Slow play - how to approach it

[Davey247]

Afternoon Golfers,

Just wondering how you would approach a situation I was in when playing an online matchplay comp earlier this year.

Basically once the guy was within 75-80 yards of the green he was horribly slow and would pace out absolutley every distance he had to play from. I'd never seen anything like it before.
The course was clear so still got round in 3.5 hours, which although is a long time for a 2 ball meant we didn't hold anyone up, but a 2-3min wait for him to take a pitch was pretty dam annoying and spoilt the rhythum of the game.

Saying that his short game was superb which is robably why I've seen his name pop up in pretty much every online comp final..... (Not that i'm bitter of his 'travels well' hcp)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Unleash the Mexican man eating croc

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Smack him round the head with your putter then bury him in a bunker.

 

[Davey247]

:clap:

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Roll out a beach mat, lie down and tell him to let you know when he is finished.

 

[Birchy]

Put him on the clock and tell him if he doesn't speed up its a 2 shot penalty

 

[CMAC]

whats an online matchplay comp? are you both in respective bedrooms playing Tiger Woods online?

p.s what was the result?

 

[Davey247]

Was the League to Dubai - he beat me on the day by a point. In that you go head to head in stableford in a group of 5 doung a round robin

 

[Foxholer]

I heard of 1 player who decided he'd play even slower than the opposition - doing very similar things, but even slower.

It was a very quiet match apparently!

 

[patricks148]

just ask if he minded playing ready golf!!

Then play and go and wait by your ball or the flag on the green.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Surprised you got round in the time you did TBH

 

[bladeplayer]

Smack him round the head with your putter then bury him in a bunker.

Wheres the LIKE button round here

 

[G_Mulligan]

It is difficult but the only thing you can do is look after your own game and do everything you can not to let it annoy you. If you start thinking about your slow opponent you may start to lose focus and concentration on your own game. Use the time to take a drink of water, clean your last club, check your own yardages, visualise your next shot, even just looking at the trees or watching the wildlife is better than letting your opponent get to you.

Try and create a rhythm that starts and stops when it is your turn to play, make your pre-shot routine fluid and natural, relaxed and focused. Once you have played and are waiting for him switch off and let him get on with it.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It is difficult but the only thing you can do is look after your own game and do everything you can not to let it annoy you. If you start thinking about your slow opponent you may start to lose focus and concentration on your own game. Use the time to take a drink of water, clean your last club, check your own yardages, visualise your next shot, even just looking at the trees or watching the wildlife is better than letting your opponent get to you.

Try and create a rhythm that starts and stops when it is your turn to play, make your pre-shot routine fluid and natural, relaxed and focused. Once you have played and are waiting for him switch off and let him get on with it.

I prefer killing him tbh

 

[woody69]

3.5 hours to play 18 holes? That's a shade under 12 minutes a hole. Hardly slow. I think I would have simply enjoyed the scenery, focused on my shots and just enjoyed the round. Why is everyone in so much of a rush these days?

 

[Rooter]

It is difficult but the only thing you can do is look after your own game and do everything you can not to let it annoy you. If you start thinking about your slow opponent you may start to lose focus and concentration on your own game. Use the time to take a drink of water, clean your last club, check your own yardages, visualise your next shot, even just looking at the trees or watching the wildlife is better than letting your opponent get to you.

Try and create a rhythm that starts and stops when it is your turn to play, make your pre-shot routine fluid and natural, relaxed and focused. Once you have played and are waiting for him switch off and let him get on with it.

That is of course a spot on answer, but like liverpoolphil, killing or at least unleashing the croc is surely more fun!!

 

[Bratty]

It is difficult but the only thing you can do is look after your own game and do everything you can not to let it annoy you. If you start thinking about your slow opponent you may start to lose focus and concentration on your own game. Use the time to take a drink of water, clean your last club, check your own yardages, visualise your next shot, even just looking at the trees or watching the wildlife is better than letting your opponent get to you.

Try and create a rhythm that starts and stops when it is your turn to play, make your pre-shot routine fluid and natural, relaxed and focused. Once you have played and are waiting for him switch off and let him get on with it.

Bob Rotella, in his "Golf is not a Game of Perfect", suggests that the worst thing you can do is pull a club and start practice-swinging yourself, or even holding the club you will be using, as this is subconcious trigger for preparing to hit the ball. As Greg says, take in the sights, take a drink, take a breather. just don't let it get to you.

It took me a long time to handle slow play, but now I'm pretty good with it.

 

[Davey247]

3.5 hours to play 18 holes? That's a shade under 12 minutes a hole. Hardly slow. I think I would have simply enjoyed the scenery, focused on my shots and just enjoyed the round. Why is everyone in so much of a rush these days?

It felt slow for a 2 ball that barely had a ball to find. I'm not the quickest player myself (although I'm proud to boost a 2h 50min round in a 4 ball) but the point is that we would be getting to the balls at the same time, but I'd have to wait for what would seem like an ages for him to count out the paces to the green.

In hindsight I should have shouted random numbers, make him lose count....

28

72

31

 

[LIG]

This was a match so I'd have politely asked him to chivvy up!
If that didn't work, a call to the clubhouse to get the ranger over for a quiet word would be my option!

3.5 hours for a 2-ball who didn't go searching and weren't held up is p..a...i....n......f.......u........l.........l..........y s...l.....o.......w!

Don't see why he would be allowed to play WITH undue delay....he's not a F Pro!

 

[Hobbit]

Turn it on its head and think that he's giving you oodles of time to prepare... he's doing you a favour.