Should Golfers be Subject to a Written Test.

My course at the moment is invaded with foreign golfers,mainly from Japan and Korea.Most of them have little idea of course etiquette or speed of play.(6 hour rounds).

My question is,should all golfers sit a written test as to their knowledge of
" on course behaviour and Etiquette" plus a min handicap certificate before they are allowed to play, on say your course.

ilang im with you
thankfully i joining a members club tomorrow!
2 years of playing municipal courses has nearly made me wantto quit at times.
some of the antics that go on are unbelievable!

Weekend play is where the novice player's misunderstandings of rules and edicate are found to be most offensive. The pro should have a sense of who he letting out during that time. Weekdays are hard to turn down the novices. So you have to accept that part of the game. Bring up issues to your pro for the weekenders and see where that gets you.

Rather snobbish attitudes in my opinion.

If you are not going to allow people onto the course to improve their golf where are they going to get their experience?

We need to make golf a game for the masses.

Let's allow these people onto the course and them teach them by example.

qassim
nothing snobbish about it at all!
try playing behind a 3 ball who are all using the same set of clubs
try playing behind a group of players who consistently slice the ball and spend the next 15 minutes looking for it.
try playing behind a group dressed in football kit and trainers who are just generally dicking about!
try playing behind a group that waits till the green is clear even though its 450yds away.
try to keep warm and keep your tempo going when you are waiting 15 minutes to take every shot.
every course i play at their scorecard says "avoid slow play at all times"
a lot of people just ignore that request or plainly dont understand the request.

p.s i have only been playing 2 years but i have always tried to be courteous to other players by letting them through when required to do so!

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cheers slats
"Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle"

I agree that apart from the kind of misanthrope who sounds the horn at learner drivers no-one should have a problem with beginners or just poor golfers or even - hands up everyone - reasonable golfers having a mare as long as they show some appreciation that they are not alone on the golf course.

However, its not snobbish to expect manners and a reasonable standard of behaviour on the course any more than it is snobbish to deplore people spitting in the street, putting their feet up on train seats, playing their mp3 at way beyond a personal volume, smoking at the table when others are eating, using a mobile phone in a restaurant (and what inane conversations these people have anyway), not turning the damn thing off in the cinema or theatre etc. etc.

Sadly golf only reflects society.

I'm afraid that in my experience, especially of 2forones, quite often private clubs are no better than public, the rudeness and ill manners just take a different form - arguably its worse since you'd hope the members knew better.

Ha - guess who's grumpy after a bad day at work and a typical South West Trains journey

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

This, without a doubt, has to be the most idiotic thread that has ever appeared on this forum.

It's like saying everyone who passes a drivers' license will be a courteous and considerate driver.

Give me a break...

Chessbum....

Chessbum.
Most private courses in the UK will not allow you on their course as a guest without a Handicap certificate. If you read my post properly you will see that I said,"On say your course".Prompting people to ask themselves if it would be a good idea,on their course.
Obviously to you it would not be a good idea,but that does not mean it would not be for someone else.
All the caddies at my course have to do a written test before they can work on the course.
Would be golf assistants have to do written tests before they can become registered with the P.G.A.
Your comments are very negative in the sense you did not put forward any other alternative's I understand your driving licence point its no guarantee of working in practice.
I find it very unusual on the discussions here for someone to use the terms that you did,you are not one of them golfer's that never let anyone through are you???.

And so if you fail the written test, you are forbidden to play golf forever?

Idiotic.....I stand by it....

Chessbum....

How did the first round go then?

I am with the majority. While I disagree with things like player-ability tests for the average golfer (as, according to the US based National Golf Foundation, the average golfer shoots 96), I see absolutely zero harm in issuing an etiquette test, and a small greenskeeping test before admitting people to clubs.

The problem with ilangs' "golfers" is that they have absolutely zero etiquette - that's the crux of the matter.

But it seems to me that when it comes to fixing ball marks and replacing divots, low cappers are worse than high cappers. (ilang style hackers don't fix ball marks - because they don't hit greens.)

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A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

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hi robin
it was perfect mate. very impressive!
had the guided tour by the pro who was really friendly.
clubhouse really nice with a tv lounge and snooker room.
locker room and shower room just been refurbished.
great practise area 400yds long with a short game practise area
the course in great condition considering the time of year.
i was invited to make up a 4ball which made life a bit easier.
me and my "new" partner won 4&3 not too bad to start with a win ha ha

No of course not,but a simple test of say a A.B.C. answer format would suffice.
I dont want to fall out with you,but your post on"Holding your Breath"was ******,and hilarious.
Cheer's

We were all novices once, and whilst not all "etiquette attrocities" can be laid at inexperience's door, in the greater scheme of things, all I see we can do is attempt to educate the lesser educated and hope for a brighter future...

And, if they don't like being educated by being hit with a driver cos they is bloody slow and not calling through, then thats their problem!!!

As most people have said in this thread, ultimately it is manners and consideration of others that is lacking when people don't let other players through etc etc.

As a high-handicapping hacker, I know the frustration of hitting several balls out of play and knowing that you have a group behind you. I also know the feeling of playing on crowded weekend rounds when you are held up by several groups of slow players ahead and the people behind you unfairly abusing you because of the speed of play.

All in all, there should be consideration for others. The old principle of "do unto others as you would have then do unto you" should apply everywhere, golf course included. There is no written test for manners and respect for others, no "Selfishness Index". Perhaps we should have more marshalls out on the course to make sure that the rules and etiquette are adhered to by guests on golf courses.

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MillenniuMcow

Innovation, not rumination.