Etiquette of Playing Through

[Chrimbo]

A lot has been spoken about slow play and allowing those who are faster to play through, however no one seams to have discussed the etiquette of when you are asked to play through.

I normally play on my own, not through choice I must add, and on the last two occasions I've been invited to play through. The trouble is I then feel that I should play as fast as possible so as not to hold them up and consequently my game goes to pieces.

So if you invited someone to play through what would you consider to be reasonable in terms of the speed in which they play through?

 

[clubchamp07]

I know what you mean.
I will only play through if the game infront are really slow, like 2 holes behind the other's. I was out on Monday afternoon with my 12 yr old son my dad plus another guy (4 of us.) There was a 2 ball infront, to say they were out for a dander is an understatement. They held us up for the front 9, I shouted fore at they on the 9th which they looked at me as if I had 3 heads. They let us through. Whenever we were playing down the 18th they (2 ball) were only on the 16th. They had lost 2 holes on us and we were a 4ball. Now who's been teaching those 2 guys about speed of golf. I'm not 1 for running round a course, but for goodness sake walk to ur ball and hit it.

 

[heronsghyll]

If someone waves you through, you have every right to play through at your normal pace. Especially in a competition.

You may feel obligated to be quick so as not to hold them up, but that is not a compulsory action.

I would always thank the people for letting you through, promise to not hold them up, move quickly to your balls and then take your normal time over your shot routine.

Once you are clear, you should not see them again anyway until the club house.

The message is - do not take too long, but play at your pace.

 

[Parmo]

Me & HID's played on Sunday and where let through on the first tee by a 3 ball. Whilst walking up the second a cracking drive at full blast went between us!! My wife is a total beginner and this totally destroyed her confidence, the worst thing is they weren't fast just had bad manors as we where in clear view.

The only time really I will let a group (no matter the number) through is if they are pressing us and we have a clear hole ahead of us, if the play is slow in general with groups in front there is no point in letting anyone past as we then will be waiting on them in front after a delay of them getting ahead.

Once again me and HID's where playing a hole during the week and the group in front where slow (I think mid week golfers get into a routine of slow play because its quite) and on the 8th short par 4 of about 240-260 off yellows, I took a cracking 4i down heavy wind and hill, it passed through the green to my supprise and I presumed they had finished because the bell hadn't wrong and they where at that time a little in front as my wife took a while on the 7th. Anyway got down there with "I didn’t hear no shout of fore" to my reply "Can't you read the sign on not putting out until the group behind have been waved down or the bell rung?". It all worked out in the end but some people just don't read any signs or understand the meaning of seeing bells.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Just play at your normal pace.
If they have to wave you through it's because they have been slow and may be holding you up, or are looking for a lost ball.
As such you have no reason to rush.

 

[Herbie]

Play through, can be carried out with little fuss or delay.
If the invitation comes at the tee there should be little problem, if it comes during the hole and group ahead waves you through, play your tee shot, then as you walk up, they play their next shots, you play your next and play out the hole. This way there is minimum disruption or delay for all concerned as well as the next group at the tee.

 

[Spoff]

I always wave a group through when I am looking for a lost ball.





Usually 18 times a round...

 

[Robobum]

If only it was like that!! It's always more like this:

Group waves you through and stands aside, good drives, get down to them, thank other group then proceed to carve 2nd shots into trouble. Get to 2nd shots, ball hard to find and call group behind back through!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If I get the nod to play through in a competition I'll play at normal speed and do everything regarding pre-shot routine as I would if we were playing in turn.

However if I get called through as a solo player on the course for a bit of R&R or to try and find my game, I do have a tendency to rush the next few shots. I think its human nature not to want to be seen as a burden especially after the offer has been made. Fortunately 8/10 the tee shot will be straight and so I can knock it on (or close) and hole out fairly quickly.

I think we all have a catalogue of tales of being held up when there is an empty course in front or being hassled from behind by Olympic sprinters out for a race. Sadly it is an unwanted part of the game and you just have to deal with it as best you can at the time

 

[Herbie]

If only it was like that!! It's always more like this:

Group waves you through and stands aside, good drives, get down to them, thank other group then proceed to carve 2nd shots into trouble. Get to 2nd shots, ball hard to find and call group behind back through!!

Thats about right, I missed off 'In theory' in my post

 

[Robobum]

Bit off topic and it may just be only me that hates this but here go's anyway.

When it is slow and everyone is stacked up on the green fairway & tee, why do shorter hitters think it is acceptable to tee off/ play before you have played your shot from in front of them.

I know it has little if any chance of hitting me but either the ball is landing with a thud when I'm over a shot or they are at their balls or walking to them literally 20yds or so behind me.

Their answer is invariably "I knew it wouldn't reach you" but isn't it courteous to wait for someone to play before you run one up behind them??

 

[Sneds]

Bit off topic and it may just be only me that hates this but here go's anyway.

When it is slow and everyone is stacked up on the green fairway & tee, why do shorter hitters think it is acceptable to tee off/ play before you have played your shot from in front of them.

I know it has little if any chance of hitting me but either the ball is landing with a thud when I'm over a shot or they are at their balls or walking to them literally 20yds or so behind me.

Their answer is invariably "I knew it wouldn't reach you" but isn't it courteous to wait for someone to play before you run one up behind them??

Dunno, if he can't reach you I don't see the problem

 

[Chrimbo]

However if I get called through as a solo player on the course for a bit of R&R or to try and find my game, I do have a tendency to rush the next few shots. I think its human nature not to want to be seen as a burden especially after the offer has been made.

You've hit the nail on the head there as that's exactly how I feel.

I think what I'll do next time is either decline or advise them that I won't unduly rush as I tend to go to pieces and then see if they still are happy for to play through.

 

[funkyfred]

Was playing on my own the other (mid)week when the 4ball in front waved me through for the second time. As I took up their offer, they let me through on the par 3, 4th tee.
As we were talking on the tee waiting for the 4ball in front to finish they informed me that they were a society of 12. The second group let me play through on the long par 5 6th hole (hitting 3 good shots setting up a birdie chance that I missed) and the 3rd group hit their tee shots on the par 3 7th, invited me to hit mine and let me through as they looked for their balls. So I got through 3 groups in the space of 3 1/2 holes.

The other side to that was last Sunday when playing in a two ball we caught up the 4ball in front at the 12th. One of the guys apologised for holding us up but said they were playing the final of the Winter 4ball Comp. We told them to carry on and we would just back of a bit. it was a glorious morning so why rush a round, so it took us an extra 20 minutes, so what!!!

 

[mono217]

If we let someone through we let them play at there normal pace and same applies if we were let through.

 

[andiritchie]

I used to rush a little but now tend just to take my time.

Nothing worse than being called through then a carve my tee shot OB

As anyone been waved through then the group in front carry on playing as you are going through?

What the hell is that about,7 balls on the green and the call

'Take your time pal'

 

[Junior]

If the course is clear and im in a group holding players up then i'll ask my playing partners and wave them through. If the course is ram packed at a weekend with 4 balls and your waiting on each shot due to the course being generally busy then i dont see the point of waving a two ball through.

 

[GRAEMBO]

You would swear half the guys at Bellshill are out to beat their best time rather than their mate or handicap!!

Oh I was round in 3 hours today, well I was 2 hours 50...Now thats a conversation Ive heard a few times!!

 

[jammydodger]

My partner and I played as a 2-ball today and both remarked ' thats how letting people through should be done'.

We arrived at the 4th tee as a 4ball were moving up to their 2nd shots, they immediately caught our attention and waved us through. Superb stuff as a couple of them were on the left of the fairway and saw my ball disappear in to the clag and led me right to it. After exchanging pleasantries we moved off at our own pace and after putting out we gave them another friendly wave of thanks.

Couple of holes later we finished putting out and the 3ball in front who had just left hte next tee called us through. Again superb etiquette and we thanked them all and exchanged pleasantries. Again a nice wave as we left the green.

This was all very nice and was topped off by one of them coming up to me as we left the next tee with a headcover i had dropped unwittingly a couple of holes previously. He said it wasnt them that had found it, it was the 4-ball behind who found it.

Now thats the way for everyone to be happy

ps we completed the round in bang on 3 hours without breaking sweat or rushing in anyway and I left a drink behind the bar for whichever one of the 4ball found my headcover

 

[viscount17]

Bit off topic and it may just be only me that hates this but here go's anyway.

When it is slow and everyone is stacked up on the green fairway & tee, why do shorter hitters think it is acceptable to tee off/ play before you have played your shot from in front of them.

I know it has little if any chance of hitting me but either the ball is landing with a thud when I'm over a shot or they are at their balls or walking to them literally 20yds or so behind me.

Their answer is invariably "I knew it wouldn't reach you" but isn't it courteous to wait for someone to play before you run one up behind them??

Dunno, if he can't reach you I don't see the problem

not after tonight - played a 4h as the second shot on a par 4, I'm a long way (220+) from the green (bad tee shot), where the guy in front was holing out. Never hit this club that far - except that today I was right through the middle of the green and out the back.

unfortunately, he was long gone so couldn't apologise