[slimfifa]

I went over to try out the new practice area they built at one of the local municipal courses today. Unfortunately besides chipping green side I do not get a chance to actually practice short game because most courses do not have anything but a putting green around here.

Here is what happened, I had been working in the same area of the green for about 20 minutes and I went over to hit some out of the bunker. I was about 10 yards deep in the bunker, the green itself was 20-25 yards deep and there was a guy and his two kids leaving who were about 20-30 yards from the end of the green. So they were about 50-65 yards away from me, out of the practice area. I hit a few out of the bunker just fine and I went to hit a bunker shot that was deeper in the bunker.

I caught it clean and hit it at this guy and his two kids. I IMMEDIATELY yelled 'heads up, heads up' and started walking up and yelled 'sorry guys.' This was not a line drive or anything, I just picked it a little too clean.

He never acknowledged my apology and instead made a smart ass comment to some woman who was walking by and had nothing to do with what had happened. He said something along the lines of 'some people have no respect or shouldn't be out here.' This was really insulting because I always try to be mindful and respectful of others. I was taught golf etiquette a long time ago, golf is not new too me.

The woman approached the green to start her practice and I looked at her and said what 'is there a problem?' She just kind of shrugged and laughed. Keep in mind I am trying to be polite.

The guy turned around and yelled 'you should not be hitting at us, you never hit when there is people in your line, that is ridiculous.' He was being very nasty about this and made me feel like an idiot in front of my buddy and a few other people.

I said, "Dude, I am sorry, it was a complete accident I was trying to hit the ball 6 yards not 60."

So after I apologized a second time, he says "how old are you, who says dude." I was really confused at this point about why he was making this such a big deal and insulting my age because I said 'dude.' I am 24 by the way. So I just stared right at him and said "dude" about 15 times. I just shrugged my shoulders at him and we started at each other and he finally left.

I did not flip out or use foul language to respect his kids. I really wanted to say 'why don't you set a good example for your children and stop acting like an asshole, accidents happen.'

Even some guy who witnessed it came over and said it was ridiculous.

Did I do anything wrong here or what? I feel like I always try to respect peoples space on the course.

[Ruidselisse]

I don't think you were wrong especially since you apologize. I can understand how something like that can happen. His reaction was uncalled for. I can understand if you didn't apologize but you clearly did.

[Bbjhjxfy]

You didn't do anything wrong, guy might have just over-reacted because of the adrenalin rush that a parent gets when the perceive a danger to their child/children. Or the guy might have just wanted to look like a big man to his kids, or he could have just been a horses ass.

Either way, you yelled to warn him, you apologized, he should have accepted it and taught his kids a lesson in sportsmanship

[BebopVT]

Yeah-

The guy was a dbag, but I agree with him. I wouldn't have acted like he did, but you were hitting balls at him. You knew the risk was there, yet you did it anyway.

[Drysnyaty]

Did you do anything technically wrong, no. You apologized and it sounds like he was a jerk. But I kind of agree that you shouldn't be hitting bunker/long shots on the same line that someone is standing on since you never know when you are going to thin one or hit it long out of the bunker. If you were hitting on that line first and he came up later, then that was his fault for getting in your line. On a side note, I really hate it when people decide to putt on the chipping green!

[ditpiler]

If I read this right you were taking practice sand shots from a green side bunker built for this very purpose, if he chose to stand in the line of fire I would have to say he is the idiot. We have a practice bunker at a nearby course and when I have gone to practice there I have always practiced from an area that is clear of who ever is in the bunker, to do otherwise would be incredibly rude to me.

I have found that people on the courses around here much more polite and practice a much higher standard of course etiquette then what I found in Minnesota where I used to live, interesting how manners/courtesy varies so much around the country.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

i don't think you did anything wrong, accidents happen! i actually was working on my short game earlier today too and 2 other people came onto the same green i was on ( there are 3 greens at the practice short game area and a putting green next to the first hole) so i moved to another green cause i am working on a new swing with my chips and have been catching them thin more than id like. But i def don't think you did anything wrong. and i use Dude all the time and im 29.

[oneliRafmeene]

I don't know how old this guy was, but I am assuming there was a generation gap - perhaps the word "sir" instead of "dude" would have changed the entire tone of your apology. Good on you for apologizing, but at 59 years old myself, I tend to react to being called "dude" as disrespectful. Just a hint. I know "dude" means no disrespect to your generation.

Bad on him for being an a-hole. He should have accepted your apology in the spirit it was intended.

[Angeheade]

I agree with blugold. Never, ever take a full swing at a golf ball when there is a chance you could hit someone.

EDITED to add that I sympathize with you because you probably had no idea your were going to hit the ball clean. But if you had waited another 5-10 seconds, they would have been gone and there would be no problem at all.

Let me ask you this: if the same thing happens next time you are in that practice bunker, do you wait until the area is clear or do you continue to hit shots?

[TRASIAOREXOLA]

Some people in life look for reasons to be a jerk, sounds like this guy was one of them. If you're stupid enough to walk around a practice area expecting to not possibly have this happen then you really need your head examined. To continue harassing you after an apology, well, you handled it better than I would have and I'm 41. The child protection thing I can totally believe. I had a kid trip and fall on the stairs at a stadium and fall into me while I was sitting in my seat. His parent freaked thinking I grabbed him and the usher had to pull the father off me. I still run into the guy at games all the time and we are now on a friendly basis, but I gained a whole new respect for the child protection instinct!

[Arkadiyas]

Just a bad deal all around, happens. Having kids myself I ignore over reactive parents for the most part. He may have been totally different if his kids were not there. I wouldn't let it bother you any more than it already has. I have been known to hit some hot ones out of bunkers so when I practice I will hit em far off line of anyone else even if that means hitting out sideways.

[slimfifa]

You guys are right, I should probably have not hit the ball, but they were so far away I did not even think about it. That was the max range with that club, it was just a fluke and I felt terrible as soon as I hit it. I have no problem admitting my mistakes but I do not appreciate being belittled. I could have easily turned around and been a real jerk and started dropping inappropriate language around his young children, probably around 10 years old. The generation gap could not have been much, maybe 10-15 years. I only said "dude" AFTER I apologized and he began to yell at me. HE chose to say something nasty under his breath to someone that had nothing to do with the situation. HE turned around and started being nasty to me AFTER I made a legitimate effort to apologize. If someone wants to be rude and disrespectful to me, they have lost the right to be respected by me.

[pharmablogger]

So I just stared right at him and said "dude" about 15 times. I just shrugged my shoulders at him and we started at each other and he finally left.

I did not flip out or use foul language to respect his kids.

this made me

could he have handled it better? ... categorically

did you do anything wrong? .. not the most egregious act in the world, but you did apologize immediately for hitting when there was the remote possibility of hitting him and /or his kids...

FWIW, i prob would have done the same thing in your shoes and then kicked myself afterwards as well...

[MartZubok]

Dude u were fine, I accidentalt did this the other day and luckly the guy was kind enough to just hit it back, although it might have just been cause Im a kid or whatever

[slimfifa]

While this does not excuse me in anyway, I should mention that they were walking away. They walked into my line, I was not just taking shot after shot in their direction. It was certainly a buzzkill for my short game practice, but I went over to hit some balls on the range and had a relaxing time over there.

[kHy87gPC]

The woman approached the green to start her practice and I looked at her and said what 'is there a problem?' She just kind of shrugged and laughed. Keep in mind I am trying to be polite.
Did I do anything wrong here or what? I feel like I always try to respect peoples space on the course.

I must be totally misreading this one.
Try not hitting the ball when people are on your line or move your line. And what were you going to bully some lady next? Sounds like you got lucky cause I've seen guys get messed up for a lot less than this.

[slimfifa]

Was I going to bully a lady next? I never bullied anyone to begin with, I was asking what the problem was and I did so in a polite manner. Not sure how I got lucky and who was going to mess me up for apologizing and being polite. Perhaps I did not word my question correctly, but I hardly raised my voice to the lady nor got her involved other than asking if anything was wrong. I only changed my tone AFTER I got yelled at. I guess next time I should just go in fists swinging?

[desmond001]

You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't hit those people with an accidental shot. Being around a golf facility people need realize things can happen. You apologized, didn't hit anyone.

[slimfifa]

You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't hit those people with an accidental shot. Being around a golf facility people need realize things can happen. You apologized, didn't hit anyone.

Thanks, I realize I probably should have just waited and I am a very non-confrontational person to begin with. Anytime I have had this happen to me on the course whether I hit near someone or someone hits near me. A simple apologize and wave suffices and everyone goes on with their lives. I am just confused why I got yelled at and if I was missing something since I normally do not get to use an actual short game facility.

[bppstorr]

I don't know man. I understand that he was probably in the wrong spot, but I know that I can accidentally pick a bunker shot clean every now and then. It probably would have been worth waiting just to be sure. People act differently when they are with their kids. Hard to explain until you are in their shoes. It would have been equally awkward, but probably smarter, to just ask give him a heads up or ask him to move. Or to have just waited. I don't think you had any malice, but I can see it from both sides.