# What do you say to someone as they go off to play golf? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 2, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441 "2012-09-02T13:20:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/1 "2012-09-02T13:20:29Z")
I work at a hotel that is near a golf course. We often have guests who visit specifically to golf, but I work the graveyard shift so I rarely see them on their way to or returning from the course. I had a guy call last night to ask for a 5:30am wake-up call, specifically saying that the wake-up call was very important to him because he had scheduled a 6:00am tee time (“tee time” is what it’s called, right?). So, just now, he came down with his clubs got some coffee and stopped to chat. Then he was on his way. I said to him as he left “Have a good . . . day”. “Day” seemed safe. It had never occurred to me that I don’t know what to say to someone who is about to play golf, much like I don’t know what to say to someone who is about to read _Walden_. Had he announced that he was going to go play basketball, I’d have said “Have a good game”. Going to breakfast, I’d say “Have a nice breakfast”. To perform in a play, “Break a leg”. To go to church, “Tell God he still owes me $5”. But I didn’t know what to say for golf. “Have a good game” didn’t sound right as I stopped it reaching my lips. Should it have been “have a good game”? Not sure why I didn’t think it sounded right. If at least one person can give a serious answer, I’ll appreciate it. Beyond that, the OP places no other restrictions on snark, sarcasm, insults, or condescension. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/2 "2012-09-02T13:28:53Z")
Keep it in the fairway. Stay out of the bunkers. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/3 "2012-09-02T13:28:54Z")
In normal households, “Have a good game” would be fine. Or “Have a good round”, since 18 holes of golf constitutes a round. In the **Swords** household, the standard saying is “Have a Grapo Gator!” That was apparently how I said “Have a great golf game!” when I was 3, and it stuck ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/4 "2012-09-02T13:30:58Z")
Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/5 "2012-09-02T13:32:51Z")
Thanks. Don’t know why “Good game” sounded weird to me. I like **Oakminster** ’s suggestions too. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/6 "2012-09-02T13:37:25Z")
“Enjoy your round” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/7 "2012-09-02T15:12:50Z")
“Fairways and greens.” Or use what I always tell members of the school golf teams when they head off for a match: “Uphold the honor of the school. Return with your clubs or on them.” ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/8 "2012-09-02T22:34:09Z")
Fairways and Greens Keep it in the short stuff Play well Have good game Informational (especially for females): The bathrooms are after the 5th and 14th Tips (if you know for certain): always take one more club on the 7th The worst that has ever been said to me: “The water never really comes into play.” (of course, a USJGA champion said it to me.) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/9 "2012-09-02T22:37:23Z")
Have you cleaned your balls? ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/10 "2012-09-02T22:37:41Z")
“Have a good round” or “Enjoy your round” would be my choice. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/11 "2012-09-03T00:03:15Z")
I like a lot of these. I would just say, play ON! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/12 "2012-09-03T00:06:55Z")
For those about to duff, we salute you! ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/13 "2012-09-03T00:33:08Z")
How about, “Don’t get killed”? I say that in a lot of situations. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/14 "2012-09-03T01:00:29Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > “Have a good round” or “Enjoy your round” would be my choice. This. When talking golf, use the term ‘round’ anywhere you might otherwise use ‘game’ for other sports. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/15 "2012-09-03T01:04:44Z")
“Yip-pee!” When they say “I appreciate the call”, you should say “Shanks!” “Would you like lots of chips and some chili-dip when you get back?” ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/16 "2012-09-03T02:03:52Z")
> [@phxjcc](#): > > Tips (if you know for certain): always take one more club on the 7th Best golf tip I ever got was “the cart girl is slow here, buy extras when she comes around”. Saved the day. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/17 "2012-09-03T04:25:14Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > “Have a good round” or “Enjoy your round” would be my choice. Another vote for this. You can’t go wrong with these sentiments. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/18 "2012-09-03T06:10:15Z")
Keep it straight and don’t get stuck on the 19th. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/19 "2012-09-03T18:48:11Z")
“Gunga la-gunga” “Be the ball sir, be the ball.” ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441/20 "2012-09-03T18:53:43Z")
“…and STAY out!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-say-to-someone-as-they-go-off-to-play-golf/633441.md?page=2)