If you search “golf Marshall” it is amazing how many golfers relate their bad experiences in dealing with a golf Marshall. The common complaint is a Marshall that is overbearing and aggressive opining where that Marshall should stay clear of. “Like why are you playing from the professional tees when you are lacking the skill to do so.”” Or why are you taking so long to line up and shoot the ball?”. “Haven’t you ever heard of ready golf?” Many comments focus on the fact a Marshall is often retired. Ageism in action!
My experience and training show that what you would like to say as a Marshall is best kept to yourself as everything can be swept under the carpet and covered effectively by saying,” I wonder if you can help me out by picking up your pace as you are slowing up golfers behind you.” Of course, if golf etiquette courses were mandatory and paid attention to the need for a Marshall might be reduced!
An angry and bitter Marshall is a liability for a golf course and the internal soul of such a Marshall may isolate that Marshall from golfers who dislike such an annoying character. So in effect that Marshall may be ostracizing himself and setting him/her out for isolation and loneliness. Better to converse and chat with golfers at random and establish a relationship as there is a better chance they will respect you when you ask them to pick up the pace if of course you have to do so.
So on busy spring and summer days there is no end of conversations and interactions to keep a Marshall occupied. However when autumn rolls in with cold morning temps and a thinning group of golfers I will admit things can get lonely and the colder it becomes misery just might accompany loneliness. The crowds thin out when the sunsets get earlier and earlier. So what does a lonely Marshall do? I have found looking for golf balls helps pass the time or even getting off the cart and heading into the woods at the edge of the rough opens a whole new appreciation of the eco system surrounding the golf course. Streams and jungle like vegetation. Aside from that chatting with the groundskeepers opens a new world of understanding what goes on “behind the scenes”.
And on occasion I have worked the “closing shift” where there is a rush to close up the golf course, park and lock up golf carts before darkness sets in then the awe of seeing a bustling golf course settling into sleep for the night which golfers never have the privilege of seeing. And then hop into your car and head home in the darkness, have dinner and then sit down and write about “The Life of a Golf Marshall”.
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