Slow play moaners

[HomerJSimpson]

In my opinion (although Bob and others will disagree) but 3 1/2 hours is an excellent time for a round. At my place, it is considered "par" to get round in four hours for a competition three ball. In the OP's case I wouldn't advocate going too strongly back at the group in front. Confrontation will do even less for the concentration and game than feeling rushed. I think if you do feel there is an issue, you should speak to the other group in the company of the PP's but perhaps better still, leave it until after the round and try and discuss it in a civilised manner in the clubhouse. If you then feel there is an issue or they are confrontational you do have the option of putting it in writing.

 

[timd77]

My first comment would be that this entire post concentrates on whether you were holding up the group behind. Far too often golfers seem to focus on the group behind, when they should really be concentrating on not losing ground on the group in front.

The other observation I have is that 3.5 hours for a 3-ball playing a stableford, where all three players appear to have been blobbing the odd hole, does seem to be a little on the slow side. If you continue to play out a hole when you can no longer score at our place the committee will have some questions for you.

If you could not score were you picking up and moving on? If you were doing everything expected of you to maintain a decent pace and keep up with those in front, the following group have no grounds to moan. If not, they may have had a point.

Nope, if I can’t score I pick the ball up, had a few holes where I was just along for the walk! ?

You mention focusing on keeping up with the group in front. If they’re taking an average of say 3 fewer shots per hole than us, that’s nigh on impossible. They probably play each hole 1 minute quicker on that basis alone, after 5 holes they’re 5 minutes ahead, not including the fact they started the round 8 minutes before us! Take on everything that’s been said about not holding others up, letting them through etc, which I do when it occurs, but being on the tales of the group in front is going to differ hole to hole. As someone else mentioned, it’ll spread out on a par 5, get closer on a par 3 etc. Surely as long as you’re generally the 8 minutes behind them that you started off with, then you’re playing at the same and correct pace?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If pace of a round is dependent on number of shots played then how come it takes the pros so long to play a round?

If you are holding a group up, let them through. If you are up against the group in front and there is nowhere for the group behind to go then point this out to them.

 

[Jigger]

Fair enough. We're not going to agree on everything.
My friends and I like to watch each others shots, and we play on weekdays when young, impatient people have to go to work!

As long as you haven’t lost the group in front and weren’t holding me up on every shot I couldn’t care less how you play your golf to be honest.

 

[Leftie]

You are lucky, Very often with the guys I play with there may only be 4 eyes capable of seeing where the ball went.

Hey guys. Did you see where my ball went? Of course we did, but can't now remember where .....

Ah! Senior's golf. Don't you just love it.

 

[oxymoron]

The overall time isn’t the issue, it’s when people piss about and you end up with unnecessary waiting.

On the first hole every group should start on their allotted time, not just waiting until the group in front are out of range.

People should be ready to play when it’s their turn, and not start getting ready (lasering etc) when it’s their turn to play their shot.

If you aren’t sure if you’ll find your ball, hit a provisional.

Does this mean you would tee off in to a group in front ? Surely the safety of the front should be taken in to account ? You should never hit in to
a group in front serious injury is a possibility if you charge in with the excuse its my start so i am going to start !!

Manners and awareness of others is paramount to keeping the flow at a reasonable rate .

 

[Imurg]

Does this mean you would tee off in to a group in front ? Surely the safety of the front should be taken in to account ? You should never hit in to
a group in front serious injury is a possibility if you charge in with the excuse its my start so i am going to start !!

Manners and awareness of others is paramount to keeping the flow at a reasonable rate .

You've read that incorrectly
He's saying that not only do you wait for the group in front to be out of range but also start at your allotted time.
This may mean the first group have played 2nd shots and are on the green.

 

[patricks148]

Does this mean you would tee off in to a group in front ? Surely the safety of the front should be taken in to account ? You should never hit in to
a group in front serious injury is a possibility if you charge in with the excuse its my start so i am going to start !!

Manners and awareness of others is paramount to keeping the flow at a reasonable rate .

No he's saying if you are alloted a tee time, then tee off then, not just when the group in front is just out of range. We have 8 min intervals so tee of in that not 2 when the group in front are at there balls

 

[bobmac]

Does this mean you would tee off in to a group in front ? Surely the safety of the front should be taken in to account ? You should never hit in to
a group in front serious injury is a possibility if you charge in with the excuse its my start so i am going to start !!

Manners and awareness of others is paramount to keeping the flow at a reasonable rate .

I don't think he meant that

 

[Imurg]

Theres an echo in here....in here......in here

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

4hrs 20mins on Sat for our four ball at back of roll up field - playing individual stableford for roll up and also 4BBB between the four of us in the group. Was a little bit slow - but nothing that caused us any great concern - plus we have a 5-7min break at our ‘halfway’ hut.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Does this mean you would tee off in to a group in front ? Surely the safety of the front should be taken in to account ? You should never hit in to
a group in front serious injury is a possibility if you charge in with the excuse its my start so i am going to start !!

Manners and awareness of others is paramount to keeping the flow at a reasonable rate .

Yes that’s exactly what I mean...it’ll speed the group in front up no end, thus speeding up the whole field ?‍

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Re 3.5 hour rounds being a good rate of play.
That is not an excuse for holding up faster players behind if you are not keeping pace with the players in front.
The players in front will also have players in front of them and that is the pace of the round.
In my younger days I was used to 2.5 hour rounds and if you were holding up the players behind you did the right thing and waved them through.

 

[Slab]

Although if a smaller (faster) group has less standing/priority on the course you don’t need to let them through (but its prob still a good idea to let them pass)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Although if a smaller (faster) group has less standing/priority on the course you don’t need to let them through (but its prob still a good idea to let them pass)

In what circumstances would a smaller/faster group not have priority over your larger/slower group (excepting the circumstance where you are playing in a competition and they are not, and your club gives priority to groups playing in competition - though still not sure why you'd not choose to let them through)

 

[oxymoron]

Yes that’s exactly what I mean...it’ll speed the group in front up no end, thus speeding up the whole field ?‍

Ok cheers , its early and Monday am not fully switched on yet

 

[bobmac]

Re 3.5 hour rounds being a good rate of play.
That is not an excuse for holding up faster players behind if you are not keeping pace with the players in front.
The players in front will also have players in front of them and that is the pace of the round.
In my younger days I was used to 2.5 hour rounds and if you were holding up the players behind you did the right thing and waved them through.

At my home club in the early 70s there was a sign that said
The following times are acceptable
2 ball....no more than 3 hours
3 ball ....no more than 3.15 hours
4 ball.....no more than 3.30 hours

4 hours was unheard of.
Maybe everyone got round because most people carried their bags.
Maybe

 

[rulefan]

..a smaller (faster) group has less standing/priority on the course

Where does it say that?

 

[Jacko_G]

At my home club in the early 70s there was a sign that said
The following times are acceptable
2 ball....no more than 3 hours
3 ball ....no more than 3.15 hours
4 ball.....no more than 3.30 hours

4 hours was unheard of.
Maybe everyone got round because most people carried their bags.
Maybe

Thing is Bob, it genuinely wouldn't take much education and common sense to get back to these times. Its the "farting about" in between shots, not playing a provisional, not being ready to play, standing chatting instead of chatting while you walk, leave your bag in a "sensible" place. Work on that and times will tumble.

It was really refreshing last week listening to DJ when he was complimented on his quick play and he replied - "you have a number so you just pick a club and hit it, its not difficult" so many could learn from that mantra!

 

[Sats]

I think there's a huge difference between being held up because a group is deliberately slowing things down and the course just simply being busy.

If there was clear holes in front I'd let the faster group through. However, if there was not gaps then I'd tell them that's the situation.