Slow play and the effect on your game.

[3puttmaster]

I've played quite a few courses in the north west and on Ireland. I havnt really been plagued by slow play all that much.

I get the impression, and I could be wrong that it seems to be worse in the south?

Is there any truth in that? Basing this from what I read on here.

I've never really thought about where I've experienced slow play problems before but now you've raised it, it is a very valid point.

I have played a lot of golf all over the UK and abroad and I have to say it is worse in the South of England. Whenever I've played in Scotland play is brisk, it's not bad in the North of England but it is pedestrian in the South. Golf in Portugal is reasonably good but it can be slow at times in the USA.

That said, it will depend on what type of course you are playing in the South of England. My experience is when visiting, what I'd call a decent private members club, they don't tend to be too busy and you can get round in good time. If you get held up by a group in front they'll invariably let you through with the minimum of fuss. However, visit a popular club where the green fees are considerably less and the 5 hour round is almost guaranteed with no hope of being let through.

I could be alone on this but that's my general feeling.

 

[LIG]

This ^

I will add that while you are waiting, don't stand there next to your ball with a club in your hand.

Talk about footie, beer, anything but golf.

+1 :thup:

 

[Hendy]

Hateful slow rounds.

Remember one time we were closing in on the group in front and on back nine we were waiting 10 mins every tee box. Tried to keep in control of my game as I was level par.

Thankfully the boys in my group were happy to wait at tee for them to finish which let me play the hole in one go.

Then it all went wrong par 5 16th. Let them get well down at the green said to the guys OK let's go. Again nice drive sitting 190 out 4 iron in hand and then seen these guys on the green don't know to this day what was going on tho took them almost 10mins to clear it. And then pushed the 4iron right OB. Took a 7 in the end. And finished the last two holes 2over. Game over.

Then sat passed out at 2.40 no one in front or behind us played 18 in just under 4 hours shot a 73. Says it all really. Safe to say I will now be heading out later when its cleared up makes so much difference.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I don't like slow rounds but feel if I try and stay patient, I'm giving myself an advantage on most of the field who are getting wound up waiting

 

[MadAdey]

Pople need to get over this problem with slow rounds. Of course I would prefer to go round at a nice steady pace, but if I'm not, then I am not going to let it get in the way of a good round.

IMO it is the negativity that people already have on their heads regarding 'slow play will screw up a scorecard' that makes it happen. Like anything in golf, if you already have a negative attitude towards the effect of slow then it will cause you problems. It's like walking on to tee box thinking your going to hit it in the water, chances are you will if you think like this.

As Gary said, dont get a club out and stand over the ball. Chat with your playing partners and take your mind off how annoying it is to be waiting again. To play good golf you need to relax and that will not happen stood over then all moaning.

 

[Slime]

I try not to let it affect me, but seldom experience it as I am a slow player myself!
I try not to fret over things I have no influence on.
I do get the impression that some golfers are a bit obsessed with the pace of play and, maybe, let it get to them a bit too much.

Slime.

 

[MadAdey]

I try not to let it affect me, but seldom experience it as I am a slow player myself!
I try not to fret over things I have no influence on.
I do get the impression that some golfers are a bit obsessed with the pace of play and, maybe, let it get to them a bit too much.

Slime.

My sentiments exactly. If people need to play a sport that is governed by a time then play football, hockey or something like that.

Do I like slow play or condone it? Of course not and if I'm in a 2-ball on a clear course I'll be finished within 3 hours. But I also accept and can handle it when it gets busy and the pace slows down.

 

[patricks148]

hows this for slow then, when we tee'd off the 1st yesterday evening there was a 4 ball heading off the 8th green to the 9th tee. We caught them on the 16th tee. Admittedly my mate is off scratch and I'm 5 and we didn't lose any balls, but everything was putted out as it was a close game. so they had only played 7 holes in the time it took us to play 15.

 

[chellie]

hows this for slow then, when we tee'd off the 1st yesterday evening there was a 4 ball heading off the 8th green to the 9th tee. We caught them on the 16th tee. Admittedly my mate is off scratch and I'm 5 and we didn't lose any balls, but everything was putted out as it was a close game. so they had only played 7 holes in the time it took us to play 15.

They were a fourball though plus you don't know how badly or otherwise they were playing.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Bugs the life out of me and it is the number 1 reason that you'll find me and my mates teeing off around 7:30am on a Sunday morning when it's quiet out.

I cannot abide standing waiting for people to clear the green or get out of range just to play a shot up behind them instead of the shot I want to play, just to keep the round flowing.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I was once the middle aged guy you find yourself behind and who is hitting the ball 110 times in a round - but I am fortunate in that I was that guy when I was 13. And though time was not as important to me then as it seems to be to me now - I knew my place - and knew that I had to get a move on else I would soon find out if I was holding anyone up. The delights of the Glasgow municipal course in the early 70s were myriad and wonderous.

 

[patricks148]

They were a fourball though plus you don't know how badly or otherwise they were playing.

should a four ball take twice the time a 2 ball does? if so then you would be looking at a 6 hour round!

 

[TheAlbatross]

Slow play does tend to frustrate me - mainly as i have to negotiate time with the wife to go and play golf on the weekend rather than see her and the children. The negotiation comes down to this "what time will you be back?"

Every four hour plus round equals about 6 hours (door to door) that i am out of the house, just makes next times negotiation that little more tricky when i'm away for half a day.

But i have no idea how solve the issue, most people have mentioned that they are at the golf course to enjoy themselves and seem to have the right attitude in not letting the delay affect that. However, the waiting for 5 - 10 mins on each tee soon adds up to an hour or more spent standing around doing nothing - time that could be spent at home. I know that if i could get back by lunch time every time i played then it would be a hell of a lot easier for me to play golf on a more regular basis.

 

[Slab]

Slow play does tend to frustrate me - mainly as i have to negotiate time with the wife to go and play golf on the weekend rather than see her and the children. The negotiation comes down to this "what time will you be back?"

Every four hour plus round equals about 6 hours (door to door) that i am out of the house, just makes next times negotiation that little more tricky when i'm away for half a day.

But i have no idea how solve the issue, most people have mentioned that they are at the golf course to enjoy themselves and seem to have the right attitude in not letting the delay affect that. However, the waiting for 5 - 10 mins on each tee soon adds up to an hour or more spent standing around doing nothing - time that could be spent at home. I know that if i could get back by lunch time every time i played then it would be a hell of a lot easier for me to play golf on a more regular basis.

I wish!

My 'round' door to door time most weeks is on average 10 hours, occasionally get an 8 or 9 and this Saturday will be about 11hrs

 

[Snelly]

I think all on this thread who say that you should just live with hanging around and don't get a club out etc are basically part of the problem. And despite what you all say, it is a major problem and should be viewed as such. It is a barrier to broadening the appeal of golf.

I am planning on joining a club after we move house this summer and my first question at the club of choice will be around the pace of play at the club. If there are any issues over slow play or no proper management strategy in place for the problem should it occur, then I won't join.

I would rather give up the game or just play as I am now - once every 6 weeks or so with no handicap and paying a green fee - than spend the weekends waiting for ignorant golfers to dawdle around the course at the expense of others.

Want golf to be popular again? Then eradicate slow play. It never used to be like this when I was a kid and people still broke par with their technologically backward equipment.

 

[Region3]

I think all on this thread who say that you should just live with hanging around and don't get a club out etc are basically part of the problem.

Why?

No-one is saying don't even think about your shot until the group in front are on the tee.

Get to your ball, figure out what shot you're going to play with what club, THEN forget about it.
Get your club out when the last guy is putting out and you're ready to play when they've cleared the green.

The alternative is stand there club in hand gently stewing away at the fact that you have to wait to play.

Nobody is suggesting that we should have to live with slow play, just that if you're in that situation you have to find a way to deal with it.

 

[chellie]

should a four ball take twice the time a 2 ball does? if so then you would be looking at a 6 hour round!

No and I doubt it would.

 

[patricks148]

No and I doubt it would.

well these guys must have taken that long

 

[Snelly]

Why?

.

Because if you are completely chilled out about it then the people in front or your slow playing partners won't modify their behaviour.

 

[Slime]

Want golf to be popular again? Then eradicate slow play. It never used to be like this when I was a kid and people still broke par with their technologically backward equipment.

And how do you propose this should be done and what, exactly, is slow play in your eyes?

Slime.