Jan. 30 Rancho Park : Where were my manners?

When people learn golf or any sports, they first learn rules and etiquette. People with bad manners ignore the importance of rules and etiquette during play. I sometimes get so upset at people who have bad manners at a golf course.

It was on 4th hole Par 5. My driver ran more than 180 yards, second shot, hybrid, was perfect and now it was the time for my third shot with 9 iron in the middle of fairway. I usually use a wood or hybrid club for a third shot to be on green. I was a happy golfer, holding 9 iron.

Suddenly, a Korean lady in her 60’s in our group shouted to me from a cart path “you can’t take your cart there” with an angry voice pointing a sign “Keep your cart on path” all the way back 150 yard near small maintenance area. I’ve played in this course more than hundred times. That sign was only for warning maintenance area.☹️

She was far from me, so I made a somewhat loud sound telling her what the sign meant. She still insisted I needed to move to the cart path. I pointed signs “ No cart beyond this point” all around 40 yard near green telling her that was the real cart sign protecting near the green. She couldn’t read the sigh where she was because it was far. I was very annoyed by this situation, but suddenly she said unpleasantly in a rude way, “If you love golf, you should take good care of golf courses.” That words made me so upset and offended. 😡

I’ve been proud of myself being a golfer with good manners and etiquette. I didn’t do anything wrong. I even followed 90-degree rule at thag time. That was just her ignorance. If she simply misread and told me that in a pleasant way, it wouldn’t be a big deal. The way she talked to me was so rude and offensive. I couldn’t control my anger and ran closer to the green “LOOK! Those, three signs and ropes ‘no cart beyond this point’ near the green” with high-tempered voice. 😤 She argued with me until she got closer to see the signs. Later, she shouted “ok. I got it!!!” My hands were shaking while I did my third shot. Wow. It landed on green within 5 feet from the hole. “Beautiful shot!” a guy in our group shouted.

Wait! What have I done? 🤔 I argued with a lady at a golf course. I was rude, too. I felt so awful being rude. I don’t have a memory to be so rude to a stranger at a golf course. Before she got ready for chipping, I went to her and apologized in a polite way “I am terribly sorry I was so rude to you. I think I was out of my mind for a few minutes. I really regret what I did to you.” 😅 She gave me a smile and I made 2 putt par.

While we were waiting for our tee shots next hole, she talked to me for a few minute and apologized her misunderstanding. We talked in a friendly way through the round and I had 93 score. 😁 It could have been one of the worst rounds, but turned a great round. I even made a birdie on 14th hole. Putting wasn’t good, still I liked my swing through the round. 🤗

Actully, what she showed first was a bad manner. I replied with the same manner like hers. However, I am glad I focused on fixing what I did wrong instead of what she did wrong. Today thanks to her, I have another goal to be a pleasant golfer with A+ etiquette and manners. That will make me and other players pleasant during the play. Good mood, good play!