Another slow play rant!

[richy]

When I'm out playing a round, I don't care how long it takes, why worry about it and let it get to you, so what the OP had taken a day off work and spent 5hrs on the golf course, the other option would've not doubt being working, I know where I'd rather be.

A couple of years ago I did the 'New Golf Thinking' thing through GM, prior to that day slow play would get to me, my fellow players whining about slow play would get to me, it would ruin my game, to the point where I honestly thought about giving up, selling my gear and doing something else, but the NGT made me think a different way and now I couldn't give a toss if the group in front are glacial slow.

It's blatantly obvious that slow play gets to the OP, so much so he needed to write about it, more than likely still foaming as it was written.

It's a cliché but life's to short to worry about the little things, to get all stressed about things for which you have no control.

The more people that 'accept' slow play, the worse it will get and chances of it ever changing get slimmer.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The more people that 'accept' slow play, the worse it will get and chances of it ever changing get slimmer.

It goes back to my previous comment #43 that its about responsibility and sadly there are far too many golfers out there that refuse to take ownership for their actions and admit they are a cause of slow play on a regular basis. They simply won't be told and won't change no matter how much the R&A, media and fellow golfers moan to them and I've seen some that will almost go slower to prove a point. They remain the biggest problem in the game and one I can't see a way of solving

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It goes back to my previous comment #43 that its about responsibility and sadly there are far too many golfers out there that refuse to take ownership for their actions and admit they are a cause of slow play on a regular basis. They simply won't be told and won't change no matter how much the R&A, media and fellow golfers moan to them and I've seen some that will almost go slower to prove a point. They remain the biggest problem in the game and one I can't see a way of solving

It's almost impossible to quanttify slow play, 4hrs on a weekend in a comp at our place is deemed slow, some courses would be happy with 4hr rounds, weather, ability, type of comp etc etc all contribute.

Good etiquette and mutual respect would solve 90-95% of slow play issues imo.

 

[Khamelion]

The more people that 'accept' slow play, the worse it will get and chances of it ever changing get slimmer.

I agree, slow play should be banished from the game, but the OP stated that he had complained to the organiser and told him he was not coming back. Slow play obviously winds him up to the point it affects his game. My point was I used to be the same, but now slow play doesn't bother me.

That's not to say I'm accepting it, I'm not, what I'm accepting is that I'm not going to let things that are out of my control get to me, as I wrote above, life is to short to worry about the little things.

 

[mikejohnchapman]

I played 1st round of the county seniors championship yesterday. The group in front of us were shocking, they had 4 or 5 clear cut opportunities to call us through. 5 hours to get round a 6000 yard course

Unbelievably, they then called us through half way down the 17th fairway!! I swear to God, if I'd had a gun in my bag I would up on 3 murder charges this morning. I handed my card in and told the organiser that I wouldn't be back today to go through that again

Could have been worse - one of our group dropped out so we were a2 ball in the midst of all the 3 balls. Felt like a pro waiting on every shot.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It's almost impossible to quanttify slow play, 4hrs on a weekend in a comp at our place is deemed slow, some courses would be happy with 4hr rounds, weather, ability, type of comp etc etc all contribute.

Good etiquette and mutual respect would solve 90-95% of slow play issues imo.

You're right and four hours is deemed par at my place and clearly other clubs have their own standard times. I agree that mutual respect would help but I still feel too many don't see themselves as the issue and refuse to change their approach. How do you change that

 

[mikejohnchapman]

It's almost impossible to quanttify slow play, 4hrs on a weekend in a comp at our place is deemed slow, some courses would be happy with 4hr rounds, weather, ability, type of comp etc etc all contribute.

Good etiquette and mutual respect would solve 90-95% of slow play issues imo.

Surely most courses have a time allocated for a competitive round. If you are outside that you are, by definition, guilty of slow play. Thus if anyone were really interested all you have to do is time the groups that have lost a hole or more and see if they are outside the time. Warning first and ban subsequently - simples.

If you really want to get heavy get people to timestamp cards on the first tee and 18th green. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.

 

[Khamelion]

Part of the problem is, if a group is a the cause of slow play and not letting others through, it may be because they know they are, but don't want to be going backwards having to let each group that catches up through, their round the takes longer. So bad etiquette or just plain selfishness make them continue at a slow rate.

Recently I played through the Winter up at Sharpley, course was rammed, or so we thought, fourballs getting backed up in front of us and behind, reason a fourball at the very front playing slow, no one was getting through. We sussed why once back to the car park, the four that were the cause, were total knobs, loud dickheads they all piled into a Q7, they nearly ran into myself, Kraxx and Hacker in the car park while reversing, and they even ran over a flower bed and bush. We kind of grasped why no one had asked to play through as the chances were they would've got a shed load of abuse or worse.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Surely most courses have a time allocated for a competitive round. If you are outside that you are, by definition, guilty of slow play. Thus if anyone were really interested all you have to do is time the groups that have lost a hole or more and see if they are outside the time. Warning first and ban subsequently - simples.

If you really want to get heavy get people to timestamp cards on the first tee and 18th green. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.

It's not all about time, there could be genuine reasons they've lost a hole, the group in front could be particularly fast for example.

The group behind the supposed slow group may not of closed up and matching the pace.

If any group see's themselves being caught they should stand aside, it's about awareness, as soon as you mention slow play some think they have to rush.

 

[3565]

When I'm out playing a round, I don't care how long it takes, why worry about it and let it get to you, so what the OP had taken a day off work and spent 5hrs on the golf course, the other option would've not doubt being working, I know where I'd rather be.

A couple of years ago I did the 'New Golf Thinking' thing through GM, prior to that day slow play would get to me, my fellow players whining about slow play would get to me, it would ruin my game, to the point where I honestly thought about giving up, selling my gear and doing something else, but the NGT made me think a different way and now I couldn't give a toss if the group in front are glacial slow.

It's blatantly obvious that slow play gets to the OP, so much so he needed to write about it, more than likely still foaming as it was written.

It's a cliché but life's to short to worry about the little things, to get all stressed about things for which you have no control.

Here here, I'm with you on this.

 

[3565]

Surely most courses have a time allocated for a competitive round. If you are outside that you are, by definition, guilty of slow play. Thus if anyone were really interested all you have to do is time the groups that have lost a hole or more and see if they are outside the time. Warning first and ban subsequently - simples.

If you really want to get heavy get people to timestamp cards on the first tee and 18th green. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.

Lets make it Equestrian Golf. You start with a clock countdown, play 18 holes and if you exceeded the time allotted for the round then you get shots deducted from your handicap. The only way to keep your playing handicap is to be within the time frame of the round and that will stop banditry. Sorted.

Ill be be outside the time allotted as that's the only way I'll get to scratch! :thup:

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Sometimes I'll play a round before work so I'm not having this "just enjoy the round" if it makes me late for work and I have to cut it short when I have allowed 4 hours plus 30 min levway plus travel then it's too slow

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Sometimes I'll play a round before work so I'm not having this "just enjoy the round" if it makes me late for work and I have to cut it short when I have allowed 4 hours plus 30 min levway plus travel then it's too slow

For you it would be too slow, you probably play at that time knowing you can play at your pace with ease, this is what I said previously, there isn't a one scenario/time allowance that suits all.

 

[Smiffy]

Putting my iron covers on For Sale Thread if anyone's interested, apparently they cause slow play :rofl: :rofl:

I know you were saying this in jest, but people who DO moan about these haven't really got a clue.
I use iron covers (with zips!) and I'm one of the fastest players I know.
Never, ever, slow anyone up.

 

[chrisd]

Surely most courses have a time allocated for a competitive round. If you are outside that you are, by definition, guilty of slow play. Thus if anyone were really interested all you have to do is time the groups that have lost a hole or more and see if they are outside the time. Warning first and ban subsequently - simples.

If you really want to get heavy get people to timestamp cards on the first tee and 18th green. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well back.

I'm not really sure that is fair.

If a group, say out in a medal, have a really bad day and individual players lose balls around the course it could be a very slow round for the group, but they may do the right thing in calling groups through on each occasion. Draconian rule making based on a stopwatch isn't the answer but an experienced course Marshall driving round sorting out gaps between groups probably is

 

[bobmac]

There will always be people who want to play fast
There will always be people who want to play slow
and there will always be people who want to play somewhere in the middle.
The ONLY WAY to keep EVERYONE happy is to put the fast players out first and the slow players out last.

 

[chellie]

I'm not really sure that is fair.

If a group, say out in a medal, have a really bad day and individual players lose balls around the course it could be a very slow round for the group, but they may do the right thing in calling groups through on each occasion. Draconian rule making based on a stopwatch isn't the answer but an experienced course Marshall driving round sorting out gaps between groups probably is

That's what I said at #41

 

[chrisd]

That's what I said at #41

Sorry, only read a few posts

 

[Deleted member 16999]

There will always be people who want to play fast
There will always be people who want to play slow
and there will always be people who want to play somewhere in the middle.
The ONLY WAY to keep EVERYONE happy is to put the fast players out first and the slow players out last.

You're experience of this far outways mine, and as much as this is the most sensible approach you'll always get some thinking they were slowed down and could've gone faster, irrespective of them starting 1st, 12th or 20th.

 

[Nickrat]

There will always be people who want to play fast
There will always be people who want to play slow
and there will always be people who want to play somewhere in the middle.
The ONLY WAY to keep EVERYONE happy is to put the fast players out first and the slow players out last.

Because its impossible to let someone through?