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

[North Mimms]

Until i got a GPS watch, I never wore a watch when playing so couldn't check pace of play.
My home course tends to be around 4.20 for a round.
Sometimes we would finish I I would say "that was a nice quick round" then check and find it was 4.15, or winge that it had been dreadfully slow and find it was 4.25.
Ten minutes is not the difference between fast and slow. What makes a round seem slow to me is seeing those ahead wasting time or faffing about. As long as I can seem them actively playing golf, I don't mind so much. We have several holes where as you approach the green you have a clear view of the next tee.
Nothing makes a round seem slow like realising that three of have taken our shots to the green, and no one has teed off ahead!
I know I shouldn't look but I can't help myself. I've always been very aware of where I am on course in relation to the group ahead and behind.

 

[GB72]

Until i got a GPS watch, I never wore a watch when playing so couldn't check pace of play.
My home course tends to be around 4.20 for a round.
Sometimes we would finish I I would say "that was a nice quick round" then check and find it was 4.15, or winge that it had been dreadfully slow and find it was 4.25.
Ten minutes is not the difference between fast and slow. What makes a round seem slow to me is seeing those ahead wasting time or faffing about. As long as I can seem them actively playing golf, I don't mind so much. We have several holes where as you approach the green you have a clear view of the next tee.
Nothing makes a round seem slow like realising that three of have taken our shots to the green, and no one has teed off ahead!
I know I shouldn't look but I can't help myself. I've always been very aware of where I am on course in relation to the group ahead and behind.

I agree with that, packed course, everyone getting on with their game and I am fine. Same situation and I see people faffing around (or my real pet hate, hunting for a ball when there is a group waiting on the tee) and the red mist descends. Trouble is I am the only real loser as my game tends to go to pot. When I was out on my own in the evenings last summer I actually tried to settle my game into the pace of the group ahead no matter what the size just so as I would be calmer on a congested course.

 

[dufferman]

I agree with that, packed course, everyone getting on with their game and I am fine. Same situation and I see people faffing around (or my real pet hate, hunting for a ball when there is a group waiting on the tee) and the red mist descends. Trouble is I am the only real loser as my game tends to go to pot. When I was out on my own in the evenings last summer I actually tried to settle my game into the pace of the group ahead no matter what the size just so as I would be calmer on a congested course.

Interesting that you say it winds you up to see a group hunting for a ball when there is another group on the tee behind - but what if the group ahead of the people hunting for a ball are still well within reach (e.g. chipping onto the green, not even putting yet)? How can you blame the group ahead if they are in much the same situation, but instead of standing in the middle of the fairway waving their arms in disgust, they are making use of the time they have to help a FC find their ball?

I do agree that the person who is most put off is the person who gets angry. One guy I play with really lets slow play get to him, and his game is left in tatters. He always blames the 'rhythm is lost' when waiting, but I'm sure if he just enjoyed the company and relaxed he wouldn't lose his 'rhythm'.

Saying that, maybe I'm just boring company

 

[delc]

But that was just the 2 of you playing a presume? Of which you were at a much lower handicap and therefor didn't make as many bad shots? If she were to play with 3 other people of her 34 handicap, do you not think that would have taken more time?

Normally that was playing with another married couple, handicaps about 15 and 23. We could get round in just over 3 hours playing by ourselves with nobody in front holding us up.

 

[GB72]

Interesting that you say it winds you up to see a group hunting for a ball when there is another group on the tee behind - but what if the group ahead of the people hunting for a ball are still well within reach (e.g. chipping onto the green, not even putting yet)? How can you blame the group ahead if they are in much the same situation, but instead of standing in the middle of the fairway waving their arms in disgust, they are making use of the time they have to help a FC find their ball?

I do agree that the person who is most put off is the person who gets angry. One guy I play with really lets slow play get to him, and his game is left in tatters. He always blames the 'rhythm is lost' when waiting, but I'm sure if he just enjoyed the company and relaxed he wouldn't lose his 'rhythm'.

Saying that, maybe I'm just boring company

Fair point if they cannot play their shot but it is clearly stated in various places around the club that if it is apparent that a ball cannot immediately be found then the group behind must be called through then the ball can be looked for. I suppose, even if there is a group on the green we could still drive off and be ready to play a second shot whilst the hunt takes place. The green should be clear by the time 4 people have driven and walked to their balls.

 

[fundy]

Interesting that you say it winds you up to see a group hunting for a ball when there is another group on the tee behind - but what if the group ahead of the people hunting for a ball are still well within reach (e.g. chipping onto the green, not even putting yet)? How can you blame the group ahead if they are in much the same situation, but instead of standing in the middle of the fairway waving their arms in disgust, they are making use of the time they have to help a FC find their ball?

I do agree that the person who is most put off is the person who gets angry. One guy I play with really lets slow play get to him, and his game is left in tatters. He always blames the 'rhythm is lost' when waiting, but I'm sure if he just enjoyed the company and relaxed he wouldn't lose his 'rhythm'.

Saying that, maybe I'm just boring company

How does relaxing and enjoying the company keep him his rhythm. Standing on the tee or in the fairway waiting (especially if getting cold) whether having the best time ever or not does not affect my rhythm, its the stopping and getting cold (especially my back) that does that

 

[Piece]

Please explain last sentence.

The previous sentence did, based on your original tiny statements. There's nothing more to add as it's a separate thread - it was just observation

 

[dufferman]

Fair point if they cannot play their shot but it is clearly stated in various places around the club that if it is apparent that a ball cannot immediately be found then the group behind must be called through then the ball can be looked for. I suppose, even if there is a group on the green we could still drive off and be ready to play a second shot whilst the hunt takes place. The green should be clear by the time 4 people have driven and walked to their balls.

I'm just playing devil's advocate here - but if you tee off, and in the walk up the lost ball is found - then you'd have to wait then for the group to play up to the green now anyway!

I'm just trying to point out that it's not as clear cut as some people make out that a slow game is always because there are slow people on the course. I'm not trying to be awkward!!

 

[dufferman]

How does relaxing and enjoying the company keep him his rhythm. Standing on the tee or in the fairway waiting (especially if getting cold) whether having the best time ever or not does not affect my rhythm, its the stopping and getting cold (especially my back) that does that

Here's a scenario:

His anger makes him speed up; not only his swing so it becomes more erratic, but also his pace of play, which therefor clouds his judgment on the shot he might take (e.g. chip out from behind a tree or go for the harder shot to 'save time' which ultimately he messes up and ends up taking an extra shot or two, making him more angry). He then starts to try and rush others by tutting and huffing when someone takes their time (and by take their time I mean take and extra 10 seconds maybe?) over a putt or a chip, which again adds to his anger. Add to that slicing the ball off the tee because his swing has now gone to pot and losing his first ball, instead of calmly taking a provisional he does the same again, ending up marching up the fairway; instead of looking for either ball he drops out, so his final score on the hole is a disaster, and now he's ready to walk off the course because he's "lost his rhythm" and it's all the fault of the 4 ball ahead, who, by the way, are having the game of their lives because they're all enjoying the company, scenery, and odd perfect chip / putt / drive / approach which we all know makes us come back each week.

I'm not saying those series of events have ever happened, but I think we can all relate to a part of that little scenario which is by no means real in any way

I understand that there can be other factors (like a back injury) that might make you lose your rhythm, but for most amateurs I think getting your knickers in a twist is often the cause of a missing rhythm!

 

[dufferman]

Normally that was playing with another married couple, handicaps about 15 and 23. We could get round in just over 3 hours playing by ourselves with nobody in front holding us up.

Well, in that case, you guys were quite the 4ball!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

The previous sentence did, based on your original tiny statements. There's nothing more to add as it's a separate thread - it was just observation

A very random and weird observation.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm just playing devil's advocate here - but if you tee off, and in the walk up the lost ball is found - then you'd have to wait then for the group to play up to the green now anyway!

I'm just trying to point out that it's not as clear cut as some people make out that a slow game is always because there are slow people on the course. I'm not trying to be awkward!!

If you have called the following group through and you then find your ball you should really stand aside and let them go on - etiquette. You shouldn't recall your 'wave through' - though we should be pragmatic and consider whether you waiting for them actually slows this up more than if you just play on and explain to them at some point. Even if you play on however I believe it is still courtesy to stand aside as soon as they are ready to play.

 

[Slime]

I quite clearly state in my post 'on the tee'. I also say ' in my group...' I didnt say that has to be the accepted way. So saying its rude and ignorant is a little unfair to me. I wouldnt never walk in front of people and hit my shot before they have hit theres, but i will walk to me ball if its not on their eyeline and prepare to hit my shot.

a round of golf should not take more than 4hrs in my opinion (Call me rude and arrogant if you like). People that think its acceptable are quite likely to be the same ones that think buggies speed up golf.

You're rude and arrogant, certainly arrogant.
It's not up to you to tell me how fast I should play golf. My regular group often take over four hours ......................... but we always let faster golfers through. Where's the problem in that.
Oh, and buggies definitely slow the game up when used by mid or high handicappers.

In my opinion, 4 hours is the absolute maximum a round of golf should take. Beyond that it becomes more of an endurance test. One of the problems I see is hackers treating every putt as though it's "this one to win the Open Championship"! They look at it from every angle and then still miss. Just missing putts more quickly would speed up rounds quite a lot! A lot of this comes from club golfers copying the antics of the tour pros on TV as they grind round 5 hour rounds, so speeding them up would also help.

It takes as long as it takes and, for me, doesn't become an endurance test. I love the game, I embrace the scenery, I benefit from the fresh air and excercise and enjoy the company of my fellow players ...................... why the hurry?

I totally agree with the last point. I personally know several people with children and busy lives who have given up playing golf because it takes up too much time. Many the answer is to reduce the number of holes in a standard round, or just to speed up play by whatever means possible? :mmm:

4½ hour rounds as opposed to 4 hour rounds! Suggest they try 100m sprinting as an alternative .

in the last 5 years i have rejected several invites as past experience predicts this and 2 of them were on bucket list courses with 'known' players.
5 hr rounds suck the life out the game

Wow!
Really?


Slime.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a group that go out before our roll up on a Saturday. They are painful. They have been asked politely, moaned at, and even had it put in writing but they ain't letting no-one through for anything. We have wearily grown to accept it. Despite this, we still play in four hours or less. To be honest Hawkeye and I tend to have a good natter, usually moaning about Fulham and we're getting better at ignoring the pace of play. I find it helps me not get so het up come a medal and the pace of play is inevitably slower

 

[North Mimms]

We have a group that go out before our roll up on a Saturday. They are painful. They have been asked politely, moaned at, and even had it put in writing but they ain't letting no-one through for anything. We have wearily grown to accept it. Despite this, we still play in four hours or less. To be honest Hawkeye and I tend to have a good natter, usually moaning about Fulham and we're getting better at ignoring the pace of play. I find it helps me not get so het up come a medal and the pace of play is inevitably slower

Put in writing from whom?
Just the roll up group or officially from the club committee?

 

[delc]

Put in writing from whom?
Just the roll up group or officially from the club committee?

Over the years, we seem to have gone from anything over 3 hours being considered slow, to anything under 4 hours being considered fast! Courses have got longer to counter improved equipment, so more walking time, and more exposure to televised tournament golf, where some of the pros seem to turn slow play into an art form! :mmm:

 

[Slab]

We have a group that go out before our roll up on a Saturday. They are painful. They have been asked politely, moaned at, and even had it put in writing but they ain't letting no-one through for anything. We have wearily grown to accept it. Despite this, we still play in four hours or less. To be honest Hawkeye and I tend to have a good natter, usually moaning about Fulham and we're getting better at ignoring the pace of play. I find it helps me not get so het up come a medal and the pace of play is inevitably slower

Interested in general about what folks do differently in a roll up to playing a comp and why one is accepted as having a slower pace but the other isn't?

(I'm assuming roll ups are still played by the rules of golf)

 

[Imurg]

Possibly some Gimmees in there, plus Stableford rather than Medal and a bit less time taken as the handicap isn't on the line....

 

[Slab]

Sorry cant resist...

Possibly some Gimmees in there, plus Stableford rather than Medal and a bit less time taken as the handicap isn't on the line....

So if true then they're not playing golf and therefore have no frame of reference for how long a round should take for the game their playing compared to the golfers up ahead



On serious note, I see what you mean, not sure it'll cover 30-60 minutes extra but even if it does, who in a roll-up can then judge the field in front when their could easily be hadicaps on the line

 

[delc]

Possibly some Gimmees in there, plus Stableford rather than Medal and a bit less time taken as the handicap isn't on the line....

Stablefords are definitely quicker than medals, because you can just pick the ball up once you can't score, rather than having to grind out a score come what may!