Allowed to play before a comp

[thepodgster]

I have been at 2 clubs at different ends of the scale. 1 you were not allowed out before the weekend competition and the other allows you to - i believe you should be allowed to play prior to a comp, however there should be a cut off time.

So on to today where i was out in the first group:
Walk on to the 5th T Box (par 5) to see a 2 ball on the fairway and a 4 ball on the green. Play the 5th with no issues and then find ourselves walking to the 6th to find the 2 ball haven't started.

On looking ahead there was 2 ball, 4 ball, 3 ball and 2 ball all in succession. After quite a bit of waiting we played the 6th to then find ourselves behind the 4 ball on the 7th and waiting on the T as they had let the 2 ball through. The 4 ball was made up of 2 members and 2 guests.

If you are still reading:
I suppose i am interested in what other clubs allow and at what point (if any) does the comp have right of way over others out for a knock.

 

[Qwerty]

I have been at 2 clubs at different ends of the scale. 1 you were not allowed out before the weekend competition and the other allows you to - i believe you should be allowed to play prior to a comp, however there should be a cut off time.

So on to today where i was out in the first group:
Walk on to the 5th T Box (par 5) to see a 2 ball on the fairway and a 4 ball on the green. Play the 5th with no issues and then find ourselves walking to the 6th to find the 2 ball haven't started.

On looking ahead there was 2 ball, 4 ball, 3 ball and 2 ball all in succession. After quite a bit of waiting we played the 6th to then find ourselves behind the 4 ball on the 7th and waiting on the T as they had let the 2 ball through. The 4 ball was made up of 2 members and 2 guests.

If you are still reading:
I suppose i am interested in what other clubs allow and at what point (if any) does the comp have right of way over others out for a knock.

Ive never come across a club that has allowed it for summer qualifying comps.
if a club is going to allow it I would of thought the Startsheet would be blocked off for a period before the 1st Teetime.

i wouldn't be happy about it tbh mate, they either need to get an instant move on or get off the course.

Id imagine there would be uproar at most clubs if this was allowed to happen.
I'm presuming it was a qualifier ?

 

[thepodgster]

June Monthly Medal

 

[Foxholer]

Apart from the likelihood of there being more folk involved, I don't see any fundamental reason why a competition should have priority over anyone else. That said, I can understand why some clubs don't allow casuals and comps to mix, either casuals before the start of the comp or slotted in amongst the comp groups. I know at least 1 club that where comp groups are in the minority and scattered throughout the day, albeit with a block at a few times.

 

[ppauls150]

Our comps are 2 or 3 ball in medals and stableford comps and obviously play in 4s in 4bbb comps where you need pairs. All major comps are play in 2s and 3s. If people want to play but not in the comp they can still put their names on the starting sheet but don't have to enter the comp if they don't want to. They still have to adhere to the 2s and 3s format though.

 

[chrisd]

Most comps at ours are out in 3 balls until 9.30 on a 2 tee start. We do reserve the last 3 tee times for casual golfer but they have to book prior to the day. I think it was introduced, mainly, so that lady members could play when a men's comp is on. Strangely there was a single golfer on the course today!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our tee is reserved from 8.00am on competition days and so people are not allowed to tee off fifteen minutes before that. That means they are free to go out although they must give way to the first competition group if they are caught. To be honest most are smart enough to be off and clear by 7.30. In the OP's case I'd have asked to play through as a competition has (should) priority

 

[pbrown7582]

Play allowed before all our comps except captains days, but you have to be clear of 1st tee half an hour before the 1st start time. As play is in 3 balls possible to catch up if a 4 ball is put early but We've not encountered any issues.

Don't see any reason if you do catch up to have automatic right to play through as in a comp, just normally etiquette should suffice with a faster moving group allowed through.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

No play 30 mins before competition at my place...though as first tee times are normally around 7.30, you'd have to be fairly crazy to go out beforehand. Some do though!

 

[fundy]

Plays allowed beforehand at ours but they close the tee for a bit and any one who goes off early is warned that theres a comp following them

 

[Face breaker]

Our club is considering avoiding future competitions such as "Pro-Ams and Devon Ladies/Mens" because it's a lot of "extra work, expense and disruption for nothing" and all it does is lose us "passing trade/pay and players" and "piss the members off" because they pay their membership fee's to be able to play all year round and don't appreciate being told they can't play the course for 3 days on the trot !...:thup:

 

[ScienceBoy]

Are comps slower or faster than bounce games?

How clubs vary on these matters is quite fascinating.

Should golf unions do more by commissioning research and issuing guidelines?

 

[Imurg]

Are comps slower or faster than bounce games?

How clubs vary on these matters is quite fascinating.

Should golf unions do more by commissioning research and issuing guidelines?

I'd have expected Comps would a lot slower, in general, than a bounce game of the same number of players due to the extra concentration time and having to hole out.
So it shouldn't make any difference if groups go out before a comp....and if they do and hold the comp up then they should let groups through as per normal etiquette...
Makes a bit of sense to block a couple of times before the comp starts though...

 

[backwoodsman]

We don't have tee times except for competitions - and bookable slots start from course opening time. So on comp' days you have to book a tee slot but don't have to play in the comp. The only exception is a couple of "major" 36 hole competitions where you can only have slot if you're in the comp - and the course is otherwise effectively closed for the day.

 

[patricks148]

if its a drawn comp or an open no and should be discouraged. for the monthly medals and stablefords its ok as you just book your own time and arrange partners.

 

[Break90]

At our place the comp tee times start at 0730, and its competition entrants only until 1400hrs.

We always tee off around noon so never an issue for us tbh

 

[GB72]

As we have 3 loops of 9, we close the first tee just before the first tee time (about 7.30) until the last group is off then close the 10th tee about an hour and a half after the first tee time until the comp has gone through. Sees to work fine but it helps that there is another loop of 9 available for those not in the comp.

 

[DCB]

So, if you are allowing non competition players to start early and play before a competition, how do the green staff get the course ready for competition play ? If there are players out there beasting their way round to keep ahead of the competition they must interfere with the greens staff who are out to cut the greens and place the days pins for the comp.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

For comps tee is booked from 7:30am. You can tee-off before then if you want. Casual 2-balls would be fine as you should be much quicker than a medal 3 ball. Casual 4balls. Not worth it. Chances are you'll get caught by the first medal 3 ball and will have to let them through - and the next 3 ball - and the next...