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

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Sorry but anybody saying that golf should take this amount of time, and things not being acceptable is totally out of order. Golf is supposed to be relaxing, not a route march.

Which is all very well if you are on the golf course by yourself. But in general you are not.

Consideration for other players should have you playing as briskly as you can. I'm afraid it does my head in watching players strolling about the place - sauntering up and around the course without a care in the world. Happy with their own lot but completely oblivious to that of others. If a club sets a pace of play that means you can't relax as much as you'd like, then play towards the end of the field or later in the day. Unfortunately your relaxed pace is someone else's extremely irritating and day-ruining pace. Consideration for others at all times.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Which is all very well if you are on the golf course by yourself. But in general you are not.

Consideration for other players should have you playing as briskly as you can. I'm afraid it does my head in watching players strolling about the place - sauntering up and around the course without a care in the world. Happy with their own lot but completely oblivious to that of others. If a club sets a pace of play that means you can't relax as much as you'd like, then play towards the end of the field or later in the day. Unfortunately your relaxed pace is someone else's extremely irritating and day-ruining pace. Consideration for others at all times.

:thup:

 

[ger147]

Which is all very well if you are on the golf course by yourself. But in general you are not.

Consideration for other players should have you playing as briskly as you can. I'm afraid it does my head in watching players strolling about the place - sauntering up and around the course without a care in the world. Happy with their own lot but completely oblivious to that of others. If a club sets a pace of play that means you can't relax as much as you'd like, then play towards the end of the field or later in the day. Unfortunately your relaxed pace is someone else's extremely irritating and day-ruining pace. Consideration for others at all times.

So is it only the slower players who should show consideration for their faster fellow players? Should the naturally faster players not also show some consideration for their slower fellow players?

 

[BTatHome]

Which is all very well if you are on the golf course by yourself. But in general you are not.

Consideration for other players should have you playing as briskly as you can. I'm afraid it does my head in watching players strolling about the place - sauntering up and around the course without a care in the world. Happy with their own lot but completely oblivious to that of others. If a club sets a pace of play that means you can't relax as much as you'd like, then play towards the end of the field or later in the day. Unfortunately your relaxed pace is someone else's extremely irritating and day-ruining pace. Consideration for others at all times.

Don't remember saying anything about sauntering, or being oblivious ... huge difference from what you infer and having a relaxing round !

 

[garyinderry]

the only time ive been on a course that was going at a snails pace was the par 3 course at my old club in the height of the summer. this is where all the beginners and hackers play. I've seen up to 25 people waiting at the 1st. when the sun shines it becomes jammed with people hacking around and generally taking ages.

its no so much the players fault as it is the club. the players cant go anywhere because it is so packed. waving through is pointless.

the club don't mind as its a bit of a gold mine for them. £7 a pop makes it very profitable for them. it also keeps the main course free from hackers for the main part.

everyone is happy.

 

[bluewolf]

The fact is, if you want to play at a leisurely pace, there is a facility there to allow yo to do that.. It's called allowing faster groups to play through. If you want to play at a slightly quicker pace (which is also a valid choice), you're reliant on the groups before you observing the etiquette of "playing through" .. One group has all the power, and it's not the faster players......:thup:

 

[Fish]

Rose v Piercy took almost 4.5 hours to complete a two ball match yesterday

 

[Slab]

The fact is, if you want to play at a leisurely pace, there is a facility there to allow yo to do that.. It's called allowing faster groups to play through. If you want to play at a slightly quicker pace (which is also a valid choice), you're reliant on the groups before you observing the etiquette of "playing through" .. One group has all the power, and it's not the faster players......:thup:

I'd disagree, an assessed pace of play target, committee sanctions and course marshals exist to keep the slower ones from getting too slow

The power exists on both sides

 

[bluewolf]

I'd disagree, an assessed pace of play target, committee sanctions and course marshals exist to keep the slower ones from getting too slow

The power exists on both sides

I'd politely disagree. Most courses dont have marshalls, and PoP targets are routinely ignored. Theres a place for every pace of play on the course, it just takes manners and patience from all groups (inc faster players). Oh, and someone needs to stop the extremely slow groups from booking early morning comp times!!

 

[Imurg]

Oh, and someone needs to stop the extremely slow groups from booking early morning comp times!!

At my last Club, known offenders were always "drawn" into the last 2 groups......spooky that...!!

 

[dufferman]

Which is all very well if you are on the golf course by yourself. But in general you are not.

Consideration for other players should have you playing as briskly as you can. I'm afraid it does my head in watching players strolling about the place - sauntering up and around the course without a care in the world. Happy with their own lot but completely oblivious to that of others. If a club sets a pace of play that means you can't relax as much as you'd like, then play towards the end of the field or later in the day. Unfortunately your relaxed pace is someone else's extremely irritating and day-ruining pace. Consideration for others at all times.

Consideration works both ways - you might want to rush around the course, others don't. Just because a 'slow round' was 3.5 hours 100 years ago doesn't mean everyone else is in the wrong.

If you want a fast round, then get to the course for the first tee time and play in front of everyone else. Just like super slow players have to be at the back of the queue?

 

[Slime]

I would have liked it to be a bit quicker, but one player taking about a minute to hit each shot didn't help. His pre-shot routine includes several practice swings and half swings, lots of re-gripping and fidgeting with his posture before he is ready to commit to his shot. We have another player at our club who just freezes over the ball for about a minute before he can pull the trigger. All things copied from the PGA Tour I suspect!

I'm guilty of exactly that. It feels like forever but is probably just a few seconds, I've never been timed!
It is not something I am happy with and I'm positively trying to overcome it. It's been a problem ever since I started playing, but, I DID NOT COPY IT FROM ANY GOLF TOUR! Why would I when it's something that I hate.

You need to tell him he is playing too slow and if it makes it easier also say that in other company his speed will be an issue for his PPs - and don't take any 'we weren't holding anyone up' - he was holding you up.

Or maybe tell yourself that you're in too much of a hurry? Just a thought.


Slime.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We use to have a guy in our group I swear had rigor mortis setting in. We timed him once and it could be up to 35 seconds standing over it. Played off 11 so not a bad player once he got on with it. Funny thing was he was like a whippet and straight off the second the last player had hit.

 

[Slab]

Just got a game arranged for Sunday and I know there is no chance we will get done in under 4hours and I'm perfectly ok with that (actually it'll be around 4:30)

Partly due to long course, partly the make-up of the players, partly due to the social aspect and partly due to the fact that its a wonderful course the sun will be out and we'll enjoy the hell out of it and have some fun

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Or maybe tell yourself that you're in too much of a hurry? Just a thought.


Slime.

Why is it that those of us who play at a decent pace are in a hurry? We don't run around the course, we just don't faff or dither, don't take any longer playing shots than is required, make sure we are aware of our position on the course and generally try to keep play moving. Keep up with the group in front is written on scorecards and signs all over the country, I believe it's even written in the etiquette section of the rules of golf.

 

[Waitforme]

Played at the weekend, we were behind a 3 ball that had lost a hole and a half to two holes at the 9th, although we were at the turn in one and a half hours, so going along ok.
We had waited to play every shot from the 5th. A member of the group in front said to the others that he was not going to let us through as they were playing fast enough having reached the turn in 90 mins. One of the others was kind enough to tell us to play through whenever we wanted, we did at the 12th and left the 18th green as they were teeing off at 17.
It is attitudes like the above that piss me off.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Why is it that those of us who play at a decent pace are in a hurry? We don't run around the course, we just don't faff or dither, don't take any longer playing shots than is required, make sure we are aware of our position on the course and generally try to keep play moving. Keep up with the group in front is written on scorecards and signs all over the country, I believe it's even written in the etiquette section of the rules of golf.

Thankyou @Hawkeye - I was wondering how to respond to being accused of too fast play when all I do is get on with it.

 

[Slab]

Just got a game arranged for Sunday and I know there is no chance we will get done in under 4hours and I'm perfectly ok with that (actually it'll be around 4:30)

Partly due to long course, partly the make-up of the players, partly due to the social aspect and partly due to the fact that its a wonderful course the sun will be out and we'll enjoy the hell out of it and have some fun

Well got my game yesterday, as it happens 4:30hrs was a good guess and it didn't feel slow but more importantly had an enjoyable afternoon of social golf with a wee friendly betterball side comp (which we lost on 17th green due to my missed putt for a half) our other 4-ball went round 30 minutes quicker than us

Cool sighting of about 15 giant flying fox bats heading over the 15th green just after 5pm (things the size of seagulls, I swear one of them had a flight crew!)

 

[Slime]

Why is it that those of us who play at a decent pace are in a hurry? We don't run around the course, we just don't faff or dither, don't take any longer playing shots than is required, make sure we are aware of our position on the course and generally try to keep play moving. Keep up with the group in front is written on scorecards and signs all over the country, I believe it's even written in the etiquette section of the rules of golf.

Who decides whether or not it is you who are playing at a 'decent' pace, surely this is subjective?
I think I play at a decent pace, for me, as I'm not a youngster & I want to savour every moment of every round and can do so without holding play up. If that takes five hours, so be it.
For some, apparently, this will make them lose the will to live as, in their opinion, 3½ is a decent pace, and that's okay too.
Why should I have to keep up with the group in front if their pace of play is far quicker than mine .................... as long as I don't slow up those behind, where's the problem?


Slime.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Who decides whether or not it is you who are playing at a 'decent' pace, surely this is subjective?
I think I play at a decent pace, for me, as I'm not a youngster & I want to savour every moment of every round and can do so without holding play up. If that takes five hours, so be it.
For some, apparently, this will make them lose the will to live as, in their opinion, 3½ is a decent pace, and that's okay too.
Why should I have to keep up with the group in front if their pace of play is far quicker than mine .................... as long as I don't slow up those behind, where's the problem?


Slime.

Because that's what it says in the etiquette section of the rules of golf.

And it isn't about you. If everyone keeps up, or at least tries to keep up, with the group in front, then hopefully no-one will be held up un-necessarily.

I was actually playing yesterday and we lost ground on the group in front, I made a comment to our group that we had to get a move on and the response from one of the guys was exactly the one I would imagine I would get from you, "the group behind aren't waiting so we're fine" - no attempt was made to speed up despite my efforts and comments.

On the 15th, one of our group had a bit of trouble and the group behind caught up and were waiting as we putted out, the group in front were now on the 16th green so we had lost a fair bit of ground. As it turned out, one of their group lost a ball with their approach to 15 so the gap between us opened up again but that really isn't the point. Gaps can open up between groups for lost balls etc but if you do nothing to make up time, things can go wrong, it simply isn't good enough to say you aren't holding anyone up, better to ensure you never do.