I recently played a round with a close buddy who, on two separate occasions before we reached the sixth tee, left one of his wedges on the hole prior and had to drive back to get it. He had a few excuses for the mental lapses, the first being that he was extremely hungover from attending the New York Yankees’ clinching Game 3 over the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card series the night before. Second, he was participating in a perfectly legal recreational activity that would help him get over said hangover, the kind that causes you to forget things quite easily.
We’re not here to judge, because the reality is that leaving your club(s) on the hole prior is something that has happened to everyone at some point in their golfing lives, whether sober, buzzed or hungover. It’s fair to declare that, despite no statistical backing, it most commonly happens to golfers new or somewhat new to the sport, but it still happens to longtime golfers too. My friend would fall in the former category, having taken up the game during COVID and quickly becoming an addict. But like so many new COVID golfers, there are some tricks to the etiquette trade that take more than five years to learn.
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That’s where I’m happy to step in and flex 20-plus years of knowledge I’ve acquired playing this sport. Nobody wants to routinely be the guy or gal who has to take the cart back and sheepishly ask the group behind, who you’ve now pissed off by slowing things down, “anybody see a 58-degree? Callaway?” There are some very simple ways to ensure this never happens to you again.
First, let’s envision the scenario this happens the most—when you are riding in a cart, your approach misses the green, and you bring your putter and a wedge or two to give yourself some options. You find your ball on the other side of the green, chip it on and either A) leave the clubs right where you just hit from, or B) bring them to the green with you and toss them in the rough nearby. After your entire group putts out, including yourself, you march to the cart and head to the next tee. It’s not until the following green where you are presented with the identical situation and you go to grab a wedge that has mysteriously disappeared from your bag. That’s when it hits you. Cart ride of shame time.
To avoid this, after you’ve played your chip shot, take your wedges, putter cover, towel and whatever else you brought with you and locate your golf cart, which is likely going to be en route to the next tee box. Place everything down in a spot you know you and the rest of your group is going to walk directly past on your way to the cart. This is the No. 1 way to ensure you’ll never forget a club, or anything else, on the last hole again.
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This goes for people who prefer to carry their bags and walk, too. Perhaps after you’ve hit your approach, you notice a great spot to leave your bag on the next hole, which will lighten your load for the rest of the hole you’re on. You grab a wedge for your upcoming chip shot as well as your putter and your driver for the next tee shot. After you’ve played the chip, place your wedge and driver on the path to the next tee box.
One other helpful tip: it might be best to never leave clubs in the thick grass. Even if you place them on the path you’ll be exiting the green, you still might walk right over them without realizing it if the rough is long enough. Try placing everything in the fringe or right on the outer edge of the putting surface.
Do you have a “stupid” golf problem? A question you’re too ashamed to ask your close friends? A conundrum that needs to be talked out in a public forum? We’re here to help. If you have etiquette-related inquiries or just want to know how to handle some of the unique on- or off-course situations we all find ourselves in, please let us know. You can email me ([email protected]) or send me a DM on Twitter/X (@Cpowers14) or on Instagram (@cpthreeve).
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
