Slow Play

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Played with a guy last weekend and his pre shot routine must have been well over a minute so it makes me think is this one of the main reasons for slow rounds, my own pre shot routine is pick the club stand behind the ball pick a line quick practice swing address the ball and hit it 30 to 40 seconds max from arriving at the club decision, this guy stood behind the ball for 20 to 30 seconds had 6 practice swings and regripped about 4 times before hitting the ball. Just him as an example if he only took 45 seconds to a minute per shot instead of 1.10 to 1.30 that would be a minute a hole at least 18 mins a round by a 4 ball would be over an hour. I think there is a guide line for the pros not sure what it is but should there be a limit on the length of time you get to take a shot.
Mike

 

[Twire]

I had the same problem with a chap I used to play with when I joined my present club. He was so slow I ended up rushing to make up the time. This made my golf deteriate, so in the end I had to stop playing with him.

 

[USER1999]

But did he walk quickly to compensate?

Walking slowly will take far longer.

Also, were you round in a reasonable time, because if so, then why should he change his routine? If you were over 4 ish hours (esp as a two ball), then it was slow, but sub 4 hours (4 ball), sub 3 hours (2 ball), and the speed of play would be ok. It isn't a race. What are you going to do with all the time saved?

 

[teetime72]

Who won the game Mike.

 

[Parmo]

I take a good pace between shots, I mark my card when I can away from the green, I am always ready for my tee shot and if I spend a minute preshot routine, its tough luck.

The worst offenders of slow play are fair weather golfers, too busy chatting and 4 people looking for the one ball and all standing next to each other whilst they take their shots grrr

 

[MVP]

ive seen this post a thousand times now! im not keen waiting for people although i must admit im slow on the greens but normally quick on the fairway! But its part of the game! Golf is a not a race, but there are obvious exceptions in some cases.

 

[Cernunnos]

There are extremes at both ends of the spectrum.

On one hand the game is not a race & we're out there to enjoy our sport. We should feel comfortable with our addressing of the ball & ultimately the swing that ensues.

But on the other hand we should not beunduely holding up our playing partners & the groups behind.

But I really do think that sometimes we can get too wrapped up in the how quickly we get around the course mentality. There is really nothing worse than pushing groups infront or anything more rude than striding out infront of our playing partners when they've yet to take their shot.

That said, I really do like to've gotten back to the clubhouse by lunchlime if I've tee'd off early in the morning, instead of tea'time as seems to be the case when I've played at Lichfield.

think this comes from the fact that when I'm on holiday either when away or just havin' a few days off.I do like to play two full rounds of 18, or at least an 18 & a 9.

Now if we take too long on a pre-shot preamble, or dawdle along, or spend half the round unwrapping sweets, pasties, drinking coffee & tea on the course or anything else when not actually walking at the same time to the ball in readiness for the next shot, then the round is going to be an all day affair.

I've a mate who's just taken up the game & seems to rollup a fresh tab on every other tee or green. Which all takes time, but we still somehow manage to get around in a reasonable time.

 

[mansell]

Hi,
Played with a guy last weekend and his pre shot routine must have been well over a minute so it makes me think is this one of the main reasons for slow rounds, my own pre shot routine is pick the club stand behind the ball pick a line quick practice swing address the ball and hit it 30 to 40 seconds max from arriving at the club decision, this guy stood behind the ball for 20 to 30 seconds had 6 practice swings and regripped about 4 times before hitting the ball. Just him as an example if he only took 45 seconds to a minute per shot instead of 1.10 to 1.30 that would be a minute a hole at least 18 mins a round by a 4 ball would be over an hour. I think there is a guide line for the pros not sure what it is but should there be a limit on the length of time you get to take a shot.
Mike

Don't ever ask me for a game

 

[Pinseeker]

The worst thing about slow play is when you are playing well and have a got a good rythem going and then getting caught up behind a slow 4 ball! I don't mind if they are hacking away and taking hundred shots as long as they have a decent pace its the ones that waddle along and then stand on the green chatting and scoring their card after finishing the hole unaware that there's a 4 ball 100yrds away waiting to approach. I have unfortunately been involved in a few arguments over this and regretted it later but when your in the zone why should some idiot ruin it. Instead I turn into an idiot and ruin it myself!

 

[haplesshacker]

I hate to say it, but I've come to terms with the 4 plus hour rounds, and have mellowed because of it. The wife understands it, luckily, though the reason for the golf was as a half day activity and not a full day activity.

I'm really not sure what the answer is, despite all the talk on here and the recent piece in GM. It's disappointing that it's no longer a half day event, but what else am I to get into, supporting the Saints!!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the onus really is on the ruling body's (R&A, EGU etc) to make this a priority at club level and find a way of getting the message across to the ordinary golfer. Its a subject that has been debated on here, featured several times in various magazines and is a talking point in ost TV coverage but nothing ever seems to change.

 

[haplesshacker]

There's no point having 'rules' that cannot be enforced, and this 'onus' then falls onto the clubs who have different priorities, ie making money, than the R & A etc.

I'm afraid it's down to the players in reality, and whilst there's some that want to play sub 3 hour rounds, there will also be others that want to take a more leisurely approach. Just look at the debate it's created around here over the last few months. I cannot see an answer.

 

[CliveW]

It would be interesting to see if this is a regional/national issue. I very seldom spend longer than 3 1/2 hours on a round of golf on any course I have played in Scotland, but playing abroad can be agonisingly slow.

 

[mono217]

i take 2 practice swings line up and take my shot 30 seconds at max

 

[flandango]

I unwrap my mars bar with my left hand and teeth, then use my right arm to take the shot! Simple if you think about it.....I think women call it multi-tasking?

 

[Timberbonce]

Its been said many times but i really don't know which is worst...theres a regular 2 ball behind our 4 that skips holes and runs round the course tutting and sighing even though its rare for us to take over 3 + 3/4 hours and we try and let them through at the first opertunity.
Poeple are just too used to rushing arround these days they forget to stop when they reach the golf course. Golf should be an escape from the daily grind not an extention of it.
The similarities to the way people drive there cars and the anger that provokes are astounding.

 

[USER1999]

This was kind of my point, what one person calls slow, is another ones indecent haste.
To me, as a four ball anything around the 4 hour mark isn't far off the pace. Yes, 3 3/4 is quicker, but sub 4 hours is viewed as fast by the majority. Everyone wants to enjoy it, and not feel rushed, and if they are paying the money, why not.
Medal, in 3 balls, at 4 hours 30 is way too long. This is not just preshot routines, it is dawdling on the basis that if you concentrate over minutiae, you will play better. This is tosh.

 

[Herbie]

This debate has gone on all the time Ive played golf but I will say it has got worse in the last two decades (slow play that is) Maybe its due to the increased popularity of golf and the lack of strict guidance, disciplines and introductions to the game, or maybe its just down to a change in cultural attitudes,or maybe down to the pro's setting bad examples that they sometimes get cautioned about, it will continue thats for sure, what the solution to suit all is, I dont know and I dont think anyone does but a bit of consideration from both the faster players and the slower is a starting point, though a pace setting explosive device wouldnt go a miss.

I dont know how murph sees sub 4 hrs as the majority opinion of FAST! I see sub 4 hrs as being a reasonable and acceptable pace, though not my favoured pace, a fast pace for a 4 ball at the front of the pack is 3 hrs. when I have taken to the course on quiet times I have never taken longer than 4 hrs following all sorts, do the really slow buggers only turn up on a nice day when there is a good menu in the offing?

 

[Leftie]

a fast pace for a 4 ball at the front of the pack is 3 hrs

We have got a four ball like that and at this time of the year we are quite happy for them to go out first (about 7.45 am). Variously known as "The Runners" or "The Rabbits"

Following groups can't seem to keep up - but could it be that because The Runners are so intent on getting back to the clubhouse before 11 am that the rest of us spend time replacing/repairing what appears to be fairly fresh divots/pitchmarks. Not that we can prove anything as there are one or two very early singletons out......

 

[USER1999]

I play in a Friday 3 ball that (given an empty course) plays 18 holes in 2 1/4 hours. However, I would never expect that sort of pace on a Saturday morning, and I wouldn't expect the following group to keep up either. We don't feel like we are rushing, we just play ready golf, and anyone who looses a ball is on their own.

On Saturday, for a 4 ball, 4 hours is the norm. It just is. A bit faster would be nice, but that is dream land. Often it is longer.