HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Did we really need another slow play thread, I mean really?
15 seconds is a long time...
- Thread starter Hobbit
- Start date
Farneyman
Tour Winner
Well as this is my first viewing of such a thread I believe we do.
Really.
I have recently started a pre shot routine and it has helped my game greatly. As a result I will take more time over my shot than I did before. As long as you walk to your ball quickly and play when its your turn. Its as simple as that.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
1847 posts and a member since 2008 and you've never seen a slow play thread? You are joking aren't you?
Paul_Stewart
Tour Rookie
We have a guy at Pyrford who is so slow, he is nicknamed "DRS". He has the same overtaking facility as the F1 cars but he is never close enough to the group in front to use it.
Fader
Tour Winner
Another slow play thread come around so quickly! The other ones only just trundling off!
My small input for what it's worth is that it isn't pre shot routines, practice swings, lining up putts or checking yardages that are the issue. It's when people actually start doing them that is the issue, to often I see people only starting the process ones their mates/partners have all played that's what draws the process out and adds time. Whereas if they do their routines of deciding on distance and shot type, take their practice swings (whilst no disturbing others), line up putts whilst others are putting and it all shows you can have a thorough pre shot routine but still be ready to play the moment it's your turn.
Put your bag in sensible places e.g at the exit from the green that is on the route to the next tee and not at the front or wrong side of it! Mark the card whilst walking to next tee not whilst standing on putting surface, if you've putted out grab the flag ready to put it back in once the last guy has putted. If you hit one into the bundu hit a provisional, walk at a decent pace and don't fanny about dawdling.
Playing at a decent pace isn't hard it's just common sense and courtesy. I'm the first to admit I'm not the fastest on the course and certainly won't set any land speed records for timings but I will make sure I'm always ready to play when it's my turn and will keep up with the group ahead instead of just keeping ahead of the group behind.
My small input for what it's worth is that it isn't pre shot routines, practice swings, lining up putts or checking yardages that are the issue. It's when people actually start doing them that is the issue, to often I see people only starting the process ones their mates/partners have all played that's what draws the process out and adds time. Whereas if they do their routines of deciding on distance and shot type, take their practice swings (whilst no disturbing others), line up putts whilst others are putting and it all shows you can have a thorough pre shot routine but still be ready to play the moment it's your turn.
Put your bag in sensible places e.g at the exit from the green that is on the route to the next tee and not at the front or wrong side of it! Mark the card whilst walking to next tee not whilst standing on putting surface, if you've putted out grab the flag ready to put it back in once the last guy has putted. If you hit one into the bundu hit a provisional, walk at a decent pace and don't fanny about dawdling.
Playing at a decent pace isn't hard it's just common sense and courtesy. I'm the first to admit I'm not the fastest on the course and certainly won't set any land speed records for timings but I will make sure I'm always ready to play when it's my turn and will keep up with the group ahead instead of just keeping ahead of the group behind.
bobmac
Major Champion
Put up some signs around the course.......people dont read them
Put notices in the clubhouse......"No-one thinks they apply to them"
Educate your members..........no-one listens
THE ONLY WAY IS...
On competition/busy days, send a marshall out to marshall the players...especially the early starters, that's often where slow play starts.
And if the players are a touch on the mature side, the marshall suggests they call the following group through or perhaps tee off later.
No-one should tell someone to play faster or slower, it's their right to play at a comfortable speed for them, but they should also respect others on the course and call through any who want to play faster.
It's exactly the same as sitting at 65 in the outside lane of a motorway. If you want to drive at 65, fine, but pull over to let others pass.
Put notices in the clubhouse......"No-one thinks they apply to them"
Educate your members..........no-one listens
THE ONLY WAY IS...
On competition/busy days, send a marshall out to marshall the players...especially the early starters, that's often where slow play starts.
And if the players are a touch on the mature side, the marshall suggests they call the following group through or perhaps tee off later.
No-one should tell someone to play faster or slower, it's their right to play at a comfortable speed for them, but they should also respect others on the course and call through any who want to play faster.
It's exactly the same as sitting at 65 in the outside lane of a motorway. If you want to drive at 65, fine, but pull over to let others pass.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
We need loads of slow play threads as it is a major problem with club golfers.
I would imagine the only posters who are against them are slow players.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Why treat those 'a touch on the mature side' any different to anyone else. Most of the recent cases of players holding the course up I've experienced have been 'middle aged' folk - and at the lower end of that. I think slow player ratio merely reflects the demographic of the particular club - and the amount the particular section play.
Notices in the club-house are rarely read, but are worthwhile as justification for action. Signs on the course should specify the time you should be expected to have taken to that point - as a 4-ball. It's Marshalls that need to be educated. They need to be able to identify the problem areas, make the correct decisions and utter the correct statements. They also need to have the authority and the incentive to take whatever action is required, some of which may not be applicable to competition days, which need to be handled differently - you can't ask a competing group to 'skip the next hole'. A grey/black or (or Green/Yellow/Red card) system can be used but requires careful planning and implementation.
The main thing clubs have to do, is to actually do something about it. Unfortunately, most are too much in the 'we don't want to upset any of our customers' to realise (or more likely they find it easier to simply ignore the fact) that by keeping the status quo, they are upsetting a lot of them.
BTW Bob. As per The Road Code, the 'outside' lane is actually an 'overtaking' lane. You should only be there if you are overtking - no matter what speed. If the Police actually took more action against those who broke that code - certainly those poodling along in the 'middle' lane with no-one else in sight or 'queueing' behind others in 'overtaking' lanes when little traffic in the inside ones, Motorway journeys would be far less stressful for many.
bobmac
Major Champion
Because the older you get, the slower you tend to walk.
its not rocket science.
I dont really care what you call it.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
Golf etiquette on and round the green can add a huge amount of time to a round. If I've heard "who's to play, me or...." during a medal once I've heard it a million time. Who give a crap, there's nowt in it. Just get ready to play and hit the damn thing towards the hole. And round the green is another time waster. Everyone swishing clubs like they are haymaking then all stop and look up to try and determine who should be playing. Then the pre shot routine starts all over again. Jesus H !!!!! One more, DO NOT SEND MEDALS OUT IN FOUR BALLS !!!!
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Re mature players.
If they are golfers who have played for many years they are usually the fastest players on the course.
The slowest players tend to be the guys who have taken up the sport in their late 20's to late 30's.
They have never enjoyed the benefit of the Junior system and tend to have no collective club responsibility.
They also probably live at home with their parents!!
If they are golfers who have played for many years they are usually the fastest players on the course.
The slowest players tend to be the guys who have taken up the sport in their late 20's to late 30's.
They have never enjoyed the benefit of the Junior system and tend to have no collective club responsibility.
They also probably live at home with their parents!!
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
ages varied , junior scratch , 4-9 h'caps :thup:
Last edited:
Foxholer
Blackballed
While I agree that's probably the case, if you are out of position/have dropped a hole, it doesn't matter why.
Are you saying that they are less likely to be able to catch up because the don't/can't walk as fast?
I've seen too many instances where it appears to be so!
So while reasonable to object to those in the right hand lane doing 65, how about those (who stay) in the same lane doing 70? 75?....
I think you may have captured the who but maybe not the why.
I'd say most golfers want to be good golfers and equate this to how pro's conduct themselves on the course. Seeing pro's stalking the ball from every angle, and taking forever doing it, has got to impact on the amatuer game.
Its a pity some of the younger players couldn't arrange a game with some of the experienced coffin dodgers. I can go out as a single of an evening and get round in just over 2hrs, shooting mid 70's gross. And in about 3.5hrs at most for a singles 3ball medal. I rarely take a practice swing nor mark the ball on the greens. And with arthritis in the spine and hip I don't run around the course - a good limp after 12 holes is the best I can do.
I would suggest that for how to swing the club, amatuers learn from pro's, but for getting around the course either look at the old pro's or experienced old amatuers.
mikee247
Challenge Tour Pro
I second this comment. Old boys are nortmally v quick and get on with it although they may not look the fastest!!
Young guys and sorry IMO females are the worst offenders at my place plus those who dont have an ounch of understanding or respect for others on the golf course!!
BTW Slow play thread again?????
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Yes it's a major problem but us discussing it amongst oursleves on a weekly basis isn't going to fix it is it. At this rate it should have it's own forum section.
I'm not slow by the way, I hate slow play but telling you my thoughts on it again isn't going to change anything.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Competition rounds at our place usually take between 4¼ and 4¾ hours.
Last Saturday there was a piece of paper stapled to everybody's card which went along the lines of....
"Slow play is a problem we are not willing to accept. Any group deemed to be unnecessarily slow will have penalty shots applied to everybody in the group".
Completely unworkable, very unfair, and most likely against the rules, but it worked. We were round in about 3¾ hours.
Last Saturday there was a piece of paper stapled to everybody's card which went along the lines of....
"Slow play is a problem we are not willing to accept. Any group deemed to be unnecessarily slow will have penalty shots applied to everybody in the group".
Completely unworkable, very unfair, and most likely against the rules, but it worked. We were round in about 3¾ hours.
