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

[pokerjoke]

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"

To be honest that for me is too quick.
Pros who have been playing for years take ages to play shots,taking in all scenarios.
Why should someone with a lot less ability hurry to take a shot,with more chance to mess up.

 

[bluewolf]

To be honest that for me is too quick.
Pros who have been playing for years take ages to play shots,taking in all scenarios.
Why should someone with a lot less ability hurry to take a shot,with more chance to mess up.

there is the happy middle ground though.. One of the saddest things in golf has to be the person who is trying their best to improve and who has been told that a settled pre shot routine is essential.. This PSR just gets longer and longer as they're not improving.. Eventually this person takes so long to play their shot that no one wants to play with them... Walk up, 10 seconds to assess the shot, pull out the club and hit the ball.. Maybe throw in a practice swing... 30 seconds max from reaching the ball..

 

[ManinBlack]

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.

Agreed, it all depends on the course. On my course, just over 6000 yards we can play a 4 ball in just over 3 hours without hurrying. On some other local courses we couldn't do it in less than 4 hours.

 

[Simbo]

People aren't robots!
No 2 people will do things the same so saying your PSR should take 25 seconds is rediculous, get 4 people to walk the course, not even playing and il bet there are a good bit time difference in the length of time it takes then factor in the guy that takes the longest to walk it, maybe he plays of 20 and looks for a lot of balls in the rough, maybe the quickest guy plays off 2. Hence the "slow" tag the other guy gets, starts to get stressed, tries to rush, makes a hash of more shots trying to please the faster player. Eventually golf becomes more like going to the dentist than a fun hobby, so he stops playing comps because they aren't worth the hassle, or packs in altogether. But they both pay the same green fees!!
Does anybody really think a half an hour difference is the reason golf memberships are dropping???? Yet almost everyone always has time for a pint after they play!

 

[fundy]

People aren't robots!
No 2 people will do things the same so saying your PSR should take 25 seconds is rediculous, get 4 people to walk the course, not even playing and il bet there are a good bit time difference in the length of time it takes then factor in the guy that takes the longest to walk it, maybe he plays of 20 and looks for a lot of balls in the rough, maybe the quickest guy plays off 2. Hence the "slow" tag the other guy gets, starts to get stressed, tries to rush, makes a hash of more shots trying to please the faster player. Eventually golf becomes more like going to the dentist than a fun hobby, so he stops playing comps because they aren't worth the hassle, or packs in altogether. But they both pay the same green fees!!
Does anybody really think a half an hour difference is the reason golf memberships are dropping???? Yet almost everyone always has time for a pint after they play!

Its not about whether its 3 hours or 5 hours for me, its how quickly my enjoyment diminishes if I have to stand about waiting on each tee then again to hit my approach shots, especially in current weather conditions!

 

[bluewolf]

Its not about whether its 3 hours or 5 hours for me, its how quickly my enjoyment diminishes if I have to stand about waiting on each tee then again to hit my approach shots, especially in current weather conditions!

As you're just about as injury prone as me then you'll understand that if we stand too long on the tee in the cold and rain, then our dodgy joints start to seize up...

 

[fundy]

As you're just about as injury prone as me then you'll understand that if we stand too long on the tee in the cold and rain, then our dodgy joints start to seize up...

yeah I wasnt gonna go there.....

 

[Birchy]

Its not about whether its 3 hours or 5 hours for me, its how quickly my enjoyment diminishes if I have to stand about waiting on each tee then again to hit my approach shots, especially in current weather conditions!

Agree with this. Its not the time im bothered about, its the feeling of wanting to stick knives in my eyes because play is moving so slowly and theres no momentum to the round.

Waiting on every shot is no way to play golf and if it was happening a lot I would seriously consider if I can be bothered anymore.

 

[dufferman]

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

You say it shouldn't take more than 4 hours, yet here we are saying that, on average, most games DO take more than 4 hours.

If the average game takes 4 1/2 hours, then why should people be told to speed up? Why can't other people be told to suck it up and play to the AVERAGE pace?

My car can (just about) do 100 miles per hour... doesn't mean I HAVE to go 100 miles per hour on every road I drive on!

 

[GB72]

I think pretty much every round that I play on what is a reasonably full but not jammed course at the weekend is almost bang on 4 hours. That is irrespective of group size. The reason that all group sizes take about 4 hours is because the weekend is predominantly people playing in 4 balls. I know that is going to be the case and I know that, to me anyway, it is unfair to pitch up as a 2 ball on a day when you know that the course is going to be busy with 4 balls and expect to play through. I simply accept the position that as a 2 ball I am in a minority and if I cannot pair up with another 2 ball then I am happy to play at 4 ball pace. On that basis, every round takes about 4 hours and I am happy with that. I am not rushing round nor am I hanging around. That suits me fine and I know that if I tee off at 9 I will be off by 1.

I think that our course just has a natural speed and tempo and that it is better just to fit in with it rather than rush.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You say it shouldn't take more than 4 hours, yet here we are saying that, on average, most games DO take more than 4 hours.

If the average game takes 4 1/2 hours, then why should people be told to speed up? Why can't other people be told to suck it up and play to the AVERAGE pace?

My car can (just about) do 100 miles per hour... doesn't mean I HAVE to go 100 miles per hour on every road I drive on!

Rather than accept the average, I'd question why it was taking so long? Why should I and others have to "suck it up" while people faff about with convoluted PSRs before slicing yet another ball into the rough? The only reason the average round time has increased is because of the people playing it. Unless something is done, it will only get worse.

 

[MendieGK]

The two key things for me that speed up play (and i am a huge fan of a quick round of golf) are ...

A) be ready to hit your shot. Dont stand there marking your card with the previous holes scores, if its your honour on the tee. A way that we counteract this in our group, its to forget about the honour. If your ready, go.

Often, when i play with stangers, i have hit my shot (yes, i do have a full pre-shot routine), put the club back in the bag and marked my card with them still not ready to go. It baffles me.

B) WATCH WHERE YOUR BLOODY GOLF BALL GOES!!!!

This is something, the begginers and high handicapper (IMO) are guilty of. too often they have no idea where there ball has gone. Pick an object in the distance, and walk towards it!

 

[GB72]

The two key things for me that speed up play (and i am a huge fan of a quick round of golf) are ...

A) be ready to hit your shot. Dont stand there marking your card with the previous holes scores, if its your honour on the tee. A way that we counteract this in our group, its to forget about the honour. If your ready, go.

Often, when i play with stangers, i have hit my shot (yes, i do have a full pre-shot routine), put the club back in the bag and marked my card with them still not ready to go. It baffles me.

B) WATCH WHERE YOUR BLOODY GOLF BALL GOES!!!!

This is something, the begginers and high handicapper (IMO) are guilty of. too often they have no idea where there ball has gone. Pick an object in the distance, and walk towards it!

And my pet peeve: Watch where other people's balls are going. 4 sets of eyes are better than one and there is far more chance of finding a ball and finding it quickly.

 

[dufferman]

Rather than accept the average, I'd question why it was taking so long? Why should I and others have to "suck it up" while people faff about with convoluted PSRs before slicing yet another ball into the rough? The only reason the average round time has increased is because of the people playing it. Unless something is done, it will only get worse.

You've answered your own question there - because you're playing a course with however many 100's of other people! Unless you can find a course which only allows quick paced low handicap golfers then you've got to just go with the flow of the course! Yes, if there is a 4-ball with 3 holes clear ahead of them, they should be playing you through. But as is so often the case, certainly on a weekend, courses are jammed full of 4 balls with the average handicap of 20-something, so for you to demand these people play to your idea of a 'good pace' is just unrealistic.

Don't get me wrong, If I could get round in 3 1/2 hours (and I have done in a 2 ball once or twice before) every week, great! But it won't happen, and you can't change the way (almost) every course works.

I often play with a 78 year old who can drive the ball barely 150 yards. Yes, when he is in our 4 ball, the round can get slow, and we do let people play through. But to get him to 'change his ways', stop having bad shots & double the distance he hits the ball will never happen.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. If the average round is 4 hours, 4 1/4 hours, 4 1/2 hours, so what? It's the average pace of play, so just go with it!!

 

[pokerjoke]

Rather than accept the average, I'd question why it was taking so long? Why should I and others have to "suck it up" while people faff about with convoluted PSRs before slicing yet another ball into the rough? The only reason the average round time has increased is because of the people playing it. Unless something is done, it will only get worse.

Seriously mate does it really wind you up that much that 15 mins to half an hour
is going to make that much of a difference to your round and your day.
Golf is a game of enjoyment.
There are lots of things that make golf slower than a PSR.
Are you really that good that you never go in the rough,is your playing partner that
good he never slices it into the rough.
Come on mate seriously.
I would say if it bugs you that much that your day is ruined give yourself time for 9 holes only.

 

[dufferman]

You're so rude.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Seriously mate does it really wind you up that much that 15 mins to half an hour
is going to make that much of a difference to your round and your day.
Golf is a game of enjoyment.
There are lots of things that make golf slower than a PSR.
Are you really that good that you never go in the rough,is your playing partner that
good he never slices it into the rough.
Come on mate seriously.
I would say if it bugs you that much that your day is ruined give yourself time for 9 holes only.

It does if it means waiting on every shot. If the round takes 5 hours I don't care, as long as it's not because I'm being held up every hole. The truth is, rounds are getting slower because people make them slower by taking too much time doing things they don't need to do. Unfortunately it seems too many people are accepting of that.

Of course I go in the rough, but I don't have a pointless PSR before doing so and I'm conscious of my position on the course when looking for it.

 

[Hobbit]

Seriously mate does it really wind you up that much that 15 mins to half an hour
is going to make that much of a difference to your round and your day.
Golf is a game of enjoyment.
Come on mate seriously.
I would say if it bugs you that much that your day is ruined give yourself time for 9 holes only.

So if 15 mins to half an hour doesn't matter, why don't you speed up by that much? Its less than 2 mins per hole - knock 10secs off your PSR.

Personally, I think that if every group looked at where they are in relation to the group in front. I've played 4.5hr rounds and its not felt slow, or that it was holding people up. Equally, on an easier/shorter course, 4hrs can feel slow.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You've answered your own question there - because you're playing a course with however many 100's of other people! Unless you can find a course which only allows quick paced low handicap golfers then you've got to just go with the flow of the course! Yes, if there is a 4-ball with 3 holes clear ahead of them, they should be playing you through. But as is so often the case, certainly on a weekend, courses are jammed full of 4 balls with the average handicap of 20-something, so for you to demand these people play to your idea of a 'good pace' is just unrealistic.

Don't get me wrong, If I could get round in 3 1/2 hours (and I have done in a 2 ball once or twice before) every week, great! But it won't happen, and you can't change the way (almost) every course works.

I often play with a 78 year old who can drive the ball barely 150 yards. Yes, when he is in our 4 ball, the round can get slow, and we do let people play through. But to get him to 'change his ways', stop having bad shots & double the distance he hits the ball will never happen.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. If the average round is 4 hours, 4 1/4 hours, 4 1/2 hours, so what? It's the average pace of play, so just go with it!!

It's not how long it takes, it's how long I have to stand around waiting that's the problem. Very rarely does a round take 4 1\2 to 5 hours unless someone ahead is being unnecessarily slow. One group faffing and losing time on the group in front backs up the course for everyone else. But I'll just suck it up from now on, after all, as long as they are OK, don't worry about everyone else behind them.

 

[Simbo]

The two key things for me that speed up play (and i am a huge fan of a quick round of golf) are ...

A) be ready to hit your shot. Dont stand there marking your card with the previous holes scores, if its your honour on the tee. A way that we counteract this in our group, its to forget about the honour. If your ready, go.

Often, when i play with stangers, i have hit my shot (yes, i do have a full pre-shot routine), put the club back in the bag and marked my card with them still not ready to go. It baffles me.

B) WATCH WHERE YOUR BLOODY GOLF BALL GOES!!!!

This is something, the begginers and high handicapper (IMO) are guilty of. too often they have no idea where there ball has gone. Pick an object in the distance, and walk towards it!

Point A- is rude and ignorant and goes against the etiquette of golf IMO. Maybe fine when your playing with your usual fourball of crash bash moaners. Nothing worse than trying to play a shot into the green when some muppet is up 50 yards infront of you having practice swings and what not because it's a disaster if he isn't walking up the backside of the group in front.

Point B - yep I agree with to a certain extent.

Saying a round should take x amount of time is like saying ALL cars should lap silverstone in 3 minutes!