YES!!! There is definitely a course ettiquette and those folks were
not using it. Yet the behavior you describe is all too common - it
always seems to be the "pros", too, and there are usually 6 or 7
of 'em. It's bad enough when a larger group won't let you play
through but when they cut in front of another group that is just very
rude. We have a course here in Austin (Tx) and it's not uncommon to
start on the 9th hole if its backed up a bit on 1. But you would
never jump in ahead of a group. These jerks have really turned me off
to the sport, to be honest. And yes it is always a group of folks who
are very regular players, a little better than the average player,
and think they are God's gift to disc golf. I think their mindset
is "well we're so much better that we play as fast as a twosome, and
these lame beginners behind us will just slow us down, blah, blah,
blah. Yep, unfortunately there are assholes all over. I've gotten to
the point that I only play early Sunday morning rounds anymore, when
most of the uber-assholes are still hanging over (wait till you get
behind a group of 'em with a cooler of beer they're lugging around
slowly and they're all drunk and loud and obnoxious). In fact the
last time I played a round NOT on Sunday was two months ago at Carmel
Middle School while I was in Pacific Grove for my wedding and that
was a Saturday morning (morning of the wedding per the bride!!). I
guess due to the extreme "beginnerness" of the course I've rarely
encountered anyone there besides tennis players.
I never did make it out to fort Ord - I'm a little wary now. I do
come out to Cali pretty regularly to visit the in-laws.
My only advice is a trick we use, not so much a trick I guess but
just walk through the hole the jerks are playing like you're leaving
early and you're just gonna walk out the rest of the course, walk
quickly and don't look at them. Get to the next tee box and there you
go. Doesn't work that well if the course is too packed but you might
give it a try. Sorry to say the assholes are on the rise - my buddy
has his own private course in Kentucky, maybe I'll just have to start
making that 13 hour drive if I want a nice pleasant round.
Steve
"Would y'all like to play through...?"