Etiquette Question on 4 ball vs 2 ball

[Deleted Member 1156]

NO!!

If you are keeping up with the group in front you are NOT obliged to let 2 balls through. You only have to call people through if you are holding them up. Just because you are following a load of 2balls it doesn't necessarily mean you are playing any slower than them.

If you ARE holding them up then obviosly you should let them through but you are also entitled to get round so maybe let a group through every couple of holes.

Sorry, have I missed something here?

The first paragraph explains a scenario where a 4ball is following a 2ball and keeping up. In this instance, they are not obliged to call the group behind through.

The second paragraph explains a scenario where a 4ball is NOT keeping up with the game in front and in this instance, they SHOULD let the group behind through.

Clear now??

 

[duncan mackie]

So for those proposing playing every two ball through, you arrive at a short par 3, and let the two behind through. Before they have putted out, the next two arrive, so you play them through too, otherwise you are holding them up. Then the next pair arrive. When do you get to play? Any time you try to get a shot away, you will be holding someone up.

I agree - this is why it's not as simple as the initial responses to the thread suggested. However, the complexity doesn't mean that you should ignore the situation and (as an example) just play at the speed of the group in front (who have dropped 3 holes on the group in front of them by the turn...)

 

[duncan mackie]

Sorry, have I missed something here?

The first paragraph explains a scenario where a 4ball is following a 2ball and keeping up. In this instance, they are not obliged to call the group behind through.

The second paragraph explains a scenario where a 4ball is NOT keeping up with the game in front and in this instance, they SHOULD let the group behind through.

Clear now??

yes, thank you.

you are basically saying that as long as you are keeping up with the group in front it doesn't matter if you are holding up the group behind.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

yes, thank you.

you are basically saying that as long as you are keeping up with the group in front it doesn't matter if you are holding up the group behind.

No I'm not saying that. If you are keeping up with the group in front and there is a group being held up behind, the the blockage is further ahead on the course. Who is to say that given a clear course, the fourball wouldn't pull away from the 2ball behind?

 

[GeneralStore]

Murph, this is exactly what was happening. Eventually after having left a few 2 balls through, we were just sitting there watching people teeing off. You could literally sit there all day, its ridiculous.

And these were peak times, Saturday and Sunday morning.

 

[coolhand]

To me it's simple
- if there is a gap between you and the group in frount you need to let the group behind through no matter what size of group you are.
- if there is no gap between you and the group in frount but a gap in frount of that you either ask to play through or let the group behind you through.
- if neither of the above is true then you under no obligation to let anyone through no matter teh realtive sizes of the groups.

 

[Whereditgo]

To me it's simple
- if there is a gap between you and the group in frount you need to let the group behind through no matter what size of group you are.
- if there is no gap between you and the group in frount but a gap in frount of that you either ask to play through or let the group behind you through.
- if neither of the above is true then you under no obligation to let anyone through no matter teh realtive sizes of the groups.

Almost - except if there are 2 or 3 groups in front and 1 smaller / faster group catches you up then I would say let them through in the expectation that they would be let through the other groups without causing much delay and can be on their merry (and faster) way

 

[coolhand]

Significantly faster yes.

Slightly faster or just smaller no - letting them through would just knock you and everyone else backwards.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Hmmm.... if my four ball is being held up by a group in front then I wouldn't be letting the two ball behind through.

Until such time as we needed to look for a lost ball when I'd immediately let them through.

 

[rosecott]

Do players find it demeaning or embarrassing to call groups through, or is it a macho thing? In a comp on Sunday, the group 2 ahead of us (a 4-ball) called the 4-ball ahead of us through (reluctantly) on the 4th hole, then called our 4-ball through on the 5th hole - they were clearly having a nightmare. After that, however, they did not call the next group (3-ball) through even though they were 3 holes behind us by the 10th and I could see that there were plenty of opportunities to do so.