Q2. It can be a breach of etiquette to skip a hole IF it affects other people’s play. Otherwise, I’d say no. But if you skipped up and within a hole the other guys are waiting again, you’re an ass. You already know you play ridiculously slow so why would you even attempt it? Maybe if you skipped up two holes. You skipped one hole and within just one hole they were already waiting on you??

Q3. You can take a divot on a practice. That’s not the problem. But if you didn’t fix it or took 10 swings with a bunch of divots, there’s a problem. Most courses want you to sand the divots, not replace them. As long as you’re doing that, it’s probably okay. But the guys were still pissed because you jumped in front of them and then appeared to slow play them on purpose. Based on your admitted attitude on 8/9, I’d guess you probably took your sweet time finishing.

You’re lucky. If you did that to me on 18, I’d have hit into you…and maybe even aimed for you. Be glad they just called the proshop.

You should go out of your way to be extra nice when playing golf, even if others aren’t. Letting people play through is just part of golf. You let "faster groups" play through regardless of their size. The exception MIGHT be if the field is just jammed up and there is nowhere to go. If it’s a faster single or twosome behind you and the field is tight, you could even offer to combine groups and play together since it’d probably be the same pace.

And there’s NO excuse for you taking 2 1/2 hours for nine holes. You played 150m/9holes or about 17m/hole as a two some on the front and then you imply that you played 45m/6 holes or 7 1/2m/hole on the back. Something isn’t right.

Hopefully your concern about if you’re doing the right thing is genuine. If so, now you know. Otherwise, quit being an ass. Other than the divot thing, I’m glad the manager got onto you. There are a few kids at my home course that think they own the place and finally the staff suspended some of them. You might have been affecting more than just the immediate group behind you, too.
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Now, recognizing that you are a beginner and may play slow, look for off peak times to play until you can get it around in under 4 1/2 hours. So maybe not Sunday at 9 am, but 4 pm instead. Or just play 9 holes on the weekends if the course is crowded and spend the other 2 hours practicing.

As far as your issues with the foursome, if you are playing slower than the group behind, let them go through. Period. That is the quickest way to spend all the time you need out there without anyone getting ticked off, just let them go through. On the golf course, as in life, do unto others as you would have done to you.

At many private clubs it is fine to skip holes to get out of the way. But if you are going to skip ahead, you must make sure that you do not let the group you skipped catch back up with you.
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I would say that in general is is a breach of etiquette to skip holes. I understand if you have to leave for some reason. But if you are pressed for time you should only play 9 and not try to squeeze in 18.

You should always take a practice swing without taking a divot, if its an accident then fine, just fix it. Your practice swing is just to ease the tension and get a feel for the swing speed you are looking for. I would agree that the guy behind you is a jackass. If you are intentionally taking huge divots because you are mad then sure its ok if he tells the manager.

While I do agree that there may be a couple breeches of etiquette, I think the biggest breech of etiquette is the other group who is really drunk. Drinking some beers while playing golf is fine, but keep it under control.

If it were me and the manager treated me like that, I would not find a new place to play, and go online and write a bad review about the course.
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I do not think that you should skip holes and jump in front of a group without either their consent or that of the course marshall. And in my opinion at that point you should have contacted the course marshall and let them handle the situation. That is what they are paid to do, and hopefully trained to do.

When taking a practice swing, there is no breach of etiquette if you have accidently taken a divot, and if you have replaced the divot. If you are continually taking divots on extra practice swings, and especially not replacing them, then you are in the wrong. One or two practice swings and replaced divots, no fault of yours.

The most important recommendation or advice that I could give here, is whenever there is a potential confrontation on the golf course, contact the management and let them handle it.
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25 years in the golf management business

I’ve been in the golf business for 11 years now and such events occur on a regular basis. Maybe not to this extent, but similar to say the least. First off, you have to understand you were playing slow. You mentioned both you and a friend played golf together…not sure if it was only a twosome or others joined. Anyway, regardless of how many were in the group, 2 1/2 hours is slow – if you were a twosome, that will hold the entire course up, not just the group behind you.

Q1: In your situation, I would’ve have just waited until the play was finished after hole 9. They could have passed at the turn while you were inside (btw 45 minutes at the turn is unacceptable – shoot for 10 max). Also it would be a good time to clear up any misconceptions between the two groups or even the golf shop and their staff.

Q2: Skipping a hole without consent from the group ahead is completely fine. However, you should ultimately space yourself out accordingly to prevent the skipped group from riding your tales. Actually, if I was operating this course, (which I do for a career) I would have that slow group do the skipping…NO EXCEPTIONS. You actually made a decision that many can’t argue. A decision that helped the slow pace of play.

Q3: It’s not a bad thing to make a small divot on a practice swing. Make divots in moderation though. In a fairway there shouldn’t be any reason to make a divot at all – thicker rough yes, but not in the fairway.

The group that may have called the golf shop (or may not have) is being considerate. From the looks of things, it was a struggle for both groups to finish at a decent pace. Beer and slow play on the 18th hole might have triggered some anger, but I can definitely see their case very clearly.
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However when we got back to the clubhouse my mood turned immediately sour. I was confronted by the manager person, who accused my friend and I of defacing property as well as impolite behavior reguarding speed of play.
So here’s what happened:

On the 1st 9 holes, i’ll admit we were going slower than average. I think we finished in 2 1/2 hours or so. there was a group of 4 gentlemen behind us who were obviously belligerent drunk. They caught up to us on the 8th hole. we negated to let them pass, played thru the 9th.

After 9, we went to the clubhouse and bought a couple waters. The group that was behind us proceeded to the 10th. When we got back out there, after about 45 minutes, we caught up to them. We were playing good golf at the time. on the 16th, we found ourselves waiting behind them as they were chatting before teeing off.

We decided we didn’t want to place them in the same predicament, so we just elected to skip the 16th.

Somehow, on the 18th, they caught back up. It was one of my last shots of the day. An approach shot from about 60 yds. I took a practice swing, taking a small divot. The other group, now behind, informed me to replace the divot. I did. My friend and I putted, then headed back to the clubhouse, where the confrontation with the manager occured.

Q1. Were we in the wrong to neglect them the opportunity to play the 9th hole before us?

Q2. Is it ever a breach of etiquette to skip a hole rather than wait for the group ahead?

Q3. Obviously, some jackass from the group behind called the clubhouse, because the manager made a direct statement about me tearing up the fairway on the 18th. So on an approach shot, should you take your practice swing w/o a divot? Was the man in the group behind in the wrong for calling the clubhouse about an error that i fixed?
Clarification: We didn’t spend 45 minutes @ the turn. What i meant was that 45 minutes after the turn, we caught back up to them.
Clarification #2: they did hit at us. They did aim at us. 1 of their drives hit off a hill and drilled my friend in the back of the head. So maybe now you can see why we did take our time.