Slow Play!!

[Herbie]

Anyone waiting for a green to clear, usually have a capability (however infrequent) of making that distance, that behavior does not always cause slow play.
I can hit a 3w 250 frequently, I had 225 to the flag at the belfry 18th, I didnt catch it right and it fell just short of the green, should I have elected not to wait, play a lay up and ignore my potential to make the green and maybe birdie????

 

[Herbie]

Sprinty golfers are the golf equivalent of the BMW driver on the road. Loud, obnoxious and impatient to the detriment of all those around them.

I see your post as a clear indication of battle lines drawn.You 'detest' sprinters and you suggest all quick players are 'loud, obnoxious, and impatient to the detrement of others.

I see that as very very harsh comments indeed, I am a very quick player when oportunity allows, so you obviously detest me???? I dont detest you, for the way you may play the game, but the truth of the conflict is often given clarity by the charactor of response.

 

[USER1999]

Here in lies the problem with speed of play. Who dictates what is right. One persons slow is anothers fast.

For me, if I am waiting on every shot, then it is slow, what ever the time it takes. It isn't the time I begrudge, it is the standing about doing nothing. I normally take my watch off when I play, as I don't want to know the time.

If I am waiting on every shot, I am not going to shout at any one, or hassle them, or drive through them. Just quietly simmer.

That said, I have no idea if I am slow, or fast relative to others. I just play at my own speed.

 

[Herbie]

I tend to just begrudgingly accept whatever pace is going on if it is seemingly slow, but I know when it is too slow for me because my game goes completely to pot!

 

[Parmo]

what really annoys me is the player who waits for the green to clear when its 230 yards+ and they have just hit there drive 100 yards,see it almost every week.

Would it annoy you any less if the same person chose to play and hit their best shot ever that hit you in the back of the head as you putted out?

The problem is when people can take a lay up from 230 with the group in front on the green, so by doing so they can let the people behind tee off, rather than watch said person take 15 practice swings going for the green only to watch them hook it 160 yards if they are lucky!

 

[Fore]

I went round with someone a while back and during the game i hit 14 fairways of par 4 or 5 status. The rest of the holes being par 3's. I have a fairly slow (i admit) set up routine which virtually guarantees correct posture and fairly accurate tee shots.
The other guy was a whirlwind off the tee, hardly hit a fairway and spent 20 minutes during the round looking for his wayward tee shots.
He felt the need to mention in the 19th afterwards that maybe i should speed up my set up routine.
I was lost for words.

 

[Parmo]

At the end of the day, if staff in the pro shop got off their behinds and did their jobs, slow play wouldnt be an issue because the people paid to manage the course would be doing just that rather than trying to sell a 87 year old a stiff shafted R9 at the highest price.

 

[bobmac]

I'm sorry, I have to disagree there Parmo.
Most of the time there's only one member of staff in the shop, apart from the busy periods
I would suggest that a course ranger would be employed especially on competition days to keep an eye on the pace of play and any gaps appearing would be discussed with the following group

 

[toonarmy]

I see your post as a clear indication of battle lines drawn.You 'detest' sprinters and you suggest all quick players are 'loud, obnoxious, and impatient to the detrement of others.

Sorry Herb, barking up the wrong Acacia there mate. You can play as quick as you like and that's fine by me. What I was getting at was the player that imposes his/her game speed on others by getting up their backside, full-kettle stance etc. It's not the how fast you play that offends, just how you play (you in the generic sense). I was not, and never would, have a pop at anyone for playing quickly.

I see that as very very harsh comments indeed, I am a very quick player when oportunity allows, so you obviously detest me???? I dont detest you, for the way you may play the game, but the truth of the conflict is often given clarity by the charactor of response.

Erm, what? You appear to have taken this very personally. I have played 18 in 2.25 hours before now, but not once did I impose my speed on anyone else.

The point I am making is not about pace of play. That is not the real issue. The real issue is how people behave on the course, whether that be through unduly slow play and failing to allow players through or through winging tee shots at players still on the fairway and shouting at everyone to get out of their way.

Be honest would you care if the group in front took 5 hours if they waved everyone through accordingly? Until they start awarding handicaps or medals that include a 'time taken' factor, it's still about how many and not about how.

Hope this clears it up for you.

 

[Parmo]

I'm sorry, I have to disagree there Parmo.
Most of the time there's only one member of staff in the shop, apart from the busy periods
I would suggest that a course ranger would be employed especially on competition days to keep an eye on the pace of play and any gaps appearing would be discussed with the following group

I could live with that, as long as the club don't expect the members to pay for something they get paid to manage.

I played yesterday, the first 9 alone and then offered to joining another one ball on the 10th who was very nice then we caught up to a two ball on the 13th who looked anoyed to be asked to join into a four ball by myself, it took me and with them 3 hours, on a steady weekend at ours it takes an average of 4 hours on a 5200 yard 18 holes (two laps of 9)

 

[freddielong]

Did you ask them to play through as you pointed out they didn't have a clue about ettiquete so they may not of realised that they should have let you through.

I think there needs to be an accepted pace of play, as already mentioned in this thread it is just as annoying to have someone running behind you as someone slow infront.

 

[Herbie]

I see your post as a clear indication of battle lines drawn.You 'detest' sprinters and you suggest all quick players are 'loud, obnoxious, and impatient to the detrement of others.

Sorry Herb, barking up the wrong Acacia there mate. You can play as quick as you like and that's fine by me. What I was getting at was the player that imposes his/her game speed on others by getting up their backside, full-kettle stance etc. It's not the how fast you play that offends, just how you play (you in the generic sense). I was not, and never would, have a pop at anyone for playing quickly.

I see that as very very harsh comments indeed, I am a very quick player when oportunity allows, so you obviously detest me???? I dont detest you, for the way you may play the game, but the truth of the conflict is often given clarity by the charactor of response.

Erm, what? You appear to have taken this very personally. I have played 18 in 2.25 hours before now, but not once did I impose my speed on anyone else.

The point I am making is not about pace of play. That is not the real issue. The real issue is how people behave on the course, whether that be through unduly slow play and failing to allow players through or through winging tee shots at players still on the fairway and shouting at everyone to get out of their way.

Be honest would you care if the group in front took 5 hours if they waved everyone through accordingly? Until they start awarding handicaps or medals that include a 'time taken' factor, it's still about how many and not about how.

Hope this clears it up for you.

Nothing personal at all, you wrote what you wrote, I responded to what you wrote, now you have moved the goal posts as well as expecting me to understand your meaning and motive by using different language to the post I responded to. if you dont mean something, dont write it, if its a mistake or a misunderstanding then say so. How you can assume I have taken something personally when I have made a general comment I find humerous.

 

[Herbie]

In my experience a lot of golfers automatically assume....yes assume, that the following group are preasuring them, I have experienced this many times, often after hitting a drive when the group ahead clear my range and see them more focussed and concerned with the sound of my ball bouncing and comming to rest 20 or 30 yds behind them, often seeing the freeze...the glare....the delay...the head shaking followed by the disgruntled walk on. Anyone who does this, be assured, some golfers know how far their limit is and know how far you are away.
i remember one guy who moaned from the 2nd hole onwards about a following group who did exactly as i have just outlined, this guy spent the entire round watching them, waiting even, for something to happen, by the end of the round he barely noticed that I had gone to my car and put my kit away. some people are just like this unfortunately. If it doesnt reach you, its not a problem, why make it one?

 

[Imurg]

Followed a pair the other week. One was playing really quite fast and reasonably well. The other - OMG.
He was having a real "Golfing Experience" every time he got over the ball.
Slow, deliberate set-up - about 15 seconds
1st practice swing
2nd
3rd
4th - about 40 seconds in all.

Then about 40 seconds looking at the ball and setting up to it.
After that we had 3 or 4 "Mike Weir" half swings taking another 30 seconds.
Finally he smashed the ball all of 40 yards.

2 minutes to hit the ball 40 yards - then he walked to it and did it all over again - if I'd been playing with him I'd have killed him by the 3rd tee!!

Also a few weeks back I was playing with CVG and we - well I - had a bit of a rough problem on the 4th. I kept an eye behind while looking and as soon as the 3 ball following us got to the tee I dropped another ball and carried on. CVG then hit rough and by the time we had putted out the 3 ball were about ready to play their 2nds. Got to the 5th tee (200 yard par 3) and the group in front had been in the rough. They were just walking onto the green. Once they had gone I played onto the green and then Col played a bit short and left. As we got to the balls the 3 ball got to the tee. By this time the group in front of us were away and out of sight. Col duffed his first chip and set up to take another. Then we heard the Ting of ball on club - they'd tee'd off behind us on a par 3 before Colin had reached the green. Two of them hit as we stood and watched. I had a birdie putt and I wasn't going to move until they had finished teeing off or were not going to again.

The 6th tee is quite near the 5th green and when they got there we confronted them and gave them an earful - the response we got was that we were holding them up. So that gives you an excuse to hit a ball at 150 mph towards me?
They wouldn't accept the explaination and a few expletives were exchanged before we moved off. Fortunately they then had serious rough trouble and we didn't see them again.

The point is that sometimes you have to take into account what you can't see as being the reason for the group in front "holding you up". We were being held up and in turn held up the 3 ball behind - through no real fault of our own. Yet we got the full force of their blame.

 

[edgey]

I have a liberal view on this

15th club for all good players (as we know a ball retriever is the 15th club of choppers) should be a 12 gauge.

If a chopper is causing slow play issues, shoot the barsteward. Slow play solved.

Maybe i should stand for Parliament, i am full of great ideas

Your welcome

Edgey

 

[haplesshacker]

hmmm. Bit harsh. But I guess the moment that you picked a club up you were a 5 h'capper!

Handicap level is not the be all and end all, to the slow play argument. I know better players that are slow, and are even ruder regarding letting people through on 'their turf!', or because of their own arrogence and self importance, rather than a lack of knowledge about etiquette!

That makes them worse than those that don't know any better in my book.

 

[Imurg]

At the end of the day the higher the handicap the more shots you play, the longer it takes. Having said that I don't think it makes a huge difference as a lot of those extra shots are likely to be duffed chips, 3 putts, or topped drives etc. None of which are going to take up much more time in the great scheme of things.

 

[viscount17]

hapless is right, handicap is not the be-all and end-all of slow play. I've done the 'got round in 2.45' but the course was empty in front, I've even done a 3-ball medal in 3.10 (never again, did nothing for my score), caused my share of slow ones and equally suffered from others really slow 5hr+ when the course is packed.

hitting more shots will take more time but not markedly so if you're ready to go. waiting for three partners to play before getting to your ball and only then starting to pick your club - that makes for slow play.

 

[haplesshacker]

We'll not mention a recent example then Viscount!?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think we all have our war stories of the never ending round behind the slowest group this side of decomposition and those of how the course was free, you were on your own and got round in a quick time without rushing and actually got to enjoy the views and played well.

The thing is a lot of private members clubs are not going to suddenly introduce marshalls etc to tell the regular early Saturday morning choppers to get a lick on. All that will do is drive them straight out of the club. I can only speak for my club as I don't tens to frequent minis at peak time, and at the end of the day, you know a competitive round in three balls will normally take 3 3/4 - 4 hours depending on hitting porvisionals, looking for balls and the size of the field. If you are playing a social round after the competition has gone out you have to accept that the pace will be slow. Relax. They aren't going to speed up especially if they have a chance to get cut.

Other than that look in the diary and on the boards. Tuesday AM at my place is ladies day so its a big non-starter. A seniors roll up also plays so you can forget sneaking out from the 10th. I know this and so can book a Tuesday round for later in the day. At the end of it all, it is what it is and some days you get round quickly and others you don't. I don't see the point in worrying about how long its taking and would prefer to concetrate my efforts on hitting the bloody thing straight.

If you must rush round in less than 3 hours for a 4 ball or 2 hours on your own/pairs then do it when the course is empty, either late in the evening or first thing. Don't expect others to want to follow your lead. I actually prefer a more sensible pace, a chat with my partners (which is why they are there) and try to enjoy the views