how long is too long for a game of golf?

[Deleted member 15344]

I've seen plenty of..... high handicappers.... take ages over shots too. I'd say there is no correlation between ability and the length of time it takes to play a shot - some fast and slow players at both ends of the spectrum.

I'm not criticising anyone for needing more shots, incidentally, just taking issue with your illogical claim that there's no relationship between ability and how long it takes to play a round.

Why do pro rounds on tour take over 5 hours to 5 and half hours each - regulary because pros take longer over each shot

What I was suggesting is that just because soneone is a high HC or indeed mid HC doesnt automatically mean they will take longer to go round than a low HC which has been suggested a number of times by a number of people

 

[woody69]

I've seen plenty of..... high handicappers.... take ages over shots too. I'd say there is no correlation between ability and the length of time it takes to play a shot - some fast and slow players at both ends of the spectrum.

I'm not criticising anyone for needing more shots, incidentally, just taking issue with your illogical claim that there's no relationship between ability and how long it takes to play a round.

Well it is logical to assume that a player who takes 130 shots plus to get round will be taking longer than someone that takes 80 shots of course. However if we assume the average was 20 seconds a shot, 50 more shots only adds approximately 15 minutes to the round. I admit the numbers are arbitrary, but hopefully you see the point I am trying to illustrate.

The thing with slow rounds though is the difference per hole is marginal. It just adds up. A 3.5 hour round equates to just under 12 minutes a hole. 4 hours is just over 13 minutes a hole. 5 hours is approx 16.5 mins a hole. So 4.5 minutes more on average can almost double the time taken to complete a round.

 

[Fish]

I'm 100% with you. Hackers are clearly slow but your average high handicapper is not wasting time over every shot visualising and getting into the zone, taking minutes to pick a club, changing their mind etc. Neither do they walk four times around every putt. You may argue if they did then they would be better but that is not entirely true. For me it tends to be the elite or wannabee elite golfer that acts like this. I will regularly take 90+ shots per round but play at a decent speed and will easily keep up with someone shooting 70.

You just have to watch Jim Furyk on the green, its painful at times!

 

[patricks148]

And people who can't shoot under 90 then maybe golf isn't for them.

If the course is taking 5 hours and no one is waiting around then thats the pace but if you need to wait on every shot then thats too slow.

Very true Val.

My place not the longest and can be tough with the wind, but a medal round takes no more than 3-3 half hours. the odd occasion its 4 buts that only in a couple of the low handicap opens played when the course at its toughest when the rough its right up.

Spey Valley is a longer course with longer walks between tee, so would expect it to take longer just because of that, but nor almost 2 hours longer.


the main thing to always remember to let faster groups though, the old chestnut about them being held up as well, is usually irrelevant, esp as the guys from Yesterday we often hitting 2 balls each from every tee.

Im not rushing around as Duffer suggests, we walk to our ball two practice swings then hit and repeat, not waiting on every shot helps.

 

[Fish]

Why do pro rounds on tour take over 5 hours to 5 and half hours each - regulary because pros take longer over each shot

What I was suggesting is that just because soneone is a high HC or indeed mid HC doesnt automatically mean they will take longer to go round than a low HC which has been suggested a number of times by a number of people

and...their not even carrying their own clubs either, lazy slow buggers, the lot of 'em :smirk:

 

[FairwayDodger]

Why do pro rounds on tour take over 5 hours to 5 and half hours each - regulary because pros take longer over each shot

What I was suggesting is that just because soneone is a high HC or indeed mid HC doesnt automatically mean they will take longer to go round than a low HC which has been suggested a number of times by a number of people

And I'm not saying that they will. I'm not even saying that bad golf is the main cause of slow play, but you cannot deny the relationship between the number of shots a player needs to play with how long it takes to play them.

Put it another way. The same player shooting 70 one day will take less time to play than when they have a stinker and score 90.

Of course, that's all fairly irrelevant and the proper argument to refute it as a cause of slow play is to point out that nobody plays more shots than they have to, everyone is doing their best, striving to keep the score down. Whereas not everyone is trying to play at a "proper" pace....

 

[delc]

Why do pro rounds on tour take over 5 hours to 5 and half hours each

Because certain players take an absolute age to play each shot. Have you watched Keegan Bradley back off every shot about 5 times before he finally commits himself to hitting it. Players who don't seem to even start thinking about their shot until it's their turn to play. Endless discussions with their caddies. Lengthy pre-shot routines and many practice swings. Looking at putts from every angle, etc, etc.

Start adding penalty strokes for slow play and the problem will go away, because it will hit slow players in their wallets! :mmm:

 

[mhwgc]

And I'm not saying that they will. I'm not even saying that bad golf is the main cause of slow play, but you cannot deny the relationship between the number of shots a player needs to play with how long it takes to play them.

Put it another way. The same player shooting 70 one day will take less time to play than when they have a stinker and score 90.

Of course, that's all fairly irrelevant and the proper argument to refute it as a cause of slow play is to point out that nobody plays more shots than they have to, everyone is doing their best, striving to keep the score down. Whereas not everyone is trying to play at a "proper" pace....

"Nail on the head"

 

[North Mimms]

And I'm not saying that they will. I'm not even saying that bad golf is the main cause of slow play, but you cannot deny the relationship between the number of shots a player needs to play with how long it takes to play them.

Put it another way. The same player shooting 70 one day will take less time to play than when they have a stinker and score 90.

Of course, that's all fairly irrelevant and the proper argument to refute it as a cause of slow play is to point out that nobody plays more shots than they have to, everyone is doing their best, striving to keep the score down. Whereas not everyone is trying to play at a "proper" pace....

Nail.
Head.

:clap:

 

[JamPal]

Been there and I feel your pain Patrick.

Golfer's have got to start somewhere but I've always said that I'd prefer that it's not in the group in front of me. :rant:

There's a place for society golf and in general all the warriors @ 18 and above but the question is - The industry loves them but where do you put them? My mate swears by penalty charges @ 2 quid a shot when your over 80 blows and a tenner @ five minute intervals when your taking over 4 hours :thup:

I seriously hope I never have to play with some one as pompous as him.

I play off 24 and can get my 90-95 shots in round my home course in around 3hrs.


I get as annoyed with slow play as anyone. The slowest players at our club tend to either be lower handicappers who play every shot as if it's to win the Ryder cup or total beginners that just need educating a bit.

I think a lot of high handicappers like me tend to be crap on and round the greens rather than tee to green. I know at least half of my handicap is shots dropped with my putter rather than lost balls on the fairways. That doesn't take up much time. It's just frustrating for ME.

 

[JamPal]

Nail.
Head.

:clap:

Quite so :cheers:

 

[Foxholer]

Reckon we went around in just under 5 hours

And by how much was that too slow?

What was the cause?

Did it detract from the enjoyment?

 

[duncan mackie]

Phil, your defence of hackers is admirable but rather blinkered. On average better players play quicker if only due to taking less shots and spending less time searching for balls. There are obviously exceptions but a clear relationship exists between ability and pace of play.

ability to hit the ball straight is more relevant than handicap from my experience - over and above any other pace of play aspects!

once such a level of ability exists (and it can be there at handicaps around 24-26 quite easily) it's the other aspects that become the overall influence on the actual time any group takes to get round.

in my experience there is little correlation between ability levels and pace of play once that basic level of competence is established. most of the time is spent on the tee and green and you can play a lot of shots at 10 sec a go relative to even a single putt at 30 sec (which is fast for many people!)

 

[Fish]

And by how much was that too slow

Not any, the day was great

What was the cause?

Strange course, testing course, mixed abilities, relaxed atmosphere as in not being pushed or rushed

Did it detract from the enjoyment?

Without any doubt, NO

 

[Fish]

ability to hit the ball straight is more relevant than handicap from my experience - over and above any other pace of play aspects!

once such a level of ability exists (and it can be there at handicaps around 24-26 quite easily) it's the other aspects that become the overall influence on the actual time any group takes to get round.

in my experience there is little correlation between ability levels and pace of play once that basic level of competence is established. most of the time is spent on the tee and green and you can play a lot of shots at 10 sec a go relative to even a single putt at 30 sec (which is fast for many people!)

I find the most annoying thing in my observations of playing with single handicappers is picking up their ball on the green when they've putt 2ft short only to align the ball again, and then if they miss that and go past by just a few inches, some still pick the bloody thing up and clean it again Some are obsessed with this practice and I think on the green (putting) can be the slowest part of any hole being played out!

 

[FairwayDodger]

I find the most annoying thing in my observations of playing with single handicappers is picking up their ball on the green when they've putt 2ft short only to align the ball again, and then if they miss that and go past by just a few inches, some still pick the bloody thing up and clean it again Some are obsessed with this practice and I think on the green (putting) can be the slowest part of any hole being played out!

This is why slow play threads here are futile. It's not about low vs high handicaps and you just get people's backs up by daft generalisations like this.

 

[Imurg]

I find the most annoying thing in my observations of playing with single handicappers is picking up their ball on the green when they've putt 2ft short only to align the ball again, and then if they miss that and go past by just a few inches, some still pick the bloody thing up and clean it again Some are obsessed with this practice and I think on the green (putting) can be the slowest part of any hole being played out!

To be fair this isn't just the Low-Boys..it's a fairly common practice at our place amongst all handicaps - drives me insane too!

 

[Hickory_Hacker]

was pretty brutal, but TBH i would have had to dish out a few quid as once i was told it took us almost 3 hours to play the front 9 i lost the will to live and play golf

Did you and Sam ever get a game Sorted at Nairn?

Nope not yet but I'd love to ... Hassle him and I'll make sure that I'm available :thup:

 

[delc]

I find the most annoying thing in my observations of playing with single handicappers is picking up their ball on the green when they've putt 2ft short only to align the ball again, and then if they miss that and go past by just a few inches, some still pick the bloody thing up and clean it again Some are obsessed with this practice and I think on the green (putting) can be the slowest part of any hole being played out!

Again this is another practice which players seem to have copied from the tour pros!

 

[wrighty1874]

We went out in two 5 balls Fri afternoon, playing best 3 scores first 6 holes, best 4 next 6 and all 5 to count last 6 hoeles on the understanding anyone behind gets waved through immediately. We were waiting from the 8th hole in and nobody got anywhere near us. Maybe we should try a 6 ball next week!!

Anything over 4 and a 1/4 hours and I'm getting seriously cheesed off.