GCW Rant

[fundy]

What time do you finish a night shift?

I did say its not always a lack of ettiquette, some people just cant walk fast

Can often work till 4 or 5 in the morning

 

[woody69]

Some people like playing fast, others dont and sometimes cant.
Who has the right to tell someone how fast they should play?

The time a round of golf takes will be determined by the slowest player/group, a bit like a car journey.
Put a tractor out first, followed by a Fiesta with an mitsubishi evo bringing up the rear and it will end in tears. Put the evo at the front and the tractor at the back and everyone's happy.

If this was adopted by clubs that have problems with slow play, it must help. Players who want to run round can and those who prefer to take their time can.

The problem is most people who are tractors think they are evo drivers.

 

[bobmac]

But the etiquette problem is them not letting people through that they are obviously holding up - we have people that can't physically walk quicker - no problems with the problem comes though when that person who can't walk quicker doesn't understand that others can walk quicker and they are being stuck behind him

I am aware of that but this thread is about trying to make people play faster which some cant.

But to answey your question about ettiquette, its also not very polite to be pushing groups and pressurising them into playing faster when the course is rammed.

 

[bobmac]

Can often work till 4 or 5 in the morning

So you could play after work but you prefer a later tee time.
So the choice is 3 hours after work or 5 hours after lunch.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I am aware of that but this thread is about trying to make people play faster which some cant.

But to answey your question about ettiquette, its also not very polite to be pushing groups and pressurising them into playing faster when the course is rammed.

Again it's not just about playing faster Bob - pace of play isn't just about getting people round quicker

If a group is holding the whole course up due to them physically being unable to go quicker - are the whole feild expected to hang back and wait longer and affect their enjoyment just because the one group are going as quick as they can.

Fields end up being clogged up because at one stage one or two groups have lost ground on the group ahead of them - so those groups have a responsibility to either make up the gap or if they physically can't do that they let through any group they are holding up

 

[fundy]

So you could play after work but you prefer a later tee time.
So the choice is 3 hours after work or 5 hours after lunch.

what????

i cant go and play at 4am as im going to bed knackered lol. And if its a comp I cant play any later than 11am ish at ours but under what youre saying because of my works hours I deserve to be bundled in with the slow guys all at the back of the field and no worries how slow they play they have every right to play slowly without the right etiquette?

 

[bobmac]

Fields end up being clogged up because at one stage one or two groups have lost ground on the group ahead of them - so those groups have a responsibility to either make up the gap or if they physically can't do that they let through any group they are holding up

This is my point.
If they cant go as fast as others, they tee off later. They get to play a hassle free round and the faster players never see them

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Rubbish, the difference is shear numbers at weekends.

Not entirely true IMO.

I am very fortunate in being retired and, therefore, able to play seven days a week. During the week those on the course do not seem to engage in the interminable PSR's that I sometimes witness at the week-end or get hung up over whose honour it is.

Recently I was told that as it was a competition round (strokeplay) I was in breach of the Rules by playing out of turn. It was not until we were back in the clubhouse that this other player could be convinced that as I was not seeking to gain an advantage it was perfectly OK to play when I was ready.

I have been a member at my club for 35 years and Saturday comps have always been fully subscribed so there are no more playing now than in 1981. The course has not changed greatly in length and yet whereas Medal rounds used to take 3hr 30 to 3hr 45 we are now regularly taking 4hr 30.

In speaking to many of my fellow members it is clear that many of those who have taken up golf in the last 20 - 25 years have been greatly influenced by what they have witnessed on television and they, as a result, think that their pace of play is "pretty quick".

Clearly they are not going to change their thinking or be influenced by we "old farts" so it is up to the administrators of both the Club game and the Pro' tours to address this issue but it will be a slow process of change as many of the "culprits" are now set in their ways and cannot see that there is a problem.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

This is my point.
If they cant go as fast as others, they tee off later. They get to play a hassle free round and the faster players never see them

But what about people who can only play later ? Or people that can only play early

You don't need to seperate the field in regards their pace

You just need people to have common sense and awareness of other people around , understand their actions has consequences on the whole field - ie stop being selfish

 

[pokerjoke]

Around and around we go again and another slow play thread,the same old rubbish we read in the magazine every month.

Lets be realistic hear,we all know the pro's take forever and are hardly ever penalised because no-one has the balls to give shot penalties to the top players but in all honesty all it effects is the numbers that watch on tv,it should not effect your monthly medal,and not once have I ever copied a tour pro in what I do on my own course.

If a course has a problem and it is effecting members enjoyment well they better had sort it or people will leave.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Not entirely true IMO.

I am very fortunate in being retired and, therefore, able to play seven days a week. During the week those on the course do not seem to engage in the interminable PSR's that I sometimes witness at the week-end or get hung up over whose honour it is.

Recently I was told that as it was a competition round (strokeplay) I was in breach of the Rules by playing out of turn. It was not until we were back in the clubhouse that this other player could be convinced that as I was not seeking to gain an advantage it was perfectly OK to play when I was ready.

I have been a member at my club for 35 years and Saturday comps have always been fully subscribed so there are no more playing now than in 1981. The course has not changed greatly in length and yet whereas Medal rounds used to take 3hr 30 to 3hr 45 we are now regularly taking 4hr 30.

In speaking to many of my fellow members it is clear that many of those who have taken up golf in the last 20 - 25 years have been greatly influenced by what they have witnessed on television and they, as a result, think that their pace of play is "pretty quick".

Clearly they are not going to change their thinking or be influenced by we "old farts" so it is up to the administrators of both the Club game and the Pro' tours to address this issue but it will be a slow process of change as many of the "culprits" are now set in their ways and cannot see that there is a problem.

I play during the week and see some of the guys that go out in the mornings take over 5 hours , seen one guy who uses his laser from greenside bunkers - he is in his 70's

Our midweek medal is the one that has had the most complaints in recent months with people taking well over 5 hours - weekend medals are taking 4 hours with more people playing

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Not entirely true IMO.

I am very fortunate in being retired and, therefore, able to play seven days a week. During the week those on the course do not seem to engage in the interminable PSR's that I sometimes witness at the week-end or get hung up over whose honour it is.

Recently I was told that as it was a competition round (strokeplay) I was in breach of the Rules by playing out of turn. It was not until we were back in the clubhouse that this other player could be convinced that as I was not seeking to gain an advantage it was perfectly OK to play when I was ready.

I have been a member at my club for 35 years and Saturday comps have always been fully subscribed so there are no more playing now than in 1981. The course has not changed greatly in length and yet whereas Medal rounds used to take 3hr 30 to 3hr 45 we are now regularly taking 4hr 30.

In speaking to many of my fellow members it is clear that many of those who have taken up golf in the last 20 - 25 years have been greatly influenced by what they have witnessed on television and they, as a result, think that their pace of play is "pretty quick".

Clearly they are not going to change their thinking or be influenced by we "old farts" so it is up to the administrators of both the Club game and the Pro' tours to address this issue but it will be a slow process of change as many of the "culprits" are now set in their ways and cannot see that there is a problem.

I don't disagree with anything you've put, but my answer is in direct response to Delc, our place has a very active seniors group who go out 9am every Tues/Thurs, they're not slow, but, there is no one in front of them and people tend to wait 30-45 minutes after their last tee off to save catching them, so they play hasdle free on a empty course, tee off at that time at a weekend and they'll have 2 hours of comp in front of them and upto 3 hours behind, even on a course with no issues the people teeing off earlier will get round quicker, there's never an exact time for a whole day on a busy course.

 

[bobmac]

what????

i cant go and play at 4am as im going to bed knackered lol.

Well you could go home, shower, change, breakfast, do some shopping and be at the club at 7.30, finished by 10.30 home by 11, bed by 12.

if its a comp I cant play any later than 11am ish at ours but under what youre saying because of my works hours I deserve to be bundled in with the slow guys all at the back of the field?

At the moment, who's to say you're not going to get bundled in with slow players at 8.00?

they have every right to play slowly without the right etiquette?

There would be no ettiquette issues because they wouldn't be holding anyone up.

 

[bobmac]

But what about people who can only play later ? Or people that can only play early

At the moment, they could play late and run round or play early and take forever.
Its a lottery. With my system at least you know what you're going to get and you arrange your free time accordingly.

And with my system, everyone gets to play AT THE PACE THEY WANT

 

[Deleted member 15344]

At the moment, they could play late and run round or play early and take forever.
Its a lottery. With my system at least you know what you're going to get and you arrange your free time accordingly.

And with my system, everyone gets to play AT THE PACE THEY WANT

But with your system you have just restricted people to when they can play. Not something members want is it

 

[bobmac]

But with your system you have just restricted people to when they can play.

No its not, it just gives them a choice. If you want a 3 hour round, you play early. If you want to take your time, play later.

Not something members want is it

What did they say when you asked them?

 

[GeneralStore]

I am a little surprised about how so many on this thread are slagging them off for trying something different. Most think that slow play is a problem, nobody has managed to significantly change it and it would appear that its getting worse. Certainly at pro level and in many instances at amateur level. So these guys are trying something new and there is an element of shaming that is going on, is it a perfect solution? I dont know, but there hardly ever is! At least they are trying something different and perhaps it will spark better and more innovative ideas in order to improve it. If everyone whom attempted a different solution to a known problem was completely shot-down and criticised all the time based upon perceived motivation or their chosen channels of communication then progress in the world would be very slow indeed. If the only thing they manage to do is to get Spieth to speed up and Bradley to stop doing the tango then I will buy 20 trackers and keep them in my golf bag!

On your idea Bob Mac, our club uses a system where your competition time is recorded and if you exceed the perscribed time (3:45 for a 3 ball) once you get a warning, if you do so twice then you lose the ability to book a tee time in the comp and will be allocated a tee time at the end of field so as not to slow anyone down. It seems to work reasonably well.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

No its not, it just gives them a choice. If you want a 3 hour round, you play early. If you want to take your time, play later.



What did they say when you asked them?

Bob it's quite simple - I can't even do a drawn comp because members don't want to be dictated when they want to play

Your whole idea goes up in smoke when someone who is clearly slow doesn't want to go out later so goes out earlier

It doesn't need to dictate to players when to play - the onus must be on the players to be aware of the pace of play protocols.

 

[fundy]

Bob it's quite simple - I can't even do a drawn comp because members don't want to be dictated when they want to play

Your whole idea goes up in smoke when someone who is clearly slow doesn't want to go out later so goes out earlier

It doesn't need to dictate to players when to play - the onus must be on the players to be aware of the pace of play protocols.

this 100% but the longer its gone on the harder it gets to reverse and more and more people are more and more selfish sadly

 

[Hacker Khan]

Just writing a presentation on 'big data' for my job. And it got me thinking that this could solve the issue, or at least highlight where the problems are.

Before long it should not be difficult to track where every golfer out on the course. Game golf, garmin, skycaddie and every mobile phone is providing this data. You can then see where the hold ups are, who is causing them and take appropriate action. You can even start correlating the speed of play with things like the weather, pin positions, individual habits (is person A always a slow player no matter where the pins are or when they tee off), handicap level of the golfer (do the higher handicappers actually go slower or is that a myth), optimal starting time gaps etc etc. So you can build up a pretty accurate picture of what variables influence slow play and how you can set the course up or starting times to prevent it if it looks like being a problem on certain days.

I'm sure with golf clubs normal habit of embracing new ideas to solve age old problems this will be happening very soon so in a few years time slow play will be a thing of the past.