Driving Range Stupidity

pdxhak

Last night I witnessed and experienced something that can only be described as quite stupid by the people next to me. In the stall behind me two guys were talking about their swings and why they do this or that. One of the guys pulls out his phone to record the other guys down the line swing. Cool no problem. I am in a groove and proceed to keep hitting balls.

After a couple more shots on the downswing I notice something out of the corner of my eye. The guy recording the swing decided to record a 3/4 face on while squatting down. He positioned himself halfway between the two stalls and was oblivious he put himself in my follow through. He is lucky I saw him and was able to stop my swing. He never looked towards me. Hard to believe anyone would not know the dangers of being in front of someone swinging a golf club. I backed away from the mat and he continued to record his friends swing. When he finished recording he walked away never looking my way.

FauxAmish

pdxhak

Good for You.

Though I may have been tempted based upon your description to want to just continue wailing away, You showed the constraint that a Member of Society should and unfortunately sometimes Must do.

Is that a somewhat sarcastic response.

Yes ...

You Were and Are the Better.

Thoughts aside ...

brsmith

I am not being the moral police here, or saying you were obligated to, but you might have pointed it out to him,

Some may call it "natural selection", but I call it being a responsible adult when you point out a danger to someone.

I try to help dumb "animals" like that guy when I can. ; )

I was at a range one time with turf mats on concrete. This guy was repeatedly grounding his driver and eventually I heard a "crack" and his driver head was dangling. He looked at me and I jokingly commented ; "looks like you'll need a new one." He commented that he was returning it to the store, (Sam's Club) as this was the third one he was returning.

I explained to him what was happening and he gave me a dumbfound look. I have played golf since I was about 12, and I take for granted how much is really involved to know all aspects of Golf. Not getting in the way of somebody swinging is common sense, but I have seen many people who just look lost. They duff a ball and walk out into the line to retrieve that ball, almost out of shame, not thinking they are breaching etiquette or putting themselves in danger.

Release

LOL.

Call it "natural selection" call it "self centered", "selfish" ........probably correct in all the terms.
Just take a ride on the freeway and I'll bet you'll be astonished of how many action were taken defying "common sense".
Most of the driving range I visit all have this yellow line running 2 feet behind the hitting mat with posted signage of "DO NOT CROSS" all over the place.

Today I was waiting for traffic lights at a major junction below my neighborhood and witness these bicycle riders whiz through the red light. The cars and trucks in front of me had to wait for these idiots to clear the junction.
Granted, weather is nice and it's weekend, plus they might have some private contest going on for bragging rights.

I mean, these cyclists were obviously not in a contest ( not a public events which will have all roadway either blocked off or monitored). Would it worth it to risk their own life to run through a red light at speed over 35MPH ?
Their parents did not raise them to take stupid risk like that.

Ringoblack

I have seen a car traveling at 70 mph in the left lane of a six-lane highway (all 6 lanes going the same way) put on their right turn signal and make a right turn to get into the off-lane with numerous cars very close behind them. Fortunately, no one was hurt and there were no collisions, just a lot of slowing down fast.

When I was younger, I gave people the benefit of the doubt, but now I'm convinced that people will do almost anything, no matter how much lack of sense it takes.

Also, the bike riders were breaking the law by running the stop light, not to mention it could be dangerous for them and others. I am amazed at bicycle riders who constantly harp on how poorly automobile drivers treat them on the road, and then they pull stunts like that. If they aren't interested in their own safety, they should at least give a thought that those actions could put others in harm's way.

Release

Ringoblack

Did you also noticed no one say "please" and "thank you" these days ?

I truly believe it's not lack of common sense but intentionally ignoring the etiquette and the safety of the others.

We have a very large bicycle community here in the Puget Sound, particularly in the last decade the recreational spot had grown very popular. And each year we have at least a dozen traffic fatality related to bicycle riders.

I don't know why they think the yield sign and the stop lights do not apply to the bicyclists ?

To think someone had raised these idiots to be a road kill is just a shame.

PA-PLAYA

And that is why I prefer to go to the far end of the range, even if there's very little grass to hit off of.

There are times when that's not an option, but rest assured that I'm always keeping an eye on the most quiet part of the practice tee. On more than one occasion I've closed up shop at one station and reopened at another, mid-basket.

And too... if given the option - I go when I know it's not going to be overly crowded. There's nothing worse than having a good practice session littered with driving range wannabe pros just a few stalls over.

FauxAmish

PA-PLAYA

Or their incessant diatribe, as perhaps quiet they may think.

PA-PLAYA

Actually, I've gotten into the habit of wearing my headphones with music when I practice.

It helps me avoid the distractions, but still.... there is such a thing as driving range etiquette.

FauxAmish

I'm going to have to think of that ... Thanks

potbunker

Common sense and etiquette are an acquired skill and not taught, in sadly a "well duh?!?" or "me first society."

"Common Sense and Etiquette 101" is now an elective course.

Unfortunately it makes us all the potential physical, dumbfounded, inconvenienced or annoyed victims.

Ringoblack

Release

I think it all started when people began replying to a spoken thank you with a "thank you" instead of a "you're welcome".

brsmith

I think a lot of this began when fathers are not around to teach their kids. I'm not trying to generalize, but so many children don't have a role model or both parents involved to teach them like my generation did.

Release

brsmith

Either the broken family or both parents hold full time jobs to make ends meet; broke the foundation of a stable society.
Moving forward as world is evolving every second. How the hack do we make this a better place for everyone ?

I think the answer starts with worldwide population control.

brsmith

I agree that poplulation control needs to begin world wide.

I read a report when I was in high school by a scientist who said at that time we were over-fishing the oceans and he believed the sustainability was 75 years. That was 34 years ago. Recently, NASA did the same report and said it was 50 years left.

This planet can support approx. 13 billion maximum. We are over 7 billion now.

Release

brsmith This planet can support approx. 13 billion maximum. We are over 7 billion now.

Theoretically speaking of a cap of 13 billion human population., I believe the number should be much less, unless we ran out all of the resources before the maximum cap reached for population.
The big issue is the GMO awareness has just begun with the general public. Many of us do not realize the food we have on our table has been through genetic modification for decades now. Wheat flour, rice, and the banana we eat today is totally different than the ones decades ago. The extinct banana was much more flavorful than today's.

I remember the G.M. rice populating the S.E. Asia when they claimed that as a revolution to be able to feed all the people. Now the G.M. rice is on their great great grand children generation.

One day, when we woke up, the natural resources would be depleted and the new source would not be stable enough to sustain the population. This would happen with the speed of a avalanche, it won't give us time to reverse it.

Ringoblack

The infra-structure we have now is too complex and inter-dependent. We'll reach a tipping point before we realize it.

PIGDivot

How the hell did this thread deteriorate from a driving range rant to global "overpopulation"?

I've jacked more than my fair share of threads, but geez.

Typhoon

PIGDivot

Let me get this back on track...

Clueless jackasses. I see it too. Why these people pay money to hit balls is beyond me. Go to a tennis court and beat the ball against a wall for an hour for free.

Ringoblack

PIGDivot

That's what it's like on the driving range....golf balls going every which way.

Release

Typhoon

Wait.... that's tennis you're talking now...........

All the little bubbles are inclusive in the large bubbles, but I guess it was off the track and thread jacked, my apology ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes my thoughts are way faster than typing .

Driving range is no different than other places in life.

One time there was a couple waiting for the next open stall to hit a small bucket ( guess it was the warm up before their round of 18). The driving range was packed and everyone had jumble buckets.

I walked up to an open stall and placed my bag and bucket of range balls behind the guy occupying the stall. All of the sudden this couple rushed from the other end of the line and jumped on me for cutting in line ??!!?? They said they were here first . What ? at the other end of the driving range ?

Since there is no number to take for the next available stall, the waiting golfers usually place their bags behind any open spot then wait , and wait, and wait. unless the user say there would be additional buckets after the current one in use.

Normally, I would let them have the spot since they were in a hurry and a small bucket they had won't take more than 20 minutes. However, this dude was so rude and obnoxious ( he was about 7 inches over my height so he thought he could bully me ). I just told this dude go pick his nose somewhere else unless he wish to escalate the whole stupid thing. He pretend to threaten me for a few seconds then ushered his girl friend off to another spot to bother other golfers. Dude, even if you are ignorant about how the locals do things, and you lack the common sense of watch and follow, a courteous asking would get you the spot anytime from me.

Dumb azz !

Typhoon

Release
Bill...kickin ass and takin names!