Pace Of Play - what can be done to improve it

[Sybez]

Sorry mate. We're talking about speeding up play, not condoning "bad manners" or "etiquette".....and that to me is the height of bad manners.
I might have blobbed the hole, ended up walking it and be giving myself a right telling off as I stand by my bag by the side of the green.
But 9 times out of 10 I will still go and tend the flag for the guys who are still playing the hole.
I'd feel as guilty as sin if I didn't

They do this in the US with the juniors and has worked wonders on the pace of play apparently! Not my idea, blame the USPGA.

Etiquette has its place in major comps, but "ready" golf in most medals, stablefords and bounce games should keep the pace up and not crease the plus fours of the committee.

Too many old timers (not aimed at Smiffy) making the game stuffy and pompus. Get on an play! :thup:

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Too many old timers (not aimed at Smiffy) making the game stuffy and pompus. Get on an play! :thup:

Oi matey, re-think required.
Us stuffy old timers are used to 3 hour rounds.

Gullible wannabees mimicking sleep inducing Pro's the more likely cause.

 

[Slime]

If you walk slowly due to an ailment or injury, wouldn't it be better to hire a golf buggy? Lots of our less mobile veterans do this.

Not if the ailment requires taking regular exercise ....................... just saying.

Slime.

 

[3565]

Not if the ailment requires taking regular exercise ....................... just saying.

Slime.

Agree, think it was his hip he had done, and some young ones who are fit and healthy have electric trolley.

 

[Slab]

Think I just stumbled across the problem...



Because you know I'm all about that pace, 'bout that pace, no rebels
I'm all 'bout that pace, 'bout that pace, no rebels

 

[chrisd]

My place is heavily tree lined and the pace really slows up when they let the rough grow between the trees as well as the lower branches not allowing access under the trees. This year we seem to have readopted the idea of cutting this back generously and I'm sure that play has sped up accordingly, much less searching but still the same penalty extricating oneself from the tree line back into play.

Most slow play I see comes from newer golfers with elaborate, and slow routines but hitting 25+ more shots than their playing partners.

 

[delc]

Most slow play I see comes from newer golfers with elaborate, and slow routines but hitting 25+ more shots than their playing partners.

The elaborate and slow routines presumably picked up from watching the tour pros on TV. Something has to be done about slow play in pro tournaments, or golf will grind completely to a halt!

 

[chrisd]

The elaborate and slow routines presumably picked up from watching the tour pros on TV. Something has to be done about slow play in pro tournaments, or golf will grind completely to a halt!

I'm not sure that's the reason Del. I think it may be nerves playing a part, 3 or 4 practice swings then they seem to stand over the ball frozen for ages before duffing it 80 yards and then an extra practice swing next time to be sure of hitting it better this time (which they don't). Also many newbies don't seem to pull a club out of the bag until it's their turn to play whereas we stand waiting with club in hand ready.

 

[Slicer30]

bit of telepathy!
Jezza wrote this piece earlier this week on ball finding tips
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/featur...sentials-79715
Read more at http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/sh...-done-to-improve-it/page3#YqHoytKqwy2OQ3Fk.99

Ha -spooky indeed.

good article too!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The elaborate and slow routines presumably picked up from watching the tour pros on TV. Something has to be done about slow play in pro tournaments, or golf will grind completely to a halt!

I think a lot of players new to the game pick up their 'elaborate and slow' routines from the pro giving them lessons. The pro doesn't make clear that a lot of what he is teaching is for the practice ground and NOT for golf course, and maybe doesn't teach the newbie how to transfer his practice routine into a playing routine. And I guess this applies for all of us taking lessons.

 

[delc]

I'm not sure that's the reason Del. I think it may be nerves playing a part, 3 or 4 practice swings then they seem to stand over the ball frozen for ages before duffing it 80 yards and then an extra practice swing next time to be sure of hitting it better this time (which they don't). Also many newbies don't seem to pull a club out of the bag until it's their turn to play whereas we stand waiting with club in hand ready.

As far as I can see, many tour pros don't start thinking about their shots until it's their turn to play either! Then you get the long discussion with their caddie, throwing grass up to gauge the wind, practice swings, lining up the shot from behind, possibly a change of club, another practice swing, and maybe then ready to go. Even then some of them (e.g. Keegan Bradley) will keep backing off the shot! I often find myself shouting "For God's sake get on with it man" at the television set!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I truly believe that the only solution can come from within - where every player looks at themselves and identifies where they take more time than they might, or that they can see other players taking. We must all be honest with ourselves and admit our own failings - and do something about them, and then we will be able to tell other players of aspects of their play that are slow. Nothing like a good biblical quote for a day to day golf problem (Matthew 7:3 )

For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?…


And the club must ENCOURAGE players to accept these observations from others as positive criticism and something that all members are expected to do - offer and take. If we each and every one of us sort out one of our own slow play issues - and we ALL have them, then rounds will get quicker without having to do anything else. Oh idealism.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Must admit, if it's windy and I'm not playing first I often prefer to see how my FC's ball flight is affected by the wind before I decide which club to play.

That's probably only one example of sometimes not doing the "right" thing for speeding play up but, for all the great "rules" we know about playing quickly, there does need to be a bit of balance when you're trying to put a score together.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Must admit, if it's windy and I'm not playing first I often prefer to see how my FC's ball flight is affected by the wind before I decide which club to play.

That's probably only one example of sometimes not doing the "right" thing for speeding play up but, for all the great "rules" we know about playing quickly, there does need to be a bit of balance when you're trying to put a score together.

Point is that you have been honest to yourself and openly admitted it to this forum. And you will be aware of the time you take on a windy day when playing and so will be a little quicker that you might.

And so on a windy day in a friendly could you tell your PPs at the outset that you have a habit of perhaps taking too long over your club selection and you want to sort that out as it can be an issue for others - and so if they saw that happening could they tell you. Could you do that I wonder. I think it what we all need to do.

 

[Slab]

I think a lot of players new to the game pick up their 'elaborate and slow' routines from the pro giving them lessons. The pro doesn't make clear that a lot of what he is teaching is for the practice ground and NOT for golf course, and maybe doesn't teach the newbie how to transfer his practice routine into a playing routine. And I guess this applies for all of us taking lessons.

Yup, far more likely its teaching pros (& teaching pros/tipsters on internet golf instructional vids) rather than TV influencing them

 

[FairwayDodger]

Point is that you have been honest to yourself and openly admitted it to this forum. And you will be aware of the time you take on a windy day when playing and so will be a little quicker that you might.

And so on a windy day in a friendly could you tell your PPs at the outset that you have a habit of perhaps taking too long over your club selection and you want to sort that out as it can be an issue for others - and so if they saw that happening could they tell you. Could you do that I wonder. I think it what we all need to do.

No. My point is that I don't think I'm taking too long over my club selection in that scenario but I do know that I'm flouting the "quick play best practice".

There's a balance to be struck between being ridiculous (lining up a mark on a ball for a two foot putt, perhaps) and taking a bit more time as you try to minimise your score.

For me it's about being quick when you can, such as walking between shots, but being deliberate when you need to be.

Personally, I'd rather shoot 67 in 4 hours than 72 in 3.5!

 

[delc]

Yup, far more likely its teaching pros (& teaching pros/tipsters on internet golf instructional vids) rather than TV influencing them

My pro sometimes gets me to put alignment rods on the ground, which you are not allowed to do anyway in competitions, but I can't think of anything he has told me that would add time to my pre-shot routine! It's copying the tour pros on TV that is the problem. There wasn't much TV golf when I was a youngster, what there was was in black and white, and rounds of golf only took about 3 hours, not the 5 hour endurance tests they tend to be these days!

 

[Slab]

My pro sometimes gets me to put alignment rods on the ground, which you are not allowed to do anyway in competitions, but I can't think of anything he has told me that would add time to my pre-shot routine! It's copying the tour pros on TV that is the problem. There wasn't much TV golf when I was a youngster, and what there was was in black and white, and rounds of golf only took about 3 hours, not the 5 hour endurance tests they tend to be these days!

We'll agree to differ then. I know what I see & I don't see people remotely resembling tv pros PSR. I do see them standing feet together, then separating them deliberately (slowly), looking at their feet, bringing clubs up to eye level to look at their grip, holding clubs in both hands to their groin for alignment, backswings that last 3-4 seconds

I think aligning the ball on the green could well be a bad habit picked up from tv but the majority of PSR's are from teaching/internet pros

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We'll agree to differ then. I know what I see & I don't see people remotely resembling tv pros PSR. I do see them standing feet together, then separating them deliberately (slowly), looking at their feet, bringing clubs up to eye level to look at their grip, holding clubs in both hands to their groin for alignment, backswings that last 3-4 seconds

I think aligning the ball on the green could well be a bad habit picked up from tv but the majority of PSR's are from teaching/internet pros

Agree with this. That's my experience. And as FD says - I see an awful lot of faffing about setting alignment using alignment lines on the ball - for short putts - and for all putts - repeated returns to ball to tweak alignment as players thinking on his line changes,

 

[Slab]

Agree with this. That's my experience. And as FD says - I see an awful lot of faffing about setting alignment using alignment lines on the ball - for short putts - and for all putts - repeated returns to ball to tweak alignment as players thinking on his line changes,

Its worse though, I'm sure you'll have seen it too... they do it on the tee!!

Fiddling with the ball to put their alignment line pointing where the hope it'll go, which TV pro is seen every week doing that?