Asshole Starter Rant
Mostly just ranting. I don't know why this is, but there are only two types of starters: the nicest old man you've ever met; or the most curmudgeonly asshole you've ever had the displeasure of interacting with.
I got the later this Sunday and I'm still annoyed about this.
My buddy has a standing tee time at 8:50 for a muni near the City. Golf in NYC can be a bit of pain without a car, so I take like three different subways with my golf clubs to meet another friend with a car and he drives us the rest of the way there.
At 8:30 our buddy asks us where we are and says the starter wants to send us off early. Strange, but I apologize and say we are close but just pulling up, we will be there for 8:50 and don't really think about it. I ask him to grab the cart and check us in so we are ready to go right by 8:50.
It is 8:44 and I am at the first tee box, my buddy has the cart there already, the only thing I need to do is strap my bag onto the cart take my driver out and I'm good to go.
I don't even register its for me at first, but as I'm walking up the starter is screaming at me at the top of his lungs: > I'M SO SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF THESE FUCKING GOLFERS WHO DON'T GET TO THEIR FUCKING TEE TIMES 30 MINUTES FUCKING EARLY. WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU? YOU ARE FUCKING LATE. GOD I'M SO SICK OF YOU ENTITLED FUCKS.
I look at him blankly for a minute not sure what to say and he points his finger at me, and I swear spits flying everywhere as he just keeps repeating over and over again:
> DON'T FUCKING SAY A THING; DON'T FUCKING SAY A THING TO ME; YOU DON'T SAY A FUCKING THING; YOU HIT THE FUCKING BALL AND YOU DON'T SAY A FUCKING THING TO ME."
I have no idea what to do with this interaction so I decided to, well, not say a fucking thing to him and hit the ball.
All four of our group have hit. I'm in the (wrong) fairway over my ball. I look at my phone: 8:50. We catch the group ahead of us immediately and have to wait.
This was the closest in my life I've been to asking to speak to a manager because I don't really appreciate being screamed at. Even if I was late (and I guess my assumption is that if I've teed off by 8:50 for an 8:50 tee time, I'm on time), just tell me I can't play. Fine. But again, it's my buddies standing tee time he's had for years and I don't want to get him in trouble the first time he invites me so I left it alone.
Worst interaction I've ever had with a Starter in my life. It left me frazzled for the entire round, I was literally too afraid to go near the starter and pick up a scorecard so I played without it.
Curious if any of you have had similar interactions.