R&A survey to tackle the pace of play problem

[Jake O'Reilly]

The R&A is finally trying to tackle the problem of slow play, and is starting by collecting golfers' thoughts with this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PaceofPlayTest

Keen on hearing peoples thoughts on Q.26 (image attached).

 

[guest100718]

I didnt think question 26 had the correct options on what would speed things up.

 

[SGC001]

The R&A is finally trying to tackle the problem of slow play, and is starting by collecting golfers' thoughts with this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PaceofPlayTest

Keen on hearing peoples thoughts on Q.26 (image attached).

View attachment 12548

I avoided going for an adaptation of the bachman solution in the book the long walk.

 

[pokerjoke]

Course design needs to be added.
Having greens to close to tee boxes causes big delays.
Having cross over points on courses.

What are they actually going to do seriously.
All the things mentioned cause slow play and we all have seen them or done them.
The only way it can be speeded up in the amateur game is to have course marshalls
dotted all over,and we all know that's not going to happen.
In the pro game only big fines or shots added will speed it up,and that has to be across the board
not just 14 year olds.
Imo getting rid of 4 balls would be a good start.

 

[Khamelion]

I ticked :-

• Length of Rough
• Needing to repair old pitch marks on the green
• Players marking their cards when it is their turn
• Unnecessary marking and lifting on the green
• Starting gaps to small
• Congested Course
• Players thinking they can reach the green
• Poor Etiquette
• Players Pre-Sot routines
• Bad Play

Also added to the comments box

• Players not ringing bells on blind holes
• Players marking their cards on the green
• Players leaving their bags/trolleys away from the next tee

 

[duncan mackie]

the potential for confusing pace of play with slow play practices and the overall time it takes to participate in this great sport remains huge

 

[duncan mackie]

Also added to the comments box

• Players not ringing bells on blind holes
  

damn - forgot to put

*the existence of blind holes........

 

[Khamelion]

Imo getting rid of 4 balls would be a good start.

4 balls are to much of an issue on my home course, for the most part the majority will let faster players through and even if a slow four ball was forced to play as a 3 or 2 then it's still the same players causing the slow play issue.

I didn't think as a fourball the 3 teams ate Blackmoor were particularly slow, maybe it was because if no one could score they picked up, so pace of play was kept up.

The thing that peeves me the most about slow fourballs, is when you catch them up, your nearly finished on the green and their last player has just teed off, but instead of waiting 30 seconds longer and letting you play up with them, they walk on and your forced to wait until they are out of range.

 

[duncan mackie]

In the pro game only big fines or shots added will speed it up,and that has to be across the board
not just 14 year olds.
Imo getting rid of 4 balls would be a good start.

it is across the board in Pro events; it was just that a 14 year didn't understand (or more importantly his caddy) the implications of being on the shot clock). Given that it's clearly documented when groups are put on the clock and anyone can measure their subsequent shot times with a stopwatch it has to be!

as for getting rid of 4 balls you would be far better simply banning medal play and making it compulsory for any player to stop playing a hole once they have scored 8.....

however, as golf is trying to be inclusive, rather than exclusive, such steps would be counter productive in some areas and there lies the core problem facing the industry!

it's no surprise that slow play isn't generally an issue for private members clubs with designated 2 tee starting procedures and a lack of overall course pressure but becomes a huge one for mixed groups of 1, 2, 3 & 4 balls crammed into the course at 8minute starting intervals (or less!!!) with a variety of capabilities and transport modes!

arguably the same thing applies to many course design elements - they work fine until a certain volume of groups are on the course at the same time, or with reduced intervals, and then they collapse leading to huge increases in round times and delays.

 

[pokerjoke]

it is across the board in Pro events; it was just that a 14 year didn't understand (or more importantly his caddy) the implications of being on the shot clock). Given that it's clearly documented when groups are put on the clock and anyone can measure their subsequent shot times with a stopwatch it has to be!

as for getting rid of 4 balls you would be far better simply banning medal play and making it compulsory for any player to stop playing a hole once they have scored 8.....

however, as golf is trying to be inclusive, rather than exclusive, such steps would be counter productive in some areas and there lies the core problem facing the industry!

it's no surprise that slow play isn't generally an issue for private members clubs with designated 2 tee starting procedures and a lack of overall course pressure but becomes a huge one for mixed groups of 1, 2, 3 & 4 balls crammed into the course at 8minute starting intervals (or less!!!) with a variety of capabilities and transport modes!

arguably the same thing applies to many course design elements - they work fine until a certain volume of groups are on the course at the same time, or with reduced intervals, and then they collapse leading to huge increases in round times and delays.

We will have to agree to disagree regarding the 14 year old as imo it was a cop out and he
was an easy option regarding slower groups in front.
Also of course ,course design elements work fine when the course is quieter,but then you
wont have such of a problem regarding slow play.
If the course is chocker the play is going to be a lot slower because of people waiting for players
to putt out or drive off.
Have tees and greens further apart will eliminate this.
How can medal play be got rid of its the true test of golf.
Your right about Stableford though getting players to pick up as soon as a score cant be reached,however
then it has to be implemented across the course.

 

[guest100718]

4 balls are to much of an issue on my home course, for the most part the majority will let faster players through and even if a slow four ball was forced to play as a 3 or 2 then it's still the same players causing the slow play issue.

I didn't think as a fourball the 3 teams ate Blackmoor were particularly slow, maybe it was because if no one could score they picked up, so pace of play was kept up.

The thing that peeves me the most about slow fourballs, is when you catch them up, your nearly finished on the green and their last player has just teed off, but instead of waiting 30 seconds longer and letting you play up with them, they walk on and your forced to wait until they are out of range.

Some times you can see them speeding up as you approach just so they dont have to let a group through. Pathetic old men

 

[beck9965]

4 balls are to much of an issue on my home course, for the most part the majority will let faster players through and even if a slow four ball was forced to play as a 3 or 2 then it's still the same players causing the slow play issue.

I didn't think as a fourball the 3 teams ate Blackmoor were particularly slow, maybe it was because if no one could score they picked up, so pace of play was kept up.

The thing that peeves me the most about slow fourballs, is when you catch them up, your nearly finished on the green and their last player has just teed off, but instead of waiting 30 seconds longer and letting you play up with them, they walk on and your forced to wait until they are out of range.

On course roaming marshals on particularly slow courses might help with this.

 

[sev112]

I tend to find having to tuck my shirt back in after every 300 yard drive slows me down

That and searching for a bin for my can of Stella ....

 

[duncan mackie]

How can medal play be got rid of its the true test of golf.

I think you will find that it came as a relatively recent development in the game and wasn't even covered in the rules!

Whether it's the true test of golf or not isn't at issue in the context of this thread - simply pace of play. I'll back a 4 ball match over a 2 ball medal for getting round the course any day of the week so in response to your suggestion to get rid of 4 balls I merely countered with getting rid of medal play...

 

[garyinderry]

Medal may be a true test of golf but if you are racking up cricket scores chances are you are going to fail the test. Pick up, move on.

 

[delc]

Amongst the other options I ticked the box "Players mimicking televised championship play" Some tour pros seem to take an age to actually play a shot, but nothing seems to be done about it. That is why pro tournament rounds often take over 5 hours. The time needed to play a round at club level seems to have gone up markedly since I first started playing golf 54 years ago. I am sure that a lot of this is down to amateur players copying the pre-shot routines of some of the tour pros. Time to start adding penalty shots for slow play in tournaments I believe.

I also added in the comments box my usual idea of making the hole a bit bigger and removing the penalty for hitting the flag stick if it is in the hole. This would save time on all the faffing about attending the flag stick and then removing and replacing it. Would also save wear and tear on the green around the hole, as fewer players would need to go close to it.

 

[palindromicbob]

Medal may be a true test of golf but if you are racking up cricket scores chances are you are going to fail the test. Pick up, move on.

This. A greater awareness of an NR would help. I've known of players coming in 10-20 above handicap and played every shot because it was stroke play. Every golfer should have enough knowledge of their ability to know when they have gone beyond a salvageable score.

 

[garyinderry]

This. A greater awareness of an NR would help. I've known of players coming in 10-20 above handicap and played every shot because it was stroke play. Every golfer should have enough knowledge of their ability to know when they have gone beyond a salvageable score.

Exactly, you aren't going to win the medal. Treat it as a stableford. Try and get a cut or buffer. Don't hold up the whole course.

A lot of people still aren't aware they can make a cut with a nightmare hole.

 

[MadAdey]

With reference to question 26, some of those ideas they have regarding slow are ridiculous. I have grouped them under different headings. I have then highlighted in red what I think really causes slow play.


THE CLUB CAN SORT THIS OUT
Length of rough
Green speed
Hole locations
Starting gaps too small
Players using tees that are too difficult

PLAYERS CAN SORT THIS OUT

Players thinking they can reach the green
Player pre-shot routines
Players marking their card when it is their turn
Poor etiquette
Players mimicking televised Championship play
Unnecessary marking and lifting on the putting green
Lack of knowledge of the Rules

HAS TO BE DONE OR CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

Needing to repair old plug marks on the green
Visitors
Four balls
Weather conditions
Congested Course
Bad Play

TOO EXPENSIVE TO CHANGE OR IMPLEMENT
Course length
Course difficulty

 

[garyinderry]

Hand on heart I haven't noticed anyone mimicking championship play. What on earth is that?