Sub 3 hour rounds

[MadAdey]

Can someone explain to me what this obsession with getting round in under 3 hours is. I really do not understand how anyone can enjoy playing golf, if all they are worried about is being sat back in the clubhouse within 3 hours of arriving.

Played on the Arden course yesterday with NWJocko and Stuey01. It took a grand total of 4 1/2 hours to get round, but it did not wreck my day, or my enjoyment of the round. I think this is because the sun was out and I was playing with a couple of top lads that had a good laugh all the way round. If you are playing with some good lads and you are good company on the course, then you should still be able to have a good time and enjoy your round, irrespective of how long it takes.

Do not get me wrong, if someone is holding me up and they have a clear course in front, I do expect them to wave me through, as I am always courteous and wave other players through when it becomes apparent that I am holding them up.

But what I will still never work out is how someones enjoyment of a round can be spoilt by not getting round in under 3 hours.

 

[duncan mackie]

there's little doubt for some it's the challenge, in the same way as managing to hit a particular iron to a par 3, or drive x yards...

for most people 'slow play' means not being able to play at the natural speed of their game - it really is that simple. there will be many reasons why this can happen, but failure of a particular group to get round a 7000yd course in less than 3 hours is rarely one of them!

 

[Bobmysterkaymer]

Here here!!!!

 

[Bucket92]

People also have to remember that higher handicappers will take a lot more shots and spend a lot more time looking in the rough and in the bushes for their ball, so it all adds up for them!

 

[thecraw]

4.5 hours to play golf?

I'm not a fast player, but I don't fart about or bumble along like a dobber. I won't stand about chatting between shots, I won't pace off and measure for the sake of 5 yards, I won't stalk putts like a caged tiger, I won't walk back to the tee after searching for 10 minutes for a ball. I won't leave my bag in a stupid place.

I will pick a club and hit it, I will look at a putt and hit it, I will place my bag in a sensible position, I will hit a provisional if I'm in the cabbage, I will chat and look at the scenery in between shots.

I will usually be round in about 3 hours.

Its not difficult chaps to get round a golf course in smart time. I don't deliberately go out with the aim to be round in X time but I do know that 3 hours is perfect for a round of golf without rushing. 4.5 hours for a bounce game is nonsense, I hope you let several groups through and didn't hold up the course too much!

 

[brendy]

Sub three hours for those that want to run round off peak is totally up to them, I will play at a reasonable pace and try not to hold anyone up and keep up behind those in front. I get to work all week and saturday comp golf is pretty much the only time I get away to myself so I am not going to run round.

 

[thecraw]

People also have to remember that higher handicappers will take a lot more shots and spend a lot more time looking in the rough and in the bushes for their ball, so it all adds up for them!

That's rubbish, if your ready to play when its your turn and play a provisional then it shouldn't take much longer. Its when you spend 20 minutes looking for a Pinnacle Gold then decide to go back and play another ball that time and problems build up.

 

[Slab]

My round this weekend will be 4 1/2 hrs minimum, no chance it'll be less, zip, zero, nada, zilch, squat diddly...but I can't wait for it

 

[dufferman]

As long as you enjoy the game, I don't care if it takes 5 hours! Good company, good weather, good shots... who cares about time?

I'm in the same boat as brendy - I play once a week due to work, and will enjoy it however long it takes. These people who want to race round in 3 hours are either more interested in the bar or don't have any body they enjoy playing with!

 

[Bomber69]

That's rubbish, iour ready to play when its your turn and play a provisional then it shouldn't take much longer. Its when you spend 20 minutes looking for a Pinnacle Gold then decide to go back and play another ball that time and problems build up.

Well said that man, there is far to much jaw action goes on while folk play golf. If you want to chat about your day do it back in the clubhouse once you have completed your round. The days of 3-31/2 hour rounds are now sadly a thing of the past as more and more weekend warriors take to the golf course.

 

[Stuey01]

Craw, we waited on almost every tee and several approaches as the course was backed up. There were a couple of slow groups in front of metal mickie, Gil-Emott and rob2.
It took 4 1/2 hrs to get round because that was the pace of play in front, not because of us. We didn't let it bother us though and had a good time regardless of how long it took.

But thanks for your concern for the non-existent groups behind.

 

[Bucket92]

That's rubbish, if your ready to play when its your turn and play a provisional then it shouldn't take much longer. Its when you spend 20 minutes looking for a Pinnacle Gold then decide to go back and play another ball that time and problems build up.

A player shooting 72 will take less time than a guy shooting 102. Think about it.

 

[Bomber69]

As long as you enjoy the game, I don't care if it takes 5 hours! Good company, good weather, good shots... who cares about time?

I'm in the same boat as brendy - I play once a week due to work, and will enjoy it however long it takes. These people who want to race round in 3 hours are either more interested in the bar or don't have any body they enjoy playing with!

It's guys like you who don't see anything wrong with 5 hours rounds that are most probably holding the course up, get a move.......

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Under 3 hours is too fast for me, over 4 hours is too slow. I hate to wait, but at the same time I hate to run.

 

[fundy]

I prefer to play fast but not am obsessed with being round in 3 hours (that said on an empty course in a 2 ball I almost certainly will be). Personally like to play to a decent rhythm and not have to stand and wait over shots (just gives me more time to think destructively lol), I dont take a great deal of time over the ball and am pretty much always ready when its my turn.

Personally think those at the other end of the spectrum suck the life out of the game, often thinking they own the course and can play at any pace they like without any regard for anyone else. Last weekend played a knockout match, turns out we were behind a 4ball ko final who thought 5 and 1/2 hours and not letting anyone else through was perfectly acceptable (2 groups walked off at 9 and 2 groups skipped 2 holes to bypass them!)

 

[thecraw]

As long as you enjoy the game, I don't care if it takes 5 hours! Good company, good weather, good shots... who cares about time?

I'm in the same boat as brendy - I play once a week due to work, and will enjoy it however long it takes. These people who want to race round in 3 hours are either more interested in the bar or don't have any body they enjoy playing with!

Totally wrong attitude. I think you need to read your clubs etiquette guide. All people ask for is a bit of common sense, and ensure your ready to play when its your turn.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I would say its about 3 1/2 hrs average for me. If some one wants to take 5hrs & have a chat whilst playing,as long as they're not holding any one up then I don't see the problem. It's the ones that stand about talking,marking cards on the green etc.... That wind me up.

 

[thecraw]

I prefer to play fast but not am obsessed with being round in 3 hours (that said on an empty course in a 2 ball I almost certainly will be). Personally like to play to a decent rhythm and not have to stand and wait over shots (just gives me more time to think destructively lol), I dont take a great deal of time over the ball and am pretty much always ready when its my turn.

Personally think those at the other end of the spectrum suck the life out of the game, often thinking they own the course and can play at any pace they like without any regard for anyone else. Last weekend played a knockout match, turns out we were behind a 4ball ko final who thought 5 and 1/2 hours and not letting anyone else through was perfectly acceptable (2 groups walked off at 9 and 2 groups skipped 2 holes to bypass them!)

100% agree with this.

Common sense and be aware of others is not too much to ask! Is it?

 

[BTatHome]

The course plays a huge part in the duration of a medal round. At our place 4.5 hours is the norm, that's not slow and waiting on every shot but just the way a 3 ball medal round and the walks take.

 

[dufferman]

It's guys like you who don't see anything wrong with 5 hours rounds that are most probably holding the course up, get a move.......

On a summers day on a packed Saturday mid-morning, my 4 ball aren't going to tear up the course and try to play through every single group in front, that's just common sense. I'm not a member of a course so don't have the luxury of members only tee times & courses.

Like I said, I enjoy the game and the company. People who want to fly round in 3 hours should maybe wait to play on a day where there are no other groups on the course?