Golf Snobs

[Nigel Islam]

From Geoff Ogilvy's "My Shot" in current Golf Digest:

"I've identified four sub-species so far. The first is The Membership Collector. He belongs to several clubs, all of the expensive, exclusive, and always on the tip of his tongue. The second is The Traditionalist. He raves about 6000-yard seaside courses (preferably in Scotland), plays them with wooden woods and insists golf was better before they invented the bunker rake. Then there's Mr. Big & New. Buys a new driver every six months, has 40 Scotty Cameron putters, drives brand new cars to courses that are 7500 yards. Loves huge clubhouses with wine cellars. Then there's The History Guy. That's me. Always talking about old players, old courses, the history of majors and so on. Knows not only about architects, but when and where they were born."

I just got such a kick out of this paragraph I had to throw it up for discussion. Of course on this site The History Guy also has to know where the architects are buried too I am defintely The History Guy as well.

[K Rafkin]

the real question is which one of these groups feels most superior...

[Josh Stevens]

I suspect at the end of this thread there will be a few more than 4 sub species

I am the "downplay the whole thing, but still secretly a snob"

Member at poshest club in town, but justify it by saying that it just happens to be to closest club to where I live.

Have battered old bag of bats from ebay, but they are old Hogan blades allowing  me to boast that I can still play to single digits with the things

Would never were any logoed clothing - too much of snob for that.  Intentionally dress down so people might think I am an eccentric old Duke, or just so rich and successful I no longer need to try and impress anyone

Sneer contemptuously at people who ride carts

[John Kavanaugh]

Never believe a man who gives himself a nickname.

[John McCarthy]

By the very nature of posting here I think it means we are snobs.  Snobs sounds better than nerds, right?


Right? 

[Steve Wilson]

the real question is which one of these groups feels most superior...

As I belong to groups two and four and have just rechristened myself "Woody", it's obviously me. 

Of course, if I had the wherewithal to belong to groups 1 and/or 3 it would be still me, sans the self-assigned nickname.

[Peter Pallotta]

One of the many reasons to like Geoff is that he actually uses the word "I", even if the sentence that follows is not full of self-praise. (Even if he's talking about not winning the Whisper Rock club championship, he says "I've never won it".)

Why is this noteworthy? Because for some reason, tour pros -- almost every single one of them -- have stopped using "I" almost entirely. (Maybe it's on their sports psychologist's advice.) Have you noticed how many times you'll hear or read something like this from a tour pro:

"Not hitting it.  On 17, never should've happened -- veered right, got caught up in the rough. Off 18, make a better choice there, tugged it a little bit - wind took it, left to right coming off that hill. Not playing poorly -- need to score better, Saturday, pins tucked, tough conditions. Some putts drop -- go low, shoot 5-6 under, put some pressure on, you know -- work it out, come back tomorrow, see what happens."      

It drives me crazy. "1984" style golf speak. I'm glad Geoff hasn't become a pod person. More power to him -- and goodness he is an articulate person. Very nice to read.  

Peter

[BCrosby]

Peter -

Or worse, I heard a pro interviewed last week who talked in terms of "we", as in "we caught a flyer out of the rough ..." or "We misread the putt." 

Geoff is one of the few active professional athletes in any sport who conveys information when interviewed.  A rare breed. He seems to have actually thought about the game. Something that has probably gotten in the way of his competitive record.

Bob 

[Garland Bayley]

Never believe a man who gives himself a nickname.

You betcha Gillette.

[Bill Seitz]

By the very nature of posting here I think it means we are snobs.  Snobs sounds better than nerds, right?


Right? 

No, we're definitely nerds.  I don't think appreciating the finer things makes you snobbish.  I think dismissing or refusing to interact with "lesser" things makes you snobbish.  There's nothing snobbish about appreciating great golf courses.  It's refusing to play the dog track down the road when your buddy who plays maybe a couple times a year makes a tee time that makes you a snob.  Keeping a refrigerator full of craft beer doesn't make you a snob.  Refusing to drink the bottle of Bud Light that your buddy buys you after the round makes you snob. 

[Neil Johnston]

He goes on to name a 5th type - the "harder is better" guy (and calls out Oakmont members). I run into this sub-species in Chicago frequently in my group of friends who struggle to shoot in the 80s.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

One of the many reasons to like Geoff is that he actually uses the word "I", even if the sentence that follows is not full of self-praise. (Even if he's talking about not winning the Whisper Rock club championship, he says "I've never won it".)

Why is this noteworthy? Because for some reason, tour pros -- almost every single one of them -- have stopped using "I" almost entirely. (Maybe it's on their sports psychologist's advice.) Have you noticed how many times you'll hear or read something like this from a tour pro:

"Not hitting it.  On 17, never should've happened -- veered right, got caught up in the rough. Off 18, make a better choice there, tugged it a little bit - wind took it, left to right coming off that hill. Not playing poorly -- need to score better, Saturday, pins tucked, tough conditions. Some putts drop -- go low, shoot 5-6 under, put some pressure on, you know -- work it out, come back tomorrow, see what happens."      

It drives me crazy. "1984" style golf speak. I'm glad Geoff hasn't become a pod person. More power to him -- and goodness he is an articulate person. Very nice to read.  

Peter

Exactly why I can't stand Rory McIlroy interviews - breaking down every swing and talking out the side of his mouth

[Brian_Sleeman]

No, we're definitely nerds.  I don't think appreciating the finer things makes you snobbish.  I think dismissing or refusing to interact with "lesser" things makes you snobbish. 

Well-put, Bill.  I completely agree.

Falling into one of those categories (probably the first) is the guy who relates a situation he encounters on the golf course with you by name-dropping another club.  "I haven't seen a bounce that lucky since I skipped one off the rocks on the 16th at Cypress."

"Nice up and down.  A friend of mine hit a shot like that on 13 at Augusta last week."

[Adam Lawrence]

Peter -

Or worse, I heard a pro interviewed last week who talked in terms of "we", as in "we caught a flyer out of the rough ..." or "We misread the putt." 

Geoff is one of the few active professional athletes in any sport who conveys information when interviewed.  A rare breed. He seems to have actually thought about the game. Something that has probably gotten in the way of his competitive record.

Bob 

Or refer to themselves in the third person, God help us.

[Nigel Islam]

Peter -

Or worse, I heard a pro interviewed last week who talked in terms of "we", as in "we caught a flyer out of the rough ..." or "We misread the putt." 

Geoff is one of the few active professional athletes in any sport who conveys information when interviewed.  A rare breed. He seems to have actually thought about the game. Something that has probably gotten in the way of his competitive record.

Bob 

Or refer to themselves in the third person, God help us.

"Jimmy's Down!"

[BCowan]

Peter -

Or worse, I heard a pro interviewed last week who talked in terms of "we", as in "we caught a flyer out of the rough ..." or "We misread the putt."  

Geoff is one of the few active professional athletes in any sport who conveys information when interviewed.  A rare breed. He seems to have actually thought about the game. Something that has probably gotten in the way of his competitive record.

Bob  

Or refer to themselves in the third person, God help us.

"Jimmy's Down!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apa0nG1OfUc;D

[Paul Gray]

By the very nature of posting here I think it means we are snobs.  Snobs sounds better than nerds, right?


Right? 

No, we're definitely nerds.  I don't think appreciating the finer things makes you snobbish.  I think dismissing or refusing to interact with "lesser" things makes you snobbish.  There's nothing snobbish about appreciating great golf courses.  It's refusing to play the dog track down the road when your buddy who plays maybe a couple times a year makes a tee time that makes you a snob.  Keeping a refrigerator full of craft beer doesn't make you a snob.  Refusing to drink the bottle of Bud Light that your buddy buys you after the round makes you snob. 

I think I may now be both. Until recently I was simply a nerd with a snobbish persona. This week however, for the first time, I declined an invite to play a particularly nasty track which, unbeknown to the club, is now the proud owner of only the second Doak zero I've ever dished out.

[Mike_Duffy]

the real question is which one of these groups feels most superior...

And that is  precisely why I left GCA 11 years ago. I could not abide with the sneering elitism of many of the American contributors to this forum.

[Tim_Weiman]

the real question is which one of these groups feels most superior...

And that is  precisely why I left GCA 11 years ago. I could not abide with the sneering elitism of many of the American contributors to this forum.

Mike,

Nice to see you check in. Been a long time. Hope things are well for you.

[Daniel Jones]

Since the guys in my regular foursome call me a snob quite often, I figured this was a good spot to make my first post.

I'm a combination of #2 and #4. My clubs are as old or older than I am, and I play 2/3 of my golf at the local muni because it's the oldest, most enjoyable course in town.

But since my wife refers to me as "Sheldon Cooper" I'm going to say I prefer the nerd designation as well.

[Brent Hutto]

Is there a catchy name for the guy who thinks the only way to play Golf in its truest form is with a caddie carrying your bag, a guy shining your street shoes while you're out playing and another guy to lift your club into and out of the trunk of your car?

[Adam Clayman]

Nigel, What was Geoff's context?

Just from your snippet, I'd say Mr. Ogilvy hasn't spent too much time playing with the masses.

Mike Nuzzo's observations are more thought provoking.

 http://www.nuzzocoursedesign.com/pdf/GAV5.pdf

[Paul Gray]

Is there a catchy name for the guy who thinks the only way to play Golf in its truest form is with a caddie carrying your bag, a guy shining your street shoes while you're out playing and another guy to lift your club into and out of the trunk of your car?

I believe the term is JK.