Slow Play

[TonyN]

Yeah i pretty much try to do all of these things anyway because i know my routine can add up a little. I prefere to get up there quickly so i have longer to choose my club/ shot etc.

I hardly use a trolley because i feel i can walk faster with my bag on my back. Partners always ask why i pretty much run to the ball. But i naturally walk fast anyway so that helps.

 

[vig]

I took an early finish at work yesterday as it gave out showers for late afternoon.
Pro said that a 4 ball had set off 15 mins before I arrived.
I went to the practice green where you can see the first 3 holes from. Practiced my putting for 20 mins by which time they had cleared the third hole so off i went. Caught them up on 5th tee (short par 3) they tee'd off and I waited, and waited. (nearly 20 mins) yes it was a short hole. They had all tee'd off by the time i got to next Tee so I waited again. All 4 went to the right to look for a ball then 2 went to the other side to look for another. No intention of waiving me through. By this time i was raging so let go with a drive which landed about 20yds behind their 2nd shots (i know i shouldn't have) I the turned and hit a long iron to the 7th green therefore bypassing these lovely chaps and played the next 3 holes to their one. At this moment I heard a distant rumble of thunder so had it away having only played 11 holes. I made it to my car before the torrent started and boy did it come down. I passed 4 very wet looking men as I drove past the course.
Thats what I call Justice!!!!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with the posts that say the worst culprits aren't the women, who in the case of Royal Ascot are normally overly keen to let you through. Even if you are on a leisurely nine hole stroll without any time constraints they will stand back and wave you through.

The ones that make my heart sink when I pass the 1st pulling into the car park are the vets. If they have one of their greedies going out you have to pray there is no-one coming up 9 and the back 9 is clear because the 10th is the only chance you have of getting out and playing at a decent speed.

If you a singleton and you catch the tail end of these guys when you are out on the course, walk in. You have more chance of holing your tee shot on a par 5 than getting through them.

Even as a 2 ball I have had numerous arguments about being let through when all four have topped two shots 100 yards (usually into the rough). I've threatened to report them and been told to go ahead as they had been members for xx years so the committee wouldn't do anything. Guess what they were right!!!

In the end I normally wait until they are right on the limits of my driving range and ping one up there. That usually gets their attention. I then follow it up by playing into the green when they have literally just started moving away from the fringe. Not big and not clever but sometimes it is the only thing they understand.

Normally, one of the group will get the jist and suggest to their mates to let us through. Just wish it could be done easily and without any malice. We could get on with our game at a decent speed and they could get on with their own game at a more sedate pace

 

[madandra]

I was challenged this evening because we were on the 12th after 2 1/2 hours. We had let a two ball thru and we (3 ball) kept up with them until the wee t055er started moaning. We played the round in 3 hours 45 mins and found the wee gimp sitting in the bar. He walked off at 16 to watching the football. So here we have an instance of someone pushing people along simply because he didn't give himself enough time to get in to watch the match.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

He has no cause to complain then if he had no intention of playing a full round. It hacks me off when you get behind these vets who if I'm honest are only capable of playing 9 these days and still hold you up for the whole of the front nine.

By the time you reach the turn your socre invariably has gone west anyway and you have no rhythm or temop so the back nine is equally bad even though you have the time to play better

 

[andiritchie]

its the only thing about golf i hate, i generally play pretty fast myself when you get stuck behind groups who think they dont even need to play to the local rules as they been members for xx years,from my experience the ignorant slow play is generally done by the vets and people who think they are pros pacing out a few times good look at the hole,choose a club then choose another then hit it fat then repeat, the courses i will have a few more water hazards with the size of the divots they taking

 

[Marko77]

slow play is and isn't an issue at most clubs in this area from people I speak to. For everyone that says there is an issue there are the same number of people that say its alright, no problems!

We've this season implemented a policy where any comp round (3ball) over 4hrs will get calls from the Committee to see why they were over 4hrs. Unless there is an acceptable explanation they go up on the "name and shame board". A further breach within a few weeks and they are banned for the next comp.

It seems to have had an affect but I feel it has come at the expenses of people;

a - not willing to look for their own suspected lost ball
b - not willing to help others look for a suspected lost ball
c - be all too willing to NR
d - playing unnaturally fast

A common factor I witness quite alot is people that will walk slow and chat between shots instead of going to their ball in readiness to play. Whilst its nice to be social, the game has to keep moving....

 

[Slaighty]

Last week at my club I took a colleague for 9 holes after work. We watched a 3 ball tee off, looked like mum & dad & son. They weren't great. We were getting to the tees before the mum had even teed off, then we had a huge wait. At the 5th I politely asked if they knew they should invite us through. They grudgingly let us through, but you shouldn't need to ask should you?

 

[TonyN]

Definitly not,

I dont think it would harm pro's to remind people to invite others through if they are not keeping up with the pace.

Maybe a few signs would help too like on the long par 3's.

''Please mark and allow following group to tee off''

Their could be signs saying

''Please allow groups to play through if your play is slow''

Rather than

''Avoid slow play''

Just a thought!

 

[viscount17]

can I add to murph's list - if necessary play your shot then go help find your partners.

slow games at my club are frequent on a Friday afternoon when societies are in. 6 hours has been known, but I won't give in on those grounds.
our ladies are generally, not the slowest players. they are usually straighter so don't spend the time in bushes (as I not infrequently do - that said I know where a ball is likely to be found quickly and where not). The extra shots they may have to take don't take long.

most time is lost on the slow dawdle between shots, and all ages and both sexes are guilty of that. it's supposed to be a brisk pace so set your power trolleys for at least 3.5 mph (and it should be 4.5) and work out which club is needed before you get there.

buggies are the bane of a golf course, generally too stupid or too lazy to drop off Player A then proceed directly to their own ball, leaving A to, dare I say, walk after his shot.

 

[Toad]

Agree with Mark never had a problem with slow play at any course in our area, we are quick to get around compared to others and without fail every time I have played whenever we catch up with the group in front they will stand aside and let you through regardless, even if they have not lost ground on the group in front of them.

Must be very courteous golfers around these parts.