Is it okay to curse on the golf course? If the etiquette master has a choice
Jack from Santa Barbara writes: I have a friend who curses a lot on the court; it helps him blow off steam. One day we were paired with someone who was clearly offended. Should my friend dial back?
Anyone who says swearing is a failure of imagination has not seriously considered all the interesting ways in which swearing can be used. This is true both on and off the court. Ceremonies are known to use profanity from time to time, and not just cutting edge. another. It comes in handy when a putt is out of the hole or a tee shot careens off a tree and into a drink.
Which is to say: the urge to swear is understandable.
Whether this jargon is socially acceptable is another matter. As with most things in golf, it depends on the company and the circumstances. The rules for talking like a sailor on the field are pretty much the same as they are in life: Don’t do it in front of your kids, your boss, your babysitter, or pretty much anyone you just met. Leave it to your friends, who know that when you say, “Oh, for God’s sake,” you’re talking about yourself, not them.
Self-directed swearing can even be funny. One golfer muttered: “Well done, you [bleeping] Genius,” after throwing someone into the bunker, is really just making fun of their own stupidity. But when the language turns outward—when someone roars, “Don’t talk to my balls! ” — dynamic. It’s not humor, it’s humor. It’s hostility, a sign of a deeper darkness within. Etiquette experts can only wonder what those foul-mouthed people do while driving.
Swear words have their place. It also has its limitations. In small doses it can be fun and cathartic. But when other words are four letters, it starts to sound like arrested development. Just so the Ryder Cup hecklers know, they think shouting obscenities at Rory McIlroy is a joke.
There’s a line between expressiveness and excess, and it’s not hard to recognize. Even etiquette masters know when to shut up—most of the time. When in doubt, read the room and draw references from your life off the field. If you wouldn’t say it at the dinner table, you probably shouldn’t shout it across the lane.
Save the whole-hearted breakdown for the drive home.
