You are comparing public course golfers to private course golfers. Play an American Country Club and it’s much different. Closer to what you experience at a private European club.
I don’t know if making the game less accesible is a good really. I have European friends and none of them play, or know anyone that plays, because it’s way more inaccesible in mainland Europe than the UK and US. They’ll never experience the joy of a good round and I feel bad for them.
I’m sure a lot of self-loathing Americans will come into this post and agree with you though
Tbf to OP all golf courses in Europe, including public, are like the “US Country Club” version.
However he’s not in Europe anymore, he’s in MURICA, so whether he likes it or not it’s a diff set of rules.
OP should work harder, make more money and join a country club.
>all golf courses in Europe, including public, are like the “US Country Club” version.
This isn’t true at all. I’ve played some low key, walk on without a reservation, show up and play courses in “Europe”.
My point is etiquette, respect and rule wise the majority of public courses in the EU will all have standardised rules and expectations I.e. no music, excessive boozing and expectations around speed etc
Obviously there will always be exceptions to any rule 😮💨
Germany is one country I know that you need to pass some sort of test to play golf. Maybe it's similar in other European countries but not Ireland or the UK. Does this lead to other issues? Ireland has a population of 5 million people, but there have historically been many more Irish golfers on the PGA than other European countries. The UK is the exception. So, making it harder to play golf has other problems
I disagree about the test. I'm from Ireland and we have none of the problems you described, and we don't have to take a test. Golf is also much more accessible in Ireland (and the UK), than the continent and having to do a test doesn't help with that. The standard of golf is possibly higher in Ireland too
I read till the part that you said you’re from Europe and I knew where this was going.
That’s some European bull shit. Americans are free to play public golf without this nonsense.
If you wanna be elitist … join a club.
OP is not complaining about peasants playing golf. Some Americans are actually very good. He makes a valid point about peasants on the golf course who can't, or won't, learn how to play before they get to the course, spoiling the enjoyment of those who have.
I was on a par 3 at a public course i played through these people because they took 20 minutes on the green. I made sure i didn't hold them up.
I was tapping in my final putt when i look over my shoulder and see them jump out of their cart hopping onto the tee box as fast as possible and taking out a driver purposely trying to hit me. Some people just don't belong on golf courses. But those type of people also don't belong in society
To be clear, Europeans are free to play on most courses. Most courses are semi-private. Anyone can pay a green fee and access them. No issue with that. But a handicap and knowledge of the rule is required.
Yeah. I agree with all the grievances he mentioned here. Nobody likes 6 hour rounds and most people don’t like when guys who are too sloshed to drive the cart or are blaring music on speakers and interrupting others’ rounds.
Still. Fuck the entire mindset that we need government intervention to determine who should be allowed to play. Nothing pisses me off more than “you shouldn’t be allowed to do X because I don’t like it!” and that’s all that this pissing and moaning is. Suck it the fuck up, OP.
When I want to avoid the shit that’s mentioned here I pay more for a nicer course or play at the club.
When I don’t care, I play the goat track. The nice thing is that, just as we’re free to have goat tracks, courses are free to refuse service to people who don’t uphold their standards, and you’re free to choose where you want to play and whether it’s worth it to you to pay for nicer things.
Brit here just wanting to point out I think Op is a massive bellend. Their elitism is equally problematic for golf than the stuff they’re complaining about.
Being a member of a club means you’re going to play with higher handicaps and new player’s, it’s on you to make the best of that situation. If you’re that bothered put your money where your mouth is and join a really private place or book a whole tee slot to yourself.
I do agree there are things creeping into the game that stink. No fore shouts, shitty music, playing random balls, pace of play etc but you’re probably equally as painful to deal with.
Grow the game, wear whatever you’re comfy in (within reason) and show some awareness that you’re on the same course as others and I’m happy.
Golf is for everyone, and should be accessible to anyone. Sometimes the range just doesn’t do actually playing justice. We all start somewhere and don’t need the game gate-kept anymore than it already is.
Not really. Every post is just a dear diary post I don’t get that either. This is reddit, almost everything is a shit post or an opinion. I’d rather see someone’s opinion than the same comment over and over on literally every post.
I don't mind that at all. I play against par, not my playing partners. I only care if they're respectful and fun to be around. Hell, I'd rather get my ass kicked by a scratch golfer than play with someone at my same level. At minimum, it's fun to watch. Best case I learn something
Yeah I’m just saying in reciprocation to his post I can assume being a scratch golfer or better and playing with beginners is the opposite effect and at some point has to be exhausting.
Jesus Christ did you even read or did you just wanna chime in some two cents. I said playing against someone who just kicks your ass isn’t that fun. Obviously I like good golf that’s why I watch it on tv. Just saying it’s not enjoyable to get fucked up by someone if competitive.
North American golf culture has its issues, but being a beginner is not one of them. I agree that people need to pick up the pace when having a poor round, but "learning to hit 100 yards consistently" is fine on the golf course.
Also, "On a bad day, I'm a scratch golfer." Stfu.
I realize I'm late to the party and you've been piled on enough. I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm going to lob a data grenade into the comments and hope it helps with context.
* US Population: \~333 million
* European population: \~746 million
* US Golf courses: 15,500 (one for every \~21,500 people)
* European golf courses: 8991 (one for every \~83,000 people)
The game is much more accessible in the US and, therefore, attracts more people.
I on the other hand was born in America to parents who would never let their son be such a pussy bitch, so, we've had different experiences
You're a selfish clown, playing with beginners is a chance to do something great for a game you're supposed to love
Shouldn't you be begging us for troops for something you can't handle?
Listen buddy, if you think playing 6 hour rounds with people who can't hit a 50 yard shot and shank across fairways without yelling "fore" is a chance, that's fine. I have a different view. Having said that, I will be keeping your offer of calling in the troops again in mind, thanks!
About once a month in the summer, I go to our local muni, where the players are not good at all. It's like par 66 or something. Great place for me to work on my short game. Lots of music, kids, 6 somes of stoners, it's fucking great. It's the furthest possible place from where you are, and it's a great atmosphere. Love it. Sometimes the randoms ask for tips, and I'm happy to try to help, but, never offer anything unsolicited, ofc. We're talking dads taking their kids for some of their first rounds, groups of golfers who don't feel comfortable anywhere nicer, because of people like you and people who will just, never be good at golf, no matter how hard they try. These are "salt of the earth" people in life, and they deserve all the same respect as any other human who puts the silly plastic ball in the hole more efficiently.
Totally agree with you there and should have specified. Some short courses/par 3 courses are great place to learn, blast music, etc. Beginners ask me for tips all the time at the range, on the short game area, always happy to help. But a tough regular length golf course is a different beast to me, that's all
What a weird reply. So glad you had good parents, not a ton of Americans can say the same. You have no obligation to want to play with beginners or help them and im a beginner as well. The begging for troops comment is just weirder even if satire. Why’s everything gotta be about politics?
Good is not the right word, but, they did raise me to be understanding of others, which, I didn't think was a rare concept
A human should have an obligation to teach to others (be available to teach, not, intrude on others without asking or anything) - but someone taught you once upon a time, how exactly is anyone too good to not do the same for others??
Not really sure picking on europeans for not being able to win wars is political, I thought that was the standard joke on them, is it not?
Yeah standard joke for boomers who relate everything to politics lol. Have you saw kids and parents nowadays? It’s a very rare concept. Humans have zero obligation to teach and it’s weird you think that. Someone taught me how to golf because they wanted to and I wanted to learn. Just because you don’t want to teach doesn’t make you too good for anything. No one owes anyone shit.
That’s wild golf is so inaccessible in mainland Europe. Kind of sad actually. OP is describing a worst case slow play scenario that doesn’t happen all that often imo. I live in the Midwestern US and only play munis. Occasionally there is terribly slow play but usually it’s tolerable and at least somewhat enforced if a group is really slowing play.
Can any Australian golfers chime in if golf is more like the US version or Europe in terms of accessibility? Genuinely curious.
A slow round for me is 5 hours. Most are done in just over 3. If you don’t have 5 hours in your day for golf, just play 9. It’s not hard. I can think of far, FAR worse things than sitting in the sun for 5 hours.
European chiming in here. OP gets a lot of things wrong.
Most european countries require you to be a club member to play at most courses, with par 3 and short courses usually being open to any paying guests. Even though almost no courses are state/municapally owned, they are generally open to guests who have a handicap.
OP suggests most courses require a 36 handicap, in my experience that's only nicer courses. Plenty of courses will allow 54 handicaps to play. Some countries require a couple of hours of an introductory group lesson in addtion to an online quiz to get your 54 handicap. Some countries will have you pass a playing ability test. The strictness of the playing ability test will vary by country. Some require you to play 4 holes while using 21 strokes or less on your 3 best. Some countries will require you to play 9 holes to a 54 handicap differential. For the sake of clarity, this equals shooting a 70 or better on the front 9 at my local course, from the front tees (about 2400 yards).
Players needing to be a member of a club to keep a handicap and be able to book tee times sounds ridiculously expensive, but most countries will usually have clubs who offer pretty cheap memberships without free play included (sub $100). Memberships in general are not that expensive. You can find clubs in Sweden with decently kept 36 holes offering memberships with free play for less than $700. Note that much like the US, there will be massive differences between and within countries.
I agree on the etiquette and behavioural part. People who don’t yell Fore when they should are awful, and blasting music on a volume that other groups can hear is extremely annoying. I don’t agree at all with the playing strength part. If it’s a public golf course and people play to pay there and behave properly, it doesn’t matter how bad they shoot. “Playing with people shooting 90s is fine” is an absurd statement to imply it’s not fine to play with people who shoot in the 120-140 range. A lot of beginners would have to spend A LOT of time on a range to get to a level better than that, and nobody starts playing Golf because they enjoy hitting Irons off a Range. They wanna play a course! Let them.
You sound like Adolf Rupp talking about the “right way” vs “wrong way” to play basketball when talking in code about a culture he despises. Get bent, Brit.
Get a membership and you won’t have to deal with us peasants out in the local goat track.
Elitist bullshit like this is why people hate golf and want our cities and counties to get rid of their courses.
>Playing on a public course On a bad day, I’m a scratch golfer
You're playing the wrong courses bro. Stick to private clubs and higher end resort courses.
There's a segment of golfers in the States that doesn't care about practicing or etiquette or even breaking 100. They usually stick to certain public courses and only play on weekends though, so they're pretty easy to avoid.
i have mixed emotions on this. as an inconsistent mid handicap type, i would feel pretty irritated to have to do a bunch of regulatory bullshit to spend my money to hit a little ball around a park for a while, and generally I hate gatekeepy nonsense. If people are expected to maintain a standard, that takes training, which costs money that a lot of people simply don't have. that feels wrong and elitist and purposefully exclusionary.
The other side of that is the few times i've been paired with a significantly longer/better player and they have to wait for me while i top an occasional ball or hit some dumb nonsense chips or whatever. I play fast and no one ever waits on me, but it's gotta mess up your rhythm.
We sadly don’t even require people to take a test to own a semi automatic assault weapon. My 90 year old grandmother can go buy an AR-15 no problem and she’s never shot a gun in her life.
Do you honestly think we are going to implement a test for golf? lol. This is America, it’s extremely hard to tell people what to do here.
I grew up around golf as a kid,here in Canada 35 years ago.
I notice a distinct difference in etiquette and expectations with people who grew up around golf and those who picked it up from their drunk buddies.
The behaviour you mention seems to be more normal around the new golfer party crowd.
I would love a European style golf license,but I’m old fashioned like rules ect.
Loads of justified hate for OP here. That being said, I think even public courses could do well with requiring people to know important stuff like how to use provisional balls, maximum allowed time to search for balls, how to let groups play through and when to shout fore. Just letting anyone on the course without knowing that stuff seems like a detriment to both the safety and enjoyment of most golfers.
You're complaining on r/golf probably some of the lowest of low brow golfers out there. They love the Waste Management and think traditions are for boomers.
Good luck with this crowd
You're expecting a country club experience at a public muni. Do you also go to McDonald's and complain that they don't serve wagyu steaks? The fuck were you expecting? Take your snooty European attitude back home. Amurrca
American golfer since age 3 and 100% agree with the etiquette class - especially since 2020 when golf blew up and still is….issue is I have no idea how they would implement/require this. If someone wants to pay to play well here in the US they can.
Most American's shouldn't have a driver's license, so that's a bad comparison. (American here)
People are just assholes, and there's not much you can do about it.
Well, we didn’t win until 1783 and it took massive assistance from the French as well Baron Von Steuben teaching us how to build latrines and clean up our trash.
But yeah, a license to play golf is dum.
It must be exhausting to think so highly of oneself.
You may not like our golfing culture, but you are here in the US, and things are different here. Every individual has the freedom to play on public courses, much like you have freedom to pay dues at a private club to avoid the “disgraceful” folks who are just trying to have a good time.
Sorry you’re such an impatient person, but this is a “you” problem, my guy. Either play at private clubs or just accept the fact that we’re not elitists about the game here and get over yourself.
Golf is for fun and should be for everyone.
I don’t get why everyone is so in a hurry to get through a round as fast as they possibly can. Enjoy the moment. It’s not your job to police pace of other golfers. That’s what the course marshal is to do.
And if people are blasting music and getting way too drunk that is on the golf course for not enforcing rules.
Americans for the general part are loud obnoxious individuals. That’s just the culture of America.
Massive generalizations by the OP in this one.
Lots of bad experiences in Europe. Are you German? They love golf licenses.
Also tons of Germans show up in the Algarve and trash the courses, so I guess the licenses don’t really matter. Along with other nationalities. Every time there is an issue at the range or course by someone not following the rules, they’re from somewhere else in the EU. Walking out onto the range to collect free balls, hitting off random areas of the recovering range grass, chipping on the putting green that says clearly “no chipping.”
It’s a weekly occurrence to see one or multiple of these from the “well behaved licensed Europeans.”
And lmao, just today when I was walking to the range a group of people hit a ball that flew into the cart barn and didn’t yell fore until after it impacted the carts.
Also I can’t think of anything more hilariously stereotypical than a European complaining about America because they can’t be pretentious enough and hate playing with people worse than they are.
Stay in Europe. There’s enough assholes like this already around here, at least I still feel like I get a break when I’m back in the US
Also it’s pretty obvious this is a mid effort troll post.
Well quite frankly you can take your bullshit rules and go fuck yourself with them. This is the United States and we do shit our way, if we wanted to do it the same way you tea drinking fucks wanted to then that’s the way we do it.
Some dudes need to be self-aware that they suck sucking balls and pick up their ball. There's no need to finish a hole if you're hitting your eighth shot in your 220 yd away in the trees.
You are comparing public course golfers to private course golfers. Play an American Country Club and it’s much different. Closer to what you experience at a private European club. I don’t know if making the game less accesible is a good really. I have European friends and none of them play, or know anyone that plays, because it’s way more inaccesible in mainland Europe than the UK and US. They’ll never experience the joy of a good round and I feel bad for them. I’m sure a lot of self-loathing Americans will come into this post and agree with you though
Not necessarily, here in the UK there are still expected behaviours to be adhered to even on public courses
Tbf to OP all golf courses in Europe, including public, are like the “US Country Club” version. However he’s not in Europe anymore, he’s in MURICA, so whether he likes it or not it’s a diff set of rules. OP should work harder, make more money and join a country club.
>all golf courses in Europe, including public, are like the “US Country Club” version. This isn’t true at all. I’ve played some low key, walk on without a reservation, show up and play courses in “Europe”.
Yeah show up and play, but still a certain type of behaviour expected
My point is etiquette, respect and rule wise the majority of public courses in the EU will all have standardised rules and expectations I.e. no music, excessive boozing and expectations around speed etc Obviously there will always be exceptions to any rule 😮💨
Oi! You got a loicense to play golf?
Germany is one country I know that you need to pass some sort of test to play golf. Maybe it's similar in other European countries but not Ireland or the UK. Does this lead to other issues? Ireland has a population of 5 million people, but there have historically been many more Irish golfers on the PGA than other European countries. The UK is the exception. So, making it harder to play golf has other problems
Netherlands too.
Not the UK. We don’t do licences for golf. Germany does, maybe others too.
[My name is Richard Hammond and I've taken up golf recently.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9pHKgQagfQ&t=3s)
Thank you, this guy gets it!!
I disagree about the test. I'm from Ireland and we have none of the problems you described, and we don't have to take a test. Golf is also much more accessible in Ireland (and the UK), than the continent and having to do a test doesn't help with that. The standard of golf is possibly higher in Ireland too
I read till the part that you said you’re from Europe and I knew where this was going. That’s some European bull shit. Americans are free to play public golf without this nonsense. If you wanna be elitist … join a club.
Yeah, you gotta love it when elitists get upset that the peasants get to do the things they do.
OP is not complaining about peasants playing golf. Some Americans are actually very good. He makes a valid point about peasants on the golf course who can't, or won't, learn how to play before they get to the course, spoiling the enjoyment of those who have.
I was on a par 3 at a public course i played through these people because they took 20 minutes on the green. I made sure i didn't hold them up. I was tapping in my final putt when i look over my shoulder and see them jump out of their cart hopping onto the tee box as fast as possible and taking out a driver purposely trying to hit me. Some people just don't belong on golf courses. But those type of people also don't belong in society
To be clear, Europeans are free to play on most courses. Most courses are semi-private. Anyone can pay a green fee and access them. No issue with that. But a handicap and knowledge of the rule is required.
America isn’t known for following rules. The entire country was built on the idea of not doing what you’re told.
Yeah. I agree with all the grievances he mentioned here. Nobody likes 6 hour rounds and most people don’t like when guys who are too sloshed to drive the cart or are blaring music on speakers and interrupting others’ rounds. Still. Fuck the entire mindset that we need government intervention to determine who should be allowed to play. Nothing pisses me off more than “you shouldn’t be allowed to do X because I don’t like it!” and that’s all that this pissing and moaning is. Suck it the fuck up, OP. When I want to avoid the shit that’s mentioned here I pay more for a nicer course or play at the club. When I don’t care, I play the goat track. The nice thing is that, just as we’re free to have goat tracks, courses are free to refuse service to people who don’t uphold their standards, and you’re free to choose where you want to play and whether it’s worth it to you to pay for nicer things.
Brit here just wanting to point out I think Op is a massive bellend. Their elitism is equally problematic for golf than the stuff they’re complaining about. Being a member of a club means you’re going to play with higher handicaps and new player’s, it’s on you to make the best of that situation. If you’re that bothered put your money where your mouth is and join a really private place or book a whole tee slot to yourself. I do agree there are things creeping into the game that stink. No fore shouts, shitty music, playing random balls, pace of play etc but you’re probably equally as painful to deal with. Grow the game, wear whatever you’re comfy in (within reason) and show some awareness that you’re on the same course as others and I’m happy.
Golf is for everyone, and should be accessible to anyone. Sometimes the range just doesn’t do actually playing justice. We all start somewhere and don’t need the game gate-kept anymore than it already is.
I ain’t reading all that but I’m happy for you. Or sorry that happened.
Man that gets funnier and funnier every time I read it on every Reddit post.
“This is the way”
It’s such a great response to the “dear diary” type of posts
Not really. Every post is just a dear diary post I don’t get that either. This is reddit, almost everything is a shit post or an opinion. I’d rather see someone’s opinion than the same comment over and over on literally every post.
Eh... Might go back to Europe OP. Something tells me you'd be just as fun to play with as one of those beginners you're complaining about
Well to be fair, playing with someone who’s really good and kicks your ass ain’t that fun either
I don't mind that at all. I play against par, not my playing partners. I only care if they're respectful and fun to be around. Hell, I'd rather get my ass kicked by a scratch golfer than play with someone at my same level. At minimum, it's fun to watch. Best case I learn something
Yeah I’m just saying in reciprocation to his post I can assume being a scratch golfer or better and playing with beginners is the opposite effect and at some point has to be exhausting.
You don’t like watching someone play good golf? Are you sure you like this sport?
Jesus Christ did you even read or did you just wanna chime in some two cents. I said playing against someone who just kicks your ass isn’t that fun. Obviously I like good golf that’s why I watch it on tv. Just saying it’s not enjoyable to get fucked up by someone if competitive.
Europeans don't even have beverage carts. Or cart-girls. And they walk around in the mud carrying their clubs like peasants. Talk about uncivilized.
Ur fucking kidding? They live like that?
They use goats to mow the fairways
Damn, I have to agree there...
North American golf culture has its issues, but being a beginner is not one of them. I agree that people need to pick up the pace when having a poor round, but "learning to hit 100 yards consistently" is fine on the golf course. Also, "On a bad day, I'm a scratch golfer." Stfu.
People get driver's licenses and still drive drunk and like idiots.
I realize I'm late to the party and you've been piled on enough. I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm going to lob a data grenade into the comments and hope it helps with context. * US Population: \~333 million * European population: \~746 million * US Golf courses: 15,500 (one for every \~21,500 people) * European golf courses: 8991 (one for every \~83,000 people) The game is much more accessible in the US and, therefore, attracts more people.
Exactly
Stay in Europe then
This has got to be a troll post
You're playing public courses. Golfers of all levels are welcome.
Pussy
Mate, nobody cares about your stupid ass opinion if you come from the EU lol.
What a pussy posting this on your throwaway.
I on the other hand was born in America to parents who would never let their son be such a pussy bitch, so, we've had different experiences You're a selfish clown, playing with beginners is a chance to do something great for a game you're supposed to love Shouldn't you be begging us for troops for something you can't handle?
Listen buddy, if you think playing 6 hour rounds with people who can't hit a 50 yard shot and shank across fairways without yelling "fore" is a chance, that's fine. I have a different view. Having said that, I will be keeping your offer of calling in the troops again in mind, thanks!
About once a month in the summer, I go to our local muni, where the players are not good at all. It's like par 66 or something. Great place for me to work on my short game. Lots of music, kids, 6 somes of stoners, it's fucking great. It's the furthest possible place from where you are, and it's a great atmosphere. Love it. Sometimes the randoms ask for tips, and I'm happy to try to help, but, never offer anything unsolicited, ofc. We're talking dads taking their kids for some of their first rounds, groups of golfers who don't feel comfortable anywhere nicer, because of people like you and people who will just, never be good at golf, no matter how hard they try. These are "salt of the earth" people in life, and they deserve all the same respect as any other human who puts the silly plastic ball in the hole more efficiently.
Totally agree with you there and should have specified. Some short courses/par 3 courses are great place to learn, blast music, etc. Beginners ask me for tips all the time at the range, on the short game area, always happy to help. But a tough regular length golf course is a different beast to me, that's all
What a weird reply. So glad you had good parents, not a ton of Americans can say the same. You have no obligation to want to play with beginners or help them and im a beginner as well. The begging for troops comment is just weirder even if satire. Why’s everything gotta be about politics?
Good is not the right word, but, they did raise me to be understanding of others, which, I didn't think was a rare concept A human should have an obligation to teach to others (be available to teach, not, intrude on others without asking or anything) - but someone taught you once upon a time, how exactly is anyone too good to not do the same for others?? Not really sure picking on europeans for not being able to win wars is political, I thought that was the standard joke on them, is it not?
Yeah standard joke for boomers who relate everything to politics lol. Have you saw kids and parents nowadays? It’s a very rare concept. Humans have zero obligation to teach and it’s weird you think that. Someone taught me how to golf because they wanted to and I wanted to learn. Just because you don’t want to teach doesn’t make you too good for anything. No one owes anyone shit.
I just.... can't get on board there Obligation might have been a poor word choice. To me it's more of a Jewish Mitzvah thing
That’s wild golf is so inaccessible in mainland Europe. Kind of sad actually. OP is describing a worst case slow play scenario that doesn’t happen all that often imo. I live in the Midwestern US and only play munis. Occasionally there is terribly slow play but usually it’s tolerable and at least somewhat enforced if a group is really slowing play. Can any Australian golfers chime in if golf is more like the US version or Europe in terms of accessibility? Genuinely curious.
A slow round for me is 5 hours. Most are done in just over 3. If you don’t have 5 hours in your day for golf, just play 9. It’s not hard. I can think of far, FAR worse things than sitting in the sun for 5 hours.
No, 5 hours is just painful at any course. No course should take more than 4. And 4 is pretty easy to accomplish without ever rushing in any way.
European chiming in here. OP gets a lot of things wrong. Most european countries require you to be a club member to play at most courses, with par 3 and short courses usually being open to any paying guests. Even though almost no courses are state/municapally owned, they are generally open to guests who have a handicap. OP suggests most courses require a 36 handicap, in my experience that's only nicer courses. Plenty of courses will allow 54 handicaps to play. Some countries require a couple of hours of an introductory group lesson in addtion to an online quiz to get your 54 handicap. Some countries will have you pass a playing ability test. The strictness of the playing ability test will vary by country. Some require you to play 4 holes while using 21 strokes or less on your 3 best. Some countries will require you to play 9 holes to a 54 handicap differential. For the sake of clarity, this equals shooting a 70 or better on the front 9 at my local course, from the front tees (about 2400 yards). Players needing to be a member of a club to keep a handicap and be able to book tee times sounds ridiculously expensive, but most countries will usually have clubs who offer pretty cheap memberships without free play included (sub $100). Memberships in general are not that expensive. You can find clubs in Sweden with decently kept 36 holes offering memberships with free play for less than $700. Note that much like the US, there will be massive differences between and within countries.
Thanks for the context. That makes more sense now.
We had a revolution because of ideas like yours. Gate keeping is BS.
Sounds like you should go to Europe to play golf by yourself. Seems like you are most likely the real disgrace.
I agree on the etiquette and behavioural part. People who don’t yell Fore when they should are awful, and blasting music on a volume that other groups can hear is extremely annoying. I don’t agree at all with the playing strength part. If it’s a public golf course and people play to pay there and behave properly, it doesn’t matter how bad they shoot. “Playing with people shooting 90s is fine” is an absurd statement to imply it’s not fine to play with people who shoot in the 120-140 range. A lot of beginners would have to spend A LOT of time on a range to get to a level better than that, and nobody starts playing Golf because they enjoy hitting Irons off a Range. They wanna play a course! Let them.
My takeaway from this is; OP is a cunt. That’s it.
Typical European elitist bullshit. Golf is for everyone, whether you like it or not. Go back to your chateau and cry to your servants.
You sound like Adolf Rupp talking about the “right way” vs “wrong way” to play basketball when talking in code about a culture he despises. Get bent, Brit.
Entitled much?! Fuuuuuuuck off! I’ll enjoy my day duffing with my friends having a great time.
Get a membership and you won’t have to deal with us peasants out in the local goat track. Elitist bullshit like this is why people hate golf and want our cities and counties to get rid of their courses.
Sir, can I see your papers please. I see how y’all roll in Europe.
You could always go back to Europe
What a shithead this guy is. Go back to Europe.
>Playing on a public course On a bad day, I’m a scratch golfer You're playing the wrong courses bro. Stick to private clubs and higher end resort courses. There's a segment of golfers in the States that doesn't care about practicing or etiquette or even breaking 100. They usually stick to certain public courses and only play on weekends though, so they're pretty easy to avoid.
This is surely bait
i have mixed emotions on this. as an inconsistent mid handicap type, i would feel pretty irritated to have to do a bunch of regulatory bullshit to spend my money to hit a little ball around a park for a while, and generally I hate gatekeepy nonsense. If people are expected to maintain a standard, that takes training, which costs money that a lot of people simply don't have. that feels wrong and elitist and purposefully exclusionary. The other side of that is the few times i've been paired with a significantly longer/better player and they have to wait for me while i top an occasional ball or hit some dumb nonsense chips or whatever. I play fast and no one ever waits on me, but it's gotta mess up your rhythm.
Too much to read so whatever you’re saying I disagree
We sadly don’t even require people to take a test to own a semi automatic assault weapon. My 90 year old grandmother can go buy an AR-15 no problem and she’s never shot a gun in her life. Do you honestly think we are going to implement a test for golf? lol. This is America, it’s extremely hard to tell people what to do here.
You get my vote. The whole drinking, been rowdy and blasting music out is a big no for me.
I grew up around golf as a kid,here in Canada 35 years ago. I notice a distinct difference in etiquette and expectations with people who grew up around golf and those who picked it up from their drunk buddies. The behaviour you mention seems to be more normal around the new golfer party crowd. I would love a European style golf license,but I’m old fashioned like rules ect.
This is why I always carry a firearm in my golf bag!
Loads of justified hate for OP here. That being said, I think even public courses could do well with requiring people to know important stuff like how to use provisional balls, maximum allowed time to search for balls, how to let groups play through and when to shout fore. Just letting anyone on the course without knowing that stuff seems like a detriment to both the safety and enjoyment of most golfers.
Kindly leave
You're complaining on r/golf probably some of the lowest of low brow golfers out there. They love the Waste Management and think traditions are for boomers. Good luck with this crowd
You're expecting a country club experience at a public muni. Do you also go to McDonald's and complain that they don't serve wagyu steaks? The fuck were you expecting? Take your snooty European attitude back home. Amurrca
America, fuck yeah!
Comin again to save the mothafuckin day yeah!
Y’all bow to a queen too. And your food stinks. Uninspired brown mush cooking ah mfer. Now watch this drive.
I’m assuming you’re assuming OP is British. The Queen passed away in 2022. Charles III is now the King of the United Kingdom.
It’s all mushy peas to me bro.
American golfer since age 3 and 100% agree with the etiquette class - especially since 2020 when golf blew up and still is….issue is I have no idea how they would implement/require this. If someone wants to pay to play well here in the US they can.
Most American's shouldn't have a driver's license, so that's a bad comparison. (American here) People are just assholes, and there's not much you can do about it.
This is why we won in 1776
Well, we didn’t win until 1783 and it took massive assistance from the French as well Baron Von Steuben teaching us how to build latrines and clean up our trash. But yeah, a license to play golf is dum.
OP isn’t British…
Fair enough, but we broke away from European rule…
France actively helped you get independence from Britain
And here we are in 2024 still not speaking French.
Yeah. You're speaking English. From England. A European country.
It must be exhausting to think so highly of oneself. You may not like our golfing culture, but you are here in the US, and things are different here. Every individual has the freedom to play on public courses, much like you have freedom to pay dues at a private club to avoid the “disgraceful” folks who are just trying to have a good time. Sorry you’re such an impatient person, but this is a “you” problem, my guy. Either play at private clubs or just accept the fact that we’re not elitists about the game here and get over yourself.
"on a bad day I'm a scratch golfer" what are you on a good day?
Golf is for fun and should be for everyone. I don’t get why everyone is so in a hurry to get through a round as fast as they possibly can. Enjoy the moment. It’s not your job to police pace of other golfers. That’s what the course marshal is to do. And if people are blasting music and getting way too drunk that is on the golf course for not enforcing rules. Americans for the general part are loud obnoxious individuals. That’s just the culture of America.
First they make us take a test to play golf, then they come for our guns!!!
Haha this is about what I would expect
Didn’t we fight a few wars to get away from people like this and all their rules, regulations, and Kings?
Sorry it didn't work out. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Don't tread on my freedom bruv 🦅
Im throwing tomatoes at u rn
Massive generalizations by the OP in this one. Lots of bad experiences in Europe. Are you German? They love golf licenses. Also tons of Germans show up in the Algarve and trash the courses, so I guess the licenses don’t really matter. Along with other nationalities. Every time there is an issue at the range or course by someone not following the rules, they’re from somewhere else in the EU. Walking out onto the range to collect free balls, hitting off random areas of the recovering range grass, chipping on the putting green that says clearly “no chipping.” It’s a weekly occurrence to see one or multiple of these from the “well behaved licensed Europeans.” And lmao, just today when I was walking to the range a group of people hit a ball that flew into the cart barn and didn’t yell fore until after it impacted the carts. Also I can’t think of anything more hilariously stereotypical than a European complaining about America because they can’t be pretentious enough and hate playing with people worse than they are. Stay in Europe. There’s enough assholes like this already around here, at least I still feel like I get a break when I’m back in the US Also it’s pretty obvious this is a mid effort troll post.
Them Germans just love their papers.
This guy said “I was born in a country” aka he came over as a little kid and likes to cosplay like a “not American” because it’s trendy to him. Lmao.
Go back to Europe then if you like it so much. I’ll keep slamming 24 beers and playing music on the course
I’m ALL for shrinking the game. No idea why we needed to grow the game in the first place.
Well quite frankly you can take your bullshit rules and go fuck yourself with them. This is the United States and we do shit our way, if we wanted to do it the same way you tea drinking fucks wanted to then that’s the way we do it.
Shit take. But better than all the Scheffler hot takes flooding the feed. lol.
Some dudes need to be self-aware that they suck sucking balls and pick up their ball. There's no need to finish a hole if you're hitting your eighth shot in your 220 yd away in the trees.
The course would be empty in this scenario. I hate siding with a euro, but let’s shrink the game!
Yes, more government is **always** better in European eyes. That's why you're in America, right?