Pace of play - please, please, please use common sense

[dejf]

Hi guys,

just spent I-don't-know-how-long to finish my round. In front of me a 4 ball playing "match". I was ready to tee of on every of the last hole before they walked out of the teeing ground. No chance. They were playing match.

Told them after the game (did really not want to upset them and ruin their match) that that was a poor etiquette and they disagreed. They showed me a paper in our club locker room that quotes the old version of pace of play part of etiquette that says single player has no standing on the course. Tried to argue that rules of golf says otherwise, only to have "this is local rule here" argument being presented to me.

So, I quickly realized, that it is not really their fault if our club suggest such a behavior. It also suggests on that paper that in most of the time it is a common sense to let single ball play through, but still, they were playing match and did not want to let me through.


Do you have this in your club?

Anyway, I would really like to suggest to all of you to use the common sense. It won't hurt you to let a guy behind you through. Especially, if there is plenty of space in front of you and plenty of space behind the guy, and he is ready!

I have suggested the change to our club manager, but the answer was negative. I will respect that, but I am not really happy about it. Simply because it both does not make sense, and is against what rules of golf suggest.

Please take a minute and read http://golf.about.com/od/golfetiquette/f/singlespriority.htm
It is well written.

 

[DCB]

Since it covered by the Etiquette section rather than The Rules themselves, the club can indeed make it's own local rule. Does seem a bit silly though for a fourball not to let a single through, especially if there is space ahead of them.

 

[User62651]

Doesnt matter about the local rule thing on paper imo, common sense and common decency would result in you getting let through but unfortunately too many people lack both these qualities nowadays. Same on the roads, slow drivers unwilling to accept that when 20 cars are queued up behind you it might be good form to use a layby to let them by. Human nature I'm afraid.

 

[Norrin Radd]

they sound like a bunch ofa holes ,i would have given them both barrels when i got in the clubhouse.let them know what a prehistoric group they were.
common sense says let the single player play through.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Unfortunately I came across the same rule at my last Club, I discussed it with the Captain, Secretary and others and nothing changed, some would let you through and some would absolutely refuse.
Some saw a single player as rude and against the "spirit" of golf, no amount of explaining coukd get through!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Would you mind naming the club please so I can make a point of avoiding it?

 

[Rlburnside]

I had a similar situation last year playing a course in Edingburgh , quite Tuesday morning, on the 5th tee a fourball were waiting to tee of to a par 3 on a crossover hole, I finished on the 4th then walked over near to the 5th tee took a club out fully expecting to be asked to play through, but no they teed off and never spoke and preceded to hold me up for the rest of the round.

I spoke to the pro when I finished and told him about my round which took nearly 5 hours, I asked if the fourball were members and he confirmed they were,I asked if he thought they knew that a single should be let through, he said they probebly didn't and could only apologies.

The fourball were in the wrong for not letting me through but I think the pro could have had a quite word with them and explained they should let single players through.

 

[patricks148]

its common sense of course to let a faster group through, but my club a match has priority so this does happen on occasion with a single behind at my club.

 

[dejf]

Thank you guys, after reading your opinions, I no longer feel like an alien who dares to ask for something extravagant.

I was surprised by the manager response that they can do nothing about it because it is a club rule. The reasoning also was that "every club in the country" has this policy. I don't think that is the case.

If there are more confirmations that this is NOT a common practice in UK golf, I will share a link to this thread with our club manager.


drive4show: I am extremely tolerant and non-conflict type of guy and I am new to my club and new to UK golf, so most of the time I just "watch and learn", but this time I had enough and had to talk to the guys and the manager. Having said that, I have realized on this forum that many people do not name the club publicly. I don't know what is the reason, but because I am new, I will follow that practice and won't disclose that here in the somehow negative thread. I will send you PM with the name.


pauldj42: Single golfer against spirit of the game That is really something, wow. How dare you playing golf on your course anyway? Should you not just pay for the membership and then stay home, not to annoy anyone or even make some damage to the grass? Oh dear ... On the serious note - I thank you for being brave and trying to change that kind of attitude. Even if you failed ...

 

[Capella]

We have a similar rule at our club (no standing for single players, same for two-balls on the weekend), plus on the weekend it is still 4 ball before 3 ball, which does not make any sense at all, because it basically means the slowest groups will go out first and are under no obligation to let smaller, faster groups through. It is quite annoying, because all the more "traditionalist" players will stick to this as if it is god's own law. The only chance you have to play through is by skipping a hole (there are a few places where that geographically makes sense and you can tee off at the next hole without interfering with the slower group in front of you, provided there is room in front of them, of course). But in that case you better nod to them very very friendly and make your excuses, or you are going to be lynched in the club house after the round.

The reasoning behind this is to encourage people to form 4 balls whenever possible and just not play alone or in pairs, I guess, especially when the course is busy.

 

[dejf]

Capella: I can understand that the course is full and four balls are preferred, but what you just wrote is a very very weird method on how to achieve that. That is way worse than in my club

 

[garyinderry]

If I ever head out on my own and get stuck behind a load of groups who have no intention of letting me through then I just return to the first tee after 6/9 holes and start again.

Not in a million years would I waste my time spending 5 hours to play 18 holes on my own.

 

[dejf]

If I ever head out on my own and get stuck behind a load of groups who have no intention of letting me through then I just return to the first tee after 6/9 holes and start again.

Not in a million years would I waste my time spending 5 hours to play 18 holes on my own.

Yeah, I was recommended to do that next time.
Somehow, I like finishing a round, but I agree, this was a sensible solution after I realized that it is unlikely to get through.

 

[hovis]

Is there anyone on this forum that would not let a faster group through? If so can you help me understand why not

 

[irip]

A slightly different scenario, last week was out as a four ball and we were caught up by 2 ladies who we invited through, they politely declined with the reason being 1 of them was new to the game and felt uncomfortable playing in front of people she didnt know.

We had a quick chat and was all very nice and said any time you do wish to come through just say and we will stand aside.

As we played our 16th we was shouted at by 2 blokes accusing us of not letting quicker players through and they had to wait every shot because of us not letting the ladies through.

What do you think we should/could of done in this situation?

 

[chrisd]

Is there anyone on this forum that would not let a faster group through? If so can you help me understand why not

Er well mmmmmm how do I say this


Only joking, I would always let a single through (then wonder why he doesn't have any mates)

 

[dejf]

A slightly different scenario, last week was out as a four ball and we were caught up by 2 ladies who we invited through, they politely declined with the reason being 1 of them was new to the game and felt uncomfortable playing in front of people she didnt know.

We had a quick chat and was all very nice and said any time you do wish to come through just say and we will stand aside.

As we played our 16th we was shouted at by 2 blokes accusing us of not letting quicker players through and they had to wait every shot because of us not letting the ladies through.

What do you think we should/could of done in this situation?

Very commonly I play slow on myself behind a group of 2, and do not demand or want to go through. However, I do that only if there is no flight behind that would mind. In that situation you describe, I think it is on the ladies - they were supposed to let the 2 guys through and you would be then able to let them through. You did nothing wrong there. Possibly the best solution for you would be to tell the ladies (when they refused to go through) that they should invite faster groups behind them to play through, if that situation occur. If they did so, you would not get accused in the first place. But again, you did nothing wrong there.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

A slightly different scenario, last week was out as a four ball and we were caught up by 2 ladies who we invited through, they politely declined with the reason being 1 of them was new to the game and felt uncomfortable playing in front of people she didnt know.

We had a quick chat and was all very nice and said any time you do wish to come through just say and we will stand aside.

As we played our 16th we was shouted at by 2 blokes accusing us of not letting quicker players through and they had to wait every shot because of us not letting the ladies through.

What do you think we should/could of done in this situation?

Totally accepting the Ladies wanted to stay behind you, surely their issue is with the ladies, as as you had offered to let them through why didn't they learn from your example and let the 2 blokes through.
As for the 2 blokes shouting to you, I would've explained to them what you had offered the ladies and tell them to take it up with the ladies.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally accepting the Ladies wanted to stay behind you, surely their issue is with the ladies, as as you had offered to let them through why didn't they learn from your example and let the 2 blokes through.
As for the 2 blokes shouting to you, I would've explained to them what you had offered the ladies and tell them to take it up with the ladies.

Indeed. Although I doubt they would have. If you make the offer and it's declined what can you do?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Indeed. Although I doubt they would have. If you make the offer and it's declined what can you do?

The ladies should've learnt from his offer and offered the 2 blokes when they caught them.