Slow play

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Sounds like a 'grim and bear it' situation.

A quiet word with pro or sec - and they'll know if it is a common complaint about your PP and if it is will have a word.

 

[timd77]

I've not really played on a really busy course yet, all rounds so far have been pretty steady, but I take your point.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I've not really played on a really busy course yet, all rounds so far have been pretty steady, but I take your point.

there's busy - and there's slow

 

[chrisd]

The problem is that the player himself doesn't realise just how slow he really is. I played behind him when he was playing in a 4BBB comp In peeing rain a few months ago, I went forward after about 5 holes, when they were 3 holes behind the group in front, and insisted they stand aside and let us through (I knew the other players well) and when I saw him at the range a few days later he smiled and said " you were in a right grumpy mood on Sunday" I carefully explained why and it clearly hasn't sunk in!

 

[Foxholer]

I don't really see a problem with slow play as long they let people through.

So that's
20 () shots off the tee x 30 = 10 minutes
40 putts x 40 seconds = 26 minutes
40 off the fairway/rough x 20 = 13 minutes

A total of 49 minutes. even round it up to an hour because these are all approximate, some shots will take half the time, some will take longer, but 1 hour doesn't sound a lot, especially when you consider i'll let people through when appropriate.

Edit - Clearly it takes more than 1 hour to play 18 holes, this is merely calculating the actual shot time.

But in a 3-ball, you have 3 guys each taking pretty much that time cumulatively! Plus 1 lot of walking (or zig-zagging around) the course. That's why it saves so much time for others to prepare while someone is playing their shot.

 

[timd77]

But in a 3-ball, you have 3 guys each taking pretty much that time cumulatively! Plus 1 lot of walking (or zig-zagging around) the course. That's why it saves so much time for others to prepare while someone is playing their shot.

Agree with that 100%. I pretty much know which shot i'm playing as i walk to my ball, it's just a case of checking yardage when i get there and choosing my club. At the moment it's usually me playing my second shot first (watch out Daveyg!) so I can't be guilty of standing around watching!

 

[AmandaJR]

I try the "we need to get a move on" but find the slow player in the group takes just as long and I rush around but we get nowhere any quicker plus it doesn't help my game. At my previous club there is a good player who is renowned for being dreadfully slow but her attitude is "it takes as long as it takes". She was having a mare one day and I gently suggested her incredibly long pre shot routine wasn't really helping her cause and perhaps a practice swing followed by the actual one rather than another step behind the ball, focus, check grip and alignment etc might work. Her reply "actually Amanda I need to take ANOTHER practice swing but I get moaned at for being slow"...

Heaven help us.

Played with a junior last week as the pro wanted me to show her the ropes of on course play and rules and etiquette etc. She took on average 3 practice swings and as she scored well over 100 - well let's say it was tiring! I had a chat with the lady captain who was out with her this week and she suggested one swing and to her credit that's what she did. No doubt though she's seen the golf on TV and figures that amount of practice pre-shot is required...

 

[londonlewis]

I am always baffled by those that stand there watching their playing partner hit their shot and haven't even considered what club to hit, where they want to hit it and what what type of shot they are going to hit.
Almost like as if it comes as a suprise...

'oh wait, I have to play next' let me just decide my yardage and club first...
Come on dude, I love golf but I don't want to be on this course all day long!!!!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I find a quick 'come on guys we're a bit slow and losing ground' said to no one in particular - followed by me striding quickly and purposefully off down the fairway get's the message across.

 

[Biggleswade Blue]

Played with a junior last week as the pro wanted me to show her the ropes of on course play and rules and etiquette etc. She took on average 3 practice swings and as she scored well over 100 - well let's say it was tiring! I had a chat with the lady captain who was out with her this week and she suggested one swing and to her credit that's what she did. No doubt though she's seen the golf on TV and figures that amount of practice pre-shot is required...

That's a good approach. New-ish players don't always realise what they are doing - I would (and have) welcomed more experienced playing partners help me out with this sort of thing (etiquette, rules etc). They've always been polite, and I welcome their advice and try to sort it out.

 

[chrisd]

I find a quick 'come on guys we're a bit slow and losing ground' said to no one in particular - followed by me striding quickly and purposefully off down the fairway get's the message across.

I'll watch out for that if we play together on Tuesday, at least I will recognise you from the back!

 

[stevelev]

I'm playing in a works society day next week at the Izacc Walton Gc. I paired with a player similar to the OP.

I'm going to do a Sabbatini :thup:

I'd be telling him on the 1st tee and let him know if he is slow you certainly wont be hanging around for him.

We had a slow player in our Society, put him in the back group and after 5 holes of waiting for him every shot, gradually played ahead of him, he came in 3 groups behind us.

 

[stevelev]

Waving through works well on a course that isn't rammed. But on a busy course, as most typically are during comps, the only people who benefit are those waved through. For everyone else, it just adds another 5/10 minutes to the round...

I think the key in comps is good marshalling, by having marshalls in areas where a lot of balls go wide of the mark or where rough is very heavy. I know clubs cant have loads of Marshalls but there are enough people who do not like to play in comps at weekend that would be glad of a minor reduction in green fee to offer their services for the benefit of the club. At our clurse you could put 5 marshalls on in a comp and I reckon it would reduce the time on holes for many group and get rid of the waiting around. At they could then monitor 5 minute searches

Also the correct use of call up holes, so many groups just play the hole with no regard for those behind.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Waving through works well on a course that isn't rammed. But on a busy course, as most typically are during comps, the only people who benefit are those waved through. For everyone else, it just adds another 5/10 minutes to the round...

^^This^^

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I find a quick 'come on guys we're a bit slow and losing ground' said to no one in particular - followed by me striding quickly and purposefully off down the fairway get's the message across.

I've tried that on occasions. Often works, but some people don't get the hint even then

 

[Imurg]

Fortunately we got through the 4-ball from Hell today.
We caught them on the 4th and they let us through on the 5th - they'd started over an hour before us (ok we were a 2)..
On the 5th tee, one of them took 5 blows to reach the Ladies tee, that included 2 airshots.
We were teeing off on the 18th and they'd just reached the 11th tee. Our last 3 holes in particular are long and can be tricky.
It wouldn't surprise me if they're still out there now..........and they have 2 buggies........