edicate Really? When I was caddying and learning the edicate from my elders and other caddies, slower players were aware they were holding up players and they waved them forward, typically on the par 3 holes. How are faster players supposed to communicate to those in front of them that they wish to play through? Yelling doesn't work well, of course one could hit into them but golf isn't really a contact sport. At least until the "GO IN THE HOLE" leather lung crowd showed up.

I find the "trouble" with many players who come into golf later in life is that they don't know the simple rules of edicate such as being aware of holding up play, taking a few clubs and walking to your ball rather than driving each player to his ball (if you don't know which club you're going to use it probably won't matter which one you hit), walking on putting lines, clomping over the cups, shadows moving in a hitters line of sight, standing still until a player finishes the shot, holding the pin with the flag on the ground on windy days, raking sand traps after your fourth shot whether you're still in the trap or not, moving away from the cup on the practice green so others may putt to that cup, repairing ball marks and divots, rattling clubs during another players address or swing and all this is not to mention that whatever they have to say is so important that it can't wait until the others have finished their shot. It all boils down to being aware of what is taking place and being considerate of fellow player in your own group and others and trying to leave the course better than you found it.

There are places in the world, at least there used to be, where you had to pass a bit of a playing and etiquette test, often by playing several holes with a "qualified" player before being allowed on a course. Maybe we need to give remedial lessons or maybe everyone should have to play training round or caddy for ME before being allowed to run loose on our iconic golf course.

And do you have any idea how hard it is to get edicate past my spell checker