Point of etiquette?

[chrisd]

We have a 2 tee start where 1 and 2 balls and 3 and 4 balls are separated but on a Saturday and Sunday morning prior to 9.30 any players can use either tee, but, the club rule states that a 1 or 2 ball have no priority on the course if they tee off prior to that time.

 

[Beezerk]

I have also had the situation where a group came charging up behind, we let them through into a gap, then they relaxed and slowed us down far more than we were slowing them down in the first place.

Yep, been there and it's quite annoying.
It's time clubs started educating better, but then again what chance do you have when the club captain, who blankly refuses to let anyone through, is holding up the entire course with his daily 4 ball!

 

[Franco]

And this is why I genuinely enjoy threads like this, you put a bit in bold then contradict yourself at the end with a sentiment about a 2 Ball, If somebody fails to show and a 4 or 3 Ball becomes a 2 Ball, in a competition they should accept the pace of play, your group may let them through but the next one might not, and that's were it all gets confusing or people get wound up, sometimes you can't do right for doing wrong

I have found the responses to be far more interesting than I expected when I posted. I was aware of my contradiction when I wrote it. It emphasises that where there are no clear written rules to follow, it becomes a matter of judgement. Generally, I expect a two ball to be quicker than a three or four ball. I haven't found that three balls are noticeably quicker than four balls. In any event, as has already been stated, if from time to time we are all waiting, then how do I know that the group behind is faster than me?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I have found the responses to be far more interesting than I expected when I posted. I was aware of my contradiction when I wrote it. It emphasises that where there are no clear written rules to follow, it becomes a matter of judgement. Generally, I expect a two ball to be quicker than a three or four ball. I haven't found that three balls are noticeably quicker than four balls. In any event, as has already been stated, if from time to time we are all waiting, then how do I know that the group behind is faster than me?

Totally agree with what your posting, my reply was meant as a compliment not a criticism, no easy answer.

 

[Robobum]

If my 4ball lets the 3ball thru with nowhere to go and we are subsequently waiting on every shot....should the 3ball let us back thru them?

 

[patricks148]

i don't agree a 3 ball takes the same time as a 4, it simply doesn't.

our roll ups depending on numbers always end up with some 3 ball and the 4 balls go out after the 3's and there is always a slight gap between them by the end.

 

[Franco]

Totally agree with what your posting, my reply was meant as a compliment not a criticism, no easy answer.

We are of one mind.

 

[Blue in Munich]

i don't agree a 3 ball takes the same time as a 4, it simply doesn't.

our roll ups depending on numbers always end up with some 3 ball and the 4 balls go out after the 3's and there is always a slight gap between them by the end.

It doesn't or it shouldn't? I'm sorry but with the wrong 3 players in the three ball and the right 4 players in the four ball, the 4 ball can be considerably quicker than the 3 ball.

My take for what it's worth is that if I'm holding you up and there's somewhere for you to go then I'll let you through, if I'm up with play and there's nowhere for you to go then I doubt I will be, and the numbers in your group and mine are of little relevance to that position.

 

[patricks148]

It doesn't or it shouldn't? I'm sorry but with the wrong 3 players in the three ball and the right 4 players in the four ball, the 4 ball can be considerably quicker than the 3 ball.

My take for what it's worth is that if I'm holding you up and there's somewhere for you to go then I'll let you through, if I'm up with play and there's nowhere for you to go then I doubt I will be, and the numbers in your group and mine are of little relevance to that position.

i'm not talking about exceptions, 3 players should be quicker than 4 simple as. we have plenty of slow guys at my club, in fact we reg get a 2 ball hold up our four, but thats just them.

 

[richart]

It doesn't or it shouldn't? I'm sorry but with the wrong 3 players in the three ball and the right 4 players in the four ball, the 4 ball can be considerably quicker than the 3 ball.

if I'm up with play and there's nowhere for you to go then I doubt I will be, and the numbers in your group and mine are of little relevance to that position.

So if you have a two ball behind you playing in a four would you let them through ?

I am thinking of social play rather than competitions. How do you know there is no where for a faster group to go. They should be let through, and then it is not your problem. Don't a lot of clubs have a local rule that two balls should be let through by three or four balls ? Certainly used to at clubs I have played at.

A two ball should take 3 hours, a fourball nearer four. So basically a two ball is standing around for an hour. Not sure this is helping making golf a quicker game, and encouraging more people to play.

 

[Blue in Munich]

It doesn't or it shouldn't? I'm sorry but with the wrong 3 players in the three ball and the right 4 players in the four ball, the 4 ball can be considerably quicker than the 3 ball.

My take for what it's worth is that if I'm holding you up and there's somewhere for you to go then I'll let you through, if I'm up with play and there's nowhere for you to go then I doubt I will be, and the numbers in your group and mine are of little relevance to that position.

So if you have a two ball behind you playing in a four would you let them through ?

I am thinking of social play rather than competitions. How do you know there is no where for a faster group to go. They should be let through, and then it is not your problem. Don't a lot of clubs have a local rule that two balls should be let through by three or four balls ? Certainly used to at clubs I have played at.

A two ball should take 3 hours, a fourball nearer four. So basically a two ball is standing around for an hour. Not sure this is helping making golf a quicker game, and encouraging more people to play.

As per ALL of my original post, if the 2 ball are quicker and there is somewhere for them to go, yes they will go through at the earliest opportunity. If there isn't anywhere for them to go then they won't.

We have tee times at our club that put 2's and 3/4's off different tees to avoid these conflicts, however certain 2 balls who would rather start from the 1st than the 10th will put themselves out behind, or in the middle of, a field of 4 balls; judging from your quote I should be delaying my game when I've started from the correct tee to accommodate those who have chosen to start from the wrong one…………

 

[Blue in Munich]

i'm not talking about exceptions, 3 players should be quicker than 4 simple as. we have plenty of slow guys at my club, in fact we reg get a 2 ball hold up our four, but thats just them.

Absolute classic; "I'm not talking about exceptions" and then you immediately quote an exception that undermines your position and proves mine……. :rofl:

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Me to, if I am in a group that is waiting for the guys in front who are waiting for the guys in front of them then they can wait.

My opponent asked to rearrange a Scratch KO semi final due to a funeral.
It happened that the only time available was behind a 6X4 ball society of not very good players.
All six matches immediately waved us through by the 4th hole.

The thing about the OP is that you have to be 'in the moment' to know what is the right thing to do.

PS..... Out late [last] on a summer night our 5 ball was waved through by a 2 ball.

 

[richart]

As per ALL of my original post, if the 2 ball are quicker and there is somewhere for them to go, yes they will go through at the earliest opportunity. If there isn't anywhere for them to go then they won't.

We have tee times at our club that put 2's and 3/4's off different tees to avoid these conflicts, however certain 2 balls who would rather start from the 1st than the 10th will put themselves out behind, or in the middle of, a field of 4 balls; judging from your quote I should be delaying my game when I've started from the correct tee to accommodate those who have chosen to start from the wrong one…………

I am talking about general play, forget set tees. You are on a course playing as a 4 ball, and there are some other four balls in front. Would you let a two ball through. It seems you wouldn't because you are sayiong there is no where for them to go. There is, they should be let through by the fourballs in front of you. This is half the problem where golfers are deciding on behalf of a faster group that they will not get any further. It is not your problem. You have done your bit of etiquette and let a faster group through.

The game is slow enough as it is, and holding up faster groups is not helping.

 

[pokerjoke]

I am talking about general play, forget set tees. You are on a course playing as a 4 ball, and there are some other four balls in front. Would you let a two ball through. It seems you wouldn't because you are sayiong there is no where for them to go. There is, they should be let through by the fourballs in front of you. This is half the problem where golfers are deciding on behalf of a faster group that they will not get any further. It is not your problem. You have done your bit of etiquette and let a faster group through.

The game is slow enough as it is, and holding up faster groups is not helping.

I am definitely in this camp I would always let the 2 ball through even if they get no further.
There is nothing worse than being a 2 ball on a course packed with 4 balls but that's a problem that could be nipped in the bud at the booking stage.
It in my opinion is up to the pro shop to tell you its packed before you book or whoever takes bookings then at least you can make an informed decision.

 

[Imurg]

If a normal position is being maintained, ie when you get to the tee of a par 4 the group in front should have played their 2nd shots and be walking up to the green, then letting a 2 or 3 ball through isn't going to hold things up much.
But if you're in a 4 ball, waiting to play every shot and there are 3 or 4 more 4 ball groups in front doing the same because a 4 ball that is 8 holes ahead are snails then there's little point in calling any group through.
If the group in front is holding me up then they're going to hold up a 3 ball so nobody wins.
We regularly have a situation where the course is full of 2 and 3 balls but pace is determined by the same 4 ball that goes out first every day. They don't play slowly, they play at 4 ball pace but then so does everybody else because, regardless of the number of times they are for, they just don't let anyone through.
It's these slow groups that need to be sorted but its not always easy.

 

[Blue in Munich]

I am talking about general play, forget set tees. You are on a course playing as a 4 ball, and there are some other four balls in front. Would you let a two ball through. It seems you wouldn't because you are sayiong there is no where for them to go. There is, they should be let through by the fourballs in front of you. This is half the problem where golfers are deciding on behalf of a faster group that they will not get any further. It is not your problem. You have done your bit of etiquette and let a faster group through.

The game is slow enough as it is, and holding up faster groups is not helping.

I can't forget set tees as they apply 7 days a week, not just to competitions, to avoid as far as possible this very issue.

 

[richart]

I can't forget set tees as they apply 7 days a week, not just to competitions, to avoid as far as possible this very issue.

Don't you play on other courses ?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

If the group behind are obviously quicker, then I am of the opinion to let them through.
However common sense always has to be applied to every situation, but what amazes me is the number here who run by the mantra "they shall not pass" I wonder how many are actual memebers or nomads?

 

[Ethan]

If the group behind are obviously quicker, then I am of the opinion to let them through.
However common sense always has to be applied to every situation, but what amazes me is the number here who run by the mantra "they shall not pass" I wonder how many are actual memebers or nomads?

I haven't heard anyone say 'They shall not pass'. I have said, and heard others say 'What is the point of letting them through if the only effect is to move them from right behind you to right in front of you'. If they start 30 mins behind you with nobody ahead of them until you, it is easy for them to move fast. You might have been bumping up against the groups ahead all day but have nowhere to go. The group behind maybe are only faster because they were unobstructed.