Slow play.

[Bratty]

Dave, I am aware that I am not a fast player by any means, and there are a couple in the club who have commented in the past. BUT, they've told me why, when and how to fix it.

Which I had no problem with.

I think sometimes the problem lies with having to wait for a playing partner to play their shot before walking to yours. Let's face it, even standing BEHIND Rob or James can be dangerous, so I'm not going to walk 15 - 20 yards ahead of them just so I'm by my ball.

If a group behind trust each other that they stand wherever, just so they can hit their shots at almost the same time, good for them. I won't!

As for your point, I don't feel you're slow, and would agree with Roger, that we were "smelling the roses" to a degree. But we let people through, and that was that. No problem.

If those who have labelled you don't want to say anything to your face, maybe ask them to leave their feedback in a note with the pro? That way, you find out what it is, and then can do something or ignore it. But there's no confrontation.

Just a thought.

 

[patricks148]

I was about to say that with your handicap there should be few wayward shots requiring time spent searching, fewer shots hit and fewer shots on the putting greens - all saving a lot of time for your group BUT one of my playing pals, off 4ish, is the slowest we play with!

The areas mentioned above, not ready to play, bag left on wrong side of green and as one would expect from a very low handicapper, his set up time on the tee- over a putt- hearing a cough from three fairways away - his pacing forward to work out his landing area .....all combine to make him a slower player despite him playing less shots than his playing partners.

Played against a pitifully slow player in a match play comp at my old club.

He didn't have any long preshot routine or anything like that just dawdled and was never ready to play, buggered about with his clubs, bag, GPS etc. On one of the short par 4's He had hit a crap drive and I had laid up short of the fairway bunker. Got to my ball 180 yards down the fairway, looked around and he was still buggering about with his driver and bag by the tee. He was like this the whole way round just never ready to play and was really starting to p*ss me off and the bugger was two up with 3 to play ( I was off 8 him off 10) with two of his shot holes to come. Took 4 hours around a short course that only took 3 half hours for a 3 ball medal round. At least I beat him on the 19th hole and vowed never to play with this guy again.

 

[barrybridges]

This is a really interesting issue for me, as someone who is still relatively new to the sport and who has no real idea of what 'slow play' looks like.

When I play, I always feel rushed. I don't understand this issue of 'slow play'. I have never played with anyone where I felt that they were taking an unreasonable amount of time to make their shots, but then on here some have suggested 4.5 hours is too long...that's normally how long it takes me and my playing partner for a round!

I can see both sides of the argument. I normally play on my own and frequently have found myself stuck behind a fourball which could easily have been avoided by the marshall advising people on booking as to a suitable slot to go into. At the same time, when I'm in a group I often feel hurried and don't feel like I can even take a practice swing because it's 'time wasting'.

I'm probably the sort of person you would say is a 'slow player', but I can't see how I can speed things up. I have my club selected and out before each shot. I'll hit it as soon as those behind me have hit theirs, but obviously you should wait until they've played their shots before walking forward.

 

[patricks148]

It can depend on the course. For instance if i was playing in a comp at Spey Vally thats over 7000 yards its likely to take at least 4 hours, but if its around fortrose which is under 6000 3 1/2 is plenty.

 

[19th]

Patrick, not if the Brahan Seer catches you on the landing area of the 17th!

 

[HRC99]

I don't see the point of worrying about it greatly. I'd concentrate on getting feedback from whoever in the swindle thinks you are slow.

Talk to whoever told you, say that you are massively disappointed that anyone should think you are slow and would like feedback on why people think you are slow. Make it clear you're not looking for a row or an argument, just that you'd like to know why so you can do something about it.

Consider that feedback when you get it rather than worry about such general comments. It is just disappointing that people should say something like that behind your back rather than have the courage to bring it up with you.

 

[JustOne]

It can depend on the course. For instance if i was playing in a comp at Spey Vally thats over 7000 yards its likely to take at least 4 hours, but if its around fortrose which is under 6000 3 1/2 is plenty.

Length is irrelevant, depends whether it's got prickles and bracken 5 inches from the fairway.

 

[HRC99]

It can depend on the course. For instance if i was playing in a comp at Spey Vally thats over 7000 yards its likely to take at least 4 hours, but if its around fortrose which is under 6000 3 1/2 is plenty.

Length is irrelevant, depends whether it's got prickles and bracken 5 inches from the fairway.

I disagree. Length can play a big part.

If you've got short par 4s or shorter par 5s, people will wait for the green to clear when they have little to no chance at making it unless they pull out the shot of their lives.

That can add to quite a bit during a round depending on the course design.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I do agree that if some par 4's are eminantly driveable or the par 5's are reachable in 2 then clearly those with the ability to hit them need to wait. However as someone who knows most of these are out of reach, we usually agree that we'll play and lay up first while the green is being cleared. That way the big hitter can go for it and we can be moving up the edge of the fairway to get in position to play our next.

 

[richart]

My course is not the quickest to get around, despite being just over 6000 yards. We have two holes that share the same tee, and some tees that are near other greens, and not the one you have just played. If you time it wrong you can get held up, waiting to tee off or putt out. We also have a fair amount of heather which is not the easiest to find balls, and because you can't take trollies into it, you often have to check your lie, and then go back for the right club.

Rounds at the weekend usually take just over 4 hours, for a fourball, including a half way hut stop for 10 minutes. Must admit it is rare that you have to wait on group in front or are pushed from behind, as there seems to be a natural speed of play.

 

[USER1999]

The length of the course is not the whole story. 7000 yards sonds long, but if you have to walk 300 yards between holes, that is going to slow you down quite alot.

 

[viscount17]

I think unless you're very lucky almost every course has its choke points, it can become pure luck at times avoiding them.

 

[Parmo]

Timed this guy in our fourball at the weekend.. 90 seconds for each per pre shot routine... I nodded off at times.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

That's not a good position to be in AW and I have no idea if you're slow or not.

What I do know is that there are two types of slow player and we all know of both. There are the ones who are methodical, they take their time playing golf trying to hit the best shot they can - I can kind of put up with those types of players.

There are then those who seem completely oblivious to the fact they are on the golf course. They play their shots quickly when they've actually got around to playing their shot. They're never ready when it's their turn to play, they stand by the green pointing back at the fairway trying to work out how many shots they just had, they'll stand by their playing partner and wait for them to play their shot before walking to their ball on the other side of the fairway. These people drive me utterly insane.

 

[Snelly]

What I do know is that there are two types of slow player and we all know of both. There are the ones who are methodical, they take their time playing golf trying to hit the best shot they can - I can kind of put up with those types of players.

An old chestnut - slow play. I wish I could resist but I can't. I have to reply and it is bound to cause offence so sorry in advance if you are upset at my rant.....

I can't abide slow play and make a point of explaining to offenders at the earliest point possible that they need to get a wriggle on or sort themselves out.

This is easier with the disorganised faffer. For example, when it is their honour on the tee, they can be reminded that it is very poor form to mark the card for the score on the previous hole before taking their turn - they must do this after they have played first. Most understand and appreciate the feedback.

I find the over-methodical Nick Faldo wannabes to be far, far worse. They take an age with a routine, measure the yardage, guage wind, blah blah blah. They then proceed to nurdle a grim shot 100 yards with a 5 wood. It is absolutely ridiculous..

And when you open a polite conversation with them on the speed of their play, they invariably take great offence and for the rest of the round, remind you that they are rushing and that you have ruined their game, day, round, life etc...

Not that I am generalising of course....!

Slow play is a scourge of modern golf and is unecessary. Be ready to play when it's your turn and this would disappear.

The fault is with the pros for the speed they play, although this is forgivable as they are earning their living. It is also the magazines that give you ten new panaceas for the game every month, all of which take more time usually, plus teaching pros espousing routines, visualisation etc. It is all over the top for the level of play that most club golfers are playing the game at and I absolutely include myself in that number.

I can visualise myself driving a Ferrari but I won't wake up tomorrow and find one in the drive!

It is a simple game, nowts changed for hundreds of years. You still have to whack a ball into a little hole. If you can ignore the marketing and the overblown navel gazing that the golf industry tries to brainwash you with then you soon see I am right!

You will still enjoy the game if you pull your finger out and get on with it.

And to the OP, I am not saying this is you as I have never seen you play. Mind you, if people are saying you slow, then you probably are!

Snelly.

 

[Region3]

I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm either slow or very unlucky because most weeks I seem to in a slow group

Not that it happens very often but this week particularly the other 3 were all hitting about the same distance off the tee and I was consistently longer.
If I'm remotely near their line I don't feel right walking to my ball before they've played. Should I?

I've just been really sad and timed how long I think it takes me from arriving at my ball to hitting the shot and I reckon about 35 seconds. Is that too long?

 

[richart]

I've just been really sad and timed how long I think it takes me from arriving at my ball to hitting the shot and I reckon about 35 seconds. Is that too long?

Not if you have a smoke before each shot.

I always walk ahead to my ball, assuming i'm not in the line of fire. Get the club i need out of the bag, and am ready for my turn. Don't mind banter on the tee when waiting, or even on the green when assessing putts, but i do like to get on with it once i've started a hole. Have a naturally quick rhythm for all sports

 

[JustOne]

I played the other day and had an 80yrd chip, and 3 people standing beside me, the divot went 40yrds and by the time we'd all walked down to it and I had returned to stamp it into the ground and stuck my club in the bag they were all on the green lining up their putts... perception is the key here. We'd all walked the same 80yrds just I was still 80yrds from the green from where I'd just hit

This happens fairly often when you out hit other players which is why my original comment was that it's only the better player who understands the process. Coffin dodgers in a roll-up just don't get it as they nobble their 5th shot along the ground and rush to the green to three-putt for a point.

AW has a methodical approach to his shots that some may consider slow if they are the wrong type of person.

With regards to the course length/difficulty etc, all the groups in front/behind are playing the same course so it doesn't make that much difference unless you are having a total MARE and hitting it in the scrubby stuff every shot.

 

[richart]

Why were they all standing beside you ? If they had walked on they could have thrown the divot back to you.

 

[JustOne]

Why were they all standing beside you ? If they had walked on they could have thrown the divot back to you.

Yeh, well it was more 'just behind for safety from the shank' than directly beside me....

Fuuny that by the time i'd gotten to the green none of them had bothered to repair my pitch mark either, but they'll still look at you funny if you then line up a putt from both sides as if it's you that's wasting all the time.

In my opinion the majority of people who complain about slow play are generally the slowest, shortest or the very worst players... and without doubt the least likely to let someone play through!!