Yeah, now that I pay closer attention to this rationalization, it totally falls through. There’s no need to be honest about your emotions to a group you’re playing golf with. If you miss a shot, they know how you’re feeling. If you make a shot, they know how you’re feeling. It’s no great mystery; they don’t require any mindreading powers beyond the basic empathy module we’ve mostly all got. (If you’re playing with a sociopath, it may be helpful for you to explain: “I feel sad and angry when I miss a shot, and now I am sad and angry”). If you want to respect your group, respect them enough to assume they’ll know what any three-year-old could figure out.
Well, did you miss it to the right or to the left?
This.
Yeah, depends on the 4-some. You could get away with saying ‘fuck’, depending on the context, too.
Acceptable: Miss a short putt, look up at the sky, drop the putter and say ‘Fuuuuuuuck.’
Unacceptable: While walking off the green following said missed putt, asking your buddy’s wife if she wants to get together after the round and fuck.
Where is the handbook to which one may refer, as regards the proper behaviour of an adult?
I sorely need one of those fuckers.
Fuck if I know.
If kids aren’t going to learn bad language on a golf course, where the hell are they going to learn it?!?
golf clap
If you knew the other players would be offended by your expletive, would you still believe it respectful to deliberately offend them? Is saying “fuck” the only way you can be emotionally honest? It sounds like you need to expand your repertoire.
If one of the females in the foursome says it first, then it’s ok. Otherwise, no.
Drop it if you want. Either way, you’ll set expectations for yourself as the guy/girl who does/doesn’t drop fbombs while missing a 3 foot putt. Depends on if you want to be “that guy/girl” or not. Personally I don’t curse a lot when playing sports. If I rim out a putt or blow a layup the most upset I get is a “dangit”. Same for watching sports. However if I blow past an exit on the highway or hit something with the mower, a low but prolonged and pronounced “fuuuuuuuuuuuck” usually ensues.
If you have to yell “Fore” on the green, you’re doing something wrong.
I will agree with the majority and say ‘it depends.’
However, usually when I object to people using foul language (which is rare since I am, myeslf, a potty mouth), it is because the person has lost their shit not because of the language involved.
For example, when I coached tenpin bowling, if a kid kicked the return or threw something out of frustration, I explained that it was inappropriate. The second time they were done for the day. Some coaches put up with it but, to me, sportsmanship and everyone’s enjoyment of the game is important (and throwing what amounts to a temper tantrum when you are above kindergarten is inappropriate).
Is it possible that you lost your shit as well as cursing?
I highly doubt I am the only person to have heard of a pastime affectionately, and aptly, called
“Whack-Fuck”.
A similar topic came up on Sunday in the Sermon I listened to.
According to the guy preaching, if you are a retired pastor, playing golf with other retired pastors, using words like the f-word is inappropriate, embarassing, and entirely reflexive.
The infuriating part is that you can’t even apologize for poor sportsmanship or bad language, because your opponents will be crying from laughter, between the missed putt, the bad language, and your self-evident frustration.
Putting for double-bogey? No.
Birdie? Yes.
Eagle? FUCK yes.
I don’t know–but they are not supposed to learn bad language while visiting Mammoth Cave.
Much better to learn from Aunt Eureka.
(Dinner table discussion: people with southern or Hillbilly accents–like my co-worker who says “Hailfire and Damnations” when she misses a 3-foot putt or in similarly frustrating work situations.)
If you have to ask you probably already know it’s inappropriate.
Yeah freedom of speech is a wonderful thing but civility and class are great too.
Reading everyone else’s response is helping convince me that it depends on the circumstances.
So, after your missed putt, if you leave the ball at a greater distance to the hole, with a downhill lie on fast grass, there never is an inappropriate time to say fuck.
Totally seconded.