Slow play fine

For competition rounds at my club we are required to record our round start and end times on the physical card we submit (as we must) - there are places on the card for these times. I do not know if these are in any way recorded or checked by the club. I’m guessing that if there are any issues raised about length taken for a round the club has the info to check back.
 
There was an interesting post on FB recently that blew up regarding slow play, it was the acknowledgement of pressure to play at others pace.

The bit for me was that in any other sport you allocate a set time (night fishing all night) or footy with the lads where you may leave the house at mid day and not get home until Xxpm after a day with the lads yet everyone is expected to play a round in 3hrs. A bloke defended himself saying he sees his son and brothers once a week so why she he be forced to only spend 3.5hrs with them. If he’s moving at a fair pace with an ETA of 4.5 hours that should be quick enough and anyone demanding to play faster should go out early and not a peak times when rounds are slower, I have to be honest … I agree!

If you need a quick round play early, if you can’t play early either play later in the day when it’s quieter on only play 9/12 holes etc.
 
Oddsocks said:
There was an interesting post on FB recently that blew up regarding slow play, it was the acknowledgement of pressure to play at others pace.

The bit for me was that in any other sport you allocate a set time (night fishing all night) or footy with the lads where you may leave the house at mid day and not get home until Xxpm after a day with the lads yet everyone is expected to play a round in 3hrs. A bloke defended himself saying he sees his son and brothers once a week so why she he be forced to only spend 3.5hrs with them. If he’s moving at a fair pace with an ETA of 4.5 hours that should be quick enough and anyone demanding to play faster should go out early and not a peak times when rounds are slower, I have to be honest … I agree!

If you need a quick round play early, if you can’t play early either play later in the day when it’s quieter on only play 9/12 holes etc.
Click to expand...
An alternative view: keep up with the group in front. If you get round in 3.5 hours, then spend another 1.5 hours in the bar, have lunch, have drinks, etc. If you spend 4.5 hours, then adjust post-round accordingly. Or not!
Keep up with the group in front and you can't go wrong.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
For competition rounds at my club we are required to record our round start and end times on the physical card we submit (as we must) - there are places on the card for these times. I do not know if these are in any way recorded or checked by the club. I’m guessing that if there are any issues raised about length taken for a round the club has the info to check back.
Click to expand...
At the club that our daughters and families are members, the starter would place a device on one player's bag (one per group). That device noted the starting and finishing time (the starter would remove the device when the group finished the 18th). The records were reviewed with respect to total time and time behind the group in front. If there were "violations" a letter would be sent, subsequent violations would result in diminished tee time booking privileges. Members were very conscious of their times!
 
Bratty said:
An alternative view: keep up with the group in front. If you get round in 3.5 hours, then spend another 1.5 hours in the bar, have lunch, have drinks, etc. If you spend 4.5 hours, then adjust post-round accordingly. Or not!
Keep up with the group in front and you can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

So if you’re a four ball and the group in front are a rapid 2 ball you’re expected to keep up?
 
Oddsocks said:
There was an interesting post on FB recently that blew up regarding slow play, it was the acknowledgement of pressure to play at others pace.

The bit for me was that in any other sport you allocate a set time (night fishing all night) or footy with the lads where you may leave the house at mid day and not get home until Xxpm after a day with the lads yet everyone is expected to play a round in 3hrs. A bloke defended himself saying he sees his son and brothers once a week so why she he be forced to only spend 3.5hrs with them. If he’s moving at a fair pace with an ETA of 4.5 hours that should be quick enough and anyone demanding to play faster should go out early and not a peak times when rounds are slower, I have to be honest … I agree!

If you need a quick round play early, if you can’t play early either play later in the day when it’s quieter on only play 9/12 holes etc.
Click to expand...
He shouldn’t I agree but let faster players through.
They can take as long as they like then.

What about the guy going to see his son and brothers but he’s being held up by this reunion.?
 
Oddsocks said:
So if you’re a four ball and the group in front are a rapid 2 ball you’re expected to keep up?
Click to expand...
Exactly. That criteria , keeping up with the group in front, is alone not sufficient to call out slow play. IMO, to call out slow play requires a Marshall, or such,to monitor the group’s play and if there are unwarranted practices seen making that play slow, then ,fair enough, warnings etc.
But clubs now allow all sorts of ( unknown?) standards on the course if the money is paid, so it may be a bit rich to then chivvy them up for slow play.
Also, a seniors competition ( obviously playing to full rules of golf) with some handicaps in late twenties and thirties, being chased up is not on , is it.?
If you’re thrashing around trying your best, then that has to be lived with.
 
clubchamp98 said:
He shouldn’t I agree but let faster players through.
They can take as long as they like then.

What about the guy going to see his son and brothers but he’s being held up by this reunion.?
Click to expand...

Goes back to my post, if you have somewhere to be in a rush, go out early.

Bratty said:
You know the answer to that, so stop being silly.
Click to expand...

Why, everyone else on the forum does it. In all seriousness, if a 4 ball loses pace on the 2 in front there will be some that demand to play through.
 
rulie said:
At the club that our daughters and families are members, the starter would place a device on one player's bag (one per group). That device noted the starting and finishing time (the starter would remove the device when the group finished the 18th). The records were reviewed with respect to total time and time behind the group in front. If there were "violations" a letter would be sent, subsequent violations would result in diminished tee time booking privileges. Members were very conscious of their times!
Click to expand...

This is the absolute ticket to slow play.

Have a pager style device on the bag that checks in every 3 holes (example) at the 4th you’ll be notified you are losing pace, at the 7th if you haven’t caught up it notifies a course Marshall. By the 10th tee you’re getting told to pull your finger out.

Times should be realistic, obviously depending on course and if it was a medal etc.

2 balls - 3.5 hours max
3 balls - 4.0 hours max
4 balls - 4.5 hours max

If you are on time as a 4 ball and you are holding up a fast 3 ball without letting them through, it would be instantly visible to the club and a Marshall can insist you stand aside.

But… I stand by my statement that just because you are in a rush shouldn’t mean everyone else has to rush to suit you as a player.

I need to be in London Saturday by 2, if I go out at my normal time I’ll be finished by 11.30 max and it’s doable at a push, but I wouldn’t expect to drag my group around solely for me despite going out at 7.45. So if there is room I’ll play 9 holes, if not I’ll play Sunday afternoon.
 
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