Slow/Fast Play

[Imurg]

Why do we insist on playing our golf at break-neck speed so we can get round the course in under 3 hours? I play on a shortish course and quite often solo during the week. With no interruptions I can get round in 2 1/2 hours. This is acceptable to me. And when I'm playing the Medal or other round with other people we get round in about 4 hours - also acceptable.

Why does 4 hours seem to be too long in some peoples eyes? Why does 3 hours have to be "long enough"

An 8am start means back in the clubhouse by 12.15, time for a drink and a chat and home by 1pmish. What's wrong with that?

Sure, 5 hour rounds are hard work and slow play is not condusive to good golf but practically running between shots can't help either.

I'm not having a go at those who like to play quickly and are able to, but is a 4hour round really too long??

 

[andiritchie]

a 4 hour round a good going whatever standard people play at,i play pretty quick tee to green and slower when i get to the green,5 hour rounds are more common than 4 nowadays esp with junior golfers copying the pros but hey ho i more of a 9 hole at a time man myself

 

[Eduardo]

I don't like to be rushed but i dont like to be held up either, the worst is when you have a Faldo fourball ahead marking and remarking 6 inch putts! How I wish I could use their bald heads as a landing marker

 

[Macster]

3.5hr average rounds in a Medal at my course, sometimes up to 4hrs, I hate rushing but also hate being held up too.

Thankfully all seems to flow usually.

 

[DCB]

3.5hr for a Medal round ia about average. We have a couple of holes where there is a doule tee so this can cause a bit of a delay when groups are out of position on the course.

Biggest thing is that people have to be ready to play when it's there turn. Don't start getting ready when you should be playing your stroke. Be prepared and take the stroke then move on.

I'm not into the fast/race round concept of golf. I'm there to enjoy myself, but when you have to wait for the group ahead to slowlymake their way round the course it gets a bit wearying.

Keep up with thegroup in front and enjoy yourself.

 

[Herbie]

The longer play is the less people can have a round on a busy day.
A low h/c player will take less shots and therefore less time than a high h/c player,why should they wait?.
Playing too slow can have a negative physical effect on the body, ie sudden exertion followed by long periods of relative inactivity.
In my view a 4 hr round is what you should find in comps where a full house of 4 balls go round.
People create too much wasted time on golf courses in the same way Car drivers create slow driving or congestion without reason.
Instead of asking why people seemingly want to do a 3hr or less round of golf (when becomming a better player will acheive this anyway)why not ask WHY people want to spend so much time out there?
Most time I see used up on golf courses is due to long winded pre-shot routines that very rarely work(I often watch such players and usually remark 'why take so much time to mess something up' it usually happens that way lol), yakking when play should be taking place, searching for lost balls,unnecessary discussions about play within groups of players (often discussions that should not take place as they could be deemed 'advice' or cheating)

It should take everyone who plays the game no more than 4 hrs to complete on any course even in heavily fielded comps without too much effort, most of the extra time consumed comes from peoples behavior and activities not related to the game along with excessive number of shots taken.

I once followed a group where one chap took over 1minute 15secs at his best, just addressing the ball every time, now with an average of 3 shots just to get on the greens, and god knows how much time to putt, something like 1 1/2 hrs or more was used up just adressing! In a 4 ball group it doesnt take long before the 5 or 6 hr round becomes a possibility lol.

The time taken is not about rushing or feeling rushed its about how many strokes and how good a player feels at a particular pace. I cannot play very well at a deadly 'lets see if my heart can stop beating' sort of pace.
I dont mind a steady pace but these days it gets a little silly sometimes.

As far as I am concerned, anyone who likes the idea of endless hours playing a round of golf is either someone who selfishly likes to interfere with others pleasure or is a high h/c player who is very unlikely to bring it down much.

 

[viscount17]

Instead of asking why people seemingly want to do a 3hr or less round of golf (when becomming a better player will achieve this anyway)why not ask WHY people want to spend so much time out there?

easy - I'm not in the office, I'm out in the fresh air doing something I love to do. I'm lucky, my course is pretty enough and has so much wildlife I can enjoy a bad round.
For some, they're not at home rowing with the wife/kids.

I have gone round in under 3 hours, an otherwise empty course and a power trolley saw to that but I didn't clock watch to make it so.

I like to play at my own pace, as do we all, so I don't like to be held up unnecessarily and even more I hate being pushed when there is no way through. (to use your analogy - these are the tailgaters on a busy road. they are regarded as some of the worst drivers there, why not on a golf course?)

what else slows games down?

1. dawdling down the fairway, everyone going to every other ball - why? go to your own and get ready to play! (Golf is not a social event - discuss.)

2. buggys! you do not need to be driven to your ball, then driven to your partners for him to play - try walking

 

[Herbie]

Would you drive to the golf course at 3 mph if it was a lovely route?

If the course is lovely why not just walk round it?

The reason I have revisited this thread is because I have just had a 9 hole session with a friend, we were going to play 18 but for the following reasons we came off frustrated, and this course is not a particularily difficult one.

We played the first 5 holes as they were clear, then we came up behind the tail end of a comp on the 6th.If this lot in the comp took as long to do the first 5 as they did to do the next 4 they would be looking at a 5 1/2 to 6 hr round of golf. We set off at 2 pm with 5 clear holes ahead (its reasonable to assume they set off much much earlier if 5 holes were clear)and came off at the 9th at 1615, we were both looking at enjoying 18 holes and finishing around 5 to 5.30. This slow play put us both in the position of risking a late finish and the troubles that may bring not to mention the missed drink. people who seem to accept and indeed enjoy long rounds of golf often have little concern for others in the same way the dawdling driver couldnt care less about the endless queue of traffic they have created behind them.

The point is this, after 6 holes I was level par, my pal was 2 over, after 7 holes I just managed to scrape another par having had 2 wayward shots, my pal was 4 over, after 8 holes I was 1 over after a simple hole and after 9 I was 3 over and my pal was 6 over. A noticable decline in play standard and scoring, caused by the disruption to our flow of play by the excessively slow play we came up against. It was literally like start then stop for 5 mins or more every shot.Not only frustrating but can be physically damaging if not careful.

I am not a fast player, in fact I like to play at a steady pace all the time, I tend to play to my h/c or better and get round most courses in around 3 hrs and do this along with some of the people I play with. 4 hrs is not a lot to ask anyone to achieve in golf. As far as enjoying scenery and time away from home goes, it doesnt stop anyone just simply walking the course before or after they have played.Ive done this often.

So many seem to be advocates of long rounds of golf but never able to see the other side, some of which Ive outlined.

 

[IM01]

People will play at a different pace for a variety of reasons...the problem is no-one lets anyone through anymore

 

[Basher]

As a high handicapper I tend to take more shots than the more proficient players.

However, I'm no slouch between shots and tend to have a club selection in mind as I approach my ball.
My pre shot routine on the fairway consists of a quick scan at my lie. 2 practise swings. Line up then shoot. No messing about.

I've seen many low handicap players at my club behaving as though they're on the final hole at the Open. Funniest thing has to be players who play at my level who spend ages lining up, swinging, lining up then slicing the ball OB!!!

High or low, there's no discrimination on my course, I've seen loads at it.

 

[teetime72]

what else slows games down?



2. buggys! you do not need to be driven to your ball, then driven to your partners for him to play - try walking

I agree Viscount.

Played a four ball yesterday,one player had injured his leg, so, for the first time ever, we had a couple of buggies .Never again.Most of the game seemed to be taken up
walking backwards and forwards to the buggie.the game took
41/4 hrs.(normal avg. time 31/2).You can`t beat having your tools next to you all the time,certainly speeds the game up.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We ususally factor 4 hours for a competition round at my course. If it takes 15-30 minutes longer then so be it. I'm not a clock watcher on the course by nature and I'm a pretty quick player but I don't see what the problem is. As long as each group moves at a similar pace and there isn't an undue hold up looking for laost balls (call players through) I don't really care.

I'm not in work. I'm doing something (allegedly) I enjoy. I'm with good company and I have a chance to indulge my competitive spirit. On competition days I normally get there about an hour or so before my tee off time so HID knows I'm going tobe gone most of the day. SHe has her interests (gardening, going out with her mates for a coffee etc) and so is happy for me to take my time.

I actually don't like playing excessively fast. If someone is rushing (3 hour merchant) I find that more off putting than a slow player. I find my tempo gets shot as I feel compromised and rushed and my swing and tempo get quicker which often leads to me playing worse. If you want to play and have to be round in under four hours I suggest you look to play with someone other than me at weekends. I'm there to enjoy it, not sprint round as quick as I can

 

[haplesshacker]

Another damn 5 hour round today at our course. Several factors.

1 - Damn societies, that are
a - in buggies (see previous thread)
b - probably half cut
c - play golf once or twice a year
d - don't know their way around
e - have no idea of the rules or of etiquette. I got asked if the left was OB just as I came down on my pitch into the green for a GIR. Grrrr.
f - won't let anybody play through

I could go on, but there's more.

2 - Mixed fourballs. Men off the whites, ladies off the reds.

3 - On 350 yard holes waiting until the green is clear before teeing off. And then only hitting it 50 yards.

4 - Stood around chatting when they have a clear fairway to shoot down.

5 - Practice swings galore, duffing the shot, and then taking more post swing practice swings before moving off.

6 - Marking cards on or next to the greens.

7 - Taking proper honour and turns on the tee and on the green. It's not the effing Open. If you're ready hit the damn ball.

8 - Yadda, yadda, yadda.

All this happened in my one round today.

If you can't walk, can't hit a ball, or don't want to learn how to hit a ball, (we all started out at some point), go and take up lawn bowls.

If you want to socialise, drink and be generally ofish (sp) with your mates; go to a football match.

I don't want a 3 hour round, nor a 5 plus hour round. Something inbetween is just right.

End of rant.

 

[vig]

Slow play... don't get me started. in the last month I have followed a four ball that so p!$$£d me off that I was playing into the green as they were walking/dawdling off it, marking their cards and generally P!$$!ng about. They eventually got the message and let me through after 3 holes had takennearly 40 minutes and one of these was a short par 3.
I also followed a four ball that didn't acknowledge me which I followed for 5 holes. Yorkshire ladies match play finals were on the course and caught up with me. I let all three pairs through (match play)only to catch up with all three matches sat on the tee four holes later, yes you guessed it the four ball of doddery ignorant bar stewards wouldn't let them through either. I had been on the course for 4 hours and only played 14 holes so I walked off.

On the other hand I have had the sprint brigade up me ar$e almost running. What pleasure is there in that. If they wand a noe & a half hour thrill they should take up something else.
On my own through the week with a course empty I can be out for 4 hours, hitting numerous balls to greens, If course busy 2 hours 30 mins. In groups 2/3/4 ball generally been between 3 and 4 hours.

Etiquette is dying a death, manners already gone.

 

[USER1999]

Playing as a 3 ball one friday afternoon (playing quite fast as we are all ok golfers, playing ready golf, and are reasonably fit, so walk fairly quickly) we saw a 2 ball tee off on our par 5 18th.

We were on the 14th tee.

When we got to 18, we had to wait for them to clear the 18th green so we could hit our second shots in. So they had played one par five in the time it took us to play a long par 4, a short par 4, a par 3, a long par 4 and half of a par 5.

At that rate of play, they must be looking at a 12 hour round.

A different day, medal, we play medal in 3s. The 3 in front of us had an empty course (first out), and took 4 1/4 hours to play round. We were behind, waited on every shot, scored terribly, got annoyed etc, but never even looked like getting called through.

I don't have to play fast, and can enjoy any sub 4 hour pace, but very slow play is becomming more common, and it is a trend which needs to be stopped. Especially if the course is empty.

Golf is not the only sport that slow play is creeping into. The over rate at cricket is slowing, the game rate at tennis is slowing too. This makes for tedious playing and spectating too.

People will stop playing these sports if this trend continues as a lot of people don't have the time to devote a whole day to a sport.

I don't believe handicaps are relevant when it comes to slow play. You are either slow, or not. It is not dependant on ability, it is a mind set.

Oh, and leave the phone at home.

 

[Cernunnos]

Ah, the old nugget about slow or fast play, what beening too slow or too fast.

Now, when most courses were 5k yards or 5.5k yards long, 3 hours was a quite reasonable time for any group to make it round the course, but with some courses exceding 7k yards 3.5 to 4 hours seems reasonable for a quick to leasurly round of golf imho.

Now i really hate being held up on the course, but try not to let it bug me, as its a sure fire way of destroying your own game on the day. But one thing that annoys me more than anything is, as a quick player myself, if I'm on a crowded course i've got some idiot dropping balls on my heals, when there is no-where for any of us to go. so where's the point. As long as a reasonable pace is kept up by all, then take time to smell the flowers so to speak & enjoy the day. Some people seem to think that they can turn up on a course on a weekend, or any day come to think about it & simply expect to rush in a quick round before rushing off somewhere else to rush something else at breakneck speed, forgetting that others on the course have different needs.

My motto for those sorts of people that are always in a rush is hope for the quick round but allow time in planning for the possibility that there may be hold ups much in the way that a 3 & a half hour motorway journey can take an extra hour & if they don't allow for this, then its their own fault for not allowing for the unexpected. & if they absolutelly need to be at that 2:30 powermeeting & whatisname widget, or whatever, then come off the course & leave others to enjoy golf.

I remember one sunday playing in an important club match & there was this idiot in our group who absolutelly had to get back in time for the F1 grandprix on the telly. he made everyones lives out on that course that day an absolute missery with his whinning & moaning & snide remarks about this & that to all his fellow players. In the end he was late for his grand prix that ironically I'd already thought ahead to record to watch in comfort latter on. And we were all peed off we all ended up entering nil returns because of one persons idiocy & impacience.

Yes, play should be reasonably quick, but not so quick that it spoils a day out on the course.

Not a fan of buggies as they don't really speed up play, the only advantage pacewise is on hilly courses where people walking are going to be slower in the climb, no matter how quickly they normally walk. But on the level anyone walking will have tha advantage over those in buggies.

 

[USER1999]

Long (7000+ yards) courses will definately take longer, so 4 hours is more the norm on these tracks. I recently played the Grove, at 7200ish yards, with 3 other decent golfers, and it was a solid 4 hours without rushing, or looking for too many balls, and with no one in front.
My issue is with 4 hour + rounds on 6200 yards. What can possibly take so long? Yes, everyone should be able to play without hurrying, but I believe that it is possible to do this through good course / time management, and still achieve 18 holes in 3 1/2 hours.

 

[Cernunnos]

indeed murph, there are many things most players can do to make their rounds quicker without actually rushing.

 

[viscount17]

no-one has picked up on it yet so I will repeat - Golf is not a social game - and therein lies the cause of a great deal of the slow play.

In the main you are playing the course, it's only in matchplay that you play your opponent and there you don't (or shouldn't) play on when the hole is lost. So why are so many golfers so joined at the hip that they have to stay within touching distance all the way round?

I believe the rules say that golf is meant to be played at a brisk pace - if the R&A and USGA started enforcing that in pro events it would feed back to our game.

for starters - caddys should not line up putts, one caddy should be permitted to tend or remove the flag, the rest keep off the green.

 

[USER1999]

We all play golf as a social game though. There is plenty of time between shots for it to be a social occasion, just be ready to play, walk briskly, have a short pre shot routine, leave the phone at home, and be aware of where you mark the card, and leave your bag. Easy.