This article was machine-translated from the Korean original. Read the Korean original
4:45 AM on Saturday. Before the forest of buildings in the city center has even fully woken up, I enter the golf course address into the navigation system and get onto the Olympic Highway. The early morning drive to a round of golf is always accompanied by a strange mix of tension and excitement. If it were the already congested weekday commute, I would have been overwhelmed by a wave of rhododendron-colored irritation, but when driving on the wide-open road in the early morning of a weekend, even the numbers on the speedometer feel cheerful.
The true beginning of the sport of golf is not the tee box of the first hole on the course. Our round has already started from the moment we head to the meeting place to pick up our companions in the dim dawn. Due to the nature of golf, which is played by four people, we often experience 'carpooling,' cramming four huge caddy bags and four Boston bags into a single car to travel long distances.
If you look at online golf communities or social media, heated debates often erupt over which car can fit four golf bags. This is why large SUVs or imported wagons are considered dream cars for golfers. However, let's be honest. What is more important than the size or brand of the car is the "sense and manners of the people" who fill that enclosed, cramped space inside. No matter how much of a luxury car you drive, if the driver's stomach is upset by the passenger's insensitivity, that day's round is unlikely to be pleasant.
Today's third story of 'WILD IMAGINATION' is a deeply personal guide to 'carpool etiquette for sensible companions' that, regardless of the car model's specifications, makes a dawn carpool trip the hippest and most enjoyable journey in the world.
011. The moment the trunk opens, the difference between a master and a novice is established.
The first hurdle of carpooling is loading the luggage. The moment the driver arrives at the meeting place at dawn and opens the trunk, you can roughly guess how seasoned that golfer is on the course. Novices usually shove their massive caddy bag and Boston bag onto the driver, saying, "Oh, sorry~ My bag is a bit heavy, isn't it?" and slip away behind the cart.
True masters with good sense never expect to be treated like royalty in front of the trunk.
- Removing Head Covers and Checking Name Tags: Before the car arrives, it is essential to check that the head covers for your driver and woods in your golf bag are securely fastened. This is to prevent the unfortunate incident of scratching each other's expensive equipment while loading. Also, do not forget to attach your own name tag in a conspicuous place to keep your bags from getting mixed up.
- Place your Boston bag under your feet: The trunk space is entirely for four huge golf bags. If you carelessly toss your Boston bag into the trunk just because it looks spacious, a disaster will occur when loading the last person's bag, forcing you to unpack and re-stack everything like playing Tetris. It is good manners to take care of your Boston bag and shoe bag and place them under your feet or on your lap.
- The driver takes the lead in loading: The curvature and depth of the trunk vary from car to car. Whether to load bags vertically or stack them horizontally in an alternating pattern is best left to the driver, who knows the car best. Instead of offering unsolicited advice from the side by saying, "It won't fit if you put it in like this," take on the role of an assistant by holding the bags from underneath so the driver can easily arrange them.
022. The front passenger seat, not the 'passenger's' seat, but the 'co-pilot's' seat
The passenger seat next to the driver is not merely a seat of honor left empty for a spacious and comfortable ride. Just like a navigator who guides the driver in a rally race, the person sitting in the passenger seat during an early morning carpool must become the driver's most reliable partner.
The worst passenger is the one who reclines the seat all the way back as soon as they get in, says, "I stayed up late last night, so I'm going to get some sleep," and puts on an eye mask. Driving at dawn is more tiring for the eyes than you might think, and it is easy to zone out once you enter the highway. The loneliness and drowsiness of a driver holding the wheel alone in a car where everyone else is asleep are more fatal than you might expect.
- Become a DJ: When you get in the car, first subtly ask the driver about their musical taste, or thoughtfully play a calm yet sophisticated playlist to wake them up to the early morning mood. Instead of overly loud club music or drowsy classical, city pop or indie music with just the right rhythm is a good choice.
- Navigation Cross-check: Although modern navigation systems are excellent, there are moments when you must urgently change lanes when entering a highway junction (JC) or interchange (IC). If the passenger in the front seat provides subtle verbal guidance, such as saying, "Turn right in 1km," or "If you exit here, you'll be right at the toll gate," the driver's fatigue is reduced by half.
- Timing for Coffee and Bite-sized Snacks: When stopping at a rest area or using a drive-thru before departure, figuring out the driver's beverage preferences in advance and paying accordingly is more than just thoughtful; it is a necessity. If a passenger in the front seat offers a straw while driving, or packs bite-sized snacks like mini chocolates or jellies, that driver will gladly volunteer to come pick them up again next week.
033. Neat Calculations, Warm Hearts: The Study of Fuel and Toll Settlement
One subtle point of friction in frequent carpooling groups is often 'cost.' The person providing the car each time bears the full burden of invisible expenses, including fuel costs, tolls, vehicle depreciation from long-distance driving, and even car wash fees. However, if they try to gloss over the situation with just a simple "Thanks for your hard work today! Have a safe trip!" when getting off, it is difficult for the carpool to last long, no matter how well-intentioned the intentions behind it.
However, it is rare to find a driver who asks for an account number every time, saying, "The total gas bill came to this much, so let's split it exactly in quarters." This is because asking for money outright seems somewhat impersonal. Therefore, the companions who gave the ride must take care of settling the expenses on their own, and with more common sense.
The cleanest way is to appoint an unofficial manager for the day's round.
I felt awkward asking for their account number every time, but it felt like a waste to just let it slide since they drove three hours round trip. It felt much more comfortable for both of us to just settle for treating them to a snack at the clubhouse.Carpool partner in their 3rd year
It is a method in which three companions using carpooling naturally exempt the driver from or prepay their share of the expenses incurred at the golf course that day (such as clubhouse costs, lunch expenses, or caddie fees). This is done with the comment, "You worked hard driving back and forth today, so we'll treat you to the clubhouse!"
If you are in a situation where you have to settle the bill separately, as soon as you get home, calculate the round-trip tolls and approximate fuel costs in the KakaoTalk group chat and immediately express your gratitude via gift certificates or bank transfer. More important than the amount of money is the 'show of respect' that they do not take your efforts for granted.
04Outro: The air inside the car changes the field score
Anyone who has carpooled even once knows this: the tension of the first tee shot of the day changes completely depending on the conversation that took place in the car and how cheerful the atmosphere was during the one or two-hour journey. On days when you share your daily lives and burst into laughter the entire time in the car, you have the composure to coolly laugh off a missed shot once you get out onto the course. Conversely, on days when heavy silence hangs in the air or a game of wits ensues, strangely enough, even your swing freezes up.
Ultimately, a great Golf Tourer SUV is not the spacious vehicle itself, but is completed by the care and warmth that fill it. It is the attitude of prioritizing the comfort of your companion over brand value, and the sense to soothe the hands gripping the steering wheel.
If you find yourself sitting in the passenger seat of someone's car early this weekend, why not try being a slightly more affectionate co-pilot than usual? The moment we pass the tollgate, even the morning fog rolling in outside the window will look like a magnificent backdrop celebrating our perfect play. Play More, Live Better!
