Faster play and how to achieve it.

[Mark_G]

Lots of people complain about slow play and I must admit shooting 100 plus I generally am a little slower than most, (or so I thought), playing with a different friend today I decided I would control the pace, and set myself a time to complete the round, and knocked 45 minutes off our usual time. Now please tell me whats acceptable, whats considered poor etiquette etc and what you would find unacceptable.

Teeing off, as soon as the last ball is hit then we are off and walking, no faffing about, stride off with purpose chatting as we approach the first ball, but if its not mine then is it ok to walk past his ball and find mine as long as I am not in line with his shot. Or would you want me to wait for you to take your shot?
I figure a lot of time can be picked up by me preparing to take my shot as my partner takes his and vice versa.

Looking for lost balls, does it really take two people to find a ball? Can I not put my trolley where my ball is and then return to help my friend find his, rather than help and then be behind his ball for his shot?

Putting, I putt my ball without aiming up with any marks etc as I find the lines etc do not work for me, my friends insist on cleaning and aiming every putt, even two footers. Now this takes time, and I sometimes putt out in between my friends shots as I can putt twice as they putt once.

Getting off the green, I always park my trolley at the back of the green so I can walk to the next tee without going backwards, and potentially I clear the green faster for people following.

Please let me know what you think and post your hints to improve the speed of play.

Thanks Chaps

 

[chris661]

Get rid of the four old duffers that caused me to take over 2 hours to play 8 holes today and we were in a three ball

In all seriousness most of the stuff is common sense and all it takes is just a tiny bit of thought.

 

[jammag]

My personal advice is play at your own pace that feels comfortable, dont feel rushed and dont take over long in judging things. If you are a slow player then just be aware of people behind if you are a quick player then be prepared to wait a bit longer on some shots as not everyone can play at a quick pace. I tend to find if I play quick then get slowed up it can work against you if you think about it. The game is about enjoyment so do just that.

 

[NWJocko]

One of the major reasons I see for slow players is that they're not ready to play when it's their turn.

i.e. they haven't even thought about which club to take, put their glove on etc etc so one or more of your other partners has played and then the players (I've played with a few this year) then start putting their glove on, working out club, practice swing etc.

No reason why they can't be doing that whilst others are playing.

 

[Yer Maw]

Don't rush but common sense time savers e.g. fill in your card when the others are hitting their tee shot, leave your clubs in a sensible place for the next hole/shot, if you can agree then whoever is ready, hit off otherwise make sure the persaon who chas the honour is doesn't feck about, everyone take responsibility for the pin e.g.last to putt take the flag out, first to hole out puts the flag back.

I'm sure this has been done to death but doesn't ever seem to make a difference. Perhaps penalising the Pros for ludicrous time wasting as it never seems to happen these days, would set the tone for what is acceptable to club golfers.
There was great article a few months ago in a mag about time-wasters and it ticked every annoying thing in a humorous way.

 

[MikeTimbers]

Too many players are influenced by Pros and think it's OK to take ten different views of their line before putting. Then when the ball eventually (after maybe another putt or two) gets to within a foot, they still mark it. Putt until it's in the hole. Don't worry about "honour" when putting. You're entitled to hole out and doing so no matter how many it takes saves time.

Pay attention to your partners' shots so you can help with where the ball may have gone. Pay attention to what clubs your partners are using on par 3s to help with your own choice.

If your ball's landing spot is not certain, seriously consider a provisional.

Unless playing a stroke-play event, consider picking up once your chance to score (or win the hole) is over.

Time your pre-shot routine and seriously consider whether all of it is really necessary.

Don't be precious about "honour" on the tee. If the guy who just got a birdie is faffing about back at the last green, the fairway is empty and you're ready? Hit the damn ball, already!

 

[GB72]

I have seen all sorts of reasons for slowing up the round. Marking tap in putts, not being ready for shots, ambling up the fairway, inappropriate time or place to mark a card. My current annoyance is groups spending the full time looking for a lost ball when the group behind is on the tee. It clearly says in several places, including the club diary, that if a ball is not immediately found, the group behind should be called through before the search commences.

Another one that seems to me a matter of common sense is learners out coming out at inappropriate times. On Saturday I was behind a man and his son who was clearly vey new to the game. They were out at 9.00 on a Saturday, the busiest time. Their 2 ball could not keep up with he 4 ball ahead and were holding us up as a 4 ball behind. If they had come out an hour or so later they would have the course to themselves. You would not take a learner driver out at rush hour so the same principle applies.

I also think that group sizes should be taken into account. The flow has to be better round the course has to be better if the groups are of similar size. I would suggest that a busy times then groups should be a minimum of 3 balls. That would be a massive thing at my course where there is only one contiuous loop of 18 and hold ups are often caused by playing through smaller groups or smaller groups complaining if they cannot get through on a busy course. It would also help integrate members as they are forced to play with different people

 

[MikeTimbers]

I've seen (very rarely) starters who won't let groups out that aren't at least 3-balls. If a two-ball has a tee-time at rush-hour, it waits until another two-ball arrives and then they are made to play together.

 

[Mark_G]

So from what you chaps say everything i did to speed up play you would be happy with if i played against you at your course, thats great.

 

[MikeTimbers]

The only thing you could do to speed up play that would irritate me would be if you hit a hole-in-one on every par three and an eagle on every other hole

 

[Imurg]

Playing slowly, although an irritant, isn't the real problem. The real issue is with those who completely fail to grasp the principle of letting other groups through. Slow play only becomes an issue if the group that is playing slowly doesn't let people through or does so at the wrong time.
I have no problem with a 4 ball playing at 4 ball pace unless I'm in a 2 ball playing at 4 ball pace behind them.
Play at a comfortable pace for you and your group but keep an eye behind you. If someone's catching you then let them through asap.
It's as simple as that. We all play at different speeds. Keep your speed but let others keep theirs.

 

[Mark_G]

Good point Imurg, and Mike if I ever manage to do all those then not only would I eat my hat but my golf bag, and clubs.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a group at our place who always go out first on a Saturday. There must have been 16-20 of them on the 1st yesterday and it was still way to dark to even see the green. The problem is they then set the tone for those behind and to say each week is funeral pace is probably too kind. There is one 4 ball who always play together and think each green is the 72nd of a major and line it up from all angles and mark every putt. Its just a shame its usually taken three or four to get there. Even if you confront them they never seem to care and just say it is slow in front. No its not - you've already lost a hole

The club won't get its hands dirty and just reminds everyone of their duty to keep up the pace of play. I know its a casual Saturday game and there to be enjoyed but this group are shoddy on the basics of leaving bags in the right place, all looking for a lost ball etc and so five minutes lost at the front become 10 minutes by the time we go out after them. Sadly these guys are what you mught call car park golfers and never come into the clubhouse and so will never change their spots and I don't think there is much that can be done

 

[GB72]

I hate to say it but some of our worst offenders are the scratch team golfers. Always go out together and every hole is played like the 72nd hole of a major. A Saturday knock about involves full routines, every putt marked and every putt looked at from a dozen angles even if it is a tap in.

 

[lee_leggett]

Get a buggy....

 

[viscount17]

God no, buggies are the antithesis of reasonable play . . . too many forget they've got legs

 

[bladeplayer]

I hate to say it but some of our worst offenders are the scratch team golfers. Always go out together and every hole is played like the 72nd hole of a major. A Saturday knock about involves full routines, every putt marked and every putt looked at from a dozen angles even if it is a tap in.

If you play alot of competitve golf tho Greg this becomes routine , mayb this precision (for want of a better word) is how come they are scratch & we probably never will be , n ot saying it is right mate just saying even tho its called the same name its a toatly different game ,

mark .. as a beginner mayb you should try build a routine for putting , i know you say lines etc dont work for you but this is the real scoring part of golf & a solid routine will help.. a missed two foot putt thats then tapped in is equivelent to 2 300yard drives ,, ask most guys on here and they agree drive for show putt for dough.

 

[SocketRocket]

My Club has a system of time zones for which tees 2 balls / 3 & 4 balls play.
For example 8:30 - 10:00 only 2 balls off the first and 3 & 4 off the 9th. 10:00 - 12 :30 3& 4 off 1st and 2 off the 9th. And so on. This helps to keep like size groups together as far as possible.

Precedence in play should always be the fastest moving group irrespective of size.

I agree that golfers should do as much as possible to keep up a good pace of play without having to rush the shot in hand.

 

[MikeTimbers]

I have no problem with good golfers lining up putts properly. So long as they get on with it. From the moment I can see my ball on the green, I'm thinking about the putt. With the pros, it seems they're not allowed to look at the line until it's their turn to putt.

Hopefully, the really good golfers are not having to look for lost balls, play three shots to get out of a bunker etc. so that should make up for time spent on putting so long as they get on with it!

 

[MashieNiblick]

Just do everything more quickly apart from actually hitting the ball.

Being ready to hit, especially on the tee
Walking between shots
Pre shot routine
Lining up putts
Clearing the green

This would save lots of time. Very easy to get caught up in a slow rhythm and end up dawdling.