Slow play again

Neilds

Assistant Pro
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
4,524
Location
Wiltshire
Visit site
Its just my random irritation on pace of play threads, when someone posts a round-time its rarely accompanied by a (total) distance. So its often hard to form an opinion if its slow or not (y)
Had a weird one a few weeks ago when we played in a society away day. The course wasn't long on the scorecard, only 5337 yards, par 67 but there were some long(ish) walks between tees. But what really slowed the pace was the layout of some of the holes. One tee shot was over the previous green so had to wait for players to tee off before putting, 2 fairways crossed over and were blind 2nd shots in an unknown direction so you had to walk up the hill to see where exactly your green was. You also had to walk across fairways to get to the next tee so had to wait for it to be clear before walking. All these things made a short course take a lot longer than it should have done just looking at the card.
 

Slab

Occasional Tour Caddy
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
11,721
Location
Port Louis
Visit site
Had a weird one a few weeks ago when we played in a society away day. The course wasn't long on the scorecard, only 5337 yards, par 67 but there were some long(ish) walks between tees. But what really slowed the pace was the layout of some of the holes. One tee shot was over the previous green so had to wait for players to tee off before putting, 2 fairways crossed over and were blind 2nd shots in an unknown direction so you had to walk up the hill to see where exactly your green was. You also had to walk across fairways to get to the next tee so had to wait for it to be clear before walking. All these things made a short course take a lot longer than it should have done just looking at the card.

I'm close to thinking this course needs shutting down!
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

Major Champion
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
33,280
Visit site
That's the one. Nice course in good condition for time of year but crazy layout! Was surprised they still had temp tees as well as the course was bone dry
In all my years a member of Filton and playing all the courses in Bristol & District, and Shire a few times - I don’t recall it having such an issue…not a significant one anyway.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

Major Champion
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
33,280
Visit site
My local club is 6505yds so not so pokey but long either
Mine is just over 6500 but has some quite long steep slopes in front nine…and it’s also not that easy. So 4hrs feels OK for a mixed low, med and high handicap three ball playing a Board comp medal. And we were not dithering over shots or sauntering along between shots. I’d know as I play pretty fast.
 

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
37,702
Location
Aylesbury Bucks
Visit site
90 minutes for the front 9 today...pretty much spot on for a 2 ball...
Back 9 over 2 hours thanks to the idiots in front.....
I can just about accept a 2 hour 9 holes as a 4 ball at our place but a 3 ball should be getting round in 3 1/2 hours easily.
Waited for nearly 10 minutes to play our approaches into 18....God alone knows what they were doing....
 

Crow

Crow Person
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
9,368
Location
Leicestershire
Visit site
A note in Golf Monthly from Feb 1937 stated that two players at St Andrews, while playing in the Amateur Championship last year, took three hours and twenty minutes to complete the course.

"Their match went to the last hole , and behind them were some twenty-five infuriated couples, almost driven mad from waiting while these two young men took as long as five minutes on some greens, holding up the whole championship."
 

Orikoru

Tour Winner
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
27,712
Location
Watford
Visit site
A note in Golf Monthly from Feb 1937 stated that two players at St Andrews, while playing in the Amateur Championship last year, took three hours and twenty minutes to complete the course.

"Their match went to the last hole , and behind them were some twenty-five infuriated couples, almost driven mad from waiting while these two young men took as long as five minutes on some greens, holding up the whole championship."
That is quite long for a two-ball though.
 

Voyager EMH

Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
Joined
Mar 14, 2021
Messages
6,196
Location
Leicestershire
Visit site
That is quite long for a two-ball though.
Not quite long - that's very long for singles scratch matchplay.
With no one ahead at hours - a little over two and a half hours if it goes to 18 holes.

Many years ago we had an under-35 county league.
Matches were foursomes matchplay. Usually under 2hrs 30min because you would advance up the hole before your partner was teeing off.
And no electric trolleys back then - most carried.
 

Orikoru

Tour Winner
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
27,712
Location
Watford
Visit site
Not quite long - that's very long for singles scratch matchplay.
With no one ahead at hours - a little over two and a half hours if it goes to 18 holes.

Many years ago we had an under-35 county league.
Matches were foursomes matchplay. Usually under 2hrs 30min because you would advance up the hole before your partner was teeing off.
If my partner did that I'd be trying to hit him. 😛
 

sunshine

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2018
Messages
5,532
Visit site
Not quite long - that's very long for singles scratch matchplay.
With no one ahead at hours - a little over two and a half hours if it goes to 18 holes.

Many years ago we had an under-35 county league.
Matches were foursomes matchplay. Usually under 2hrs 30min because you would advance up the hole before your partner was teeing off.
And no electric trolleys back then - most carried.

I remember playing at Littlestone a few years ago and we waved through 4 old boys who were playing foursomes (I didn't consider it an insult to my manhood). As they walked off the green, 2 went right down to the tee and 2 went left to walk up the fairway. By the time the first players' tee shots had come to rest, the second players were ready to walk into the fairway to play the approach shots. Bearing in mind these were old guys who weren't hitting it very far. They were rapid.
 

sunshine

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2018
Messages
5,532
Visit site
Its just my random irritation on pace of play threads, when someone posts a round-time its rarely accompanied by a (total) distance. So its often hard to form an opinion if its slow or not (y)

Absolutely.

The difficulty of the greens is another major factor in pace of play. Playing Augusta-like greens and tricky pins adds loads of time to a round. These nuances are missing from this debate.
 
Top