12 Balls?

[snowflake]

A week and a half ago I decided that I should go golfing at my local course... When I go around alone I am usually let straight through, but this time I was stuck behind a 12 ball...

I came all alone and I walked up to the 1st tee off..

They were teeing off in groups of six. First one group, then the second group. The problem was not the teeing off, they went fairly quick. The problem was at the hole, they all waited for each other and they had a put and mark competiton, which led to my outburst...

I have only played golf for a few months, but I have learnt that when one person plays faster than the others you let the through... Is this not so?

When they went on the 3 tee off I skipped and got on number 4 but the lovely day was wasted, the anger was there and I soon just gave up... (New six ball ahead of me)...

This is not a comon problem and I have not experienced this before. It was not a big course or a famous course... Its a small local course, where I can have fun and practice... I like it...

Is this a normal problem?

[PattayaParent]

A single player has no right of way to play through.

It is very unusual for such a large group to be allowed to play together.

[mark lamai]

That's correct,

a single player has no standing on the course in relation to other groups (pair, 3 ball and 4 ball),

thus a single player cannot complain if not called through by these other groups.

but, more than 4 players is not a recognized "legal" group,

thus, I think a single player would have standing over a 5 ball or 6 ball,

unless they are approved by the club committee.

apart from that, comon sense and etiquette should apply.

sounds like they were simply ignorant and selfish,

too bad it ruined your day.

i have encountered this a few times, even on a nearly empty course,

one strategy I use is to, when they are on the green, to hit up just 20 yards short of the green and get up to my ball while they are still putting,

get close and just watch them closely,

hopefully embarrass them into calling you through.

[pattyboy]

Please let us know the name of the club so that I can avoid it.

Under no circumstance should the starter at a golf course let a "six ball" group on the course in the first place, and if these groups formed themselves (perhaps threesomes combined) the course marshal should do something about it. It sounds to me like you encountered 3 of these groups right away (so I don't want to play this course). There's something that is sacred to real golfers called "course etiquette", and when a group is particularly slow due to inept golfers or other reasons like an unusually large group (although this should never happen) it should let a single golfer or smaller, faster group play through. Certainly, there is no hard and set rule about letting players ever play through, but courtesy and consideration should dictate here.

Edited November 22, 2007 by pattyboy

[tgeezer]

A week and a half ago I decided that I should go golfing at my local course... When I go around alone I am usually let straight through, but this time I was stuck behind a 12 ball...

I came all alone and I walked up to the 1st tee off..

They were teeing off in groups of six. First one group, then the second group. The problem was not the teeing off, they went fairly quick. The problem was at the hole, they all waited for each other and they had a put and mark competiton, which led to my outburst...

I have only played golf for a few months, but I have learnt that when one person plays faster than the others you let the through... Is this not so?

When they went on the 3 tee off I skipped and got on number 4 but the lovely day was wasted, the anger was there and I soon just gave up... (New six ball ahead of me)...

This is not a comon problem and I have not experienced this before. It was not a big course or a famous course... Its a small local course, where I can have fun and practice... I like it...

Is this a normal problem?

This is Thailand and they have their own rules because they are playing for the fun of it. six balls is common because there are two teams of three playing the two better balls of each side. They always mark on the green so as to prevent any chip gaining advantage, or perhaps because they've seen it on the 'box' and they usually putt with a special ball, the final 25% of the game is not played to save embarrasment. I play this twice a week and it is ok, especially lost in water where you get a 'powered drop' in the middle of the fairway level with splash! There are many different ways to play but quoting the rules of golf is not one of them here and playing alone never a good idea anywhere, you did exactly the right thing, skip to a free hole because you will always be held up. I think if you had asked to join them on the tee you would certainly have been given the play through. I read that a singleton is now considered a group under 2008 rules so presumably you have the same rights which I believe is, If the group in front have lost a hole they must make it up or allow the following group to play through. 'make it up means' catch -up, do what ever it takes, certainly no wasting time marking on the green. If the course is full then I would go for the 'sum' and have a beer. I must say you are very brave for a 'novice' playing through requires a demonstration of your ability and if you are going like 'greese through a goose' lots of exposure. Enjoy your golf.

[Pundi64]

The other week I was playing a round with two other friends, and there was a five-sum of Thai's in front of us, all in carts. These guys were totally slow, putting, paying off their side bets on the green etc. We yelled at them to hurry up, but no move was made to speed up the game from them. Our caddies at the end of play asked the Thai's caddies, why they did not let us through, and their answer was the Thai men all said "they are just frangs, who cares about them, let them wait" This kind of BS is not right for the game of golf.

I was at a meeting yesterday here at Palm Hills, with resident members, and the management, and I brought this issue up to them.

They gave me some BS story as to when in the slow season, they make some considerations to having four-sum's & five-sum's playing out on the course. I said the only consideration being made here, is to _uck the frang over, and if it happens again, our group will take it into our own hands as to what we will do.

Golf is supposed to be a gentlemen's game, and these Thai _ _ _ holes were by no means holding to that.

Edited November 22, 2007 by Pundi64

[Fore Man]

I have had the same maddening experience, repeatedly. We generally see this occur when a 4 -5-some group of Thais are allowed to start their round on #10 as we are completing #9 and they jump on the course right in front of us. Totally inconsiderate and they bully the caddies into letting them start on #10 because #1 is backed up. We get the same treatment...total ignorance that they just broke a cardinal rule of golf etiquette. The management generally won't lift a finger about slow play by Thai golfers (racial superiority; after all, it's their country and lowly Farangs simply have to wait); ditto for other Oriental golfers (money talks) and course marshalls are like cops....you can never find one when you need one. Try acting like this in the UK or the USA and you will be escorted off the premises.

I have done two things in my earlier days...neither particularly smart...and that is to tee off while they are still mucking around on the fairway; or hitting my approach shot when they are still putting out. This can backfire and start WWIII and possibly get me booted out of the country (who knows, that Thai group ahead may be a bunch of off-duty immigration officers,or you may hit the longest and most accurate 7 iron of your life and hit somebody), so I am prone nowadays to swallow my anger and practice chipping near the tee box, joke with the caddies etc to kill time. If I am alone I play two balls because there is nothing else to do.

The other thought that comes to mind is that you are wrong if you do not personally walk up the group and smile, politely asking them if you could play through. This is something that we tend to beg off of doing (pride, I suppose) and ask the caddies to do it for us. I believe we ought to stand up and do the asking ourselves. Sometimes a little civility works wonders here and they certainly are caught by surprise. If they say 'mai chai', then FTVM and either go around them or get behind again and play slowly yourself.

Thailand's rules of golf etiquette are rather different than any place else in Asia, except perhaps in China or Burma. Rude behavior is the norm and it boils down to a gonad thing...machismo is alive and well here and all Thai men have always observed the 'me first' mentality in everything they do...on the highways or on the golf course. Why should we really expect Thai golfers to be any different? Their behavior would get them thrown off of any good international course but this is their country and they play by their own 'my dcik is bigger than yours' code of conduct.

I guess it really means that we can: 1) put up with this lack of consideration and chill out, or 2) seethe inside and have a sihtty round or 3) stomp off in anger. I have had my best rounds when selecting option #1. Life's too short; it's your choice.

[Spee]

Please let us know the name of the club so that I can avoid it.

I agree. There's nothing you can do except leave and don't ever come back, or go ask the manager for a rain check to play at another time.

[snowflake]

The problem is that this is my local club, and I do like it here. It is nice to shoot over there after school and have a quick 9 holes.

The biggest problem is one guy, he thinks that he owns the whole city and when he is in a six ball, they just say f.....k off.

Most of the other times now they ask if I can join them, or I ask if I can play through. They are usually really nice that way.

I have to be more Jai Yen, but said that my caddy also said it is bad...

[canuckamuck]

You should consider that when you are a single you are messing with the timing of a golf round. Putting undue pressure on the group ahead. You should play two or more balls, to help pace your game.

Of course it would not have helped much with the situation you described. It would have ruined my day as well. My worst scores often coincide with slow play. Too much anger, too much time between strokes.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

I guess it really means that we can: 1) put up with this lack of consideration and chill out, or 2) seethe inside and have a sihtty round or 3) stomp off in anger. I have had my best rounds when selecting option #1. Life's too short; it's your choice.

Excellent advice. It can be maddening, but heck, this IS Thailand and playing golf alone in any country can always lead to frustrations. best of luck with your game!

I have played 6 balls with quite few thais and always had a thoroughly fun time. Sorry if we were slow...

Edited January 18, 2008 by Jim's_a_Thai_Fox

[Pundi64]

A single player has no right of way to play through.

It is very unusual for such a large group to be allowed to play together.

It isn't unusual to see fivesomes of Thai's playing, happens all the time at Palm Hills, friends of the course manager.

Now if frangs were to try this, they would say no.

Discrimination of frangs!!!

Edited January 28, 2008 by Pundi64

[jbalis]

for whatever it is worth I am a pro at a golf course in the United States during the summer at a very busy course as well. We will NOT let someone play as a single at anytime for any reason. This is becuase of the frustration to both you and other golfers. You will have a slow round and we can not expect you to play through the 20 other 4'soms on the course. I would recomend next time you play to wait around a few minutes have a beer and join another group. This will both let you meet new people and slow your round down allowing you to enjoy the day. If you really want to play as a single and have a good time you need to be either first off or last off. Thats just my take on it.

josh

[Mai Krap]

Sixems are the norm on many Thai courses. As with many adventures here Thai culture dictates the more the merrier. How many people can fit on a bus in Thailand? One more. The same holds true for greens, it is normal to have absolute chaos on the greens, a sixem with six caddies, no problem. There is also much money getting transferred and the sixem is the preferred method for gambling. The best choice is just no comment in these situations with Thais, just kill some time messing about. Anyone thinking of getting a Course Marshal involved outside of regulated tournament play in Thailand does not know much about playing golf here, you will end up more frustrated than you already were.

The best suggestion so far was to go ahead and play 2 or more balls yourself. If you have a sixem in front of you, just play three balls. While you would never do this anywhere else, here I don't think its a problem as long as you do not hold up people behind you, for that matter few would notice, if anyone did. If your on the course by yourself its not a game, its practice, some rules can be adjusted but etiquette should remain intact.

While this is not a secret, getting out at daybreak will have you alone on the course many places. Today I went to hit some balls at the range and there was not even a parking space at 3 PM, lately its been getting busy during the week too in the afternoon, seems like many folks have the time and the game is getting more popular. This will not be changing anytime soon, if anything things will be getting more congested no matter how many new courses open in the LOS.

[dougieboy]

The problem is that this is my local club, and I do like it here. It is nice to shoot over there after school and have a quick 9 holes.

The biggest problem is one guy, he thinks that he owns the whole city and when he is in a six ball, they just say f.....k off.

Most of the other times now they ask if I can join them, or I ask if I can play through. They are usually really nice that way.

I have to be more Jai Yen, but said that my caddy also said it is bad...

Maybe you can avoid this by starting at 6.00am and enjoy the cooler weather also. Good luck

[dclaryjr]

I'm a dedicated "dew sweeper"--I was part of a foursome that had the first tee-time every Sunday morning for about four years. Two of them have moved and one died, but I still get up and tee-off a day break. I might play a twilight round once in while with my son or grandson, but I prefer getting out early.