NBonfield
Assistant Pro
And do you consider that time acceptable?
Monthly poll 2: On average, how long does a weekend fourball take at your club?
- Thread starter NBonfield
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mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
Don't really know, as we only play in 3s at the weekend (in comps, at least). On Sat and Sun, we were just shy of 4 hours for our 3-balls, so I reckon a 4-ball would have taken a bit longer.
Is that acceptable? Well 4-4.30 sounds slow to me but the pace of play at the weekend didn't feel too slow. Maybe I'm a slow player...?
Is that acceptable? Well 4-4.30 sounds slow to me but the pace of play at the weekend didn't feel too slow. Maybe I'm a slow player...?
In our normal bounce 4 ball it takes about 3 hours as long as we don;t get held up too much.
On Sat 2nd round club champs 3.20 for a 3 ball but there was a bit of a bottle nec around 12,13,14.
On Sat 2nd round club champs 3.20 for a 3 ball but there was a bit of a bottle nec around 12,13,14.
TheJezster
Tour Rookie
weekend rounds are about 4 hours, which is what id expect.
BTatHome
Tour Winner
I expect 4.30 for a 3ball medal round, so I put over 4.30 ... assumed it was competitive round, otherwise I would have chosen 4-4.30 option.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
I have responded with the time it takes an average 4 ball - at any time, on the basis that there is no-one else on the course!
It really doesn't change a lot even if the course is full; what will change it is the speed of the slowest game out there - and what tends to affect that is the format being played.
We run comps in 3 balls and 4 balls aren't permitted in comps - friendly 4 balls rarely play 'medal' either, so course speed is pretty constant through the day. It will feel slow as a 2 ball, and it will feel slow if you are playing a singles matchplay in a buggy etc, but it's not inherently slow.
It's interesting that you don't ask the course length etc as this also has a huge impact on the time it will take games to get round - you can play 18 on our second course (still par 70) in an hour less (walking at the same speeds etc).
it's interesting reading Patricks post because you simply couldn't get a 4 ball round ours in 3 hours - played a 4 ball match off the front tees last week with 2xbuggies and absolutly no looking for balls, no delay on tees, no-one else on the course! and a relatively generous gimme approach (anyone out of the hole picked up early) etc - it was 3h 06m (and the buggies were not limited to paths and are fast!)
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One Planer
Global Moderator
I voted 3.1/2 to 4 hours.
To answer the question, yes I feel it's an acceptable time. We don't rush, but play 'ready' golf at a good pace.
We are quite often done in under the time I chose, however I would say my above answer is the average.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Weekend bounce games 3 hrs -3 1/2 hrs
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
Averages 4 hours depending on what is going on competition-wise. So I boted 3.5 to 4 hours as seldom longer than that although the scramble at the weekend was 4.15 but that format can be time consuming. Overall I'm happy with the pace of play.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
4.00 - 4.30.
Ok as I am expecting it. 4.00 seems Ok, anything around 4.30 will feel slow though.
Ok as I am expecting it. 4.00 seems Ok, anything around 4.30 will feel slow though.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I voted over 4 hours, because it often is.
Acceptable? No, it's not, but it is what it is.
If the greens committee allowed the rough to be cut it would be quicker. Do we really need par 72, but css 74? If only 9 guys out of 200 break par, it's going to be slow.
Acceptable? No, it's not, but it is what it is.
If the greens committee allowed the rough to be cut it would be quicker. Do we really need par 72, but css 74? If only 9 guys out of 200 break par, it's going to be slow.
scratch
Q-School Graduate
4hr-4:30 no, not acceptable!
Too much faffing about, you'd think peoples lives depended on some of those 12 inch putts that get looked at from every angle
Too much faffing about, you'd think peoples lives depended on some of those 12 inch putts that get looked at from every angle
We are just under 6500 yards, but the front 9 tee's are more or less next to the greens. once you get to the back 9 a bit more of a gap, but no more than 150 yards i would think.
The guys i play with reg are all cat 1 with me being the highest handicap most of the time, so not a lot of ball searching goes on.
wookie
Q-School Graduate
4 - 4.5 for ours I guess (most weekend play recently has been comps in 3s) and although its longer than I would like its just about acceptable when the course is fully loaded.
Garesfield ACE
Tour Rookie
Off the yellows 6000 yards approx 4 hours,very acceptable in my eyes.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I don't play weekends often.
Midweek we'll take about 3hrs for a 3 ball
I guess at the weekends it'll be about 4 -4 1/2 hrs for a 4 - maybe more.
Acceptable?
No - one of the reasons I don't play much weekend golf...
Midweek we'll take about 3hrs for a 3 ball
I guess at the weekends it'll be about 4 -4 1/2 hrs for a 4 - maybe more.
Acceptable?
No - one of the reasons I don't play much weekend golf...
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
Bout 4 hours in our place , is it acceptable ? probably not but.. if your that stuck for time maybe you shouldnt be playing , youl only get frustrated & annoyed
timchump
Q-School Graduate
Not sure but definitely under 4 hours.
Slow play is like a swear work at my course.
If you mark your card whilst on the green, don't put your bag in a sensible place it gets noticed...
Slow play is like a swear work at my course.
If you mark your card whilst on the green, don't put your bag in a sensible place it gets noticed...
WideEyedFox
Assistant Pro
4 ball on Sunday consisting of myself, my 2 kids playing off 54 and a work colleague playing of 24. We tee'd off at 1404, were off the 18th green at 1840, clubs away, shoes changed and sat having a drink at the bar by 1900.
We actually spent quite a few holes right up behind a 2 ball! :angry: On a few longish par 4's, once they were out of range but still on the fairway we tee'd off. By the time we got to the approach shot we were waiting for them to putt out.
3 hour rounds are obviously everyones target, but I always think when you have kids in your group that's being optimistic. They play more shots, having shorter legs and need help here and there finding balls in the rough, raking bunkers and generally being supportive in helping them learn the etiquette of golf as well as maintain pace.
We actually spent quite a few holes right up behind a 2 ball! :angry: On a few longish par 4's, once they were out of range but still on the fairway we tee'd off. By the time we got to the approach shot we were waiting for them to putt out.
3 hour rounds are obviously everyones target, but I always think when you have kids in your group that's being optimistic. They play more shots, having shorter legs and need help here and there finding balls in the rough, raking bunkers and generally being supportive in helping them learn the etiquette of golf as well as maintain pace.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Length is an element, and, as you say, there's the matter of green to tee as well as tee to green! Overall that will probably add about 1500yds between the courses.
Whilst the capability has relevance, I'm looking at it from a competent 4 ball playing the course without anyone else on it basis!
3 ball will be about 3h40m, 4 will be around 4h05m. In practice tee times are too close together when the course is busy and this creates a crowded feel to the round from the off for 4 balls. For competition 3 balls the round tends to be about 4h - there are cat 1 players who will take longer, and cat 4 seniors that will get round quicker, but that's roughly the range. Summer society 4's wil push this out to 5 hours or more midweek if playing off the whites!
