Sub 3 hour rounds

Part of the problem at my place is that there is nobody marshalling the course to tell people to get a move on. Yes, people should know if they are slower players if nothing else from the position of the groups ahead and behind but it seems like many see it as a massive affront to their manhood to admit that they play the game at a more relaxed pace. Comments from the group behind just produce unnecessary confrontation or my personal favourite, the mad dash off the tee by the slower group so as they do not have to make any contact with the quicker group behind. Basically everyone has an excuse as to why they have lost a hole or why the group behind should not go through.

That said, the club cannot afford full time marshalls or starters. My only suggestion would be that start and finish times should be recorded on each competition card then you can see where the gaps are between groups and issue warnings and sanctions accordingly. I also see this as one of the few down sides of not having a tee booking system every week. If we did then the club could take more control over group sizes. on a busy Saturday, there are far too many 2 balls and single players expecting a dash round at peek times. Group at few of them up into 3 and 4 balls and suddenly the whole course is playing at a similar pace. Whilst I appreciate that everyone would like to play in whatever group size they like, constantly playing smaller groups through on a busy weekend does as much to slow up the general pace of play as anything else.
 
Don't really understand why thecraw is the scapegoat again!

Its not a difficult game or concept to keep moving, if you get into trouble play a provisional there and then, keep the play moving.

I along with a good few others (it would seem from reply's) think that the game can be played in smart time and that does not include any rushing or running. Hit and walk. Hit it again.

Waiting about is tedious and frustrating especially watching someone wrestle with their Popeye headcover or standing on the green counting their shots in an animated fashion.
 
what club do you play at thecraw?
I think the rest of us are keen to steer clear in case we take 181 minutes to complete 18 holes...

Both are in my signature, if you ever want a game drop me a pm and you won't need running shoes I can assure you.
 
I enjoy playing golf with friends too much to worry about time. If we finish the round quickly or in 4-5 hours, doesn't matter. I work too damn hard to worry bout little things like time.

Don't really understand why thecraw is the scapegoat again!

Curious, but why do you refer to yourself in third person?
 
I tell the missus it always takes 6 hours for a round!!! ;)

Seriously though chaps its got to be about the course you play. Mine is over 5.5 miles long. Over 7200 and will always take around 4 hours on a good day. I'm a fast player and my best as a 3 ball is 3.25 hours. Not everyone's choice but as all serious golfers and lovers of the game a few basic common sense suggestions should be followed:

1. Keep up with the group in front. If you loose a hole either let people though or move quickly in between shots to make it up
2. Clear the green and tee boxes quickly. Dont spend 10 mins discussing the last putt you missed untill you start walking down the next fairway
3. Place bags and carts on the exit side of the green.
4. Take a provisional if not sure
5. Move quickly in between shots
6. Let people through if they are obviously quicker. Why p*ss them off and pressurise yourself?
7. Reduce practice swings and stop imitating pros. They are a bad example in this case!
8. If your'e a quick player play early. If your slow go later in the day if possible
9. Be aware of other people on the course and what they are doing and feeling. Be considerate.
10. Be ready to play when its your turn. Have your measuring, practice shots, rub downs, swifties etc done by the time its your go.
11. Plan your time better if you know its a medal/comp where its going to take longer. Acceptance will help everyone keep cool and thinking straight
12. Make sure you find your ball first before going to look for others! If you cant find either in 5 mins then move to the provisional! Its the rules :)

13. Be on the 1st tee promptly (8 mins before) and don't be late teeing off when its your turn.

14. Think rhythm and momentum = positive results

15. Enjoy :)
 
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This thread makes me laugh. The difference between a 3 hour round and a 4.5 hour round is 5 mins each hole.

My course is just shy of 7000 yards. Some on here play ones around 6000 or less. That will make a difference right there. You also have course layout to consider. The walk from our 9th to the 10th is about 5 mins.... more time there. We also have a few holes, which causes congestion... short par 4 7th, par 3 8th and a hard dog leg right 9th that some people choose to take on (across some water). A few more minutes there.

Around our track the pro's who teach, work there have gone round on a clear course in just a shade over 4 hours. That was with no one on the course and playing to scratch or better. On average I'd say it's about 4.5 hours when the course is full. That's just the way it is. Very little waiting (except on the congested holes as explained above).

Do I care? Nope. Enjoy your 3 hour rounds with 10 mins a hole. I'll enjoy my 4.5 hours / 15 mins a hole just as much thanks.
 
Having a quick read through this thread I think it's fair to say that any round of golf should only take around 3 - 3 1/2 hours no more even in medals and most folk would agree with this. So why does it take some folk longer than others and then there are them that are happy for 4 hour rounds. So ask yourself this why does it take so long are you getting held up by the group in front or are you the ones holding up the course ? Weekend Warriors sums it up for me if you are the latter......

Now I am away off to the course and God for bid should I get held up by some Weekend Warriors or some guys from the diggers society out there hacking up the course:fore:
 
I recently played dundonald it was a five hour round. this was a fourball bounce game, discuss

Okay Big Fella I will have a go and tell me if I am close.

In your 4 ball there was your good self a Weekend Warrior, A Chomper and some guy from the Diggers Society.

I am sure there were a good few 2 or 3 Cats out there with you..............
 
Oh I love this thread - so many people thinking they know why other people do stuff, and why can't they be the same as themselves? Wonderful

I particularly love statements such as "I dont know why anyone needs to ... " meaning "I'm right so you must be wrong "

Personally I say play at whatever pace you want and for what ever reason you want.

You can play for 6 hours if you wish, as long as everyone ,eats people through.

My second best ever round took 1 hr 50; my playing partner shot his best ever round. It was a lovely summer morning at 6 am, no-one on the course, and we thought we were playing slowly. We just "played" and met up on the green and tees :). we both recall this round as being a lovely day and lovely round of golf. we were not rushing. my colleague was playing off about 20 at the time.

Ok our course is short but that translates to 2.5 hours on a 7000 yard course.

Ps the answer to the repeated question "why do people have to rush off" is that they have families, jobs, sick parents etc. that should not be a reason to ban them from golf
 
Hold them up, they would have fell asleep out there getting stuck behind them:whoo:

Oh what ever you do BS don't tell us the craw was with you:smirk:


Thecraw, Val, Fairway & Fabian were getting held up the whole way by some of your "digger society"!!! The game behind us didn't even get close to us either!
 
Thecraw, Val, Fairway & Fabian were getting held up the whole way by some of your "digger society"!!! The game behind us didn't even get close to us either!

tut tut , we did have to wait a wee bit. but we weren't trying to play through you. we would have followed you through the group in front. I just remembered there was a two ball behind us. I asked them to play through us but they refused and said they were happy to follow us.
to be honest I didn't realise it was a 5 hour round till we finished.
someone has pointed out that the difference between a 3 hour and 4 1/2 hour is 5 mins a hole. that is easily done
 
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