Fore!BlackGolfers is proud to, once again, present the poignant opinions of "guest blogger" George Burnette. This time, "G-O" tees off on the negative effect that Tiger Woods' popularity has inflicted on the gentleman's game. (The opinions expressed are HIS; so rage accordingly)....Gee! Thanks, Tiger!
I imagine it would be difficult to quantify the impact the emergence of Tiger Woods has had on golf in general, but a very unscientific method would be to simply ask those who were avid golfers BEFORE he came on the scene. What are the major differences between the pre and post-Tiger era? The most obvious is the number of folks who have taken up the game. No one can deny that his presence has caused the number of duffers to increase exponentially which has been a boon to the golf industry, but there has been a very unfortunate byproduct as well.
It seems that those new to the game are so preoccupied with the challenge of making solid contact with that little white ball that they have paid no attention whatsoever to the game’s etiquette and rules. Golf Digest writer Stina Sternberg recently asked 32 PGA tour pros and their caddies to name the biggest breach of golf etiquette that amateurs make during Pro-Ams. The most common response was “moving while another player is hitting” (15), the second most was slow play (9). "They try to anticipate the hit and start walking before we're done", says PGA tour vet Kirk Triplett. Says European PGA tour stalwart Darren Clarke "they walk off the green before everything is done". "They stand in the wrong place", laments journeyman pro Bo Van Pelt. "(You should) stand where you can see a guy's back or chest. That's it". "Nothing tops (excruciatingly slow) pace of play" says longtime pro Woody Austin; "they refuse to pick up their ball (when they’re having a very bad hole), or they take too long to make a decision". And from anonymous "All these guys show up wearing what they think is a cool golf outfit but they look like they just came from a Lil’ Wayne concert - crooked hats and bling, Um...no!" The list goes on and on. Failing to yell “Fore!” when necessary, talking while another player is hitting and driving the cart in restricted areas are a few of my personal pet peeves. 
The Rules of Golf are sometimes complicated, confusing and cumbersome but that’s no reason to take up the game without at least a cursory review of the rules that will govern the most common rules-driven situations. It’s important for all golfers to know what to do with regard to hazards, out of bounds, lost balls, relief and ground under repair. Most post-Tiger era golfers do not know when, where or how to take a drop and there is no excuse for this. I recently played with a fellow who had over 20 golf clubs in his bag (the limit is 14). In Germany, no one is allowed on public or private golf courses without first taking and passing a course on rules and etiquette. Maybe for the betterment of the game in general the USGA and the PGA should consider the same for the U.S.A.
PHOTOS: flickr
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