Slow play…….

[Oddsocks]

The point of this thread wasn’t to highlight every reason of slow play but more so to highlight the modern need to track scores on every single round even in bounce games, this simply wasn’t the done thing in my yoof!

With the new fashion being general play rounds via the EG app, this potentially stands to get worse (IMO)

 

[Oddsocks]

it's caused by those who use Pink Castle Tees

I have to disagree. You white tee users spend too much time re adjusting your tee height, us castle users just peg up and slap it

 

[Dando]

I have to disagree. You white tee users spend too much time re adjusting your tee height, us castle users just peg up and slap it

but we're laughing so much at you slappers it takes a while for us to regain our composure

 

[Orikoru]

Some club pros have a hand in the delays. I remember many years ago having a lesson and being chastised for not having a pre shot routine and then spent an age teaching me an overly long, exagerated routine. Same with a putting lesson, the amount of time that the pro wanted me to take over even the shortest putt was embarassing.

I actually think I should take longer over shots sometimes, especially putts. The amount of time I hit one short and then think "of course it's uphill, why didn't you hit it harder?" But like you I can't really bring myself to take any longer than it takes to have one look, one quick practise swing and then hit it.

The point of this thread wasn’t to highlight every reason of slow play but more so to highlight the modern need to track scores on every single round even in bounce games, this simply wasn’t the done thing in my yoof!

With the new fashion being general play rounds via the EG app, this potentially stands to get worse (IMO)

I have always kept score while playing. The goal is to get round in the least number of shots, so if I don't keep count of the shots, what's the point of playing?

 

[Oddsocks]

I have always kept score while playing. The goal is to get round in the least number of shots, so if I don't keep count of the shots, what's the point of playing?

I’ll take a wild stab in the dark…. To have a giggle with three pals?

I don’t need a score card to know if I’ve putted well, hit the ball well or generally hacked, I just need 3-4hours of banter and ribbing to enjoy a Sunday morning.

 

[Oddsocks]

but we're laughing so much at you slappers it takes a while for us to regain our composure

I generally don’t laugh at slappers… just drop them a tip and pre book next week

 

[Orikoru]

I’ll take a wild stab in the dark…. To have a giggle with three pals?

I don’t need a score card to know if I’ve putted well, hit the ball well or generally hacked, I just need 3-4hours of banter and ribbing to enjoy a Sunday morning.

Well we do that as well. But it's like having a kickabout with your mates - you still count the goals and know who's won. If you have a game of tennis you don't just pat the ball back and forth, you play for points. I just feel it's fundamental to any sport to have a slight competitive element, even if it's only with yourself. If I'm not trying to make a good score then it's just practise I guess, but I wouldn't do a full 18 hole round as practise. If you're not trying to make a decent score then you're not really playing golf you're just whacking a ball around. Just my view on it.

 

[Oddsocks]

Well we do that as well. But it's like having a kickabout with your mates - you still count the goals and know who's won. If you have a game of tennis you don't just pat the ball back and forth, you play for points. I just feel it's fundamental to any sport to have a slight competitive element, even if it's only with yourself. If I'm not trying to make a good score then it's just practise I guess, but I wouldn't do a full 18 hole round as practise. If you're not trying to make a decent score then you're not really playing golf you're just whacking a ball around. Just my view on it.

My biggest incentive is beating my opponents, whether that’s my trouble against his triple/no score or my birdie against his par.

 

[Orikoru]

My biggest incentive is beating my opponents, whether that’s my trouble against his triple/no score or my birdie against his par.

I suppose, but I also want to beat or at least match my best scores as a sign of progress I suppose. My goal at the moment for example is to keep breaking 80, so if I do that I'm happy. If I played well but didn't exactly know if I shot 79 or 81 that would niggle at me. I like to know things.

 

[patricks148]

The point of this thread wasn’t to highlight every reason of slow play but more so to highlight the modern need to track scores on every single round even in bounce games, this simply wasn’t the done thing in my yoof!

With the new fashion being general play rounds via the EG app, this potentially stands to get worse (IMO)

Some of the slowest rounds I've caddied in this year have been guys that rigidly kept score, not given tap in putts, or picked up after they are out the hole. One group who were all doctors from the US took almost 6 hours off the silver tees, which are barely over 5000 yards. They even still putted out for a teen score on a hole.

 

[Orikoru]

Some of the slowest rounds I've caddied in this year have been guys that rigidly kept score, not given tap in putts, or picked up after they are out the hole. One group who were all doctors from the US took almost 6 hours off the silver tees, which are barely over 5000 yards. They even still putted out for a teen score on a hole.

That's strange because my perception of American golfer is that they'll hack it round, take 3 mulligans and pick it up from 10 feet and write down a par.

 

[patricks148]

That's strange because my perception of American golfer is that they'll hack it round, take 3 mulligans and pick it up from 10 feet and write down a par.

They did without the 10 foot putt, they'd 5 putt from there and still put down.par?

 

[BiMGuy]

Well we do that as well. But it's like having a kickabout with your mates - you still count the goals and know who's won. If you have a game of tennis you don't just pat the ball back and forth, you play for points. I just feel it's fundamental to any sport to have a slight competitive element, even if it's only with yourself. If I'm not trying to make a good score then it's just practise I guess, but I wouldn't do a full 18 hole round as practise. If you're not trying to make a decent score then you're not really playing golf you're just whacking a ball around. Just my view on it.

Did you not get the memo saying golf isn’t fun if you are putting out and keeping score.

 

[Slab]

I’ll take a wild stab in the dark…. To have a giggle with three pals?

I don’t need a score card to know if I’ve putted well, hit the ball well or generally hacked, I just need 3-4hours of banter and ribbing to enjoy a Sunday morning.

Maybe just the innocence of youth out for a 'kick about' but the time taken for that not really comparable to a card in hand round
And judging by the slow play threads over the last 10 years on this forum then GP rounds and WHS have nothing to do with it taking longer these days either

 

[Oddsocks]

Some of the slowest rounds I've caddied in this year have been guys that rigidly kept score, not given tap in putts, or picked up after they are out the hole. One group who were all doctors from the US took almost 6 hours off the silver tees, which are barely over 5000 yards. They even still putted out for a teen score on a hole.

Your opening line supports my initial thoughts when starting the post.

My quickest evening rounds were bogey cup style (me verses the course on matchplay). I’ve hacked and won, I’ve played well and lost, but I’ve been quick and enjoyed it.

 

[Bratty]

Well we do that as well. But it's like having a kickabout with your mates - you still count the goals and know who's won. If you have a game of tennis you don't just pat the ball back and forth, you play for points. I just feel it's fundamental to any sport to have a slight competitive element, even if it's only with yourself. If I'm not trying to make a good score then it's just practise I guess, but I wouldn't do a full 18 hole round as practise. If you're not trying to make a decent score then you're not really playing golf you're just whacking a ball around. Just my view on it.

I'm minded of Jim's Dad in American Pie:
"It's like banging a tennis ball against a brick wall, which can be fun. It can be fun, but it's not a game. What you want is a partner to return the ball."

 

[Oddsocks]

I'm minded of Jim's Dad in American Pie:
"It's like banging a tennis ball against a brick wall, which can be fun. It can be fun, but it's not a game. What you want is a partner to return the ball."

You old romantic

 

[jim8flog]

What was it about rounds from yesteryear that makes the duration so memorable for some people that it can be recalled 30 years later ?

The need to get the round over and get back before the pub opened at 11am to ensure being first on the snooker table.

 

[jim8flog]

I reckon a lot of it comes from watching modern pros.

Take the Masters for instance.

At one time it was done and finished by 11pm UK time now there are years when it drags on to the wee small hours. (Alliss was right).

 

[Bratty]

Apparently, on the Asia Amateur tournament in Thailand, they've been told they have to get round in 4hr 15m. Wish they'd give the same to the pros, but Titleist probably love the fact they get an extra 45mins of "free" advertising! ?