Complaining about slow play?

[richy]

I'd like some advice please

This morning I unintentionally woke up quite early (maybe due to excitement of the derby) so decided I'd nip up the club for 9 holes, maybe 18.

Got to the course and there was a group of 3 seniors on the tee with a 4 ball of young lads behind them. I waited for my turn and tee'd off behind the 4 young lads (I'm only 28 and they were probably a year or 2 younger than me). I was obviously going to be faster than them but they wouldn't let me through, even when they lost a hole on the seniors quite early on.

When I got to my ball to play my second on the 3rd hole the 4 lads were standing talking on the green. I made myself noticeable by walking to a position where they could clearly see me. They put the flag back and moved to the next tee. I played my second, chipped on and putted. I got to the 4th tee just as they were walking off but they never even looked my way.
On this hole the fairway dips quite a bit with a slight dogleg left so its a blind tee shot really, however there is a bell about 100 yards from the green to inform those on the tee they can safely play.

I was stood on the tee what felt like ages so decided to walk forwards to see what was taking so long, the group were on the green and hadn't bothered to ring the bell. Anyway I played this hole but decided this was going to take too long so walked in. I was going to have a word with the pro when I got back but the shop was full and I've only recently joined the club and don't want to get a name for myself as a whinge, which I'm not.

These lads might not of been playing slowly for a four ball but they should of let me through as a single. Maybe I should of made more of an effort to get close to them and mention something, maybe I should of had a word with the pro. Maybe I should of just accepted it and waited?

This type of thing has never happened to me before so I was unsure what to do. What would you have done?

(I think this is the longest post I've written on here )

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I'm not saying you don't deserve to be let through but isn't there some stupid rule where a single player has no right to play through?

I'm totally with you though mate and know how frustrating it is, you should of give them a shout and said come on lads let me play through.

 

[Fader]

Single players do now have standing on the course so they should have let you through.

I know you don't want to be a whinge but sadly the only way to be heard is to voice your opinion. Next time have a word with those in front of you if they don't listen wait and have a quiet word with the pro

 

[DCB]

It's a Sunday morning at the start of the season and you're out to play a quick nine holes by yourself

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think your expectation level is too high.

 

[richy]

It's a Sunday morning at the start of the season and you're out to play a quick nine holes by yourself

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think your expectation level is too high.

I welcome all comments and advice.

However the course wasn't busy and there was no competition on. Our first proper comp isn't until next sunday. Plus its derby day so most people with be getting 'on it' with it being an early kick off.

 

[Bazz]

Regardless of what day it is surely he should've been let through considering they'd lost a hole on the group in front.

It's the standing talking on the green that wouldve annoyed me the most

 

[Slab]

I sometimes think in these scenarios there's too much emphasis placed on following players believing they are doing enough by simply making themselves visible/noticeable without actually taking the oppertunity of saying anything.

I'd have thought 'Good morning' would've been an ideal ice breaker and the perfect way for you to make them aware of your presence and if your not close enough for this to happen its possible you're not ready to be let through

if they could all tee off on the 4th, leave the tee'ing area and you were not even visible, it may have been another hole or so before you were in a position to be let through

Bad practice them not ringing the bell though...

 

[Hobbit]

Forget how many were in the group, you were faster and they should have let you through. Once you're off the course its best to just forget about it... doubt they're currently thinking of you. If that's their general attitude someone will pull them sooner than later.

 

[Wayman]

Best forgetting all of this day for all Geordies!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Walking off 17th tee yesterday one of the group behind us moaned about us being slow - first time they'd caught us up to be able to speak to us. Not wishing to get into a debate with them on whether we were or weren't we said 'play through'. They declined on grounds it was 'a bit late' for us to offer. The fact we had been so 'accused' quite upset us and we didn't play the last two holes well. Should they have spoken when they did? If not what should they have done?

Note - they had been behind us from the 9th when we let a fast group behind us through - then we had to wait for about ten mins for them to clear the green ahead.

 

[mchivers]

HI richy
It's not normally a problem especially early mornings.

Bet the wind was tough today

 

[woody69]

If it was me, I would have just said good morning and asked if I could play through.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

These four young men must have been very slow as they could not keep up to anywhere near the pace of the 3 seniors in front.

Op....Could you not have just missed a hole and cut in somewhere?

 

[Foxholer]

Singles have been considered a 'Group' since 2004 so, provided there isn't a Local Notic stating otherwise, they should be let through just like a 2-ball. However, it's also worth remembering that those playing 18 holes have priority over those playing a less-than-full round.

If the 4-ball had truly lost a hole - as opposed to being 'out of position - I would have skipped a hole, or two, so that nobody had to wait. Given the situation, I'd actually have gone and confirmed with the Pro/Starter that I could start from a convenient te other than the first.

 

[williamalex1]

They should have waved you through but only because they had lost ground on the game ahead of them . Would you expect to be waved through , if the course was full of 4 balls, who are keeping pace.
Say maybe 2 x 4 balls waiting on the tee at a par 3, would you expect to play through both games at onced , just because your faster.

 

[lyden]

I'm not the type to bite my tongue, same thing happened to me and I had a full blown argument with a 4 ball. I was new member but I couldn't care less they were being rude and I pay my subscription like everyone else.

 

[stevieb15]

I think the way people behave on the golf course often mirrors how they behave off it...ignorance rarely begins or ends at the 1st or the 18th.

 

[richy]

HI richy
It's not normally a problem especially early mornings.

Bet the wind was tough today

Yeah it was, hit 5 iron from 130 on 8, then on 9 hit 7 iron to middle of the green.

They should have waved you through but only because they had lost ground on the game ahead of them . Would you expect to be waved through , if the course was full of 4 balls, who are keeping pace.
Say maybe 2 x 4 balls waiting on the tee at a par 3, would you expect to play through both games at onced , just because your faster.

No, not at all but I could clearly see there was space in front of them. I would of been out of sight in about 5 minutes the way they were playing.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If you have paid your subs then you are entitled to play although I agree that playing a solo on a Sunday is optimistic (certainly at my place). However I do think if 4 younger player cant keep pace with a smaller group of seniors they must have been dawdling or chopping and so you may have had a right to go through. They should have rung the bell though