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

[SGC001]

R and A link

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Pace-of-Play.aspx

edit another link

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Etiquette/Keeping-Pace.aspx please note the comments under the heading lost ball.

 

[Birchy]

what if you go through your routine off to the side of someone when you are not in their eye line, which would be rare if they are before you, but you still have to wait for them to take your shot. The whole point of the PSR is to prepare yourself to hit a shot. You can't do it and then stand over the ball for any length of time or it is pointless. Couple of practice swings visualising the shot, find your target, line up correctly and address the ball. Maybe a waggle or two and a shuffle of the feet then go. Takes maybe 30 seconds to a minute at the most.

As dufferman said, what if your playing partner asks if you saw it? No sorry I was going through my own routine ready to play my own shot. Not good etiquette for me. I agree pre shot routines can take too long, players taking an age, and not doing the stuff I mentioned above (wind, club etc.) before there shot. But I don't think a regular PSR is responsible for slow play in fact hitting the ball better, more often should speed things up not slow it down overall.

Not every player in the group has to stand and watch every shot do they? An extra 30 seconds per shot as you say for all 4 players probably adds on around 45 mins ish per round.

How do you think people years ago used to play golf without so much hold up? Above is your answer.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Couple of practice swings visualising the shot, find your target, line up correctly and address the ball. Maybe a waggle or two and a shuffle of the feet then go. Takes maybe 30 seconds to a minute at the most.

Trouble is that if all 4 people are doing that for a minute on each shot, then on an average par 4 with average players you are having 10 odd minutes of pre-shot routines with nothing actually happening in terms of ball or person advancing forwards. Also the vast majority of people I see going through all the above rigmarole then go and slice or duff it.

If you are going to do all that every time and then ping a 4 iron to 6 yards then great. If you are going to do all that every time as you have seen a pro on the telly do it then slice an 8 iron into the trees then not good. Walk up, hit it, move on is my motto.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Hi, to help put this in context can you say what the stated expected round time is during the summer at your course? (doesn't need to be specific for play on a particular day)

No idea, it just rarely takes longer than 4 hours

 

[SGC001]

what if you go through your routine off to the side of someone when you are not in their eye line, which would be rare if they are before you, but you still have to wait for them to take your shot. The whole point of the PSR is to prepare yourself to hit a shot. You can't do it and then stand over the ball for any length of time or it is pointless. Couple of practice swings visualising the shot, find your target, line up correctly and address the ball. Maybe a waggle or two and a shuffle of the feet then go. Takes maybe 30 seconds to a minute at the most.

As dufferman said, what if your playing partner asks if you saw it? No sorry I was going through my own routine ready to play my own shot. Not good etiquette for me. I agree pre shot routines can take too long, players taking an age, and not doing the stuff I mentioned above (wind, club etc.) before there shot. But I don't think a regular PSR is responsible for slow play in fact hitting the ball better, more often should speed things up not slow it down overall.

Your routine should not take a minute, any effective pre-shot routine should not see you incurring penalties were you on the clock. There are guidelines for times to take a shot depending whether you are 1st to play or 2nd, playing an approach...

Please see the 1st link I posted earlier and view the video.

 

[srixon 1]

I will let you off if its blowing a hoolie I meant just as a general rule in average conditions. Although average conditions are getting worse by the week :rofl:

I know what you mean. It is really annoying when you are 50 yards ahead of someone on the fairway, and after walking to your ball you turn round and see that they are still nowhere near ready to take their shot.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

It's not a dream or a sprint, it just shouldn't need to take longer than 4 hours to play a round if golf

I think that all depends on the type of course you are playing and what format you are playing and relying on people to pick up if they cant score.

If they are members who play the course several times they will be a lot faster and will obviously pick up if they cant score.

If the group are visitors they may want to hole out and this may add a few mins per round.

Some are going to be under 4 hours if the course is set up that tees are easy to get to from the greens so they should be under 4 hours.

Also having people ready to tee off is my main issue as time and time again people with the honour are still faffing around sorting the score from the previous hole or going in the bag to find something, I just say whoever is ready get on with it.

I also would say time taken would be down to the degree of difficulty of the course as well.

 

[Foxholer]

It's not a dream or a sprint, it just shouldn't need to take longer than 4 hours to play a round if golf

At your place? At Kingsbarnes (where 4:40 is the standard)? Or do you simply mean that's really the entire day gone rather than just the morning/afternoon?

I've played on courses where it's impossible, without rushing, for a 4-ball to get round in less than 4:15. And others where anything more than 3:15 is considered 'a bit slow'! And the pace of play is pretty much the same - including readiness.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

what if you go through your routine off to the side of someone when you are not in their eye line, which would be rare if they are before you, but you still have to wait for them to take your shot. The whole point of the PSR is to prepare yourself to hit a shot. You can't do it and then stand over the ball for any length of time or it is pointless. Couple of practice swings visualising the shot, find your target, line up correctly and address the ball. Maybe a waggle or two and a shuffle of the feet then go. Takes maybe 30 seconds to a minuteat the most.

As dufferman said, what if your playing partner asks if you saw it? No sorry I was going through my own routine ready to play my own shot. Not good etiquette for me. I agree pre shot routines can take too long, players taking an age, and not doing the stuff I mentioned above (wind, club etc.) before there shot. But I don't think a regular PSR is responsible for slow play in fact hitting the ball better, more often should speed things up not slow it down overall.

You need to look at your pre-shot routine, it shouldn't take that long.

 

[bluewolf]

You need to look at your pre-shot routine, it shouldn't take that long.

Agreed. The explosion in popularity of convoluted Pre Shot Routines is strangling the amateur game.

 

[hamshanker]

Personnely i dont think its just down to slow play youve gotta factor in course length and distances between tees too.

Our course id say average 4ball is probably 4 1/4 - 4 1/2 hrs and thats with clear course ahead of you.
Playing off yellows ours is just over 6600 yrds and whites 6900 yrds and there is abit of distance between maybe 3-4 tees too so it all adds up but i dont have a problem if i get around 1 course in 3 1/2 hrs or another in 4 1/2 hrs as long as things generally keep moving and ive enjoyed the company and round..

 

[HawkeyeMS]

At your place? At Kingsbarnes (where 4:40 is the standard)? Or do you simply mean that's really the entire day gone rather than just the morning/afternoon?

I've played on courses where it's impossible, without rushing, for a 4-ball to get round in less than 4:15. And others where anything more than 3:15 is considered 'a bit slow'! And the pace of play is pretty much the same - including readiness.

OK, there may be some courses where it could be longer or shorter but at most courses that we amateurs play, it shouldn't take longer than 4 hours.

The key thing for me isn't really the time, it wouldn't actually bother me if it took 4 1\2 hours, as long as it wasn't because we were waiting on every tee or because people were faffing about.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Agreed. The explosion in popularity of convoluted Pre Shot Routines is strangling the amateur game.

Yup, even the PGA Tour has a limit of 40 seconds to hit the shot from the point of starting a pre shot routine and that's considered the very limit.

 

[garyinderry]

ban watches and phones on the course and clubhouse. no one will have a clue about the notion of time and therefore cant complain until they get home!


I wouldn't even mind if they extended a round of golf to 24 holes as long as I am not waiting on every shot! a slight break in play while waiting for a green to clear doesn't bother me. it gives me a little time to process how the round is going, what I want to do with the next shot or more importantly go into my bag for some haribos!

 

[pokerjoke]

Our round yesterday took 4 1/2 hours we never held anyone up.
The group behind let the group behind through.
Loved every minute,great company,some good golf,lovely weather,why rush.
I would say though 2o minutes of that was looking for balls,on a tough long course
that mostly going to happen.
My own course 4500 yards takes between 2 3/4 and 3 1/2

 

[Slab]

RE pre shot

I saw a piece online that said a consistent swing (& therefore a consistent pre shot routine) was crucial to a good pace of play

It went on to highlight the difference in the average time a pro's took for each shot and compared that to amateurs (seems that am's took less time on each subsequent shot while playing a hole after the tee shot (tap ins not counted) meaning when we should take more time i.e due to consistent pre shot routine, we actually speed up round the greens and end up taking more shots!

 

[fundy]

Why are people who detest slow play, hate waiting to hit shots whilst others faff about and want to play game at a "proper" pace always accused of wanting to rush and race around ?

Played in a 4 ball yesterday and we were nearly 4 1/2 hours, was painful in places as the other pair were never ready to hit, always wanted the others confirmation of what club to hit or a read on a putt, one of the guys often backed off and started the whole rigmarole again (the highest hcap in the group was 7 so standard was decent enough)

So many amateurs these days have routines and processes that have to be more harmful than helpful, and cumulatively the game is getting slower and slower it seems. Personally I need 5 secs to laser the pin, pull a club, quick look and hit it, go find it and repeat but apparently thats me "rushing"

 

[Birchy]

RE pre shot

I saw a piece online that said a consistent swing (& therefore a consistent pre shot routine) was crucial to a good pace of play

It went on to highlight the difference in the average time a pro's took for each shot and compared that to amateurs (seems that am's took less time on each subsequent shot while playing a hole after the tee shot (tap ins not counted) meaning when we should take more time i.e due to consistent pre shot routine, we actually speed up round the greens and end up taking more shots!

Its clap trap like that which is encouraging amateurs to take all day to visualize a shot etc when there is just no need imo. Im all for routine but it shouldn't take long at all.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Why are people who detest slow play, hate waiting to hit shots whilst others faff about and want to play game at a "proper" pace always accused of wanting to rush and race around ?

Played in a 4 ball yesterday and we were nearly 4 1/2 hours, was painful in places as the other pair were never ready to hit, always wanted the others confirmation of what club to hit or a read on a putt, one of the guys often backed off and started the whole rigmarole again (the highest hcap in the group was 7 so standard was decent enough)

So many amateurs these days have routines and processes that have to be more harmful than helpful, and cumulatively the game is getting slower and slower it seems. Personally I need 5 secs to laser the pin, pull a club, quick look and hit it, go find it and repeat but apparently thats me "rushing"

:thup:

The thing that I find odd is that the people with the most convoluted routines are the ones that I seem to spend most time helping find their ball in the rough

 

[HawkeyeMS]

RE pre shot

I saw a piece online that said a consistent swing (& therefore a consistent pre shot routine) was crucial to a good pace of play

It went on to highlight the difference in the average time a pro's took for each shot and compared that to amateurs (seems that am's took less time on each subsequent shot while playing a hole after the tee shot (tap ins not counted) meaning when we should take more time i.e due to consistent pre shot routine, we actually speed up round the greens and end up taking more shots!

The truth is, the pro's wouldn't hit any worse shots if they sped up, and amateurs won't hit any better shots if they slow down.