4:15hr is actually a pretty reasonable pace of play for our group

[Slab]

And thus slow play is accepted as OK. It will only get worse with that attitude.

I could be wrong but we might not have the whole context for this

I understand that by a significant number of social amateur players, many of the rules of golf are waived in the US to help pace & enjoyment of the game, this is frowned upon buy those who play golf (i.e by the rules) and those who play a game a bit like golf

I could be wrong though

 

[Doon frae Troon]

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.

I got news for you, a two ball tends to play faster than a four ball.

They were probably being polite when you waved them through and hurried to get out of your way.

They were probably playing at a pace that they were used to and enjoy.

 

[Hacker Khan]

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.

Isn't it a bit pompous to claim that they were not having 'fun' as it sounds like they were generally just getting on with it in a friendly game. Yes they may not have been following centuries of etiquette or following the rules to the letter. But as slow play is widely accepted to be a major problem for the game, and I am guessing you were not playing in the Open, what's the problem?

 

[delc]

Our 6400 yard course is about 6 miles to walk round, including tracks between greens and tees. At a reasonable walking pace of 3 miles per hour (even for OAP's), that's 2 hours walking. The rest is playing shots. A three ball all scoring 80 and taking 20 seconds (one-third of a minute) over every shot will add another 80 minutes to the round, so that's 3 hours 20 minutes. A four-ball playing at the same rate will add 107 minutes to the round, so that's still only 3 hours 47 minutes. So the moral is 'don't faff around when playing your shots'!

 

[Slime]

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I don't understand the obsession with getting round as quickly as possible and 4hrs 15 is perfectly acceptable to me. If someone wants to go through, I always let them. I don't dawdle and try to always keep up with the group in front, but I don't run either. I enjoy my golf, out on the course in the fresh air and the socialising between shots. At the same time, I've thought about my shot and I'm ready to go when it's my turn.

It usually takes about 4 hours for me in a 4 ball on "most courses" and I don't think that is "slow". I agree that waiting around on every tee, or for every shot is tiresome, but it so rarely happens.

I'm with you on this one, in fact I'd go a bit further & admit that I'm happy taking 5+ hours for a round as long as we're all having fun and NOT holding up those behind us. I don't play as often as most forummers which is one reason why I'm happy to draw out my round as much as possible. I HATE rushing when I don't have to.

Pre-shot routines are one of the causes of slow play, and aren't necessary...

...runs for cover

According to who
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of any standing?


Slime.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

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 ??

Oh dear where to start.

Competitions..... Once a month in 1964......upwards of 150 a year in 2014
Fitness........Most golfers were fit in 1964.....many golfers unfit in 2014.
Courses.......Shorter in 1964, balanced a bit by better equipment in 2014.
Ability..........Much better average player in 1964,very few golfers were over 18 handicap.
Manners/etiquette/ thought for other players.......much better in 1964
Leisure time...very little in 1964.

Have to go now.

 

[Slab]

Our 6400 yard course is about 6 miles to walk round, including tracks between greens and tees. At a reasonable walking pace of 3 miles per hour (even for OAP's), that's 2 hours walking. The rest is playing shots. A three ball all scoring 80 and taking 20 seconds (one-third of a minute) over every shot will add another 80 minutes to the round, so that's 3 hours 20 minutes. A four-ball playing at the same rate will add 107 minutes to the round, so that's still only 3 hours 47 minutes. So the moral is 'don't faff around when playing your shots'!

My bold: So that's it there's nothing else that happens in the game of golf but walking and playing shots? (& even that takes all bar 3 minutes of the R&A maximum for a 4-ball! if you can all play near single figure handicap!)

 

[delc]

It will get worse! I photographed a group of 8 to 13 year old golfers playing in a county final last year. They, almost without exception, had the same laborious pre shot routine - a couple of practice swings, step away, look carefully down the line, set up to ball, two more practice swings then a long pause before the swing started. Can't wait to play behind them!

Impressionable young people are most likely to copy the laborious pre-shot routines of the tour pros, as seen on TV. Some tour pros seem to take at least 2 minutes over every shot. That is why tournament rounds take 5 to 6 hours, even when playing in two balls. Watching a televised tournament, especially on the USPGA Tour, is getting like watching paint dry. Something has to be done about the speed of play in pro tournaments, if golf is to have any future as a game for ordinary mortals! :mmm:

 

[delc]

My bold: So that's it there's nothing else that happens in the game of golf but walking and playing shots? (& even that takes all bar 3 minutes of the R&A maximum for a 4-ball! if you can all play near single figure handicap!)

You can still have a bit of social interaction, telling jokes, etc, while walking between shots, during the occasional wait on the tee, and in the bar afterwards. What is your point?

 

[Imurg]

You can still have a bit of social interaction, telling jokes, etc, while walking between shots, during the occasional wait on the tee, and in the bar afterwards. What is your point?

Just 1 lost ball and the resulting 5 minute loom on 6 holes adds 30 minutes to any rounx. Someone losing a ball on every hole and there's 1 1/2 hours extra - ok, not likely but the first scenario is common.

 

[dufferman]

You can still have a bit of social interaction, telling jokes, etc, while walking between shots, during the occasional wait on the tee, and in the bar afterwards. What is your point?

Lost balls, wayward shots, 3 off the tee, duffs, fluffs, thins, fats, 3 putts, 4 putts... all scenarios that people playing off of more than single figured handicap have experienced?? Even pros occasionally make bogies, heaven forbid, adding to extra time on a hole. :mmm:

 

[Slab]

You can still have a bit of social interaction, telling jokes, etc, while walking between shots, during the occasional wait on the tee, and in the bar afterwards. What is your point?

My point is golf is not the exclusive domain of single figure players, some of us mortals may on occasion have to re-load or heaven forbid, look for a ball or two, we might even need to take a penalty drop or a few dozen other things that happen in a typical round

And what about the groups in front suffering the same few dozen scenarios and the time impact they have to the groups following?

None of which I'm afraid are in your 3:47 pace of play

 

[delc]

Just 1 lost ball and the resulting 5 minute loom on 6 holes adds 30 minutes to any rounx. Someone losing a ball on every hole and there's 1 1/2 hours extra - ok, not likely but the first scenario is common.

That is why you should call the following group through when you lose a ball. Otherwise you hold up everybody following you.

 

[Slab]

Lost balls, wayward shots, 3 off the tee, duffs, fluffs, thins, fats, 3 putts, 4 putts... all scenarios that people playing off of more than single figured handicap have experienced?? Even pros occasionally make bogies, heaven forbid, adding to extra time on a hole. :mmm:

Two sequential posts with the same phrase

Heaven forbid there's a third one or the forum post count will reset to zero!!!


Edit to add:
Phew thanks Delc that was close :smirk:

 

[Imurg]

That is why you should call the following group through when you lose a ball. Otherwise you hold up everybody following you.

Er...yeah..
But it means your "pace of play" guideline goes out of the window...

 

[delc]

Lost balls, wayward shots, 3 off the tee, duffs, fluffs, thins, fats, 3 putts, 4 putts... all scenarios that people playing off of more than single figured handicap have experienced?? Even pros occasionally make bogies, heaven forbid, adding to extra time on a hole. :mmm:

My 34 handicap wife (unfortunately now deceased) could get round 18 holes in well under 4 hours, and never seemed to hold me up!

 

[Piece]

Oh dear where to start.

Competitions..... Once a month in 1964......upwards of 150 a year in 2014
Fitness........Most golfers were fit in 1964.....many golfers unfit in 2014.
Courses.......Shorter in 1964, balanced a bit by better equipment in 2014.
Ability..........Much better average player in 1964,very few golfers were over 18 handicap.
Manners/etiquette/ thought for other players.......much better in 1964
Leisure time...very little in 1964.

Have to go now.

Reading between the lines here, golf was far better in 1964? Far less hackers, far less traffic on the golf course, quicker play? It also sounds the earliest recipe for golf snobbery that still exists today?

 

[Snelly]

I agree with Doon Frae Toon's post on this subject.

If rounds of golf took 4-5 hours every time then I would not play the game. I already avoid several annual fixtures that I get invites to purely for the fact that I know I will have to wait before hitting every shot and I just don't enjoy it when it is like that.

 

[Slab]

My 34 handicap wife (unfortunately now deceased) could get round 18 holes in well under 4 hours, and never seemed to hold me up!

Any individual can get round in under 4 on most courses, we've all done it, but its a field of players that dictate that day's pace (or the slowest in that field)

 

[delc]

Reading between the lines here, golf was far better in 1964? Far less hackers, far less traffic on the golf course, quicker play? It also sounds the earliest recipe for golf snobbery that still exists today?

I started playing golf in 1960 at a nine hole pay and play course. You have to get there at dawn to put a ball in a chute, and when it emerged at the other end it was your turn to tee off. You had to repeat the exercise to play the second nine, so golf could be quite time consuming even then. Having said that, the actual pace of play once under way was much quicker and manners were much better.