Etiquette Advise Needed on Slow Play and Playing Through

[Imurg]

Agreed. But do you not abide by that section too?

 

[Twire]

Agreed. But do you not abide by that section too?

Yes I do........it's all the other buggers that don't

 

[EchtLoon]

The answer is simple: Page 27 Rules of Golf. Pace of Play:

'It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front.If it losess a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group'

We played behind a 5 ball last month ex captain ane were held up for 12 holes.Need I say more. The comment that the group cannot go anywhere is irrelevant.

But a little further on under Priority on the course it states "Unless otherwise determined by the committee, priority on the course is determined by a groups pace of play".

I read that as if your playing quicker than the group in front, you have priority and they should let you play through.

So straight from the rules book these two pearls of wisdom contradict each other.

Not how I read it at all, I would say they compliment each other, in that you should let a group through if you have lost the pace, but also if a group behind is playing quicker.

After a hole, I suggested that perhaps we ought to let him thru, but one of our group said 'what's the point ? He's only gonna have to wait on every shot for the group ahead, and just delay us even more', which in reality is quite right in that situation, so its tough cookies.
On any other day at my own course, and with clear holes ahead, sure anyone can come thru if they are quicker, but a sole player shouldnt automatic rights to expect to 'play thru' whatever the situation.

Common sense really ?

Why is it common sense? Surely common sense is that if you let him through [under the rules] so should the group ahead. You seem to have assumed that you let him through and he then gets stuck, admittedly as many golfers have this attitude then you're probably correct, doesn't mean that it is the correct thing to do.

I would hazard a guess that if all clubs strictly enforced the pace of play rules, and many more golffers had to start giving way, we'd see a bloody great big improvement in the speed of play in this country.

 

[Toad]

I had a major issue with slow play in the medal on Sunday.

I was out early and the 1st & 2nd groups out were 2 balls third group was a three ball and we were fourth also in a 3 ball.

The first sign that it was going to be a slow day was at the second tee, we had to wait 10 min while the group in front looked for lost balls in knee high rough, none of them had played a provisional ball and two of them headed back to the tee.

By now they have lost a hole on the group in front and we thought we would wait until the third tee before asking to play through what a mistake that was.

After keeping us waiting fully 25 mins on the second tee we asked to play through at the third, they refused saying it was not a race and that there was no need as they were not that far behind the group in front.
It got so bad that the first 2 groups had joined up at the 5th to make a 4 ball and were 3 holes ahead at the turn.

It had taken us almost 3 hours to play 9 holes, and I decided to head in as it looked like being a 6 hour round and I was in no mood to play golf by now.

When we complained we were informed it was the old club captain and he never lets anyone play through and is known to take 5.5 - 6 hours to get round.

I was pissed at having to NR due to this and had asked not go up .1, but was told to finish the round or go up.

Great attitude they have and clubs wonder why they are losing members.

 

[USER1999]

One aspect of 'playing faster groups through' remains a mystery to me.

The course is chocker. There is no where to go if you did play through. Every shot is a 10 minute wait to play, for every one on the course.

So, how do I know if the group behind could play faster than me? Should I let them through on the offchance, should I have to display a bag tag with my average time for a 4 ball stamped on it and let those with faster times displayed through, or should faster players be issued with red hats, so I can see them coming?

It is rubbish. If there is no where to go, why let someone play through, just because they don't have enough mates to make up a four ball.

 

[funkyfred]

In a post of mine earlier this week i mentioned how I meet up with 3 other guys (on the 6th fairway)who asked me to play through but then ask me if I wanted to join them.
After I joined them we let a 2 ball go through on the 8th and a single player on the 9th.

Any way we finished our game and after dumping my clubs in the car went off to the clubhouse to order my breakfast. Well i waited and waited for my partners to join me and about 10 minutes later one of them finally emerged. Where's the other's I asked? well knowning James he has probably let someone through in the showers!!!

Well I found it funny at the time.

I know its unusual but a 12 ball society let me through in the space of 4 holes only about 6 weeks ago.

 

[StuartDykes]

Even if the fast group has caught you up, the time it takes for them to play through, means that everyone else behind will now also have to wait, and it just makes the problem worse, becasue now more people are backed up.

Allowing one person to play through at the expense of the rest of the people behind is wrong in my opinion.

 

[Macster]

Even if the fast group has caught you up, the time it takes for them to play through, means that everyone else behind will now also have to wait, and it just makes the problem worse, becasue now more people are backed up.

Allowing one person to play through at the expense of the rest of the people behind is wrong in my opinion.

Agreed.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

I don't know what local rules at other clubs are but on our course a 1 ball has no standing, you cannot play through unless invited and in the unlikely event of being persued by a fast 2,3 or 4 ball must offer them through.

Many times i've been flying solo and had to stand over the ball and wait 5 - 6 minutes before being able to play the shot and it's very frustrating!

 

[pigmeister]

My course does not pair people up as you said in your post. As i stated in my post we have two 18 hole golf courses. On even dates 2 ball play the John O`Gaunt course and 3&4 balls play the Cathagena, on odd dates it is reversed. This makes it very unlikly that you would get a 2 ball being held up by a 4 ball. On such occasions that one of the courses are closed, all traffic is on the other course and it is then pace of play on the day whether it be 2 ball or 3&4 ball. It is a privite club and we do not have to book tee times, just turn up and play. As i said we do have a few societies, although most are ok some are a pain in the arse with golfers who turn out two or three times a year and spray it about. Its an unwriten rule that you dont pressure them to let you through, but on the odd occasion i have been asked if we would like to play through.
Another unwriten rule at my club is that you dont play a single during the day at weekends and during the week if its busy, no problem if its very quiet.
If you have a problem with that then im sorry youll have to report me, dont give a [****], and if your a single youll still have to wait.

 

[mjsw13]

Quite simply, the current captain needs to have a stern word with that fella (the old ex-captain), and if he doesn't buck up his ideas, send him on his way, as he cannot adhere to the rules of golf. People like him are killing the game for us mortals (those without 6 hours to spare), all the while no doubt being on a reduced rate. An absolute disgrace!

 

[Parmo]

Another unwriten rule at my club is that you dont play a single during the day at weekends and during the week if its busy, no problem if its very quiet.
If you have a problem with that then im sorry youll have to report me, dont give a [****], and if your a single youll still have to wait.

Sounds like a two bit club anyway with members that have type of attitude.

 

[viscount17]

Sounds like a two bit club anyway with members that have type of attitude.

I know it, it's quite close to me.

possibly the dearest both to join and to play in the area

 

[Herbie]

Use your judgement, if you dont know when you are holding someone up without reason, you are a tit. If you cannot see there is nowhere to go should you be waved through or have ask to play through, you are a tit.
If you cannot see the common sense aspect as well as the justification for play through when circumstances allow, you are a tit!

 

[Parmo]

Sounds like a two bit club anyway with members that have type of attitude.

I know it, it's quite close to me.

possibly the dearest both to join and to play in the area

just looked at the site and £50 for a locker per year is a joke, I bet pound to a penny its on its arse.

 

[pigmeister]

Two bit club, i dont think so. Again, the reason why i would not let a one ball through when the course is very busy is...........where is the one ball going , nowhere. Instead of a 4 hour round he would cause a hold up every time he went through a group that the round would take 6 hours.Im sorry but a one has no place on a golf course when its very busy. Go in the bar, in the pro shop or hang around the first tee and see if you can get a game with a 2 ball or a three ball. Its better than being out there for 4 hours on your own getting frustrated.
Yes it is expensive to join John O`Gaunt as we still have a joining fee but ignoring that, our yearly subs are very good. Dont know what the green fees are here and localy so could not say if we are expensive or not. Its not a bad price if you are signed in by a mamber. So pop down Parmo and see if we are indeed a two bit club, ill sign you in and i think you might enjoy yourself.

 

[pigmeister]

Only because its the best.
Ill have 50p`s worth with you Parmo!

 

[CrapHacker]

I posted this the other day - can't find it now but its in the ettiqutte section of the rules:-

Pace of Play
Play at Good Pace and Keep Up
Players should play at a good pace.The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.
It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, it should invite the faster moving group to play through.


So, in essence, if you have lost a hole on the group in front you should invite groups behind you to play through. You should also invite them through if you are playing slower but have not lost a hole. Its all very simple and is there in black and white in the rule book. If you're going to stick to the rules then you need to abide by these as well.

This has been posted twice now in the space of a few days. Before reading it, I was ignorant of it, and thus was in agreement with the idea of not letting a faster group through if there is a general hold up.

But it's there in black and white.

For all those who have read it, and would still ignore it - shame on you ! .

You consider yourselves to be golfers, and would strictly play to the rules, but as far as etiquette goes, well blow it if it doesn't fit in with my selfish attitude ? I'm gobsmacked



( See, I told you I was )

As for how you can tell who's quicker. Well how about working on the idea that a 2 ball is quicker than a 3 or 4 ball for starters, but probably not quicker than a solo, or another 2 ball.

Don't worry about whether the next group in front will or will not follow the rules/etiquette after you. Just do what's right and proper.

Of course, on comp / society days the commitee may want to instigate a local rule, which states differently. But until then.......

 

[Parmo]

I must say it looks like a nice course and I agree when busy there is no point in letting any group play through. The subs are ok its just the double joining fee that stands out as a little daft.

I think many single players will realise that you dont book alone at say 10am on a sat morning, but there is no harm in single players on at 7am or 8 am on a weekend and ti have an "unwritten rule" stating you cant play alone is something that would put me off joining.

 

[EchtLoon]

This has been posted twice now in the space of a few days. Before reading it, I was ignorant of it, and thus was in agreement with the idea of not letting a faster group through if there is a general hold up.

But it's there in black and white.

For all those who have read it, and would still ignore it - shame on you ! .

You consider yourselves to be golfers, and would strictly play to the rules, but as far as etiquette goes, well blow it if it doesn't fit in with my selfish attitude ? I'm gobsmacked



( See, I told you I was )

As for how you can tell who's quicker. Well how about working on the idea that a 2 ball is quicker than a 3 or 4 ball for starters, but probably not quicker than a solo, or another 2 ball.

Don't worry about whether the next group in front will or will not follow the rules/etiquette after you. Just do what's right and proper.

Of course, on comp / society days the commitee may want to instigate a local rule, which states differently. But until then.......

Frankly I cannmot see how anyone can argue with this at all, but as I said earlier, it's the middle lane hogger mentality