The most annoying things about other golfers

Golf is a highly social game. Among its many great qualities is the opportunity it presents to meet and play with other people. Lifelong friendships have been forged on the course, family bonds strengthened, and you can encounter all manner of acquaintances when striding the fairways together.

However, it's only natural that you're not going to like everyone, and even those who you do may occasionally exhibit habits and behaviours that get on your nerves - to say the least.

We've probably all been around annoying golfers and, perhaps in certain instances, we've also been guilty of committing a few unforgivable sins during a round ourselves. You've always got to learn from your mistakes.

But what should you be looking out for? Asking the Golfshake Community on Facebook, we posed the question: What's the most annoying habit that other golfers have?

The responses were diverse - and often entertaining - but there are a few subjects that frequently made an appearance.

Let's take a look at what many of you find most aggravating about other golfers.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Distracting Other Golfers During a Round

Whether you're a serious player desperate to post a good score or someone just out for a jolly good time, we all want different things from a round of golf, but generally speaking, when the time comes to step over the ball and play your next shot, you would prefer having the chance to fully focus on the task ahead of you.

It might not be done with malicious intent, but sometimes overly chatty golfers can irk others if they don't carefully choose their moments to speak.

Among the golfers who raised this point, Andy Hillyard said: "Talking when you're taking your shot but expect silence when taking theirs."

Karl Harrison-Scott was of the same mindset: "Talking in other golfers' swings - just bad manners."

Michael David Lynch: "Crowding you when you're trying to play your shot."

That sentiment was continued by Alan Taylor: "Whispering while I am playing a shot!" Martin Hollands felt the same way: "Chattering loudly all around the course when you're trying to concentrate."

It's not just noise that can be a distraction, inconsiderate movement can too, which is frustrating, even if you didn't intend it to be that way.

Craig Newton commented on a habit that bothers him: "Standing behind you to see the ball flight more easily and constantly moving about in your eyeline."

Gilbert Benedit said: "Walking across your line of on the green." Wayne Rogers added: "Walking in my line, on the green, especially leaving a footprint!"

Going back to those chatty golfers, while it's not relevant during a round, what about after it? How about those people who describe every shot and hole they had just played.

Ian Thomas said: "Telling you about their round shot by shot in the bar."

No one wants to hear that.

Angry Golfers Ruining The Mood

There is no doubt that playing golf can be a test of character. It's difficult, you frequently have to deal with bad breaks and those days when nothing is going your way.

It's easy to understand why it can test your patience, but it's essential to remember that your mood and demeanour can impact the enjoyment of those who you are playing with.

It's clear that being in the company of angry golfers, those who shout, swear, toss clubs around, is something that many of us would rather do without.

Paul Higgins said: "Throwing clubs out of frustration." Dale Preston added: "Taking it way too seriously."

And Lee Harris encapsulated it perfectly when he commented: "Getting too angry on the course with their own game and affecting the enjoyment of the rest of the group."

Giving Unwanted Advice on The Golf Course

We all want to play better and one of the things that most consistently causes poor golf is by getting the basics wrong. Fundamentals are so important to playing well, whether you're Rory McIlroy or the average mid-handicapper, but at the same time, it can be tiring to hear others pointing that out to you when on the course.

Kevin Robertson said: "Giving advice when you're as pants as me."

In a similar vein, Colin Scott responded: "When your mate gives you advice and you're playing 10 below his handicap."

Elliot Williams added: "Giving advice about swing then you see them flop one into the trees."

Matthew Searle feels the same way: "Giving advice after every shot while themselves being worse player than you!"

And Tom Mitchell would rather hear professional advice: "One that my brother-in-law has, trying to coach me. He's not a teaching pro."

We Can't Escape Hearing About Slow Play

You won't be shocked to discover that slow play - a topic that we have covered ad nauseam - remains one of the standout complaints that many of you have about other golfers.

And we get it. No one wants to be standing around constantly waiting for others to hit. Golf doesn't have to be fast, either, as a steady pace, taking in your surroundings and those alongside you, seems like the ideal compromise. 

But it's clear that others take leisurely to another level entirely. Here are just some of the comments we received:

Mike Carlin: "Playing slowly and never admitting it even though there are two holes open in front of you."

Maurice Folkard: "Waiting for 20 minutes for the green to clear on a 250-yard approach and slicing it 75 yards."

Jeremy Atkinson: "Slow players not letting you through."

David Guild: "Waiting till the green clears on a par 4 when they can only hit it halfway there!"

Robert McRae: "Slow play and not waving people through."

Liam Conroy: "Slow play especially waiting for a green to clear when they have no chance at all ever reaching it."

However, some people don't want to be rushed either, as Stuart Beattie said, perhaps in response to other remarks that were submitted: "Telling other golfers how fast they should play."

You'll never keep everyone happy at the same time!

Displaying Poor Etiquette

Ultimately, so many of these complaints come back to golfers displaying poor etiquette. That's perhaps best demonstrated by these issues raised by golfers that affect the condition and maintenance of fairways and greens, which is generally an example of laziness that makes things worse for others.

Dave Carmichael said: "Not raking bunkers and repairing pitch marks." Paul Swan added: "Not replacing a divot." Brian McCluskey was thinking similarly when he responded: "Not fixing ball marks on the greens."

Craig Steven commented, also relating back to slow play: "Not raking the bunker, or marking their scorecard when on the green while you're waiting on them moving. Just mark it when you're on the tee waiting on your turn to hit!"

Finally, giving a nod to the incredible work of greenkeepers worldwide and the importance that we all do everything possible to support them and make their job easier, David Hollinger said: "Leaving trash lying around the course instead of putting it in the bins, absolutely no respect for the hard work of greens staff."

Some golfers need to take more responsibility for their actions.

Playing Music on The Fairways

Finally, when it came to annoyances, this was a more niche suggestion, but increasingly, especially when golf carts are in use, some golfers will play music during their round, which can prove to be distracting to others.

Kelly Cooper said: "Bringing loudspeakers and playing music from their carts."

Adam Flynn responded: "Blaring out music on a speaker thinking that we all need to hear it."

Each to their own, I guess, and if the volume is kept low, then it shouldn't be a problem, but personally, I think the natural ambience and soundtrack of a golf course is more than enough.

If it hasn't been covered here, what do you think are the most annoying habits that other golfers have?