garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
At my brothers place there is an unwritten rule that the early birds out dont mess about and get round with minimum fuss.
He tees off at 7.45 every Saturday morn. I've joined them a few times and they dont muck about.
He tees off at 7.45 every Saturday morn. I've joined them a few times and they dont muck about.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
The members who don’t play in comps might not agree.
We need a radical think tank.
It’s putting people off playing in comps at ours.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
How is that workable. They pay their fees and have the option to book when they like. Any move to force them to the back of the field will be seen as discriminatory.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Well holding up the rest of the club is SELFISH!
Clubs CAN determine who are the slow ones - and it's not simply the guys in front of your group! But most haven't got the cahones to do anything about it!
A Mashall would be able to independently identify slow groups within 2 or 3 rounds max. Even before that, one should be able to identify gaps and do something about it if too large.
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D
Deleted member 29109
Guest
Is playing slowly a protected characteristic? It might wake some people up and make them get a shift on.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Of course it is selfish but unless the club makes a decision about slow play and tackles the offenders it will continue. We know who they are within our roll ups and we do what we can to self manage it but it doesn't often work.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Not good enough! You need to either get them to play at expected pace or drop them from your roll-up. Please explain how you 'self manage' it!
bobmac
Major Champion
How many tee times do you have after a comp?
They are not being forced to the back, they are given the choice of going round in 3hrs 30mins or 4-5 hours.
If the slow players are out first, where will the gaps be?
Homer, they've been holding you up for years.
Again, forcing people to play at a pace you have decided is acceptable. Wouldn't they enjoy their round more if they had a tee time that encouraged 4-5 hour rounds?
Dear member,
In an effort to try and improve the pace of play of competitions at weekends, the committee has decided for a months trial that the first *3 tee times will be designated speed slots. Golfers booking these times will be expected to complete their rounds in 3hrs 30mins or less. Failure to complete their round in this time will result in a **2 shot penalty for each member of the group.
Those members unwilling to 'run round' are encouraged to take advantage of the last 3 tee times which will have no time restrictions applied, so 4-5hours will be perfectly acceptable.
Please consider these new rules when booking your tee time.
Thank you
*Will depend on how many sprinters your club has.
** Decide your own terms.
At least the members will know you are trying something to address slow play.
If you change nothing, nothing will change and we will still be here discussing slow play for years to come
AliMc
Well-known member
This was one of the reasons I gave up playing medals, during the week when it is mostly 4 balls 3:30 to 3:45, medals at the weekend, fine if you can start early, but anytime from 10:00 or so onwards over 4 hours, sometimes 4:15 approaching 4:30, just truly pathetic pace
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Mainly social golfers who have no interest in comps and people who work on a Saturday in summer that is quite a lot.
They play behind the comp because they just want a social game after work.
But to condem them to slow play just because some can’t keep up with a decent pace is not really fair.
All the ideas have so far not adressed the main problem.
Getting the slow players to admit they are slow and doing something about it.
They play behind the comp because they just want a social game after work.
But to condem them to slow play just because some can’t keep up with a decent pace is not really fair.
All the ideas have so far not adressed the main problem.
Getting the slow players to admit they are slow and doing something about it.
bobmac
Major Champion
The normal rules would still apply for calling quicker groups through.
You mean to force them to play faster?
In my opinion, the main problem is slow golfers forcing faster players to wait on every shot.
Been there, seen it, done it.
My solution is to let the faster players start in front of slower players so never the twain shall meet.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Slow play and slow players are two separate things. Slow players make play slower but unless the other areas that make play slower are addressed too it won’t make a jot of difference even if you were to stick them at the end
It’s a bit like Driver distance, just because there was once a medal that finished in 3:45 it doesn’t mean 3:45 can be taken as the expected pace for medal rounds
I'd wager a ferret against a bucket of eels that if you stuck the slow-pokes at the back the pace still wouldn't meet player expectations & handicaps wouldn't dramatically fall and we'd just complain about the next thing that slowed play down & blame that for the scores
It’s a bit like Driver distance, just because there was once a medal that finished in 3:45 it doesn’t mean 3:45 can be taken as the expected pace for medal rounds
I'd wager a ferret against a bucket of eels that if you stuck the slow-pokes at the back the pace still wouldn't meet player expectations & handicaps wouldn't dramatically fall and we'd just complain about the next thing that slowed play down & blame that for the scores
Foxholer
Blackballed
I was referring to existing swindles etc. A little analysis is essential before such a major change to competition rounds is essential, even simply to justify the change to those who don't consider themselves slow players.
bobmac
Major Champion
How many more years of analysis do you need?
Let faster players tee off in front of slower players, it's not rocket science.
Foxholer
Blackballed
The note would require amendment. I don't believe it's workable, or even fair, as is. For example, if one player in a 'quick' group encounters trouble on the 18th, they could exceed their time allocation even though otherwise 'up to speed' - and the others in the group would have been treated unfairly if penalised.
Foxholer
Blackballed
I agree with the principal, but it needs a modicum of justifiction and diplomacy before simply imposing it on comps. Even to actually calibrate the time slots.
bobmac
Major Champion
Really? I'm well aware of that but thank you for pointing out the obvious.
A group of quick players will be finished long before the time allocated even with a mishap on the 18th.
If it's a 4 ball medal however, you could suggest 3hrs 45 mins.
I never suggested my letter to the members should be used verbatim and of course could be tweaked hence the asterisk '** Decide your own terms'.
But the purpose will still be clear, let the slow players choose to play later because they would enjoy their round more.
Foxholer
Blackballed
And you know this how?
Especially, if it's the last group of the 'quick' group. Otherwise there'll be a gap between them and the 1st 3 (or 4) in the 'average' group.
Concept is good; implementation requires work. And communication.
bobmac
Major Champion
I'm not going to argue with you again.
I never suggested my letter to the members should be used verbatim and of course could be tweaked hence the asterisk '** Decide your own terms'.
