Do we play too much fourball golf?

[TomC]

New poll running on the website

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/polls.html

Any thoughts from you guys on this?

 

[GB72]

I don't think so. To be honest, with competitions limited to 3 balls, an odd number in our group in the morning etc, I do not get to play that much 4 ball golf at all. When I do it is normally out of season with a good, competitive 4 ball better ball round with my mates, plenty of banter and a few quid riding on it and, outside of competition, that is my favourite way to play a round.

 

[bladeplayer]

Only in society or classics or something , apart from that i play very little in a fourball ..

 

[pokerjoke]

4 ball golf is fine,if all groups are 4 balls.
Imo problems arise when theres a mix of 4s 3s and 2s on the course.
4 balls are good for a little wager,pairs matchplay which certainly adds to the fun.

 

[Doh]

In my opinion no, as there is a more of a chance that there is someone worse than me. No I see golf as my hobby so I want to play with other people and prefer to play with others the more the merrier.

 

[GB72]

4 ball golf is fine,if all groups are 4 balls.
Imo problems arise when theres a mix of 4s 3s and 2s on the course.
4 balls are good for a little wager,pairs matchplay which certainly adds to the fun.

I agree with that and often think that my club does not do enough to try and pair up smaller groups when then course is full of 4 balls. Surely that would make for a happier round for everyone.

 

[smurfdrl]

I'm much the same. Normally I play in pairs but when it's a 'society' (lads day out) then it's fours all round.

 

[fundy]

Personally I dont as play a lot of unplanned golf in the week and this is often in 2s or 3s as much as 4s. That said on weekends our place is predominantly 4 balls, even in the swindle where personally think they should play in 3 balls (as you would in a comp). The ones it tends to cause issues for is the ones who need to play singles knockout matches on the weekends, often they have no choice but to play then but are then playing a 2 ball match on a course at 4 ball speed

 

[Fish]

4 ball golf is fine,if all groups are 4 balls.
Imo problems arise when theres a mix of 4s 3s and 2s on the course.
4 balls are good for a little wager,pairs matchplay which certainly adds to the fun.

The ones it tends to cause issues for is the ones who need to play singles knock-out matches on the weekends, often they have no choice but to play then but are then playing a 2 ball match on a course at 4 ball speed

This is definitely a problem, especially when a course is pretty much loaded.

 

[patricks148]

pretty much all the golf i play apart from Comps and Knockouts is 4 ball betterball for money.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a big roll up on a Saturday and depending on numbers and how many three balls we end up with we always send them off first and the fours follow. Apart from that I usually play in threes in comps so it never feels like too much four ball play

 

[Robobum]

Play very little 4ball stuff during the main season so really enjoy a 4ball matchplay for a few quid during the winter.

Nothing better/ worse than having someone play like a melt all the way round but then play one decent hole late on to clinch the match for that side.

 

[AmandaJR]

Usually play in 3 balls and don't mind a 4 ball as long as everyone else on the course is in a 4 - or the majority at least. Hate being a 4 and constantly checking behind to make sure we're not holding anyone up! David and I are always anxious about that and yet it seems fellow playing partners are less so. We rush, they take their time. We rush even more, they take their time and so on! Happy to let faster groups through of course but it can feel like you're treading water (literally at the moment)!

 

[JCW]

If its not a comp then 4 ball is the best for social golf , in the last few months any number is good

 

[Crow]

Even our competitions are fouballs.

It might be nice to play competitions in threeballs but then there might be people not getting a game.

 

[JCW]

Even our competitions are fouballs.

It might be nice to play competitions in threeballs but then there might be people not getting a game.

Never been at a club that play comps in 4 balls unles it was a greensomes/foursones/texas scramble/4BBB , its not the norm

 

[Oddsocks]

I think we do, I don't think four ball golf is as competitive as one on one,,,

One on one match play for me is the ultimate

 

[AMcC]

Like many others have said, our competitions during the season are three balls. So the only times we play fourball format is during weekend sweep, depending how many turn up and the fourball,knockout competiton.
Playing in a fourball is a more sociable format allowing for pairs games as well.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

ONly problem I see with too much four ball golf is that if everyone is holing out or at least trying to - and not picking up when they are out - then rounds can take a long time. If 4ball is what you normally play then the length of time it takes becomes your normal. You are then less likely to be bothered or indeed notice when a non-4ball round is really slow.

And in respect of combating slow play I am firm believer that we all have to become more self-aware of speed of play and to honestly point out to PPs when we play slow. Playing too much 4Ball golf is not going to build that self-awareness I suspect.

 

[duncan mackie]

Any thoughts from you guys on this?

who's 'we' and how much are they playing?

sorry but this seems a strangely worded poll - it seems to recognise that generally people will respond negatively to the suggestion that they should be doing something differently but then looses any value.