Slow play.

[AuburnWarrior]

Right, I'll get straight to the point - I've been accused of being a slow player by the Sunday swindle at my club. Apparently three of the swindle have said that I'm slow but they're not willing to 'reveal' themselves.

It's obviously a problem if three people have commented but then without the names I can't confirm whether it's three people or one!

Now, I don't consider myself to be a slow player. No-one I've ever played with has ever said that I'm a slow player and I've been playing for 30 years. My fourball today said that I wasn't a slow player.

I've gone through the various parts of my game and I can't see where the problem lies.

It's starting to become an issue and today words were exchanged in the clubhouse and I fear the situation could escalate.

I suppose this relates to the forum members who've played with me in the past but how do I find out whether I'm a slow player???

I've had slow rounds in the past but that's normally because, as a fourball, we've all played rubbish or the course was busy, etc.

I've been playing very well of late so is it sour grapes?

I know most of you dont know me or my style/speed of play but this is blatantly starting to do my head in.

All I want is honesty......

 

[richart]

Smiffy did say to put you out last at the forum meets, so i now know why.

Understand why you are annoyed if it is not the case. Not a tag you want to go round with. Did they say why you were slow ? Too long getting ready to play your shot, freezing over the ball, looking over your putts from every angle, or just walking slowly.

 

[pokerjoke]

I would say try not to worry about what other people say,i know its difficult because we feel we have to stick up for our own beliefs.From what you said i doubt if you are a slow player.Im sure your regular mates would tell you if you were.For me the key is walk faster between shots,get to your ball quicker,assess your shot whilst your waiting for your partners to play,and then be ready when its your turn.The other point is are people behind always waiting on the tee for you,if not,no worries.Enjoy the game,not worry about it.

 

[Dave1980]

Sorry AW, I have never played a game with you so can't comment on your game, but I have experienced "slow play" in fairly quick rounds (3-3 1/2hrs) where one player in the 3 or 4 ball is never ready to play their shot when it is there turn or that they take a long time trying to line themselves up and on occasion a player has been really quick over the ball, but walk at a snail’s pace in-between shots. What I trying to say is that you maybe off the course in say 4 hours, but it may be little traits that you are not aware of that is causing other people to comment. It would be good to speak to the other members who are complaining, just so you can find out their reasoning.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Did they say why you were slow ?

That's the problem - no-one will tell me why I'm 'slow'.

As far as I'm concerned, no-one is ever waiting for me i.e. not ready on the tee, dawdling down the fairway, looking at putts from every angle.

And, perhaps the most important thing, I can't remember the last time I had people behind me waiting on the tee.

Recently I played with JustOne, Leftie and Bratty. We had a three ball behind us, all single figures so we let them through at the earliest opportunity.

I'll add at this point that I've never had to let people through on a Sunday morning.

 

[viscount17]

Well you weren't slow at Luton Hoo so unless you've aged a bit fast?

 

[goldenbare]

AW
you may find as low handicapper that in a pickup game many are there just for a quick sunday morning knock and don't bother spending time trying to play to a number that you have to and want to and dont even bother lining putts up etc as you do.
the fact that you still want to make the best of your round rather than have the intention of getting to the clubhouse bar as fast as possible is probably the reason they are causing a fuss for no reason.
play your own game mate, seems like a silly minority to me. Hope this silly scenario does'nt spoil your enjoyment of the game

 

[richart]

You have played the game long enough to know yourself if you are a slow player. I think it could be sour grapes, and you always get one or two who like to stir up a bit of trouble. I have played with a few members who seem to want to sprint round, always up the back of the group in front. I find them just as annoying as slow players, if not more so. At least if someone is slow, and has lost a hole you can ask to go through.

 

[Imurg]

It is tricky to work out if you're slow and if you are, in which areas. How long does a round take in comparison to others - average of course.
Do you play with the same people or does it change every week. Is it others in the group that play slow and you're just getting tagged? And let's face it we all play slowly on occasions, maybe not a whole round but a hole or 3..
If you don't have people waiting behind you then I can't see how you can be classed as slow as long as you're keeping up with the group in front.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

It is tricky to work out if you're slow and if you are, in which areas. How long does a round take in comparison to others - average of course.
Do you play with the same people or does it change every week. Is it others in the group that play slow and you're just getting tagged? And let's face it we all play slowly on occasions, maybe not a whole round but a hole or 3..
If you don't have people waiting behind you then I can't see how you can be classed as slow as long as you're keeping up with the group in front.

An average round at our place takes about four and a half hours.

Our Sunday swindle is a random draw so you play with different people each week.

 

[DCB]

An average round at our place takes about four and a half hours.

Yes that's slow play

 

[Imurg]

But only in the right context. If everyone's playing at the same pace and there's no queueing on tees then it's not a problem.

 

[JustOne]

Yes you ARE slow LOL


You take more time than most to hit your shots but you are perfectly within your rights to do so. In the video I have of us all teeing off it took you 49 seconds from tee in the ground to picking it up (it's worthwhile noting that in the R&A rules of golf there is NO rule as to how long you have to play your shot) UNFORTUNATELY most hackers take somewhere between 18 and 30 seconds so you'll appear to be slower than most over the ball and easy to point a finger at, even more so if you are undecided what shot you want to play, are put off/distracted, the wind picks up, hell freezes over, or club selection changes.

You are very methodical in your approach to each shot and that is a good thing, often respected only by better players than yourself.

I'd rather play with someone who hits a good ball and keeps it in play than someone who hurredly hits it and spends 5 minutes looking for their ball every other shot. I assume the people you play with are miserable ol' duffers?

You can be my wingman anytime!

 

[Dodger]

4 and a half hours??!!

Unless it's a 8900 yarder they may have a point.

What are you doing to be out there that long?A slow round in my experience is 4 hours and that thankfully does not happen very often.

 

[Junior]

AW ,

Those who accused you should have the balls to tell you outright in a constructive way.

My only other comment would be to not let it get you down , enjoy your golf and don't let this effect your game.

 

[Imurg]

4 and a half hours??!!

Unless it's a 8900 yarder they may have a point.

What are you doing to be out there that long?A slow round in my experience is 4 hours and that thankfully does not happen very often.

But it depends on the course, the rough, the weather.
If everyone's taking that long then it's the normal pace for that course. If people are not having to wait then it's not slow. It might be slow in relation to other courses.

 

[sawtooth]

If this happened to me I would just be more aware of what I am doing when I next go out. I'm not saying that you are slow (never golfed with you) but its safe to say slow players dont know that they are slow.

It might be something silly like not being ready to play your shot or dawdling between shots. These sort of things are truly annoying but waiting whilst someone takes 2 or 3 practice swings or line up putts from both directions wouldn't. But thats just me.

 

[DCB]

If everyone's taking that long then it's the normal pace for that course.

Then they're all slow

 

[teddybear]

if you are keeping up with the game in front there is no way you can be accused of slow play, however we all have our pre shot routines practice swings etc. The people may be accusing you of slow play over the ball taking to long. As long as you are keeping up with the game in front i would be telling them to mind their own business. [I am being polite here for the forum]

 

[Dodger]

4 and a half hours??!!

Unless it's a 8900 yarder they may have a point.

What are you doing to be out there that long?A slow round in my experience is 4 hours and that thankfully does not happen very often.

But it depends on the course, the rough, the weather.
If everyone's taking that long then it's the normal pace for that course. If people are not having to wait then it's not slow. It might be slow in relation to other courses.

So his course must be one long track with knee high rough,plenty wind etc then? Either that or he/they are painfully slow.