Slow play........ What's the solution?

[the smiling assassin]

Not if you can give your trolley a 40 yard shove toward the next tee as you approach the green...
trolleys are definitely not the issue. Ditherers and (some) duffers are.

 

[Hobbit]

yep we pay the price for 8 min tee times too, management wont entertain 10 mins basically as soon as the group is out of range the next group tees off then they get a nice wait on the bench at the tee of the par3 2nd far too often

By increasing the times between groups you're accepting slow play, and masking it by the increased times. The problem needs resolving not masking.

Education + course marshall and penalties for slow play. A two shot penalty will speed play up - who wants to shoot a nett 65, which becomes a nett 67 because they've been on the clock?

 

[bobmac]

We all have our favourite speeds.
Some are slow, some are medium and some are quick
Who is right and who is wrong
Should the fast players force the slower players to play quicker?
Of course not
Therefore slower players shouldn't expect faster players to play slower.

It works (sometimes) on motorways when you have 3 lanes/speeds to choose from but sadly, we dont have 3 lane golf courses.
So, if you cant change the speed people play, you have a choice.............
You either make sure the slower players let faster players through (encouraged/monitored by course marshalls (stuffed or otherwise))
Or
The faster players go out first

 

[Foxholer]

By increasing the times between groups you're accepting slow play, and masking it by the increased times. The problem needs resolving not masking.

Education + course marshall and penalties for slow play. A two shot penalty will speed play up - who wants to shoot a nett 65, which becomes a nett 67 because they've been on the clock?

Er...No.

Compressed Tee times exaggerates any play that might contribute to slow play. There's an (old) article on Pope of Slope web site that clears up the myth that proper (9 or 10 minute) Tee times encourage slow play and that compressing folk right up the group in front's backsides is bad for pace of play!

It's the 1 good thing about having a Par 3 to start imo! It forces proper tee times (9 minutes) and there are actually very few cases where equally populated groups get held up - even though it's a naturally long round!

The reason is almost identical to why the distance between cars flowing in a 'queue' on motorways should be much greater than it is - any glitch by any group ahead will cause every group behind to slow down which will cause all groups except the first out to have slow rounds, whereas if the Tee times are spaced sensibly apart, many glitches that would hold the group behind up are simply absorbed by the buffer(s) that are created, so all groups get around at 'standard' speed!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

For our Saturday roll-up we play four ball individual stableford with gimmes on very short putts and within each 4 ball we play a 4BBB match. At the same time we can enter the Saturday stableford (qualifier) where clearly you have to hole out, and this Saturday quite a few older members were playing in a 'Grandad's Comp - also where you have to hole out. Now I am of the growing opinion that whilst the first two generally mix OK without too much additional time spent - the 4BBB element does slow things down a bit. Add in the Saturday Stableford and such as the Grandad comp and I feel you have a recipe for a mess.

And so it was on Saturday as we could see those in the Grandad's comp in the group ahead faffing about on the green marking and lifting very short putts, checking not standing on lines etc - all absolutely as should be - in the right competitive/comp context. In a friendly saturday roll-up and when the greens are firm I think we can be a bit less precious about such things as I think we should when you have four players scoring individually.

And just to add to things. The amount of practice swinging going on; chatting whilst should be playing (I am at fault on that one) ; sauntering between shots etc really didn't help. Also round our place play is slower than maybe 20yrs ago due to the fact that the it seems like the majority of players at my place use trolleys - electric or otherwise - and we are not allowed to take them into the heather. Well you know what that leads to - and which would be eliminated were we all carrying (I'm not saying that we should be).

Bottom line is that each and every one of us has to be prepared to point out slow play of others - and we won't be able to do that until we recognise and admit out own failings in the matter of slow play - and do something about it.

 

[chrisd]

I really think we only get the 2 extremes talked about, people are too slow or too quick. There are a few guys at mine who seem to want to run round then spend ages in the bar afterwards, they are generally 65 + ages, so not the youngsters, and the golf, to me, seems like the excuse to get out and have a few pints on a Sunday and if they get held up a little that's valuable drinking time lost. They are the ones who will bat the ball down on a par 5 about 30 yards short of the green, when if they waited, they could get on but they seem to want to make those in front hurry up by letting them know that they're there behind. Rarely does a 3 ball in a competition or a bounce 4bbb game take more than 4 hours at my place, I play for the golf not the drinking and that speed, at my place, seems about right

 

[Smiffy]

Using a trolley is slower due to the fact you have to walk further

Load of rubbish Bob.
I use an electric trolley and I've been accused of a lot of things but NEVER slow play.
If you use your noddle, you are as quick as anybody walking.
It's just a shame that certain people don't use their noddle.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Load of rubbish Bob.
I use an electric trolley and I've been accused of a lot of things but NEVER slow play.
If you use your noddle, you are as quick as anybody walking.
It's just a shame that certain people don't use their noddle.

I think Bob is right - the fact that the majority of members use a trolley - and trolleys can't be taken into our heather - absolutely 100% slows things down as players leave their trolley to hunt for their ball; have to go back to it to bring it closer to where it's found - then selecting and changing clubs. All slow things down.

I also observe that players seem more likely to amble along after their electric trolley at a slower pace than if they were carrying, usually chatting with a fellow player happy to amble along at the same speed. and also tend to stop more often between shots as they get something out of their bag, change clothing or whatever. Just an observation. Makes sense to me that if I was carrying a load I'd want to get to where I can put it down quicker than if I wasn't carrying it. I struggle to walk as slowly as I see some of our members walk as they amble along behind their trolleys - understandable for elderly seniors - but not for the majority,

Problem is @Smiffy - far, far too many don't use their noddle.

 

[bobmac]

Load of rubbish Bob.
I use an electric trolley and I've been accused of a lot of things but NEVER slow play.
If you use your noddle, you are as quick as anybody walking.
It's just a shame that certain people don't use their noddle.

But if you carried, you would be quicker.

 

[chrisd]

But if you carried, you would be quicker.

If I carried I wouldn't be playing!

 

[pokerjoke]

The whole argument about slow play is absolutely pointless as there are so many reasons.

Over the last month we have lost 2 stalwarts of our club who absolutely loved the game and would just love to be out on the course however slow purely because of their love for the game.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The reason is almost identical to why the distance between cars flowing in a 'queue' on motorways should be much greater than it is - any glitch by any group ahead will cause every group behind to slow down which will cause all groups except the first out to have slow rounds, whereas if the Tee times are spaced sensibly apart, many glitches that would hold the group behind up are simply absorbed by the buffer(s) that are created, so all groups get around at 'standard' speed!

And once the glitch has happened and the delay introduced in a packed course it can take hours upon hours for the pace of play to return to normal - if it ever does. For the same reason as you get long queues on motorways long after the incident that initiated the initial traffic jam has gone.

 

[colintheb]

Should be an app for that!

Thinking out loud here.
An app that tracks your progress over the course with GPS.
Lets you know if your on time, behind or in front.

Dashboard type screen that lets you know if your on time or behind.
Press a button on it if your searching for a ball for more than a couple of minutes.
Another button if you let a group through.

Two way link with the course starter and the gadget.
Starter can send messages to let you know to speed up.

The gadget would be supplied by the course to every group of golfers.
A deposit of £20 for the gadget with a fiver (fine) withheld if your group is playing outside of your time.

Make it back to the clubhouse within a certain time limit and no fine.
Full deposit returned.

50p on to day ticket to help pay for the gadgets.

As I said, thinking out loud.

 

[Slime]

The main problem with slow play is i have yet to find a player that admits to being slow.

I recently played a brigade final and two of the chaps i played with define the word slow. On the 7th they started moaning about slow play on their home courses!!!!!!!!!

I'm slow and I've said so on more than one occasion!
I, and my mates, prefer to amble round the course rather than walk at a pace pre-determined by others.
I'm not fortunate enough to play golf regularly, so, when I do get the chance, I make the most of it by making it last as long as I can.
The four of us can take up to five hours on a lovely sunny day, even on an empty golf course.

Slime.

 

[Old Skier]

For our Saturday roll-up we play four ball individual stableford with gimmes on very short putts and within each 4 ball we play a 4BBB match. At the same time we can enter the Saturday stableford (qualifier) where clearly you have to hole out.

SLH slightly confused. Are you saying you are playing 3 comps in one here including the club run Q?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

SLH slightly confused. Are you saying you are playing 3 comps in one here including the club run Q?

Yup - the roll-up is unofficial; as is the 4bbb within the roll-up. The Club Stableford and Grandads are both club qualifiers and can be played alongside the roll-up comps. I'm not sure if you could play in the Club Stableford AND the Grandads on Saturday. But some of us play in the Club Stableford and some who could played in the Grandad's on Sat.

 

[hovis]

I'm slow and I've said so on more than one occasion!
I, and my mates, prefer to amble round the course rather than walk at a pace pre-determined by others.
I'm not fortunate enough to play golf regularly, so, when I do get the chance, I make the most of it by making it last as long as I can.
The four of us can take up to five hours on a lovely sunny day, even on an empty golf course.

Slime.

That's all fine with me. Spend all day out there if it makes you happy. Its the people that do this but think "sod them, i ent letting them through " that wind me up

 

[Slime]

I'm perfectly happy letting people through.
It gives me a few minutes to sit down and relax for a bit longer, maybe even have a little smoke too.
Slow players are fine, as long as they realise that they are slow players!

Slime.

 

[Neil_ingle]

Some good points here and thanks for all taking the effort to join in.

With all the posts it's obviously a concern for many who enjoy the game.

I agree electric trolleys are slower, I've used one for two years now I carry. However carrying isn't an option for everybody.

If using a trolley you need to be aware of where you leave it and the exit route to the next tee etc.

On reading all the posts I honestly think the only solution is that people need to be honesty don't if alone or with there regular groups they can honestly say they are slow they need to be put at the back of the field.

We have known quick and slow players and everybody is within there rights to enjoy the game at their own pace. Just don't let it upset other people with different mind sets!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

No doubt, but everyone is quicker when they carry therefore a partial solution to the problem.

That's a sweeping statement. I played in a 3 ball on Saturday all pushing trollies, the 3 ball behind us were all carrying at least they were until I lost sight of them they were so far behind.

The method of transporting your clubs won't necessarily speed things up, what will is people being ready to play when it's their turn, walking at a decent pace between shots, not having a ridiculous PSR and generally not faffing about.