Slow play moaners

[Jigger]

One thing that's becoming popular in America is something called "ready golf" where the players in a group hit out of turn as soon as each gets to his/her ball.
I simply refuse to play with any group that chooses to do that. It totally disrespects the social aspect of golf.

You maybe need to change your opinion on that. I played ready golf last week and we flew round in 3hrs (short course) as a 3 ball but we had a great time socially too. There plenty of times when the person to go is just not ready or off having a word with themselves and you playing not only speeds things up but gives them time to get their head back into the game.

 

[Jigger]

You may not think so but there are many who would disagree.
If you think 4 hours isn't slow especially in a buggy, then you may be part of the problem

He didn’t mention a buggy and 4hrs isn’t slow at our place. As just mentioned, we played in 3hrs last weekend but it was a short course. We can play the same way on our home course and it would take 3h45m. Our course actually print your starting time for each 9 on your ticket and the guidance is 2hr5m per 9 holes.

 

[Jigger]

The lads I played with are experienced players, but even allowing for my relative inexperience, I’m always aware of the group behind and would always call a group through if we were holding them up. At no point today did I feel we held them up, I think you know when you’re holding play up. The closest it came was them on the tee on a par 3 with us putting out, but it does tend to bunch up on a par 3 anyway, and then back to normality on the next hole.

The next hole was a par 5, we were well gone when they got to the tee and as we were walking off the green they were still checking yardages etc, so definitely not up our a*ses.

Literally impossible to not lose a bit of ground on the group in front... they’re taking 3-4 shots and I’m taking 5-6! We’ve all got to start somewhere!

You might also want to consider the guy who mentioned it was having a bad game. When someone mentions something to me on the course or I get someone a similar person in my group, you usually see them hacking around the place.

 

[Foxholer]

when it comes to slow play the simple mantra is

Are you holding up the group behind you because you have lost ground-

If you are getting to the tee whilst the group in front are getting off the green and the group behind are waiting for you then yes you should be letting them go through because there is space in front of you and they are clearly the quicker group and must be let through ( regardless of size )...

That MAY be 'out of position', but certainly doesn't qualify for the 'lost a hole' state that qualifies for 'following group must be let through' demand!

 

[Kellfire]

Surely at the windup...

He also admittedly plays with fifteen clubs. So yes.

 

[bobmac]

He didn’t mention a buggy and 4hrs isn’t slow at our place.

He has told us previously he uses a buggy.
And as I said before, you may not think 4 hours is slow but there are many who would disagree.

 

[Deleted member 23270]

You can't say 4 hours is quick or slow, it all depends on the course, conditions, number in the group etc. It could be very slow, it could also be pretty quick.

 

[timd77]

Thanks for the responses so far. As mentioned, at no point did it look like we were holding them up.

Par 4 8th - no sign of them as we walked off the green. No delays

Par 3 9th - it’s a walk from the 8th green to the 9th tee. As we walked to the 9th green back past the 8th green they were still around the green. As we were putting out on the 9th they’d just got to the tee and were bushnelling the flag. No delays

Par 5 10th - as we cleared the green they were bushnelling the flag. No delays

Par 3 11th - I ended up in the bunker so this hole maybe took a smidge longer, but I’m a 30 handicapper!

Par 4 12th - this is where he had a moan. We’d hit our tee shots and were walking down, he was looking for his ball in the rough in between the 11th & 12th. So, again, no delays and no opportunity to let them play through as they hadn’t even got to the last hole never mind being on our tee.

And yes, part of my annoyance is that I felt it got to me. It certainly cost me points on the 12th because despite hitting a decent drive, I sent my second into the woods. Rather than playing a provisional and potentially have their eyes burning the back of my neck for daring to play a provisional, I hoped I’d find it in the woods. I didn’t and so blobbed it. I get 2 shots on that hole and so I could still have scored even with a dropped shot.

I looked at their handicaps afterwards and they were all sub-10, experienced players who have probably forgotten what it’s like to get nervous and feel rushed.

So, I guess now my question is, am I within my rights, in future, to challenge him back?

 

[GG26]

I don’t particularly mind slow rounds, depending on the company I am keeping. What annoys me is when people are holding me up because they are phaffing around without any thought for the players behind them.

 

[trevor]

Most clubs have somewhere between 5 to 700 members and normally 99 % of them are absolutely fine, perfectly reasonable people, you may have come across one of the 1% of the miserable sods that will moan about anything and everything because that’s what they get off on and like. Depends on your caricature whether you have a go back or just keep out of his way in the future. Personally I’d avoid him as it does spoil your game, you’re thinking more about that *** than concentrateing on your game.

 

[dronfield]

A medal/competition - 3 ball - I would say 3.5 is more than acceptable. 4+ hours absolutely no no.

Our Saturday morning roll ups are taking 3.75 hours on a shortened winter course - absolutely painful at times! We should easily get round in 3.5 hours.
One particular fiddle group hold up the course every week - frequently losing a hole or more on the groups in front.
There have been that many complaints about the pace of play, that the club has installed a camera overlooking the 18th green - the pro shop can then review evidence should they receive any complaints re groups being slow. Unclear at this stage what action will be taken against repeat offenders.

Rich

 

[clubchamp98]

Thanks for the responses so far. As mentioned, at no point did it look like we were holding them up.

Par 4 8th - no sign of them as we walked off the green. No delays

Par 3 9th - it’s a walk from the 8th green to the 9th tee. As we walked to the 9th green back past the 8th green they were still around the green. As we were putting out on the 9th they’d just got to the tee and were bushnelling the flag. No delays

Par 5 10th - as we cleared the green they were bushnelling the flag. No delays

Par 3 11th - I ended up in the bunker so this hole maybe took a smidge longer, but I’m a 30 handicapper!

Par 4 12th - this is where he had a moan. We’d hit our tee shots and were walking down, he was looking for his ball in the rough in between the 11th & 12th. So, again, no delays and no opportunity to let them play through as they hadn’t even got to the last hole never mind being on our tee.

And yes, part of my annoyance is that I felt it got to me. It certainly cost me points on the 12th because despite hitting a decent drive, I sent my second into the woods. Rather than playing a provisional and potentially have their eyes burning the back of my neck for daring to play a provisional, I hoped I’d find it in the woods. I didn’t and so blobbed it. I get 2 shots on that hole and so I could still have scored even with a dropped shot.

I looked at their handicaps afterwards and they were all sub-10, experienced players who have probably forgotten what it’s like to get nervous and feel rushed.

So, I guess now my question is, am I within my rights, in future, to challenge him back?

What did your pps do or say?
They should have put him in his place.
3.5 hrs is not slow but it’s dependant on conditions obviously.
It sounds to me you are a bit miffed with yourself for letting this get to you.
This always reminds me of drivers impatience with learner drivers they forget that was them once.
Yes you must stand up to them ,as long as you are right!
Golf ebbs and flows ,my course you lose games on par 5s but catch them on the next hole so it’s only an opinion if your behind.
Unless it’s on every hole.
Try not to let this sort of thing get to you as it’s obviously affected your decisions and your score.
Golf courses are full of people like this but he might have thought he was right.
It’s all about opinions.

 

[patricks148]

no need to feel rushed or to play faster, enjoy your round and if you are not keeping pace or lsing ground on the group infront or the group behind are quicker... just let them through.

times for a round at this time of the year where i play should be much much quicker, no rough, short courses and very few handicap qual comps, well at least up here anyway. for me people should be looking around them and if they are holding people up or not keeping up with the game in front.

yesterday we were a 3 ball (one blew out the last min as the forcaste wasn't good) in front of us was another 3 ball, in front of them was a 4 ball that had lost 3 holes on the group in front of them. problem one, was they not once let the group behind through, problem two was the 3 ball behind them wasn't up behind them so were never in a position to go through, after that every group was waiting on every shot.. it took 3 and a half which was at least half an hour too long for the conditions

 

[User20204]

Time round a course is only relevant to each particular course. I've read plenty times on here certain indiviauls say that 3.5hrs is long enough, which is possibly true on certain courses but not others and also relevant to time of year. 3.5 at this time of year yes round my course but you'll have to run round to do it in under 4 during the golf season.

As for the moaners behind, they probably seen you guys hacking around(off or 30 that's a fair assessment) and assumed you were holding the course up which isn't always the case but easy to point the finger at.

 

[Jigger]

He has told us previously he uses a buggy.
And as I said before, you may not think 4 hours is slow but there are many who would disagree.

He has a point though. As I said our place measures 9 holes at about 2h5m. I hear so many people complain about slow play and yet they are wanting to play on long and more difficult courses. People are going to take longer to get around those but I never hear people take that into account. I mentioned, as a 3 ball we flew around a short course in about 3hrs but you can add 45mins to that at my home club. There’s simply no one time fits all courses and if people aren’t prepared for that then they need to consider how many holes they play or where they play.

I’m lucky enough to be able to turn up early, have breakfast, have a round and then stay behind for a catch up but I always expect golf comps at our place to take 4hrs. As long as I’m moving and able to take my shot when I get to my ball most of the time I’m good. It’s the people who don’t know how to efficiently move around the course in their own little bubbles that you see fannying around every shot as you wait standing behind them thats the problem. Not a high handicapper who takes extra shots but knows how to be ready for their go.

 

[Jigger]

no need to feel rushed or to play faster, enjoy your round and if you are not keeping pace or lsing ground on the group infront or the group behind are quicker... just let them through.

times for a round at this time of the year where i play should be much much quicker, no rough, short courses and very few handicap qual comps, well at least up here anyway. for me people should be looking around them and if they are holding people up or not keeping up with the game in front.

yesterday we were a 3 ball (one blew out the last min as the forcaste wasn't good) in front of us was another 3 ball, in front of them was a 4 ball that had lost 3 holes on the group in front of them. problem one, was they not once let the group behind through, problem two was the 3 ball behind them wasn't up behind them so were never in a position to go through, after that every group was waiting on every shot.. it took 3 and a half which was at least half an hour too long for the conditions

And there are two really good points. If you’ve lost holes it’s a lot less stressful to let people through and if you do it right it shouldn’t add more than 15mins to your round over 18 holes. Secondly it is up to the group behind to get (safely) in position to play through when the moment presents itself.

 

[timd77]

Just had the results through, in my division the winner scored 38 points, then 3 of us scored 33, I came 4th in countback! Aaaarrrggghhh! 1 more bloody point!

 

[jim8flog]

d.

One thing that's becoming popular in America is something called "ready golf" where the players in a group hit out of turn as soon as each gets to his/her ball.
I simply refuse to play with any group that chooses to do that. It totally disrespects the social aspect of golf.
.

NOT playing ready golf does not go down well where I play.

There is nothing wrong with it provided it is done well . E.G is someone is mucking about getting goodies out of their golf bag and I am ready to go I just get on with it.

The biggest thing I hate is when you watch a four ball where all four walk to one players ball watch them hit go the next ball watch them hit and so on.

I am of an age when a round of golf golf used to take two and half to three hours at most so imagine how I feel at the speed of play these days.

 

[patricks148]

Nobody gets more annoyed with slow play moaners than I do, timd 77.

First of all, fours hours is NOT too long for a round of golf. If one doesn't have four hours for recreation, go to the cinema and watch a two hour film instead.

One thing that's becoming popular in America is something called "ready golf" where the players in a group hit out of turn as soon as each gets to his/her ball.
I simply refuse to play with any group that chooses to do that. It totally disrespects the social aspect of golf.

Fortunately, I play weekday golf with other seniors where these untraditional ideas are not encouraged. The primary reason for slower play is that newer, aspirational players hit more shots to get around the track. Live with it. We were all there once.

it is if its a course under 6000 yards driving a buggy, unless you are stopping for a 3 course lunch half way round ... then its fine

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

The biggest thing I hate is when you watch a four ball where all four walk to one players ball watch them hit go the next ball watch them hit and so on.

But this is the social aspect of golf. That's exactly what I like. Plus at our age, we need eight eyes to see where the ball went.