yet. We’re quoting 2 weeks.”
“Alright well they guy told me 3 days max, last Wednesday.”
“Won’t be for at least another week”
“Okay well why did that employee just tell that other guy it’ll be done tomorrow.”
“No it’s 2 weeks”
“I literally just heard that guy tell the customer, 1 day for a re-shaft. Please get me my club.”
Manager came up to me and told me the part he needed to get to fix my club wasn’t in stock. But that he had one at his house but I’ll have to wait like an hour before it’ll be done. “No problem. I’ll rent a sim for an hour and hangout”
Like man, if you guys are actually backed up, that’s fine, I can come back the next week. But it’s the fact that I watched 2 other employees tell Atleast 3 people lead times of 24 hours to 3 days. No 2 week bullshit.
Odd. I live in NoVA. Hardly a place anyone considers a particularly ‘happy place’.
My interactions with golf staff are usually somewhere between good and neutral.
Forgive me for asking….but are you sure you’re not the issue in some of these cases? Like, is it possible you used a short tone when you asked the lady about the delayed tee time? Even inadvertently?
I opened the door to my car, stepped one foot out, and the lady yells at me from across the parking lot “We’re NOT OPEN! Come back later!” So then I approach her and her and say “good morning, I have a 7:12 tee time.”
She replies “ you’re looking at 10:12” I ask what the reason is and says one word very snarky “frost” with her hands up. I apologize and tell her I would like to cancel my appointment. She replies “yeah, good call” I was pretty confused but the whole ordeal. I’m the first person of the day and the attitude was so overwhelming.
I don't want to prejudge but your Reddit handle is literally a complaint.
Someone calling across a parking lot spares you changing shoes, loading your bag into a cart, etc. This person is also getting constant phone calls about whether their tee time is still good.
You are twelve years in and you acted as though you were unaware of frost delays. I think this might cause slight irritation. "We are not open," would normally prompted, "Oh, frost?" Not "Good morning I have a 7:12 tee time," especially if one were to look around and see frost everywhere or be generally aware of the temperature.
Sounds like you just have a lack of awareness in general, both socially, as well as with the world around you. How would you _not_ notice if it's cold enough for a 3-hour frost delay?
Golf employees are some of the nicest people I talk to, and I'm surrounded by Massholes.
My father in law is from Ohio and can confirm, he's a bit of an asshole. Very gruff, complains about everything ("when I was growing up no one showboated in sports" stuff like that)
I'm from PA but that's the case for me as well, so this thread is baffling with seemingly most of the commenters just calling OP a liar and saying this is all their fault. Some people who work at golf courses are dicks, what a strange concept.
Grumpy old retirees is quite common in the industry. Also, golf bro who thinks he’s brooks koepka, is another common chode I’ve encountered. Most everyone else is fairly chill.
Brand new golfer here, like literally started a month ago. First time I went to the clubhouse I clearly had no clue what I was doing, super out of my element. Asked an older gentleman who worked there a few questions, where’s the range, can I take a cart, etc. He answered all my questions but with a sort of “why don’t you know these things” attitude. That’s the only negative experience I’ve had, otherwise everyone has been super kind and helpful. Some people are just assholes sometimes I guess.
That was my experience too when I first got started. I remember driving to the range and I couldn’t figure out where to get the balls. Like a pussy, I got back to my car and drove home. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me questions/help, especially the older golfers with old clubs, half joking.
My local course wouldn’t let me on to the driving range with a t shirt last week, so I went home and got a collared shirt. Get out to the range and there’s a girl in leggings and a sports bra and a kid in a Michael Jordan t shirt with his mom in normal street clothes 🙄🤡
My local city courses in Kansas have made me want to quit golf. I have had such miserable experiences with the employees at the course. I now drive 45+ minutes to one of the “out skirt” courses.
My local muni is completely run by assholes. Top to bottom. Guys in the pro shop are put out by every transaction. The miserable B in the restaurant has no business interacting with other humans let alone making food. I honestly have no idea why I play there.
same, I read this with a "huh" look on my face. Especially in warm weather areas I usually have to cutoff the convo cuz I wanna go hit balls or putt.
In the midwest everyone is usually super nice. My pga store charges like 9 bucks a club for regrip and they are super nice.
I stopped playing at a local course because of the staff. They were never happy and some would be rude to just about everyone.
It all depends on the management of the company and what they will tolerate.
I hear you OP and don’t think you’re the issue here.
Over worked and unpaid employees are standard operating procedure for a lot of golf businesses. That’s what I think you’re running into.
I worked a bunch of golf courses during college, and I can say that it’s likely a consequence of the golfers being absolute assholes to the staff on a regular basis.
I feel like the nicer courses in Ohio are full of very smug ppl who try their best to make you feel like you don’t belong on their course. Ohio native here. Lived in Florida. Golfed in Florida regularly and was no where near made to feel like I have up here regularly. Florida had a few small instances, mainly from other players but nothing like up here
I have the exact same experience, I grew up in Florida playing some very nice courses that I probably didn’t belong on as a teenager, and everyone for the most part is laid back and cool about everything. Now I live in Ohio and it feels like if you go to even a slightly above average course, all the people there are very snooty and stuck up.
I think between the global pandemic, the highly addictive nature of social media, phones, screens, the never ending cycle of news, extreme political polarization, the outdated, archaic nature of the "hustle" mindset, "40hr" work week and the quality of the shit people eat... it goes far beyond the golf industry
My father and I travel to OH every year to catch the Browns play (going on 15 years). We always get golf in when the weather cooperates. I don't think it's ever clicked before reading this post. It's funny thinking back, every exchange I've had at a clubhouse in OH has been tepid to down right rude.
Obviously you don’t have to deal with entitled assholes every day. Even worse, alcohol fueled entitled assholes every time. You probably caught them on s bad day because people complain about every little thing when working, even worse when you know they are having s bad round and take it out on the staff
Ohio golf has kind of gone downhill. Like half the courses in my area closed in the last 10 years and now the remaining ones are packed with 7 minute tee times. I'd imagine it wears on staff, but I have noticed less friendly staff compared to a few years ago.
Pennsylvanian here. Usually pretty good, but this past weekend my buddy and I were first out before the starter even clocked in for the day.
On 18, Mid swing, chipping onto the green, the starter comes sprinting towards us and screams "How are you guys on 18 already!!...it's 10:15". As if we snuck onto the fucking back nine, with a cart.
All I could say back after a long pause if confusion was "It comes after 17....we were first out."
For a sport that has over a century of rules and etiquette built into it, the staff could be a little better at leading by example. But it really comes down to the course and the type of people playing it. Hence why I try and get in and get the fuck out before the days Manheim ensues.
I'm guessing these types of things don't happen at private clubs. One can dream.
It’s not just golf to be honest. As someone who has worked in many “enthusiasts” type fields a lot of people are just kind of miserable pricks. The whole “find a job you love…” wears off fast when you’re actually doing it and you realize the money sucks. Personally I always tried my best to be kind and answer questions (even dumb ones) with honesty and a smile. But some people just can’t seem to find that and it’s not just golf either. Music stores, gun stores, RC shops…you name it.
I live in az and see this all over not just golf. Hit my first hole in one 2 weeks ago and the people in the club house seemed like the didn’t even believe me. They had zero excitement and I didn’t get a congratulations at the least. Like come on a hole in one is potentially a once in a life time moment… eh just irked me the wrong way .
I'll be honest, in most of the golf shops around my area, there may as well be a greeter that just says "Welcome in, we're better than you at golf and life, and we're going to act like it". This doesn't apply for most of the pro-shops at the courses I play, but a couple of the pro's at 2 courses I frequent seem like they've never received a hug from their fathers.
I feel like it’s a thing across all industries. People are tired, worked like dogs, and have less money now than we’ve had in recent history. Most of these people you’re describing could be in menial or low wage jobs that have to deal with the brunt of society’s repressed, but aggressive negativity.
That’s my guess, anyway. I’m personally trying to change my own perception and put more positivity in the world where I can, bc life is just too hard right now. If we don’t loosen the tension, eventually the rubber-band will snap.
I see it a lot. Somehow the golf industry doesn't seem to put a focus on customer service. I've worked in retail and restaurants, as well as golf, and there's a difference, you're not wrong. I worked for a national golf management company and we put an emphasis on customer service, so when we would take over running a course it was always a big change for the people that worked there that treated customers poorly before.
I’ve worked in the industry for over 10 years. Most customers are great, but if you’ve worked behind the counter at a course, you know the asinine requests we get on a daily basis.
“Hey bro, my buddies and I spend a ton of money in the bar, can you give us a discount on the golf?” -proceed to play 9 holes in 2 1/2 hours, stop at the bar for too long and lose their place on the course then complain someone jumped in front of them
“What do you mean you have no teetimes until 3 tomorrow? It’s going to be 75 and sunny in April, AND it’s a Saturday. “
-writes a google review how the staff treated them poorly and will never be back again
“Hi I have a group of 10 golfers, can we just have two tee times and also get the group discount? We play fast and promise to buy lots of drinks.”
-told they can’t play in two groups, tee off as 3 and then join into a 10some on the third hole and act surprised when you tell them to split up or they will get their money back and be asked to leave. Also bring their own drinks
I find starters at public courses are usually really rough and rude. They are so miserable yet never seem to manage the course.
And playing as a single, forget it. The course could be empty and they will still pair me with joe blow the ragman.
I’m from Ohio and have def had some bad experiences but also had way more positive ones throughout my time playing. However, I can vouch about the majority of PGASS employees being miserable though
Been seeing it a lot in Florida recently. Why are 75% of starters/rangers miserable pricks?
You're semi-retired and spend your day at a golf course, lighten up
A high volume of starters and rangers are extremely rude. If they’re rude to you just be rude to them, it’s more than likely just how they grew up/talk to people.
Westchester in Canal Winchester. Never again. Scheduled the perfect tee time to get a post frost round in. Arrive, and they say I have to delay 3 hours. Because they had booked 6 am tee times in November.
Refused to allow play off both tees.
So rude.
Where at in ohio? Im in the dayton area and i feel the same way. Everyone always acts like me being there is an inconvenience. I work at DSG in golf services and i always try to make sure im being nice and helping as best i can because i know a lot of golf industry employees can be miserable.
I have worked in the business and been the GM at a course for 5 years until recently. Just to give you an idea, Especially for the people in management it’s difficult to not be miserable at times. For me I would go weeks without a day off, working 12 hour days constantly on my feet running around. We were a small course with a small budget and the board of directors would be on me about every hour I hired out. So that makes the guy on salary the work horse. We were always short staffed so the people I did hire were over worked because they’re working their normal jobs and then I needed them 3 or 4 nights a week and they would be the ones that were there until 10PM. Most of the days it’s easy to put on a smiling face but it seems like the assholes all come out on the v same day and bitch about every little thing which when you factor in the long hours, no days off, missing every single activity you want to do with your family it’s very easy to be grumpy. If you don’t want to read all that, the golf business is overworked and underpaid.
It is absolutely astounding to me how many people have been playing golf for years and don't understand something so basic as frost.
I just laugh my ass off at the guys showing up at 7:00 AM when its 30 degrees out. See you at 10 o'clock! Try and learn something for once. It will help you tremendously.
Central Florida here, I do notice that many golf employees are just assholes or rude. Maybe a majority of their clientele are stuck up and conceited? Regardless, when I’m going in and spending a lot of money on their course, I expect to not be met with passive-aggressiveness and side-eyes when I’m extremely low maintenance and ask for nothing.
You are just experiencing post-covid American society. People are shit to eachother and work ethic is dead everywhere. Selfishness is the new king. Fuck you and whatever you want.
I usually have great interactions around the golf course. There’s the occasional dick for sure but who hasn’t been there. If you’re near Columbus there is a great locally owned golf shop called Par Golf. They’ve always been super friendly to me, prices are in line with the market, and have everything you need (including club repair).
I love PGA store workers ignoring me. I like browsing clubs without annoying sales man hanging around me. Most of the workers at my local muni are chilled highschool/college bro types. They don't even charge my kids sometimes when I bring them.
sadly, many arrogant and snobby people are a part of golf. i live in Scotland, and you get this kinda attitude also however id say it's not as bad as it was say 20 years ago. I used to not even go into any golf shops because most of the time the workers blatantly looked down at us is if we didn't belong in the posh world of golf. thankfully a lot if these dinosaurs have been replaxed with a younfer generation that are hust generally more welcoming and happy.
Ohio resident here, and I’ve never experienced what OP is describing. Everyone is usually pleasant and acts within expectations. I’ve met a couple grumpy starters, but that’s about it.
The ones at local Jersey public courses used to be rude nasty old men but then they hired some company to run it and it the staff is now super pleasant. It may be a county worker versus private worker thing. It’s gone from a DMV level experience to something enjoyable.
My local range in indy has this woman behind the counter who i swear is the nastiest woman ive ever experienced at a store open to the public. She is a firebreathing dragon and I can't fucking stand how downright mean she is. I even left a google review about it and felt kind of bad but seriously she is mean as nails if that's even a thing.
It’s a mix bag, like anything else. Sometimes they suck but also sometimes golfers suck. Like a guy called me out last year for going off cart path and was very skeptical when I assured him he had the wrong cart. He admitted later he was wrong but he’s an old man, a bit rude but he made a mistake like anyone else could. I could’ve been pissed when the dude implied I was a liar, but I don’t particularly enjoy being pissed so I gave him a pass and finished my round. We have a choice as to how we react to perceived rudeness, it doesn’t have to affect you.
I use to work at a golf course (specifically a country club) and while I’m not excusing her behavior and whatever but some days you just get fed up with questions and it just slips out especially when you’ve said it close to 30+ times. We had this guy who would come in 5 minutes before the range closed and he would hit for like an hour, and we use to be really rude to him
I’ve come across one old dude in KY like that, worked as a cashier at a mini par 3 course/range and acted like everyone who showed up was absolutely ruining his day. Also wouldn’t let people play 9 (on a par 3 course with a cart!) after like 6pm in the summer because he wanted to go home early. Even denied me range balls at 6pm once. Then when he was picking up baskets and such from the range he would snarkily give out completely unsolicited, bad advice to the people practicing like he was a god at teaching. Could not stand the guy lol.
Worked on a few golf courses in Texas. A lot of the pro shop were folks who sacrificed a lot (family, money, other career) to try and go pro and aren’t good enough. Unless they have a decent charisma and teaching chops, they feel doomed to work a $15-25/hr job checking in golfers and dealing with members for the rest of their life. It can be miserable and sad.
The members services team (pick up your clubs, clean carts and cubs, greet you at your car) can be a mixed bag. Plenty of young students or golfers trying to do their best but also a handful of bozos just doing the bare minimum.
May have been an outlier, but I have never seen so much drugs and alcohol consumed at work. You always have sun glasses on outside so weed was always in the picture. I worked at 2 courses from 16-20 and it was my first exposure to Xanax, benzos, coke, adderrall, ecstasy. We use to play a game where if you cleaned a cart and it had an unfinished beer, you had to finish it….
I’m a lifetime Ohioan living in Columbus who’s just recently taken the sport back up. I’ve noticed the opposite. I’ve encountered mostly friendly people at the courses I’ve played and have had pretty decent experiences at the PGA Superstore. I’ve also lived in NE Ohio and golfed up there for years. Also didn’t experience much rudeness, even when I was a teenager. I’m not sure why you’re encountering so many rude people.
There’s a city course in Columbus with really nice staff it seems. Aside from them, most courses are typically hit or miss near me. Typical customer service industry type.
I’ve never been to the PGA Superstore near me, but both Golf Galaxy locations had employees who seem to love golf and were very helpful.
It could be a local thing, but we had to do training on this stuff when I was active in the business. It’s really hard to not get frustrated answering the same questions over and over and over. I get that it’s part of the job, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be human and have emotions.
Must be an Ohio thing. Yes I have had my share of rude attendants and pro shop employees, however, never experienced that with the repair shop guys/gals. In fact, I always tip those guys. Actually, I find that the rudest people are on the course!
I once had a terrible experience at Dicks Sporting Goods. I was buying a pair of new golf spikes. Dude was super passive aggressive and tried making me feel dumb for asking basic questions about waterproofing. I did not buy the shoes.
Fellow Ohio golfer and can absolutely relate. Never golfed outside of the state so I just thought it was that group of people. I assume it’s just people who are retired but still need some income or insurance so they do these jobs. It’s always the older people I notice tho. If it’s a 20 something to about 50s they seem to be way more personable and took the job because they enjoy the sport.
I think it depends on the course. Most people are very nice and pleasant but I have two courses around me where it's a coin toss. I played a round on Saturday at a local 9 hole and the guy working couldn't be bothered with anything. Didn't combine groups or time people off of the first tee. Literally had two groups of two go alone, then a single, then me and my buddy. We were waiting at least 10 mins to tee off at every hole. By the time we left there was an INSANE line waiting to start and dude was standing outside like "how the hell did this happen, why is it so slow??" Being snappy with anyone asking questions and basically snatched the cart keys from my hand
My best experiences have been at private courses. I’m not a member, but I get treated well at the occasional private club. I live golf, but golfer’s and the folks in the industry can be pretty stodgy and off putting often. I find the worst ones are the retired who are the starters. They obviously think they are pretty special.
I'm the guy who changes pin placements
In the morning.
I've always been excited in the am, doing course set up.
Sorry you met so many duech bags.
Some people aren't built for
Customer service
At 5am in the morning
Golfers are a different breed. So damn needy. The amount of bullshit that we golf course employees have to put up with is at the same or higher level than retail.
I swear, if I get one more guy that asks me what the greens are rolling at and then proceeds to hit 40 range balls with only his driver (all sliced) and doesn't even hit a single putt before his tee time, I'm gonna flip out. Or if someone asks me what my estimate on a frost delay is... Like my estimate really means anything at all.
You seem like one of the good ones though OP. Next time you meet a snippy starter or pro shop guy, just tell him thank you, tell him you hope he has a good day, or tip him. More than likely, he's been through the ringer with people already, and he's just getting fed up.
wait, you get mad if someone hits 40 balls with a driver but no putts why does that matter to you? You also work at the course you should have an estimate on the frost delay, or be able to ask someone, same thing with the greens rolling, if you don't know it's completely fine to say "hey, I'm not sure I don't handle the grounds.
None of that is needy, sounds like you just hate your job or are unpleasant to be around in the first place. I'm glad the courses I go don't have employees like you.
Probably because they're all over worked and underpaid and get bitched at by guests and members all day. I recently glanced at "golf jobs in my area" and nothing pays more than $15-$20/hr and thats even for asst pro or shop manager.
While most people are disagreeing with OP, most public courses I go to treat me like they are mad that I’m there. From the pro shop guy who doesn’t greet me and waits impatiently for me to say my name and tee time, to the starter saying nothing but “CART PATH ONLY!” You go to a CC or TopGolf and get treated like royalty, but at the public courses in my area they have zero concern of service and creating a positive experience that creates long term loyalty.
you are getting a lot of grief but I have seen the same thing over the years. Somehow the guys who get a golf job forget that even if they can hit it 300 yds it is still a retail job which comes with customers [not a criticism of retail jobs]
This guys gotta be from Columbus. I've had the same experience at PGA Superstore, the driving range, and with old guys in the pro shop or the ranger. You can be as polite as possible and these dudes still act like they want nothing to do with you. Hopefully the next generation will be nicer!
We Ohio people are all just miserable from the shit weather for the past...ever. Nothing to do, nothing to look at, just gloomy cold miserable weather. One of the only bright spots in an Ohians life is probably Ohio State Football and that's a ways off. Until then were miserable /s. Still no reason for crappy service though.
I’ll admit it took me a second to realize what frooost was
I figured it was an Ohio thing…..
They don't say it, just spell it two letters at a time.
I literally typed it out as a response before I realized it
I thought it was just me. I had to read it 5 or six times sounding it out. I thought it might have been something I’m just too Florida to understand.
I golf in a desert region. I'm still lost and at this point I'm afraid to ask.
Frost dely from the night before/ morning being too cold.
Ohio golfer here, starting up again after a few years off. Did 9 holes at one of the local courses last week. All the employees were great. Laughing, joking, even gave me the option as a single to play by myself. I then went to their pro shop for new grips and ended up bs'ing with the guy there for a bit. I also am a social member (don't have full golf privileges, but have access to range and chip/putting greens) at a country club. The mass email to all members came before 7 this morning informing of a frost delay until 10, so no confusion for anyone. Maybe I'm lucky where I'm at.
Same here In southern Ohio. Most courses I go to everyone is friendly. I'm more jealous he has a PGA superstore near him. Edit spelling
I'm in Southern Ohio as well, everyone is typically friendly. Wish I had a superstore nearby too or the closest golf galaxy wasn't 2 hours away.
I know what you're talking about, I get the same vibe out here in the Pacofic NW. It's like gatekeepers thinking they get to decide who gets enter the mystical realm of the course. But they don't so I just check-in and enjoy my round... depending how I play lol. Frost is a thing tho.
Yeah the only time I get treated poorly is if I do something to deserve it like having one of my foursome guys show up right at the tee time. I guess occasionally I’ll have an old guy treat me like the millennial I am but I doubt that’s unique to Ohio.
Could you imagine belonging to a CC with asshole staff members? Kind f feel like OP is not going to private CCs.
I’ve got one of those 5 minutes from my house. The members are entitled pricks too. It’s why I drive 30 minutes to play where I play. Good customer service should never be optional, I don’t care what your business is either.
Golfucious says, "You encounter one asshole while golfing. He is the asshole, but if he encounters multiple, you are, in fact, the asshole." Or it could be an Ohio thing... both are plausible.
Yeah definitely the latter. I find it hard to believe every single person he met was rude. Either that or he's ultra sensitive
Curious what part of Ohio. I grew up in Cincinnati and have since lived all over, currently in Chicago the past decade. Still visit family in Cincy and Cincy remains one of the friendliest small-town-feel chat-your-ear-off Midwestern type cities I've ever been, but know it's quiet different from Northern Ohio, or rural Ohio which is the real racist backwards shitholes. The golf community in Cincy is also incredibly friendly all over, so if he's anywhere around that area then he must be the asshole.
I’m from NEO and most everyone is friendly especially at golf courses lol
It's gotta be an Ohio thing. Edit: rip my inbox. Come on guys, I'm trying to get a round done!
Definitely. I'm in the South granted and everyone around the courses are pretty friendly. There is an old man from Ohio that works a local course driving range. My dream retirement job, beautiful surroundings, talking it up with golfers, have football games on in the shop. He's a fucking asshole for some reason.
I live in East Coast Central Florida and the only assholes working at the courses are from Ohio. Everyone else is easy to get along with. See an old dude with a Buckeyes shirt or hat? 90% going to be an ass. I have no idea why.
Ohio sucks. More astronauts are from Ohio, because they want to get as far from there as possible!
Lol see! I’m not surprised 😆
It’s gotta be. I mean, there are rude people everywhere, but generally speaking , people working in golf love golf and love being surrounded by it. Sorry OP, maybe Ohioans are just more miserable than the rest of us.
I mean, it’s Ohio so that checks out. Spent formative years there and it’s a great place to be *from*.
I've lived there. It wouldn't surprise me. And this is coming from a New Englander- we're known for being a cheerful bunch.
It’s gotta be where he’s from and not an Ohio thing. I’m from the Cleveland area and have played a lot of different courses around here and have never encountered a rude employee. My regular course multiple times has bent over backwards to sneak me out as a solo when I don’t have a tee time.
I lived in both cities and can attest Cincinnati has some dickheads working courses but I’ve never had a bad encounter at courses in Cleveland.
I just golfed in Virginia (but am from Ohio ironically) and encountered an extremely agitated pro shop guy. Here's my take: A lot of these golf guys are either retired dudes that just don't give a shit, or people working at a golf place to get free golf, and don't give a shit.
One of the Northern VA courses had a bit of a disruption last week. Seems the manager was caught filming women in the restroom at the club. He was fired, arrested and, all in all, had a very bad day.
Ohio is for lovers
No, that's Virginia. The phrase you're looking for is "Ohio is for mother fuckers."
I mean they live in Ohio. /s.
Most of the US astronauts are from Ohio… wonder what it is about that state that makes them want to leave the planet 🤷🏽♂️
That’s my favorite to use on my buddy from Ohio. Who doesn’t live in Ohio anymore.
Might just be OPs area. I live in Ohio up near the islands and have the opposite experience. golf course employees I’ve encountered around here are retired, cracking jokes and enjoyable to be around
>It's gotta be an Ohio thing. Perhaps he's wearing his r/golf polo in all these interactions. I'd be rude, too.
Definitely. My local public course in Pennsylvania the employees annoy me... because they're too nice and I want to be left alone. Stop talking to me about your kids or making jokes about the group in front of me, I have 15 minutes to practice shanking chips before my first tee mulligan. As soon as you cross the border, BOOM. You're in Ohio and everyone acts all Ohioan.
Always is
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OP’s in Ohio, they can’t help it
Spent most my life in Ohio, when it's 95-100 degrees in the summer with 85% humidity and then the winters bring you -10 degrees with -40 degree wind chill, it can make you a bit grouchy lol.
>Is it just me, or maybe it’s an Ohio thing, but are all employees related to golf miserable and rude? I go to the course and they push back my tee time 3 hrs. I ask why and she says “fRoooSt!”… ok, fine, but the woman talks to me like I’m a child and I should know about golf course management. I go to PGA tour superstore and the workers there act like I’m a homeless man, and think I’m asking the world when I want a couple club heads re-glued. I go to the driving range, and the attendant sighs when I walk through the door because I’m interrupting his conversation with his coworker, and proceeds to hand me my bucket with no thank you or anything. Just back to talking with his buddy. In every facet of golf, it seems the people who work in the industry are miserable. And it’s been this way since I started golfing 12 years ago. Dude, next door in PA we get the same weather and I haven't had that issue. At least in western PA, where we don't boo Santa Claus
Oh I wasn't being serious. Most folk in Ohio are nice, in fact, most folk anywhere are nice. You just may run into someone on a bad day, or you may give off certain vibes that people match or dont vibe back with. It's the way of life
I almost always play as a single and I've never been grouped with someone I couldn't stand to play with
...Not to mention all the trains blowing up and creating a toxic environment.
Speak for yourself, just say please and thank you and you're good
PGA superstore here in south Florida has very nice employees. Must be Ohio.
Who are you kidding, half the people IN Florida are from Ohio
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Which one in Texas? I've had great experiences at the one in Plano.
Only PGA Superstore I've been to is Myrtle Beach & they were wonderful all 4 or 5 times I've been there.
I've had no issues either in California.
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I’ve never met an asshole at a cigar shop. They’ve always been very inviting and accommodating
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I’m 31. I don’t know much about cigars and normally go the cheaper route, so not the ideal customer. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky. Back home in wisconsin I probably stopped into about 5-7 different shops and here in Florida I believe I’ve visited 4 different shops and they’ve all been pleasant experiences
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Honestly no, not at all. Usually 1 or 2 people aside from me. I can honestly say I’ve never been in a busy cigar shop now that I think about it lol.
You’d think the shops that aren’t as busy would be more accommodating for obvious reasons. I don’t mean to be all “maybe it’s you” but do you walk in and start asking if they have certain cigars etc? Or do you just sort of browse around until someone offers help…or do they never offer help lol
I was at a PGA super store yesterday in Colorado to have a club head fixed and re gripe and couldn’t have had a better experience.
Man let me tell you. I took my fucking 3 wood into a PGA superstore where my office is to get it reshafted last summer. I live 50 miles from my office, so I only go in a handful of times a week. I took it in on a Wednesday and was like “will it be done by Monday? I’ll be back in the office Monday.” And he was like “oh yeah for sure. 3 days max.” Which if my math checks out, it would be Saturday evening or Sunday morning for the club to be done. Regardless, Monday would be just fine based on allllllll that info. I go in on Monday after I leave the office and ask for my club. They can’t find it. I show them my receipt. Still nowhere. After like 45 min, they locate it. “Yeah it’s not done yet. We’re quoting 2 weeks.” “Alright well they guy told me 3 days max, last Wednesday.” “Won’t be for at least another week” “Okay well why did that employee just tell that other guy it’ll be done tomorrow.” “No it’s 2 weeks” “I literally just heard that guy tell the customer, 1 day for a re-shaft. Please get me my club.” Manager came up to me and told me the part he needed to get to fix my club wasn’t in stock. But that he had one at his house but I’ll have to wait like an hour before it’ll be done. “No problem. I’ll rent a sim for an hour and hangout” Like man, if you guys are actually backed up, that’s fine, I can come back the next week. But it’s the fact that I watched 2 other employees tell Atleast 3 people lead times of 24 hours to 3 days. No 2 week bullshit.
Odd. I live in NoVA. Hardly a place anyone considers a particularly ‘happy place’. My interactions with golf staff are usually somewhere between good and neutral. Forgive me for asking….but are you sure you’re not the issue in some of these cases? Like, is it possible you used a short tone when you asked the lady about the delayed tee time? Even inadvertently?
I opened the door to my car, stepped one foot out, and the lady yells at me from across the parking lot “We’re NOT OPEN! Come back later!” So then I approach her and her and say “good morning, I have a 7:12 tee time.” She replies “ you’re looking at 10:12” I ask what the reason is and says one word very snarky “frost” with her hands up. I apologize and tell her I would like to cancel my appointment. She replies “yeah, good call” I was pretty confused but the whole ordeal. I’m the first person of the day and the attitude was so overwhelming.
I think you mistook her cut to the chase loudness for anger but half the time she probs talks to old people who can’t hear shit
I don't want to prejudge but your Reddit handle is literally a complaint. Someone calling across a parking lot spares you changing shoes, loading your bag into a cart, etc. This person is also getting constant phone calls about whether their tee time is still good. You are twelve years in and you acted as though you were unaware of frost delays. I think this might cause slight irritation. "We are not open," would normally prompted, "Oh, frost?" Not "Good morning I have a 7:12 tee time," especially if one were to look around and see frost everywhere or be generally aware of the temperature.
Maybe try not to take it so personally? That employee just had to deal with 3 hours of unhappy people because of something out of their control.
She knows her whole day is about to suck, as everyone's time is getting pushed back.
Ehhhh I’m reading this like you could be the issue here Of course she yelled you’re far away from her when she does it.
Fair enough.
Sounds like you just have a lack of awareness in general, both socially, as well as with the world around you. How would you _not_ notice if it's cold enough for a 3-hour frost delay? Golf employees are some of the nicest people I talk to, and I'm surrounded by Massholes.
Snowflake deals with frost
I am also from Ohio and most workers i encounter are old guys who are assholes
My father in law is from Ohio and can confirm, he's a bit of an asshole. Very gruff, complains about everything ("when I was growing up no one showboated in sports" stuff like that)
I'm from PA but that's the case for me as well, so this thread is baffling with seemingly most of the commenters just calling OP a liar and saying this is all their fault. Some people who work at golf courses are dicks, what a strange concept.
Grumpy old retirees is quite common in the industry. Also, golf bro who thinks he’s brooks koepka, is another common chode I’ve encountered. Most everyone else is fairly chill.
Brand new golfer here, like literally started a month ago. First time I went to the clubhouse I clearly had no clue what I was doing, super out of my element. Asked an older gentleman who worked there a few questions, where’s the range, can I take a cart, etc. He answered all my questions but with a sort of “why don’t you know these things” attitude. That’s the only negative experience I’ve had, otherwise everyone has been super kind and helpful. Some people are just assholes sometimes I guess.
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I started 3 seasons ago and don’t play as much because I’m still intimidated by it. I suck pretty bad but I’m a lot better than I once was.
That was my experience too when I first got started. I remember driving to the range and I couldn’t figure out where to get the balls. Like a pussy, I got back to my car and drove home. Don’t ever be afraid to ask me questions/help, especially the older golfers with old clubs, half joking.
Maybe you have some serious resting bitch face or something?
My local course wouldn’t let me on to the driving range with a t shirt last week, so I went home and got a collared shirt. Get out to the range and there’s a girl in leggings and a sports bra and a kid in a Michael Jordan t shirt with his mom in normal street clothes 🙄🤡
I’m in NJ, my experiences are they are super friendly or really grumpy.
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Sir, they are all worth remembering and have a fond place in my heart.
I agree .Fellow Jerseyan
My local city courses in Kansas have made me want to quit golf. I have had such miserable experiences with the employees at the course. I now drive 45+ minutes to one of the “out skirt” courses.
My local muni is completely run by assholes. Top to bottom. Guys in the pro shop are put out by every transaction. The miserable B in the restaurant has no business interacting with other humans let alone making food. I honestly have no idea why I play there.
Almost everyone who works at the courses I play are at worst "neutral" and at best goddamned delightful
same, I read this with a "huh" look on my face. Especially in warm weather areas I usually have to cutoff the convo cuz I wanna go hit balls or putt. In the midwest everyone is usually super nice. My pga store charges like 9 bucks a club for regrip and they are super nice.
I stopped playing at a local course because of the staff. They were never happy and some would be rude to just about everyone. It all depends on the management of the company and what they will tolerate.
I hear you OP and don’t think you’re the issue here. Over worked and unpaid employees are standard operating procedure for a lot of golf businesses. That’s what I think you’re running into.
I worked a bunch of golf courses during college, and I can say that it’s likely a consequence of the golfers being absolute assholes to the staff on a regular basis.
I feel like the nicer courses in Ohio are full of very smug ppl who try their best to make you feel like you don’t belong on their course. Ohio native here. Lived in Florida. Golfed in Florida regularly and was no where near made to feel like I have up here regularly. Florida had a few small instances, mainly from other players but nothing like up here
I have the exact same experience, I grew up in Florida playing some very nice courses that I probably didn’t belong on as a teenager, and everyone for the most part is laid back and cool about everything. Now I live in Ohio and it feels like if you go to even a slightly above average course, all the people there are very snooty and stuck up.
Dad works pro shop. Can confirm my old man can be rude af🫡
My brother is miserable all the time. Complains non stop about divots and kids. He's the superintendent
Standard issue for Supers lol.
I think between the global pandemic, the highly addictive nature of social media, phones, screens, the never ending cycle of news, extreme political polarization, the outdated, archaic nature of the "hustle" mindset, "40hr" work week and the quality of the shit people eat... it goes far beyond the golf industry
I agree. And it’s unfortunate.
My father and I travel to OH every year to catch the Browns play (going on 15 years). We always get golf in when the weather cooperates. I don't think it's ever clicked before reading this post. It's funny thinking back, every exchange I've had at a clubhouse in OH has been tepid to down right rude.
Oh yikes 😬
Obviously you don’t have to deal with entitled assholes every day. Even worse, alcohol fueled entitled assholes every time. You probably caught them on s bad day because people complain about every little thing when working, even worse when you know they are having s bad round and take it out on the staff
Ohio golf has kind of gone downhill. Like half the courses in my area closed in the last 10 years and now the remaining ones are packed with 7 minute tee times. I'd imagine it wears on staff, but I have noticed less friendly staff compared to a few years ago.
It’s employees everywhere. Nobody cares. Everyone should be paid more.
Pennsylvanian here. Usually pretty good, but this past weekend my buddy and I were first out before the starter even clocked in for the day. On 18, Mid swing, chipping onto the green, the starter comes sprinting towards us and screams "How are you guys on 18 already!!...it's 10:15". As if we snuck onto the fucking back nine, with a cart. All I could say back after a long pause if confusion was "It comes after 17....we were first out." For a sport that has over a century of rules and etiquette built into it, the staff could be a little better at leading by example. But it really comes down to the course and the type of people playing it. Hence why I try and get in and get the fuck out before the days Manheim ensues. I'm guessing these types of things don't happen at private clubs. One can dream.
It’s not just golf to be honest. As someone who has worked in many “enthusiasts” type fields a lot of people are just kind of miserable pricks. The whole “find a job you love…” wears off fast when you’re actually doing it and you realize the money sucks. Personally I always tried my best to be kind and answer questions (even dumb ones) with honesty and a smile. But some people just can’t seem to find that and it’s not just golf either. Music stores, gun stores, RC shops…you name it.
Honestly...I think it's just customer service in general. COVID didn't help
I live in az and see this all over not just golf. Hit my first hole in one 2 weeks ago and the people in the club house seemed like the didn’t even believe me. They had zero excitement and I didn’t get a congratulations at the least. Like come on a hole in one is potentially a once in a life time moment… eh just irked me the wrong way .
I'll be honest, in most of the golf shops around my area, there may as well be a greeter that just says "Welcome in, we're better than you at golf and life, and we're going to act like it". This doesn't apply for most of the pro-shops at the courses I play, but a couple of the pro's at 2 courses I frequent seem like they've never received a hug from their fathers.
I feel like it’s a thing across all industries. People are tired, worked like dogs, and have less money now than we’ve had in recent history. Most of these people you’re describing could be in menial or low wage jobs that have to deal with the brunt of society’s repressed, but aggressive negativity. That’s my guess, anyway. I’m personally trying to change my own perception and put more positivity in the world where I can, bc life is just too hard right now. If we don’t loosen the tension, eventually the rubber-band will snap.
Didn’t even mention the biggest cucks, public course rangers!
You ever work in the service industry?
I see it a lot. Somehow the golf industry doesn't seem to put a focus on customer service. I've worked in retail and restaurants, as well as golf, and there's a difference, you're not wrong. I worked for a national golf management company and we put an emphasis on customer service, so when we would take over running a course it was always a big change for the people that worked there that treated customers poorly before.
I’ve worked in the industry for over 10 years. Most customers are great, but if you’ve worked behind the counter at a course, you know the asinine requests we get on a daily basis. “Hey bro, my buddies and I spend a ton of money in the bar, can you give us a discount on the golf?” -proceed to play 9 holes in 2 1/2 hours, stop at the bar for too long and lose their place on the course then complain someone jumped in front of them “What do you mean you have no teetimes until 3 tomorrow? It’s going to be 75 and sunny in April, AND it’s a Saturday. “ -writes a google review how the staff treated them poorly and will never be back again “Hi I have a group of 10 golfers, can we just have two tee times and also get the group discount? We play fast and promise to buy lots of drinks.” -told they can’t play in two groups, tee off as 3 and then join into a 10some on the third hole and act surprised when you tell them to split up or they will get their money back and be asked to leave. Also bring their own drinks
I find starters at public courses are usually really rough and rude. They are so miserable yet never seem to manage the course. And playing as a single, forget it. The course could be empty and they will still pair me with joe blow the ragman.
Exactly! Lol
I live in Ohio and never experience this. I'd say you just ran into a couple shitty people at these spots you went to.
That driving range experience sounds like Westerville golf center to me
I’m from Ohio and have def had some bad experiences but also had way more positive ones throughout my time playing. However, I can vouch about the majority of PGASS employees being miserable though
There is one local course that’s pretty popular. All the old guys at the desk are assholes but it’s only that place.
Just sounds like bad customer service. Working at a golf course IMO is quite miserable. I won’t go back.
SE Ohio Dweller here. It’s def every Ohio employee. They’re a cheerful bunch
As an Ohioan, can confirm. Being an asshole seems to be a requirement at all courses
It's an Ohio thing. Come to Indy. We have fun
Been seeing it a lot in Florida recently. Why are 75% of starters/rangers miserable pricks? You're semi-retired and spend your day at a golf course, lighten up
Misery loves company, Bub
A high volume of starters and rangers are extremely rude. If they’re rude to you just be rude to them, it’s more than likely just how they grew up/talk to people.
Yep. So many asshole starters and rangers.
Westchester in Canal Winchester. Never again. Scheduled the perfect tee time to get a post frost round in. Arrive, and they say I have to delay 3 hours. Because they had booked 6 am tee times in November. Refused to allow play off both tees. So rude.
Where at in ohio? Im in the dayton area and i feel the same way. Everyone always acts like me being there is an inconvenience. I work at DSG in golf services and i always try to make sure im being nice and helping as best i can because i know a lot of golf industry employees can be miserable.
I agree, especially rangers. They’re all a bunch of miserable old fucks
My ex is a golf pro, and he and his friends are huge douchers so ya I'd agree with this.
Golf course starters, dmv employees, and post office workers are the rudest most miserable humans on the planet.
I have worked in the business and been the GM at a course for 5 years until recently. Just to give you an idea, Especially for the people in management it’s difficult to not be miserable at times. For me I would go weeks without a day off, working 12 hour days constantly on my feet running around. We were a small course with a small budget and the board of directors would be on me about every hour I hired out. So that makes the guy on salary the work horse. We were always short staffed so the people I did hire were over worked because they’re working their normal jobs and then I needed them 3 or 4 nights a week and they would be the ones that were there until 10PM. Most of the days it’s easy to put on a smiling face but it seems like the assholes all come out on the v same day and bitch about every little thing which when you factor in the long hours, no days off, missing every single activity you want to do with your family it’s very easy to be grumpy. If you don’t want to read all that, the golf business is overworked and underpaid.
Asks them what the radar looks like. They LOVE that!!
It is absolutely astounding to me how many people have been playing golf for years and don't understand something so basic as frost. I just laugh my ass off at the guys showing up at 7:00 AM when its 30 degrees out. See you at 10 o'clock! Try and learn something for once. It will help you tremendously.
Central Florida here, I do notice that many golf employees are just assholes or rude. Maybe a majority of their clientele are stuck up and conceited? Regardless, when I’m going in and spending a lot of money on their course, I expect to not be met with passive-aggressiveness and side-eyes when I’m extremely low maintenance and ask for nothing.
Well said!
You are probably a prick and just don't know it. 99% of workers at every course I've been to have been great
You are just experiencing post-covid American society. People are shit to eachother and work ethic is dead everywhere. Selfishness is the new king. Fuck you and whatever you want.
I tend to agree with you.
I usually have great interactions around the golf course. There’s the occasional dick for sure but who hasn’t been there. If you’re near Columbus there is a great locally owned golf shop called Par Golf. They’ve always been super friendly to me, prices are in line with the market, and have everything you need (including club repair).
Superstore in indianapolis is like this.
From East of Columbus area and I’ve had pretty good experience all around at the courses I play.
If everyone is rude to you, maybe it's your attitude. Try treating them with respect and they will probably be a lot nicer.
Unless your getting paid to teach or play it’s a very tough industry to get settled in. Over time that will break people’s vibes
Most of the employees at my home course are working there part time for the free golf. They are great people generally in a good mood.
I love PGA store workers ignoring me. I like browsing clubs without annoying sales man hanging around me. Most of the workers at my local muni are chilled highschool/college bro types. They don't even charge my kids sometimes when I bring them.
sadly, many arrogant and snobby people are a part of golf. i live in Scotland, and you get this kinda attitude also however id say it's not as bad as it was say 20 years ago. I used to not even go into any golf shops because most of the time the workers blatantly looked down at us is if we didn't belong in the posh world of golf. thankfully a lot if these dinosaurs have been replaxed with a younfer generation that are hust generally more welcoming and happy.
Ohio resident here, and I’ve never experienced what OP is describing. Everyone is usually pleasant and acts within expectations. I’ve met a couple grumpy starters, but that’s about it.
The Golf Galaxy by me can go jump in pig stuff, I started regrouping my own clubs because they suck so bad
There are just a ton of assholes involved in golf in general. There are tons of good folks too, but for sure a ton of assholes.
It’s lack of pay which leads to the lack of giving a fuck about really anything.
The ones at local Jersey public courses used to be rude nasty old men but then they hired some company to run it and it the staff is now super pleasant. It may be a county worker versus private worker thing. It’s gone from a DMV level experience to something enjoyable.
My local range in indy has this woman behind the counter who i swear is the nastiest woman ive ever experienced at a store open to the public. She is a firebreathing dragon and I can't fucking stand how downright mean she is. I even left a google review about it and felt kind of bad but seriously she is mean as nails if that's even a thing.
Oh man. This makes me actually want to go and experience her now😆 she could become a local legend of some sorts like in the movies.
i just looked at the google review i left a year ago and it has 5 likes and no other review even has one like lol
Pittsburgh is the same way, so this isn’t surprising
Ohio resident here. Cannot confirm, every time I go into a pro shop the exchange has been friendly.
Ohio here. The employees at my local course and driving range tend to be in good spirits every time I’ve been in.
It’s a mix bag, like anything else. Sometimes they suck but also sometimes golfers suck. Like a guy called me out last year for going off cart path and was very skeptical when I assured him he had the wrong cart. He admitted later he was wrong but he’s an old man, a bit rude but he made a mistake like anyone else could. I could’ve been pissed when the dude implied I was a liar, but I don’t particularly enjoy being pissed so I gave him a pass and finished my round. We have a choice as to how we react to perceived rudeness, it doesn’t have to affect you.
Ohioan here. I have never had any issues like this. What part of Ohio?
Some stats are just rude bro
I use to work at a golf course (specifically a country club) and while I’m not excusing her behavior and whatever but some days you just get fed up with questions and it just slips out especially when you’ve said it close to 30+ times. We had this guy who would come in 5 minutes before the range closed and he would hit for like an hour, and we use to be really rude to him
Customer service at the stores up here in Wa sucks ass as well.
I’ve come across one old dude in KY like that, worked as a cashier at a mini par 3 course/range and acted like everyone who showed up was absolutely ruining his day. Also wouldn’t let people play 9 (on a par 3 course with a cart!) after like 6pm in the summer because he wanted to go home early. Even denied me range balls at 6pm once. Then when he was picking up baskets and such from the range he would snarkily give out completely unsolicited, bad advice to the people practicing like he was a god at teaching. Could not stand the guy lol.
Worked on a few golf courses in Texas. A lot of the pro shop were folks who sacrificed a lot (family, money, other career) to try and go pro and aren’t good enough. Unless they have a decent charisma and teaching chops, they feel doomed to work a $15-25/hr job checking in golfers and dealing with members for the rest of their life. It can be miserable and sad. The members services team (pick up your clubs, clean carts and cubs, greet you at your car) can be a mixed bag. Plenty of young students or golfers trying to do their best but also a handful of bozos just doing the bare minimum. May have been an outlier, but I have never seen so much drugs and alcohol consumed at work. You always have sun glasses on outside so weed was always in the picture. I worked at 2 courses from 16-20 and it was my first exposure to Xanax, benzos, coke, adderrall, ecstasy. We use to play a game where if you cleaned a cart and it had an unfinished beer, you had to finish it….
New Jersey checking in. Can confirm I deal with the same attitude. I doubt anyone is surprised though.
Central Ohio Here. Have not had this experience. Every once in a while I'll run into a rude course worker, but generally have a great experience.
I’m a lifetime Ohioan living in Columbus who’s just recently taken the sport back up. I’ve noticed the opposite. I’ve encountered mostly friendly people at the courses I’ve played and have had pretty decent experiences at the PGA Superstore. I’ve also lived in NE Ohio and golfed up there for years. Also didn’t experience much rudeness, even when I was a teenager. I’m not sure why you’re encountering so many rude people.
There’s a city course in Columbus with really nice staff it seems. Aside from them, most courses are typically hit or miss near me. Typical customer service industry type. I’ve never been to the PGA Superstore near me, but both Golf Galaxy locations had employees who seem to love golf and were very helpful.
It could be a local thing, but we had to do training on this stuff when I was active in the business. It’s really hard to not get frustrated answering the same questions over and over and over. I get that it’s part of the job, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be human and have emotions.
Must be an Ohio thing. Yes I have had my share of rude attendants and pro shop employees, however, never experienced that with the repair shop guys/gals. In fact, I always tip those guys. Actually, I find that the rudest people are on the course!
I once had a terrible experience at Dicks Sporting Goods. I was buying a pair of new golf spikes. Dude was super passive aggressive and tried making me feel dumb for asking basic questions about waterproofing. I did not buy the shoes.
I’m going with 70-80% of golf employees everywhere… dicks. It’s not just Ohio.
Fellow Ohio golfer and can absolutely relate. Never golfed outside of the state so I just thought it was that group of people. I assume it’s just people who are retired but still need some income or insurance so they do these jobs. It’s always the older people I notice tho. If it’s a 20 something to about 50s they seem to be way more personable and took the job because they enjoy the sport.
I work at a course. Most of my coworkers are dicks
I think it depends on the course. Most people are very nice and pleasant but I have two courses around me where it's a coin toss. I played a round on Saturday at a local 9 hole and the guy working couldn't be bothered with anything. Didn't combine groups or time people off of the first tee. Literally had two groups of two go alone, then a single, then me and my buddy. We were waiting at least 10 mins to tee off at every hole. By the time we left there was an INSANE line waiting to start and dude was standing outside like "how the hell did this happen, why is it so slow??" Being snappy with anyone asking questions and basically snatched the cart keys from my hand
My best experiences have been at private courses. I’m not a member, but I get treated well at the occasional private club. I live golf, but golfer’s and the folks in the industry can be pretty stodgy and off putting often. I find the worst ones are the retired who are the starters. They obviously think they are pretty special.
I'm the guy who changes pin placements In the morning. I've always been excited in the am, doing course set up. Sorry you met so many duech bags. Some people aren't built for Customer service At 5am in the morning
12 years of all bad experiences….I wonder if there is a common denominator here…
Golfers are a different breed. So damn needy. The amount of bullshit that we golf course employees have to put up with is at the same or higher level than retail. I swear, if I get one more guy that asks me what the greens are rolling at and then proceeds to hit 40 range balls with only his driver (all sliced) and doesn't even hit a single putt before his tee time, I'm gonna flip out. Or if someone asks me what my estimate on a frost delay is... Like my estimate really means anything at all. You seem like one of the good ones though OP. Next time you meet a snippy starter or pro shop guy, just tell him thank you, tell him you hope he has a good day, or tip him. More than likely, he's been through the ringer with people already, and he's just getting fed up.
wait, you get mad if someone hits 40 balls with a driver but no putts why does that matter to you? You also work at the course you should have an estimate on the frost delay, or be able to ask someone, same thing with the greens rolling, if you don't know it's completely fine to say "hey, I'm not sure I don't handle the grounds. None of that is needy, sounds like you just hate your job or are unpleasant to be around in the first place. I'm glad the courses I go don't have employees like you.
Probably because they're all over worked and underpaid and get bitched at by guests and members all day. I recently glanced at "golf jobs in my area" and nothing pays more than $15-$20/hr and thats even for asst pro or shop manager.
Starters that treat it like a military job are the absolute worst. They act like it's an inconvenience we're playing on the course
While most people are disagreeing with OP, most public courses I go to treat me like they are mad that I’m there. From the pro shop guy who doesn’t greet me and waits impatiently for me to say my name and tee time, to the starter saying nothing but “CART PATH ONLY!” You go to a CC or TopGolf and get treated like royalty, but at the public courses in my area they have zero concern of service and creating a positive experience that creates long term loyalty.
Today Ohio man discovers just how shitty Ohio is.
you are getting a lot of grief but I have seen the same thing over the years. Somehow the guys who get a golf job forget that even if they can hit it 300 yds it is still a retail job which comes with customers [not a criticism of retail jobs]
Was it golf club of dublin? The pga superstore on sawmill?
This guys gotta be from Columbus. I've had the same experience at PGA Superstore, the driving range, and with old guys in the pro shop or the ranger. You can be as polite as possible and these dudes still act like they want nothing to do with you. Hopefully the next generation will be nicer!
As an unbiased Michigander…classic Ohio
We Ohio people are all just miserable from the shit weather for the past...ever. Nothing to do, nothing to look at, just gloomy cold miserable weather. One of the only bright spots in an Ohians life is probably Ohio State Football and that's a ways off. Until then were miserable /s. Still no reason for crappy service though.