Pace Of Play - what can be done to improve it

[Deleted member 16999]

Reading all the posts it seems slow play can be tackled at every part of the game, from who you play with and at what time in what type of game (comp or friendly) and on which day through to putting out and how much time you've alloted yourself (quick 18 or no time constraint).
Taking all this in, to me if I was looking to take up the game the perception would be a game that is slow to play and you'd be under pressure to speed up from the moment you arrive on a course.
I wish I had the answer but in reality there won't be a one size fits all answer.
Maybe just maybe as an alternative clubs could look at running 9 hole comps or whatever number your course layout allows, it's worked in cricket with 20/20 so maybe a shorter Golf comp may entice people to try. These could be run on certain days when maybe a course is less busy.

 

[bobmac]

first to finish putting heads off to next tee whilst others putt out....

Don't agree. The first to putt out gets the flag

 

[MikeH]

I must of missed the post where someone said its boring.

actually Pokerjoke it was the first line of your reply to my inital post that was the main prompt for me to make the 'boring' observation

"Hi Mike just a question,is this not going over old ground?"

I took several other comments about the topic having been covered numerous times - whether it be as a discussion here or as a feature in a mag/online etc - to say the same thing

lost in transaltion perhaps?

the volume and range of replies to this thread suggest its still a topic worth covering especailly when a lot of the content we will produce is positive (ie not looking to moan about slow play) and we will use video content that will provide a reference point for best practice that can be shared by golfers, clubs. committes etc

in terms of us solving slow play... Im not daft enough to think our content will suddenly be the cure but I feel its our resposnibility to encourage a better pace of play so we'll give it damn good go

For the avoidance of doubt good pace of play (the concpet we are looking to promote) is not about saying everyone should be flying round in under 3hrs but merely taking the spirit of the rules of golf which asks players to play without undue delay and that being aware what you as an individual do can have an impact on your group and indeed the whole field

 

[Slicer30]

Here's an idea - maybe one for Jezz and Fergus when out on the course.

How to find a ball which you have hit into the long stuff - ie " I have a line on that one" either a small bush or different coloured tree.

quite often I see people heading to find their ball and they are 20-30 yds from the line I have of it, when I continue on that line I usually walk straight to it ( usually)

 

[Slab]

actually Pokerjoke it was the first line of your reply to my inital post that was the main prompt for me to make the 'boring' observation

"Hi Mike just a question,is this not going over old ground?"

I took several other comments about the topic having been covered numerous times - whether it be as a discussion here or as a feature in a mag/online etc - to say the same thing

lost in transaltion perhaps?

the volume and range of replies to this thread suggest its still a topic worth covering especailly when a lot of the content we will produce is positive (ie not looking to moan about slow play) and we will use video content that will provide a reference point for best practice that can be shared by golfers, clubs. committes etc

in terms of us solving slow play... Im not daft enough to think our content will suddenly be the cure but I feel its our resposnibility to encourage a better pace of play so we'll give it damn good go

For the avoidance of doubt good pace of play (the concpet we are looking to promote) is not about saying everyone should be flying round in under 3hrs but merely taking the spirit of the rules of golf which asks players to play without undue delay and that being aware what you as an individual do can have an impact on your group and indeed the whole field

Cant fault your motivation or commitment

Is there any scope to coordinate your drive with the other UK golf publications so that not only is exactly the same message going out but at the same time and across various media channels both online and in print. Could be like a real explosion of focus and attention

 

[duncan mackie]

Good pace of play is not about saying everyone should be flying round in under 3hrs but merely taking the spirit of the rules of golf which asks players to play without undue delay and that being aware what you as an individual do can have an impact on your group and indeed the whole field

Perfect :thup:

(Maybe remove the merely)

 

[Smiffy]

first to finish putting heads off to next tee whilst others putt out....

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

 

[pokerjoke]

actually Pokerjoke it was the first line of your reply to my inital post that was the main prompt for me to make the 'boring' observation

"Hi Mike just a question,is this not going over old ground?"

I took several other comments about the topic having been covered numerous times - whether it be as a discussion here or as a feature in a mag/online etc - to say the same thing

lost in transaltion perhaps?

the volume and range of replies to this thread suggest its still a topic worth covering especailly when a lot of the content we will produce is positive (ie not looking to moan about slow play) and we will use video content that will provide a reference point for best practice that can be shared by golfers, clubs. committes etc

in terms of us solving slow play... Im not daft enough to think our content will suddenly be the cure but I feel its our resposnibility to encourage a better pace of play so we'll give it damn good go

For the avoidance of doubt good pace of play (the concpet we are looking to promote) is not about saying everyone should be flying round in under 3hrs but merely taking the spirit of the rules of golf which asks players to play without undue delay and that being aware what you as an individual do can have an impact on your group and indeed the whole field

I thought it was Mike that's why I mentioned it however that was the furthest thought from my mind.

Its the fact that its been done so many times and nothing has changed.

I hope GM can produce something and help speed up play but as I said I cant see it happening.

In the pro game it wont happen either until a high profile players is docked shots.

As you also mention in your last paragraph making people aware of wrong doings will help but imo very little.

Imo course design is a much bigger contributor to slow play,having teeing areas right next to greens or even in the firing line like East Devons 8th.
This hole in their "open" has 3 or 4 groups waiting at a time nearing 20 minutes,and im sure there are hundreds more.

Or as you have rightly pointed out in the past knee high rough which forces all 4 players to look for a probable lost ball.

To be honest im really looking forward to the magazine that covers this topic then I can show it to my frustratingly slow playing partners.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I agree that watching a four ball group putting out on a green ahead can be rather like watching paint dry! That was one of my reasons for suggesting a bigger hole (sorry for hijacking another thread on this subject!).

This I agree with wholeheartedly - bigger hole - sorry nope. Sort the faffing about - no need for bigger hole.

For instance - I don't recall players drawing alignment lines on their ball in the past. These days some guys I play with spend an eternity getting their ball perfect aligned for the putt. And any time they change their mind over the line - back they go marking ball, picking it, replacing it, tweaking it this way and that - to be just so! A real pain in the derriere.

 

[MikeH]

Here's an idea - maybe one for Jezz and Fergus when out on the course.

How to find a ball which you have hit into the long stuff - ie " I have a line on that one" either a small bush or different coloured tree.

quite often I see people heading to find their ball and they are 20-30 yds from the line I have of it, when I continue on that line I usually walk straight to it ( usually)

bit of telepathy!
Jezza wrote this piece earlier this week on ball finding tips
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/featu...earch-for-a-lost-golf-ball-6-essentials-79715

 

[MikeH]

To be honest im really looking forward to the magazine that covers this topic then I can show it to my frustratingly slow playing partners.

We are hoping the content will be shared by golfers, clubs and committees whether its sending out pdfs of the piece, photocopies of it up on notice boards, videos on the club site etc.

ps noted on the lost in translation thing!

 

[MikeH]

Cant fault your motivation or commitment
Is there any scope to coordinate your drive with the other UK golf publications so that not only is exactly the same message going out but at the same time and across various media channels both online and in print. Could be like a real explosion of focus and attention

logistically this wouldnt work when it comes to print - many reasons but deadlines, different page specs, design software, photography rights, rivalry etc etc) but all media will be free to share our digtial content

 

[Smiffy]

bit of telepathy!
Jezza wrote this piece earlier this week on ball finding tips
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/featu...earch-for-a-lost-golf-ball-6-essentials-79715

The starter at Woking gave me a good tip one day.
If your heading for the trees, get a line on it from the top of them.

 

[guest100718]

On course marshals hurrying along the slow golfers and making sure they let the faster groups through is the only thing that will really work

 

[njrose51]

Quite simply, I don't think you will ever really stop slow play, no matter what rules are brought in. Not all clubs can afford marshalls. You will always get people bending the rules or believing they are above them. A stray shot no matter how good you are will cause a delay. Short grass or long grass – you still have to find it! Everybody gets old and who are we to tell those of the older generation to walk quicker? And, I suspect, we probably all guilty of thinking we can reach a green and waiting for it to clear before ending up 30 yards short! Playing people through whilst good etiquette still holds play up. And hey, we all started out at sometime so we cant blame the beginners/hackers of the game. Yes, you can tell people how to speed up – not marking cards on the greens, being ready to play next shot, leaving bags in right place etc, but unless you have a referee with every game, who is going to enforce it? And do the club really want to enforce these types of rules and issue fines or ban players? Probably not as all that will do is create a bad reputation for it being a strict club and potentially drive people, societies etc away. Are clubs going to leave longer gaps between tee-times? Unlikely as that potentially lowers the number of people playing on a daily basis. Will they limit the amount of members who can play in tournaments? Possibly, but what will that do to those who can’t play – they’ll get pi**d off and possibly leave.

So, dear fellow Forum members, no matter what you, we, or our clubs or the Professionals do, you will always have slow play. Perhaps a few times a year, everything will work well, players will act accordingly, tee shots go where we aim them, we'll have less putts and a quick round will be had, but I’m afraid to say that slow play is here to stay.

 

[Crawfy]

In bounce games, play 'ready' golf.
Be realistic about your shot distances and play accordingly
Place you bag on correct side of green
Think about your iron selection when walking up to ball, not when you get there
Not every putt needs marked and replaced
Embrace 3 ball format rather than insisting on 4ball
Half the number of pre-shot practice swings you take
Have a course steward who will actively slow play behaviour

This could be a long list, but that's just off the top of my head

 

[alexbrownmp]

actually Pokerjoke it was the first line of your reply to my inital post that was the main prompt for me to make the 'boring' observation

"Hi Mike just a question,is this not going over old ground?"

I took several other comments about the topic having been covered numerous times - whether it be as a discussion here or as a feature in a mag/online etc - to say the same thing

lost in transaltion perhaps?

the volume and range of replies to this thread suggest its still a topic worth covering especailly when a lot of the content we will produce is positive (ie not looking to moan about slow play) and we will use video content that will provide a reference point for best practice that can be shared by golfers, clubs. committes etc

in terms of us solving slow play... Im not daft enough to think our content will suddenly be the cure but I feel its our resposnibility to encourage a better pace of play so we'll give it damn good go

For the avoidance of doubt good pace of play (the concpet we are looking to promote) is not about saying everyone should be flying round in under 3hrs but merely taking the spirit of the rules of golf which asks players to play without undue delay and that being aware what you as an individual do can have an impact on your group and indeed the whole field

foreget all the long repleis, schemees and penaltyys.

Its basic comman sence.

if you lose your place behind the group in front and the group behind are immediately behind, then MOVE OVER! let them thru and everyone can relax and enjoy their round.

 

[matt611]

I haven't read all 10 pages so not sure if already mentioned but i think leaving the flag in could save a little time when combined with ready golf. There are times when you are watching a group that is infront of you when nothing is happening because players do not want to play out of turn and someone has to stand at the flag waiting to remove it when they could be lining their own putt up.

Other thoughts:
thinner rough
less pre shot routine rubbish
less faffing around and more awareness of other groups around you on the course
better example set by pros on all of the above points

 

[Hacker Khan]

Slightly tongue in cheek but ban all mind coaches, especially those that tell you that you have to be in the right state of mind before you hit your shot (and yes I know I got picked for the New Golf Thinking day, which has actually improved my game, but has made me a bit slower)

This is probably a much bigger issue on the mens and womens pro tours, but all these pre-shot routines take time when you add them up. You then get a gust of wind or someone coughs in the crowd and they have to start it all again so they are 'in the zone' before they can hit it. I'm not saying just walk up there and hit it immediately. But as we know golfers are mostly a desperate bunch of people that will try anything if they think it will improve their score. And the prevalence of mind coaches telling all and sundry to do all the pre-shot routines isn't helping.

 

[Oddsocks]

Pace of play:

All golfers new and old should be given a 9 hole etiquette lesson and general common sense lesson, this should cover where to leave you bag, when to play shots etc and educate them, if you really wanted to it could be A 2 part test which covers basics rules. It should be chargeable £45 1 part £75 2 parts.

The potential for pros to meet prospective new students, the course to cater for potential new pay and play customers or even members. This course should be mandatory as is a driving lesson, gym induction and so on