Question of the week [November 25 – December 1]: What annoys you most when playing golf — either on or off the course?
RELATED: The First Call Inbox archive
— — — — — — —
What annoys me the most is general discourtesy while playing. Talking while your trying to play. Moving around on my thru line while trying to putt. And players that think the rules don’t apply to them. Whether it’s golf rules or cart restrictions.
Rick Wright
Alamo, Texas
—————
Golfers who do not take care of the golf course: divots, raking bunkers and especially ball marks on the green. Ball marks that are not repaired or are repaired improperly drive me nuts. It's not that hard to fix them properly, people.
Peter Therrien
Vancouver, British Columbia
—————
I am a self-avowed fair-weather golfer, thus what annoys me most is poor weather (cold, wind and rain). Living in Canada we have a short window to play golf, so every warm and sunny day is a bonus while the poor days are one less day to play this game we love.
Reid Farrill
Toronto, Ontario
—————
Slow play, particularly when it is caused by stupid things such as players not being ready to hit, taking too much time to line up a putt, standing on the green and talking after putting out, and a myriad of other bad actions.
Bob Norris
Cincinnati, Ohio
—————
What bothers me on the course is pace of play ... move it along. What bothers me off the course are these YouTube so-called golf influencer.
Chris Ferrara
Jeannette, Pennsylvania
—————
Simple, players who unnecessarily, and repeatedly, slow a group down. Telling long jokes while on the tee, routinely not being ready to hit when it’s their turn and taking an inordinate amount of time reading putts are examples.
Moreover, guys that slow down in matches as a ploy should be red-flagged.
Steve Rosenbaum Sr.
Oak Lawn, Illinois
—————
No doubt about it, music.
First off, I am trying to concentrate. Second, why does anyone assume that we have the same taste in music?
I don't need some "ear worm" rattling around my brain competing with my swing thought.
Leave it for the ride home.
Terry Fraser
Huntsville, Alabama
—————
What annoys me most? My swing.
Donn Rutkoff
Oceanside, California
—————
Slow play, ball marks
Jim Noyd
San Marcos, California
—————
Slow play.
My usual Saturday morning foursome can play in three to three hours and 15 minutes, and we're not that good. We don't watch TV where typically bad influences are afoot.
Doug Walters
Ellicott City, Maryland
—————
Intentionally slow play annoys me the most. It’s the foursome of vanity handicappers who plumb bob the fairway, wait for the group that’s 350 yards in front of them to move on, take five practice swings, stare back at us daring us to go around — which we eventually do — shank it hard right into the trees ... and then spend six minutes looking for the ball. They know what they’re doing and are quite smug about it.
All of this when your group was assured that you would beat the sunset. It’s just that we preferred 18 holes over 17 in order to do so.
Steve Moore
Birmingham, Alabama
—————
My No. 1 annoyance while playing golf is unrepaired ball marks on the greens. No course, whether private, semi-private or public, seems to be exempt from the issue. It's not unusual for me to fix three to four ball marks on every green I step on. And that's just because I have pride in where I play and feel it's my duty to do my small part to help out and do something everyone should be doing on their own.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
—————
The thing that annoys me the most is people who do not repair ball marks and choose to shuffle their feet on the greens. We live in a retirement community with 14 championship courses and 46 executive courses and over 3 million rounds played last year. The number of unrepaired ball marks, coupled with areas where players find themselves shuffling their feet, is incredible. Also, those who find themselves having to shuffle their feet on the greens should trade in their golf shoes for tennis shoes. Easier on their feet and the greens will thank them for it. So will those who follow behind them.
PJ Vicary
The Villages, Florida
—————
My wife told me about a man who hit into their group — which plays fast — and asked to play through. Then this guy lights a cigarette and starts puffing away with nobody in front of him, and takes his time before teeing off. He then drives down the fairway, stops at his ball, sits there and smokes before getting out to hit.
She should have reported him to the pro shop, because they would’ve figured who it was and hopefully talked to him. We suspended playing privileges from an individual like that at my club one time. To my point, you are not alone, be respectful of others.
Jim Robinson
Liverpool, New York
—————
As an old man, it irritates me when I pay full price for a cart then am told by the starter on the first tee that it’s cart path only.
Ed Randolph
Plymouth, Michigan
—————
Not even close. Slow play makes me nuts. Be at your ball and be ready to hit when it’s your turn. And unless you’re playing in a match where it might make a difference — play ready golf.
Paul Heanue
Plymouth Massachusetts
—————
The First Call invites reader comment. Write to editor Stuart Hall at shall@buffalogroupe.com. Your name and city of residence is necessary to be considered for publication. If your comment is selected for publication, The First Call will contact you to verify the authenticity of the email and confirm your identity. We will not publish your email address. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and brevity.
Front: Brittany Lincicome fixes her ball mark during the second round of the 2018 Barbasol Championship.
Photo: Brian Spurlock | Golffile