Robobum
Money List Winner
Is it because timekeeping was with a sundial?
4:15hr is actually a pretty reasonable pace of play for our group
- Thread starter Slab
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Is it because timekeeping was with a sundial?
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
I do think age perhaps give the past a rose coloured hue
Not at all, I was going to say that sub two hours as a single was the norm but I thought some might find that unbelievable.
It was not uncommon in those times to play 3 rounds in a day.
As I posted earlier the 1965 Open was the last when they played 36 holes on the final day. Top 50 qualifying, would it not be fun to have that today, I could see a few 'athletes' struggling.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
To remind you, that was when Arnie, Gary, and Jack were in their prime.
User20205
Money List Winner
I do believe you, with that in mind, maybe you could tell us.
as mentioned around 2hr45 round a shortish course felt quick to me, not racing, but quick non the less.
As someone who has witnessed pace of play slow down, why is it ??
upsidedown
Tour Winner
At our place try to play in both 'Fiddles" on a Weds and Friday and I'm pretty much the youngest at coming up 55, most would be mid to late 60's, 70's and we have a couple of 80 + as well.
We play 4BBB Stableford off the Yellows (6267) and rounds are generally 3.50 hrs and you get untold stick back in the clubhouse should be over 4 hrs !!
Weekend comps are in three balls and around the 3.40 mark.
HiD and myself generally take 3 hrs of an afternoon, and she's a dodgy hip so not the quickest.
One thing I have learnt in my time there is never tee off after a society
We play 4BBB Stableford off the Yellows (6267) and rounds are generally 3.50 hrs and you get untold stick back in the clubhouse should be over 4 hrs !!
Weekend comps are in three balls and around the 3.40 mark.
HiD and myself generally take 3 hrs of an afternoon, and she's a dodgy hip so not the quickest.
One thing I have learnt in my time there is never tee off after a society
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upsidedown
Tour Winner
Peter Alliss when asked the other night about slow play opined that a damn good flogging starting off with some birch branches is the answer to the curse of slow play
Robobum
Money List Winner
To be fair, I couldn't give a toss.
My club is not victim of slow play and I have rarely encountered it. If it became an issue, I'd move clubs - or moan about how much better things were way back when
3565
Journeyman Pro
Not bothered if I was rude or caused discomfort..... The fact he's resorted to flying round an Open Championship venue in the fastest time possible and took pride in that is totally beyond me. But I think there was a hint of sarcasm in your reply......
Foxholer
Blackballed
Very much the attitude of a number of the old fogeys at Walton Heath too! And at the Weekend when they know the 2-day members are playing and their 3-ball hit and run game is going to encounter 4-balls!
Piece
Tour Winner
The main issue of slow play is that we, the club golfers, don't readily admit that we are slow golfers. It's always the other guy who's slow. Take a snapshot of a club, I bet most will say they are fast, when in reality they aren't.
On a similar thread months ago: after a slow round of golf at Delamere that took ages, we went around the group of eight and asked at what pace we thought each of us played at, noting down the results. Interestingly, all but two thought they were fast players, indicating the problem lay elsewhere...much 'debate' was had as other group members argued that some fast players were actually slow! The outcome is that you can speed up your play by being honest with your own pace, and if you are fast, you can still help yourselves and others as you work as a team to go around; there's no point in having three Usain Bolts when the fourth is Heather Mills.
Another resolution is better starting times. E.g., off the first, the next group doesn't tee off until the group in front reaches the green, not after just hitting their second.
On a similar thread months ago: after a slow round of golf at Delamere that took ages, we went around the group of eight and asked at what pace we thought each of us played at, noting down the results. Interestingly, all but two thought they were fast players, indicating the problem lay elsewhere...much 'debate' was had as other group members argued that some fast players were actually slow! The outcome is that you can speed up your play by being honest with your own pace, and if you are fast, you can still help yourselves and others as you work as a team to go around; there's no point in having three Usain Bolts when the fourth is Heather Mills.
Another resolution is better starting times. E.g., off the first, the next group doesn't tee off until the group in front reaches the green, not after just hitting their second.
Piece
Tour Winner
At Carnoustie years ago, our four ball let through seven, yes seven, two balls. Why were they so quick? Played out of turn, didn't look for their balls in rough, putted with the flag in and gimmies a-plenty. Where was the fun in that? It cheesed us all off TBH, all for sake of playing quickly.
davidy233
Tour Rookie
Take it you were tourists? and they were locals - they'd just be out for a hit and a laugh - golf is cheap up here, we don't have to take it too seriously unless we're playing a match or a medal.
Even in our club championship, the highlight of the season, we got round in 4 and a quarter hours. Given it was medal and a big field that is only an extra 15 minutes above what I'd consider the average at my place. To be honest as long as the round flows and not stop starting, I really don't have a care how long it takes. I enjoy being out there in good company and enjoying a game I love.
Simbo
Tour Rookie
I agree, very common conversation in our clubhouse also- rediculous!!
To be fair I think a bounce game should go around quicker than a medal as there's no pressure, if you lose a ball you just chuck another one down where you think you lost it, no going back or anything. Etc.
How far apart are your clubs tee off times for Saturday medals, ours are 6 mins, which absolutely no-one adheres to, as soon as the group in front are just out off hitting range the next group are off!, hence groups nose to backside all the way round, which will cause traffic jams, especially at bottlenecks on the course.
Suggestion to improve it, have more medals, make the slots 10 mins apart and have less tee times and make everybody tee off at their specified time??? And try to stop the jams. Probably won't go round much quicker but it might stop people waiting about as much. As much as I know a lot of members like their game on a Saturday and probably not a viable suggestion but perhaps ask the retired members if they would like to play their medals on a Thursdays or something to free up some space on a Saturday. I personally think this is a good idea as I know a lot of seniors at our course struggle with the length/difficulty of the course of medal tees, and get fed up being harassed if they lose a ball or something.
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garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
couldn't think of anything worse than a full 18 holes by myself hitting only one ball. BORED TO TEARS!
even when its busy ill hit at least two shots into the green. I might forget about putting altogether and chip a few balls until the group behind me gets to their approach shots.
I just cant play a proper round of golf on my own. there is no edge to it.
even when its busy ill hit at least two shots into the green. I might forget about putting altogether and chip a few balls until the group behind me gets to their approach shots.
I just cant play a proper round of golf on my own. there is no edge to it.
3565
Journeyman Pro
A friend of mine who lives in the States says if anyone attacks you about slow play or says you were slow, just respond to them,
' I play the game of golf, what do you play'?
' I play the game of golf, what do you play'?
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Couple of observations
Clearly if a course is assessed there could easily be a hours difference in the expected 4-ball pace between different courses and I think that goes someway to muddying the replies whenever pace is discussed
I still don't think the R&A 3:50 guideline is current (I'm sure it once was) and so it will also set false expectations
My game at the weekend had 4:10 as the pace but cant recall if that is longer/shorter than usual (the pro stated the 1st cut rough hadn't been cut as scheduled due to rain, so can only imagine this would add maybe 10 minutes to expected pace as groups search for balls that should be visible)
Maybe radical but I think courses should seek approval or at least justify to members, if they wish to use tee times below an 8 minute spacing with 10 minutes being the default
And I think more could be made of shotgun starts at the beginning of a days competition play (maybe just the front 9)
Clearly if a course is assessed there could easily be a hours difference in the expected 4-ball pace between different courses and I think that goes someway to muddying the replies whenever pace is discussed
I still don't think the R&A 3:50 guideline is current (I'm sure it once was) and so it will also set false expectations
My game at the weekend had 4:10 as the pace but cant recall if that is longer/shorter than usual (the pro stated the 1st cut rough hadn't been cut as scheduled due to rain, so can only imagine this would add maybe 10 minutes to expected pace as groups search for balls that should be visible)
Maybe radical but I think courses should seek approval or at least justify to members, if they wish to use tee times below an 8 minute spacing with 10 minutes being the default
And I think more could be made of shotgun starts at the beginning of a days competition play (maybe just the front 9)
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
And thus slow play is accepted as OK. It will only get worse with that attitude.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
courses vary massively. we played Bolton at the weekend. my legs had forgotten the next day feeling after going up and down hills all afternoon. its a completely different style of course to lee park. even though there are a similar length it takes longer to get around Bolton.
we certainly didn't get around in under 3 hours or even close to it as a 3 ball.
we certainly didn't get around in under 3 hours or even close to it as a 3 ball.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
I don't know, I quite enjoy it, as you don't have to lose 30 minutes of your life you wont get back waiting for other people to do their pre shot routines
