Strange one - playing through

[dufferman]

I was playing on my own not long ago, and crept up on a 2 ball. These guys had another 2 ball in front of them, who clearly had no-one in front of them.

After waiting for them to play on a hole or 2, I asked politely to play through them on the 8th tee. They simply said "no - we are keeping up with the group in front".

I could see that they were, but as I said, it was clear the 2 ball ahead of them had no-one in front of them.

I had to "argue my case" (without actually starting an argument) to be let through. Funnily enough, the 2 ball in front of them let me through no problem.

Were they in the right? They technically WERE keeping up with the group ahead, in fact, they too were waiting on a few holes for greens to clear. But if they can't be bothered to play through, that's their issue right?

 

[Orikoru]

I think they were within their rights to argue that they are keeping up with the group in front. But then presumably your response was 'I'd like to play through them as well' at which point they should probably say fair enough, on you go. As usual it comes down to common sense really.

 

[Imurg]

As there was space ahead of the front group, the second group should have let you through instantly...
No reason not to, even if they were keeping pace.
If the course was full then it may be a different matter.

 

[Capella]

There is no right and wrong in this, only courtesy. Normally, as long as you keep up with the group in front, you don't _have to_ let anyone through. At our course, the official etiquette rules still say that as a single player you have no standing (so basically, you can play on your own as long as you don't bother anyone, but you have no "right of way" but are expected to wait your turn behind a slower group in front). Still, many people will let you play through, because it seems the logical and most efficient thing to do (and nobody likes to be chased by an impatient golfer either).

 

[hovis]

i dont like the arguments of keeping up with the group in front. what if the group in front are playing very slow?

 

[Hobbit]

They were holding you up, end of. After that it becomes a conversation between you and the group in front of them.

I don't like it when the group in front says "we won't let you through because you have nowhere to go," i.e. there's another group in front of them. That's not for them to say the group in front won't let you through either.

 

[Beezerk]

I think they were within their rights to argue that they are keeping up with the group in front.

That's the misconception mate, they were holding up a faster group/player, that's what matters. The fact there was a space in front of the other group should have been the obvious sign to let him through. How the group in front of the first 2 ball act is nothing to do with the first one, if that makes sense

*edit*
Oops, Brian said it better than me.

 

[GreggerKBR]

As there was space ahead of the front group, the second group should have let you through instantly...
No reason not to, even if they were keeping pace.
If the course was full then it may be a different matter.

agreed

R& Guideline >

[h=3]Play at a Good Pace and Keep Up[/h][FONT=&quot]You should always play at a good pace. The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.
It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front.
If the group loses a clear hole and delays the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, they should also invite the faster moving group to play through.[/FONT]


So yes - both groups would have to let you through if they were holding you up.
More dramatic example -

I was recently out first in an 8 man team scratch event - we don't hang about. 8x two-balls.
We were held up by two 3-balls in front of us (who were at the early stages of learning to play golf "duffers") from 4th to 10th hole where I then basically pushed us through after a bit of a debate with them. It was a bit tense and meant they had to abandon their golf and move to another part of the course as we had 7x two-balls lined up behind us by this point.
They complained to the Director of Golf who questioned me on it, but as I explained to him they had a 40 minute head start and we'd waited on 6 tees already & they had a three-hole gap in front of them, they were far too slow and not going to change up a gear, so it's kind of tough luck.
I feel bad for upsetting their round but, important club scratch matches cannot be compromised by slow beginners so they had to give way. Bit unfortunate!

 

[Canary_Yellow]

They were holding you up, end of. After that it becomes a conversation between you and the group in front of them.

I don't like it when the group in front says "we won't let you through because you have nowhere to go," i.e. there's another group in front of them. That's not for them to say the group in front won't let you through either.

If the course is completely full, then the logic does make sense. But yes, otherwise I agree.

Really, all debates about whether someone should or should not be let through comes down to common sense, good manners and generally not being a prat.

 

[Orikoru]

That's the misconception mate, they were holding up a faster group/player, that's what matters. The fact there was a space in front of the other group should have been the obvious sign to let him through. How the group in front of the first 2 ball act is nothing to do with the first one, if that makes sense

*edit*
Oops, Brian said it better than me.

Fair play. I just meant, I can see why they said that. They might have just been thick and thought the whole course was bunched up rather than just the one group ahead of them. Either way, it should have been quickly resolved. I always think if someone really want to be let through I will let them through regardless of the situation, it's better than having an angry golfer up your backside for the rest of your round.

 

[patricks148]

They were holding you up, end of. After that it becomes a conversation between you and the group in front of them.

I don't like it when the group in front says "we won't let you through because you have nowhere to go," i.e. there's another group in front of them. That's not for them to say the group in front won't let you through either.

That's the misconception mate, they were holding up a faster group/player, that's what matters. The fact there was a space in front of the other group should have been the obvious sign to let him through. How the group in front of the first 2 ball act is nothing to do with the first one, if that makes sense

*edit*
Oops, Brian said it better than me.

yep agree here.

Faster groups should be let though end of. and the whole "there is nowhere for you to go" annoys me no end.

i just don't understand the logic of some one stopping a faster player through

 

[Beezerk]

Fair play. I just meant, I can see why they said that. They might have just been thick and thought the whole course was bunched up rather than just the one group ahead of them.

Yeah I hear it all the time when playing with randoms in competitions, "we aren't letting them through because there's a group in front of us".
Old world views like that do nothing for the game.

 

[dewsweeper]

I can never understand lone golfers not by passing slower groups if there is a gap ahead.
I worked shifts when I joined my club in the early 80s and often played on my own. I would hop all over the course keeping out of everyone's way.
"Its golf Jim but not as we know it"

 

[Maninblack4612]

Our club has a rule that single players have no standing. I play on my own occasionally & wouldn't expect to be allowed to play through, unless there was a clear space ahead of the people in front of me. If they were waiting to play their shots I wouldn't expect to be invited through &, if the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn't expect the single player to expect to be let through either. There are occasions, especially on summer evenings, when there is a succession of single players out on the course. Are we supposed to interrupt our game constantly to let them through? I don't think so.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Our club has a rule that single players have no standing. I play on my own occasionally & wouldn't expect to be allowed to play through, unless there was a clear space ahead of the people in front of me. If they were waiting to play their shots I wouldn't expect to be invited through &, if the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn't expect the single player to expect to be let through either. There are occasions, especially on summer evenings, when there is a succession of single players out on the course. Are we supposed to interrupt our game constantly to let them through? I don't think so.

Well as they changed the rules recently to ensure all size groups on the course have an equal standing and the priority should go to the quicker group I would expect most people to allow single players to go through as it would take minutes. Are you really saying if you were a fourball you wouldn't let a guy playing on his own through ? I would find that shocking etiquette tbh

 

[jim8flog]

Personally if there was a single behind and we were just a two ball I would invite that player to join us.

 

[Val]

As far as I'm concerned the etiquette is keep up with the group in front of you AND let faster groups play through. There is no caveat of don't let them through if you are keeping up, faster is faster regardless of how fast you play.

 

[Val]

Personally if there was a single behind and we were just a two ball I would invite that player to join us.

And if he doesn't want to join then invite him/her for one hole and let him/her play on, if he/she doesn't want to play through them so be it

 

[Ross61]

I had the same situation as the OP the other week. I was in a 2 ball and we caught up with 2 four balls. We were not let through for 5 holes, even when they took 10 minutes looking for balls on the 9th. We met them on the 10th tee as the last player was teeing off. It is a 125 yard par 3 and not one of the balls were on the green. We asked politely if we could play through, but met with the "we are keeping up with those in front by 2 of them the other 2 were happy to oblige. While they were debating, we tee'd up anyway and played through. We quickly finished with a gimme each. We got to the 11th tee and the group in front were looking for a ball up the massive slope 100 yards ahead, they immediately let us through without us asking. From then on we went from 12-18 in an hour.
It is so simple, I would rather get people behind off my back than obstinately refuse to let them through.

 

[Nickrat]

agreed

R& Guideline >

[h=3]Play at a Good Pace and Keep Up[/h][FONT=&quot]You should always play at a good pace. The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.
It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front.
If the group loses a clear hole and delays the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, they should also invite the faster moving group to play through.[/FONT]


So yes - both groups would have to let you through if they were holding you up.
More dramatic example -

I was recently out first in an 8 man team scratch event - we don't hang about. 8x two-balls.
We were held up by two 3-balls in front of us (who were at the early stages of learning to play golf "duffers") from 4th to 10th hole where I then basically pushed us through after a bit of a debate with them. It was a bit tense and meant they had to abandon their golf and move to another part of the course as we had 7x two-balls lined up behind us by this point.
They complained to the Director of Golf who questioned me on it, but as I explained to him they had a 40 minute head start and we'd waited on 6 tees already & they had a three-hole gap in front of them, they were far too slow and not going to change up a gear, so it's kind of tough luck.
I feel bad for upsetting their round but, important club scratch matches cannot be compromised by slow beginners so they had to give way. Bit unfortunate!

God dam them new hackers holding people up, wish they would play at night in the dark with head torches or something!

On a different note does anyone know why nobody is taking up golf anymore?