Fourballs

[WeekendHacker]

Maybe it's just me, but i'm sure some will agree - Fourballs to me are the bane of the golf course. Why do people go around in massive groups taking 5-6 hours around when you can go round in 2 twoballs surely in about half the time.
Fourballs in my experience often back up the whole golf course. Often it seems that they are oblivious to those coming behind as they are so involved with keeping an eye that their group remains together. Of course smaller and faster groups can play through, but this doesn't always happen.
You may think i'm just being miserable because I don't have 3 friends lol, but recently playing in a golf society event in a fourball I was tearing my hair out. It takes so long, about 5-6 hours. On the tee it seems to take ages for your turn or waiting on others teeing off and this continues through the round..so...unbearabl y...slow. After 9 holes I was ready to walk off, but I stuck it out. Maybe i'm slightly impatient, but i'm fairly sure if my experience of golf was in a foursome I would have jacked it in. Rant over, but if I had my way the maximum allowed would be 3 balls

 

[john0]

So what would happen with 4BBB comps then? Just dont have them any more?

 

[UpminsterGas11]

I don't think its fourballs in general, its inconsiderate fourballs that are the problem, i'm very concious of the fact that when i occasionally play in a fourball, i'm always looking behind me to make sure we're not holding people up.

 

[Mick47]

Dunno where you play, but 5-6 hrs for a fourball!!!
At ours a fourball might take 4 hrs and a two ball maybe 3hrs and a bit. Something wrong there matey.

 

[CallawayKid]

Have you got somewhere you'd rather be WeekendHacker? Who cares how long it takes, you're not in the office! It does seem that to many people it's a race to see who can complete the quickest round. I used to worry about the group behind but frankly I don't care about them, so long as we're keeping up with the group in front. If there are less people in the group then they get let through.

What annoys me is a slow larger group in front that do not let you through and groups behind that think if they drive right up to you you'll play quicker.

Live and let live old boy, there's more important things to get the blood pressure up about like the cost of a pint of OJ and lemonade in the clubhouse after...

CK

 

[USER1999]

If I could only play in a two ball I'd give up. Heck, you might as well play on your own. Part of the fun of golf is the banter, and you only really get that in a 4 ball.

That said, 4 hours is about the right time, may be a bit less in a perfect world.

Some courses have tee off times that vary according to whether you are a two or a 4. May be you need to find a course like this if it is a problem for you.

 

[richart]

Wouldn't want to get caught in a two ball with your Murph. At least when playing a four there are others you can bleat on to.

 

[19thagain]

All our competitive golf and this is every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday is played in your choice of player mix.

We therefore have two ball, three ball and four ball in the field and I am never aware of any big problem, time wise.

On Saturday our fourball let the following three ball through at the seventh when we searched for a ball and we finished the 18th waiting for them to putt out.

Our time for a round?? I'm not sure but I would suggest under 4 hours .. but who cares... as long as you are keeping up with the game in front, enjoying the banter, anticipating the pint and, of course, slotting in those putts.

An extra ten mins on the course is an extra 10 mins of happiness.

Enjoy, you only pass this way but once!

 

[Region3]

If every group was a 2-ball your 10am tee time would turn into 2pm to get the same number of players on the course before you.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have a couple of roll ups that go out at first light or just after every Saturday. To put it politely they enjoy their golf. Trouble is they set the pace and we're often held up coming up behind. I don't think splitting them into smaller two balls would actually help their games much.

Like others have said why the big issue. I am no fan of slow play and crack on at a reasonable lick but if the course is busy as it will be at a weekend then either play when its quieter or put up. I love the banter of a 4 ball. It all comes down to consideration. Despite numerous attempts, humourous and through official channels the groups we struggle with are no better. The club has to shoulder some blame for being spineless but these guys need to learn the etiquette of calling through. If we could get them to then our morning tee times would be perfection. That said we can still do it in less than 4 hours as a 4 even when we do have to wait

 

[brendy]

If every group was a 2-ball your 10am tee time would turn into 2pm to get the same number of players on the course before you.

Exactly this, 2 balls are not twice as fast as fourballs so are not as efficient at getting as many people onto and quickly round the course. Etiquette should sort the rest in theory.

Many clubs could not exist if they halved their income from visitors also.