Slow play/over booking

[leaney]

I've not long signed up to my first golf club and I'm already sick and tired of it.

I played a round today on my own, which took 4.5 hours.

I had a four ball in front of me, from the first hole and their play was so slow.

I had to wait 10 minutes to tee off at times and and then another 5 minutes to hit my second as they were still on the green.

If it was just them, then I would have asked to play through but it was like this all over the course.

On the 16th I just gave up and went home. I couldn't maintain any momentum and I was very wound up by this point.

Is this normal on a golf course? This always happens whenever I play, it doesn't matter what time or day it is.

 

[rosecott]

It's unfortunate but you have to accept that, as a singleton on the course, you're going to be kept waiting a lot. You cannot expect groups ahead of you to all be looking out for a lone player to call through if they are keeping up with the group in front.

Your post title mentions "over booking". What do you mean?

 

[chris661]

It's unfortunate but you have to accept that, as a singleton on the course, you're going to be kept waiting a lot. You cannot expect groups ahead of you to all be looking out for a lone player to call through if they are keeping up with the group in front.

I disagree, I would let through a single player as it would just annoy me having them wait behind me all the time.

However you will be waiting anyway purely as you will be faster, would be a better shot to see if you can play with somebody else, but then I find playing on my own boring anyway.

 

[leaney]

It's unfortunate but you have to accept that, as a singleton on the course, you're going to be kept waiting a lot. You cannot expect groups ahead of you to all be looking out for a lone player to call through if they are keeping up with the group in front.

I disagree, I would let through a single player as it would just annoy me having them wait behind me all the time.

However you will be waiting anyway purely as you will be faster, would be a better shot to see if you can play with somebody else, but then I find playing on my own boring anyway.

Today was the first time I played on my own (accompanied by by girlfriend).

But this happens on a Sunday when I'm with 2 or 3 others.

By 'overbooking', I mean the club clearly isn't allowing enough time between tee times.

My rounds shouldn't keep on taking 4.5 hours, because of slow play.

 

[Mungoscorner]

I've just walked into the house after taking 2 hours to play 5 holes alone ! a couple of 4 balls and then a 3 ball tee'd off as i waited alongside the first tee.I did hope i'd be allowed to tee off before the first group as the course was empty,but sadly not,and my hopes of being offered a game with the 3 ball didn't materialise either.
Then the rain arrived and evrybody walked off the course.

 

[pokerjoke]

It sounds like you have joined a well supported club.
The only way you can get around it is to get in a four ball yourself.
Or you will have to play first thing in the morning,or later on when all have gone home.
Dont dispair yet,as soon as the colder days come in,it will seem deserted.

 

[Leftie]

Is this normal on a golf course?

Yes, it is quite normal. A course fully stacked with 3 and 4 balls will usually produce 4 - 4.5 hour rounds. Fact of life.

Your options are either find a time when the course is not that busy, find a course that only allows 2 balls (but you will need someone to play with), or find others to make up a 4 ball, chill out, relax, and smell the roses.

 

[sweatysock41]

Mungos where were you playing today - just so I can avoid if I want a round away from my place?

 

[brendy]

If your course is 5900 then it is too much, if it is 6700 then more normal than you may wish.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm afraid if the course is busy with several groups in front then it is very unlikely they will let you through as you've not really got anywhere to go. My advice is to ask the pro to see if there is anyone else looking for a game. If you play at weekends then it is likely the course will be so through sheer weight of numbers as its prime time so naturally it will take longer. That said we can usually whizz round as a four ball in under four hours going out at 8.00am on a Saturday.

 

[Parmo]

If your course is 5900 then it is too much, if it is 6700 then more normal than you may wish.

Ours is 5300 and still takes 4 hours on a weekend, I despair.

 

[CMAC]

If your course is 5900 then it is too much, if it is 6700 then more normal than you may wish.

Ours is 5300 and still takes 4 hours on a weekend, I despair.

The shorter courses can take longer as people wait on the short par 4's, short par 5's etc etc, I've found the longer courses are pretty quick for anyone roughly 14 h/cap and below.

 

[Smiffy]

It's not the course's fault. It's the ignorant bastards you are playing behind.
I'm always fully aware of what's going on behind the group I'm playing with and I don't care if it's a single, two, three or fourball that are being held up, I will gesture them through at the earliest opportunity.
I'd much rather be held up by the group in front than hold up people behind.

 

[CMAC]

Gotta agree with smiffy as my old course would let me thru as a single and I would scoot thru groups all the way round, there's always one git that thinks it's the D day invasion and takes a "they shall not pass" attitude. Committees need to 'remind' members to let people thru or have consequences.

 

[chris661]

If your course is 5900 then it is too much, if it is 6700 then more normal than you may wish.

Our place is knocking on 7000 yards when off the whites and we are fairly upset if it takes much more than 4 1/4 hours. When I was in Scotland a couple of weeks ago I played a course that was just over 5200, I think, and was round in just over 3 hours.

 

[Hendo007]

Do you not think too many people are obsessed about how long it takes to get a round in ? Why not just go and enjoy the thing you love doing, surley the longer your out there the better ?

 

[chris661]

Do you not think too many people are obsessed about how long it takes to get a round in ? Why not just go and enjoy the thing you love doing, surley the longer your out there the better ?

There is no reason a round of golf should consume all of your Saturday which, when a member at a different club, use to be the case. I don't think it is unreasonable to be looking at the length of time it takes.

 

[Imurg]

For me the problem with slow play means I can't get into a rhythm. I know you can't always walk to the ball and play as it may not be your turn but within that boundary I like/need to keep moving. If I have to wait for 5-10 minutes to play a shot I find it tricky to get the natural balance back again.

 

[Hendo007]

For me the problem with slow play means I can't get into a rhythm. I know you can't always walk to the ball and play as it may not be your turn but within that boundary I like/need to keep moving. If I have to wait for 5-10 minutes to play a shot I find it tricky to get the natural balance back again.

I agree I too like to keep on the move and in the rhythm however it is an unfortunate part of the game and sometimes unavoidable.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Our place has an online booking system, so it's pretty easy to see where the busiest patches are. Obviously, Saturdays and Sundays are rammed, with evey tee time from 7am (earliest bookable time) until about 11.30 booked solid with 3 and 4-balls. But at least you can see this when you book. I tend to go for an early afternoon slot, when there is usually a couple of empty tee slots either side of my time. Or on occasions, I get there at 6.30am and beat everyone to the punch!

The other good thing about our online booking system is you can see WHO is booked into each tee-time, so you know when the stubborn old gits* are out there and to avoid!

* Not forgetting stubborn young gits as well.