After reading a different thread, I got to wondering: If a player with a history of agitating people decides he wants to "get in the head" (play mental games) of a certain player, and somehow manages to bribe the TD (or perhaps get lucky with the random draw) to be on the same card as the other player. Should the player (victim) announce to the group prior to the start of the round, "Player So-and-so (agitator) has made it known to me that he will try his best to make my round uncomfortable. I only want to play a round of golf, I'm not interested in his attempts at feined friendship. I will fulfill my responsibilities as a member of this group, but I want no other contact with this individual. If he tries to get close to make threats or other comments that only he and I can hear, I will call a courtesy violation." ....or something along those lines so the group knows upfront of the tension the history of the agitator brings with him.

Is this acceptable? I've known a few agitators who wouldn't mind wasting a few bucks on a tournament entry to get the chance to try to "get back" at somebody.

in my experience the person getting worked is to cowardly to say so and puts up with it. if they act the way you describe i would suggest a good field far away from the golf course where they can beat the snot out of each other. and everything works out great in the end.

or if you are the type of person that can be worked by something like the person in your group then you have more problems than how you will shoot in a round of golf.

: ) :

I'm interested in this response as well, but more for people who aren't necessarily playing "head games", but are instead just outrageously annoying. There is one player that I have had the misfortune to play with several times who talks incessantly, and is generally disruptive with their behavior and actions throughout the entire round. Attempts to simply ignore him are useless. Behavior like this disrupts the entire card generally, as it results in 3 hours of non-stop annoyance.

Is it possible to ask people like this to stop if it is interfering with your round? If they refuse, is this a courtesy violation?

In my experiences, I get enough violence at work. I'm usually pretty easy going and mostly quiet. I like to stay away from angry, misguided souls and enjoy my peaceful pursuits of happiness. When I choose to play Disc Golf, especially at a tournament, I shouldn't have to come armed to the teeth and ready for a violent confrontation. It's supposed to be a GAME!

then learn to deal.

or if they talk while you throw, are cussing or breaking rules, call a courtesy violation

: ) :

After reading a different thread, I got to wondering: If a player with a history of agitating people decides he wants to "get in the head" (play mental games) of a certain player, and somehow manages to bribe the TD (or perhaps get lucky with the random draw) to be on the same card as the other player. Should the player (victim) announce to the group prior to the start of the round, "Player So-and-so (agitator) has made it known to me that he will try his best to make my round uncomfortable. I only want to play a round of golf, I'm not interested in his attempts at feined friendship. I will fulfill my responsibilities as a member of this group, but I want no other contact with this individual. If he tries to get close to make threats or other comments that only he and I can hear, I will call a courtesy violation." ....or something along those lines so the group knows upfront of the tension the history of the agitator brings with him.

<font color="red">Id say that it is NOT only acceptable BUT wise on the "affected" individuals part.
IF said offender is THAT BAD, then maybe putting it out there up front could solve the issue. MAYBE NOT.

In NORCAL we had a player who fell under this catagory, USUALLY though it only made things worse when he was confronted. :(
By the time the TD was involved the player would DNF before action was taken.....

Eventually he was SUSPENDED from local THEN PDGA play for his actions... :p </font>

Is this acceptable? I've known a few agitators who wouldn't mind wasting a few bucks on a tournament entry to get the chance to try to "get back" at somebody.

I think it sounds pretty reasonable, except for the calling of a courtesy violation. Just because someone does something you don't like, doesn't mean you can just throw out a courtesy violation. It has to be specifically covered under the rules, and an announcement at the beginning of the round doesn't give you the right to call it for whatever reason you want.

I'd say it's akin to telling your group "If anyone gets a birdie, and I don't, I'll call a courtesy violation."

I think it sounds pretty reasonable, except for the calling of a courtesy violation. Just because someone does something you don't like, doesn't mean you can just throw out a courtesy violation. It has to be specifically covered under the rules, and an announcement at the beginning of the round doesn't give you the right to call it for whatever reason you want.

I'd say it's akin to telling your group "If anyone gets a birdie, and I don't, I'll call a courtesy violation."



By rule could you issue a "Warning" based on "past behavior"? /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

ie... as a statement to the GROUP as a whole and NOT directed toward a CERTAIN individual...

"Rules WILL be followed in this round!. If ANY infractions occur, then appropriate actions will be taken as stated in the Rule Book"
/msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Oh wait...thats IS the way its supposed to be.... :p
BUT they said it at the players meeting..right!
:o

I have had a person in a group (more than once) state prior to the round starting that any violations of 804.05(4)would NOT be tolerated and dealt with to the extent of the rules.
/msgboard/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Most just shrug it off...others have been agitated by it.. :p

I agree with you completely. But telling the group that if a particular guy says anything to you or pretends to be your friend, then you'll warn them, doesn't really fly. If you call the rules, good; they need to be called. And a blanket "I will be calling the rules" before the round, is a good thing. But you can't just throw out a courtesy violation because you feel like it.

I don't recall a rule against gamesmanship or "getting into someone's head".

I try to avoid it during sanctioned play, but didn't realize it was against the rules.

Threatening another player or abusive conduct are different and serious matters that deserve being called and should be brought to the TDs attention. Even if the TD says they don't want to hear about it at the player's meeting.

It's called an Ipod folks....a player has to talk to you to get in your head right? Just listen to good music and ignore the instigator. Now if he gets fustrated because your ignoring him, and he starts to stand in your line (or something to that affect), issue a courtesy warning at that point.

Have you actually ready the Courtesy Rule? Where does it say that this is against the rules? Now, I agree that is not very nice, but it is not against the rule.

B. Players should take care not to produce any distracting noises or any potential visual distractions for other players who are throwing . Examples of discourteous actions are: shouting, cursing, freestyling, slapping course equipment, throwing out of turn, throwing or kicking golf bags, throwing minis, and advancing on the fairway beyond the away player. Shouting at an appropriate time to warn someone in danger of being struck by a disc is not a violation of courtesy.

Purposely standing in another player's line when throwing or putting would constitute a warning.

Of course, but is what the orginal poster meant? That is hardly a head game...

This situation comes under the DQ rule. A player can be DQ'd for overt rudeness or unsportsmanlike conduct. Since a player in a group cannot DQ anybody, the only tool they have during the round is the courtesy rule (it is discourteous to be rude). They can issue courtesy violation strokes all day long if they are offended. But ultimately, the TD will have to decide whether to DQ the offender and/or allow the strokes to stand after listening to both sides.

Thanks Mike - I was gonna post the same thing if I hadn't found your post at the bottom! :) Overt rudeness is one of the few things actually mentioned in the rules as grounds for DQ, and if being a d**k doesn't qualify as a violation of courtesy, I don't know what does. And a head game artist doesn't have to be overly vocal to be overtly rude. It's all a matter of what you are willing to put up with.

A head game artist is neither rude nor loud.

At least not in the way I understand head games.

If the offending player is only trying to be an irritant, it's not much of a challenge nor a game.

A head game artist is neither rude nor loud.



This is subject to opinion and the instant situation at hand. What is rude to one person may not be rude to another. Loud is the same thing. I hear cars with loud bass woofers pumping. It's too loud for me, but not for the kids driving the car. For me, Led Zeppelin's Rock & Roll needs to be played very loud - too loud for grandma, but not for me.