ger147
Tour Winner
And no doubt faffing about on where folk stand, refusing to putt etc. when it doesn't really matter.
Oh wait, was that another thread?...
'It Was Not Like That In My Day'
- Thread starter GB72
- Start date
And no doubt faffing about on where folk stand, refusing to putt etc. when it doesn't really matter.
Oh wait, was that another thread?...
DCB
Well-known member
I remember the days when Office Outings were played over two rounds, teeing off from 9am, in for lunch at 12:30 and back out by 1:30pm. High Tea wasn't served until everyone was in but, there was usually no more than half an hour to wait on the last fourball.
Nowadays a single round outing takes an eternity.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Been playing regular since the late 70's and I take on board all the comments about faffing on greens etc but overall by far the biggest factor is how busy the course is. It's like a motorway slowing down due to "volume of traffic". We play 4 ball comps and it's usually just under 4 hours on a Saturday, maybe 4'10" if it's playing difficult. Nearer 3'40" on a Wednesday and for a casual knock when it's quieter maybe 3'15" or a bit quicker for a 4 ball. As a 2 ball when it's dead I've done it in under 2'30". I don't think much has changed in all that time to be honest. There have always been slower players and they are all out there when it's busy. The faster players just have nowhere to go.
Sports_Fanatic
Assistant Pro
For me it's the following:
Walking speed
Waiting to hit because someone else has the honour even if they are 100 yds away on the other side of the fairway
Not taking personal responsibility to keep track of their time. So few of my playing partners would know how long we've taken for 6 holes if I didn't say.
Walking speed
Waiting to hit because someone else has the honour even if they are 100 yds away on the other side of the fairway
Not taking personal responsibility to keep track of their time. So few of my playing partners would know how long we've taken for 6 holes if I didn't say.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
Personally I've never been that convinced of just how many golfers will do something just because they have seen Rory or whoever do it. So might one possible cause for people doing all the pre-shot routines and taking their time be more due to the increased exposure to lessons through a pro and advice on you tube/magazines than copying of pros?
Just about every one, certainly on the internet and in magazines, is trying to show you if not the 'textbook' way to hit a shot, but just one way. And the vast majority of golfers, for whatever reason, can't do it in a textbook way. But they now spend more time doing the pre-shot routine they have been told to do by whoever, and then trying to hit the positions in the swing, which more often than not will slow you down. Where as in the olden days there may have been more of a mind set of just hit the chuffing thing and get on with it?
NorfolkShaun
Journeyman Pro
I play with a couple of guys who always do this and i have to say it bugs me, one of them is quite slow to say the least and the other one had a go at me once as I said I would tap in a 18 inch putt because he felt it was his go......
The other one I see quite a lot is people hitting a provisional just in case.......
especially annoying in a stableford just get on with the bloody round where we have to wait for the whole pre-shot routine and practice swings when you have just hit one ten seconds before
GB72
Money List Winner
Anybody's club got rid of 5 day memberships and noticed a difference at weekends. We certainly have more people on the course now at the weekend because those who used to enjoy the benefit of a cheaper, 5 day membership are now looking to get value out of the extra cost that they are having to play
Face breaker
Q-School Graduate
With the price of balls being what it is these days I reckon it's because people spend more time looking for them :rofl:, on the course I used to work at we had a woman that would endlessly search until she found the ball she'd lost even though she'd already found about 15 others in the process, I used to call her "Miss Goldenball" I don't think she ever figured out why !...
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
BiB - I don't know the rule off top of head but I am sure that you must have reasonable cause to hit a provisional to prevent folks taking one as a practice shot. I am pretty sure that you can't just hit a provisional 'whatever'.
ger147
Tour Winner
get away with you
A wee smilie face to try and cover up your hypocrisy, well done you.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Lots of interesting posts from both sides about pace of play, With the pressure on Clubs to stay afloat 4 Balls at weekends in the whole is the only way to try and get all those that wish to play to play, 8 minutes at our place between flights is fine when Stableford but not when strokeplay.
Practise swings is another that divides opinion, funny how your 3rd off the Tee always seems to be the shot you wanted first time, maybe for some, if they slowed slightly and took a swing or 2 before teeing off it might avoid the second ball,
Personally, practise swings, lining up putts etc doesn't bother me, each to there own, but walk swiftly between shots and be ready to play when it's your turn, oh and finally know your yardages, waiting for the green to clear when if your honest you know you can't reach it, does me head in.
Practise swings is another that divides opinion, funny how your 3rd off the Tee always seems to be the shot you wanted first time, maybe for some, if they slowed slightly and took a swing or 2 before teeing off it might avoid the second ball,
Personally, practise swings, lining up putts etc doesn't bother me, each to there own, but walk swiftly between shots and be ready to play when it's your turn, oh and finally know your yardages, waiting for the green to clear when if your honest you know you can't reach it, does me head in.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Please...the question is asked about slow play. I stated that I think that with 4 balls there is a lot of faffing about on the green that isn't absolutely necessary - especially as you rarely if ever get a 4 ball in a serious individual comp. Asking someone to stand in a different place on the tee off is hardly the same.
If I am being hypocritical about something I hope I can accept that criticism and reconsider - but I don't think that in this case I am being so. I accept the criticism made elsewhere here about my instinctive reaction on visitor bookings at weekends - and in the situation I described accept I was wrong and indeed being hypocritical if I had held to my view. When I posted on that situation I felt that I might have been wrong - that's why I asked for thoughts of those here.
ger147
Tour Winner
I put it to you that you are being hypocritical i.e. you insist on etiquette being observed when you are playing the shot at hand (you recently made a point about where people stand when you putt and that you would refuse to putt until they move, not just on the tee), but it becomes "faffing about" when etiquette is being observed on the putting green in another group in front of you that you perceive to be holding you up.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
The question is asked about slow play. If I am alone in my view about 4balls putting then I'll accept that and that it isn't an issue for anyone and I am mistaken.
ger147
Tour Winner
Trampling on people's lines is poor etiquette. Are you saying it is acceptable to ignore etiquette when playing in 4 balls? Does it have to be observed when playing in 3 balls? Or just 2 balls? What other etiquette should be ignored by 4 balls? Do they R&A have to update their etiquette section to say "doesn't apply to 4 balls"?
Can I stand where I like when you tee off as long as there are 4 of us in the group? Can I stand and look right down the line of your putt as you're putting as long as we're in a 4 ball? Would you ask me to move and/or refuse to putt then?
In summary, hypocrite...
Elaborate pre-shot routines and things like Aimpoint... waits for the howls of derision. But lets think about the maths. Let's look at a 'modern' fourball where each player has adopted some of the in-vogue techniques. Player 'A' has added in an aiming technique for his shots from the tee and from the fairway + a feeling the green with his feet etc. Maybe 10secs per shot max ~ 50secs per hole ave. Multiply that by 4 players, and then multiply that by 18 holes... its that easy to add 30 mins to a round.
Not everyone in a 4-ball will be like that but in a field of 100 players I'd put money on at least 10 'modern' players having variations of that.
Not everyone in a 4-ball will be like that but in a field of 100 players I'd put money on at least 10 'modern' players having variations of that.
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
i started playing when i was 6 (cut down putter ) if you can call it playing at that age,it was at a time when golf wasn't played by the working man and was the domain of the middle classes,both lower and upper thus a lot fewer people on the course,there were a lot less courses and the wait to get in was a long one.The rises in popularity of tv coverage,people having more free time and the money to spend started the rise in courses being built and the sight of workmen's vans on club car parks,the courses became fuller etiquette went down a notch games became longer,more courses built without any traditions,people new to the game started playing,again not knowing the rules of etiquette,clubs closed down those members move to another club that is run for profit by a corporation so have to many members,slower rounds of golf,i have spoken to people on courses and asked to play through,and been told "ive paid f-in £40 to play here pal do one " and i dont think that attitude is uncommon,my question would be has golf become the preserve of those who think they can do what they like after they have paid their green fees ?
alexbrownmp
Head Pro
been away the last few weeks so missed the answers, but in my opinion nothing has changed, people are just more vocal about it now. The blame culture and social media has accelerated the perceptions.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
I would say the answer is, that is society nowadays, once some people hand over cash they believe it gives them the right to behave in any manner they deem fit, imo we are becoming "very jack"
