The Belfry - Brabazon - 5hrs for 16holes.

[GB72]

Am I the only one not really surprised at the time it takes to play these courses. Look at the factors that point to a slow round:

1. Few on the course will have played it before so have no idea where they are going, where to hit a tee shot, where a ball is pretty much certain to be lost etc.
2. People are out for what may well be a one off round at a famous course that they have paid a fair chunk to play. Of course they are going to putt out on every hole, play on whatever the score etc. It would be unreasonable to expect otherwise.
3. The course does not really restrict handicaps and it is not an easy course and so higher handicappers may well take longer.

For those reasons alone a longer round is pretty much inevitable. What they should be better at doing is warning those who want to book a tee time after a certain time that there is a risk that they will not get round.

 

[Foxholer]

Am I the only one not really surprised at the time it takes to play these courses. Look at the factors that point to a slow round:

1. Few on the course will have played it before so have no idea where they are going, where to hit a tee shot, where a ball is pretty much certain to be lost etc.
2. People are out for what may well be a one off round at a famous course that they have paid a fair chunk to play. Of course they are going to putt out on every hole, play on whatever the score etc. It would be unreasonable to expect otherwise.
3. The course does not really restrict handicaps and it is not an easy course and so higher handicappers may well take longer.

For those reasons alone a longer round is pretty much inevitable. What they should be better at doing is warning those who want to book a tee time after a certain time that there is a risk that they will not get round.

Far far too sensible!

Add the owners' 'revenue optimisation' (greed) by stacking as many punters as they can on it and it's definitely no surprise that rounds are slow!

 

[hovis]

Far far too sensible!

Add the owners' 'revenue optimisation' (greed) by stacking as many punters as they can on it and it's definitely no surprise that rounds are slow!

In all fairness to the belfry 10 minute gaps are about industry standard

 

[delc]

In all fairness to the belfry 10 minute gaps are about industry standard

Our club has 8 minute gaps between tee times without normally causing too many slow play problems, unless it's a medal at the weekend!

 

[MendieGK]

Our club has 8 minute gaps between tee times without normally causing too many slow play problems, unless it's a medal at the weekend!

I would say that is usually standard but with the only difference being, this is the most famous Ryder Cup course there is, and i doubt very much every single tee time from 7am until 3pm is booked (60 tee times).

If the course had one or two spare spots every couple of hours i would think it would have helped the flow quite considerably.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Yes that's what we've found on most resorts course's, although for us as a group of 20-24 of all handicaps it's not an issue at all. We did Slaley in 4.30hours one day and 5.30 the next, similar with Carden and Formby Hall. We aren't ina rush as we are away playing golf for the weekend but can imagine if you are then it would annoy you - alot.

But I think with a bit of thinking and decent marshaling it can be done. I've played Forest Pines on a few occasions and despite the fact that there is a hell of a lot of traffic on it, and they have 3 loops of 9 with groups crossing from one loop of 9 to the another all the time, they seem to manage to keep the pace of play acceptable.

Yes you won't get round in 3 hours at the weekend, but I've never been over 4.5 hrs, and usually nearer 4, with very little waiting around to hit shots.

 

[Marshy77]

But I think with a bit of thinking and decent marshaling it can be done. I've played Forest Pines on a few occasions and despite the fact that there is a hell of a lot of traffic on it, and they have 3 loops of 9 with groups crossing from one loop of 9 to the another all the time, they seem to manage to keep the pace of play acceptable.

Yes you won't get round in 3 hours at the weekend, but I've never been over 4.5 hrs, and usually nearer 4, with very little waiting around to hit shots.

We've just booked Forest Pines for next year so look forward to that :thup:

 

[Hacker Khan]

We've just booked Forest Pines for next year so look forward to that :thup:

I forgot to mention the course is an absolute goat track though, you'll get round quickly but you'll be glad you did.


Only joking, it's very nice, one of those courses where if it was down south would be a hell of a lot more to visit. Make sure you play all 3 loops over the weekend if you can.

 

[Marshy77]

I forgot to mention the course is an absolute goat track though, you'll get round quickly but you'll be glad you did.


Only joking, it's very nice, one of those courses where if it was down south would be a hell of a lot more to visit. Make sure you play all 3 loops over the weekend if you can.

Hahaha, couple of the guys have played it and a few a couple of weeks ago. Some where impressed and a couple thought it was ok (possibly too many trees).

Yes got all 3 loops booked in. Looking forward to it, 22 of us going and it's normally a good weekend.

 

[Three]

Yes that's what we've found on most resorts course's, although for us as a group of 20-24 of all handicaps it's not an issue at all. We did Slaley in 4.30hours one day and 5.30 the next, similar with Carden and Formby Hall. We aren't ina rush as we are away playing golf for the weekend but can imagine if you are then it would annoy you - alot.

This is a major contributory factor.

Not the groups themselves, but large groups playing in fourballs, away on a jolly boys weekend with no care for the time, mixed in with regular fourballs who want to play at a more normal speed.

I've worked at a resort that takes the big groups, the majority are great, but you just need a group or two with a couple or few beginners with no clue on etiquette and pace of play and it becomes a nightmare for everyone behind them.

 

[delc]

This is a major contributory factor.

Not the groups themselves, but large groups playing in fourballs, away on a jolly boys weekend with no care for the time, mixed in with regular fourballs who want to play at a more normal speed.

I've worked at a resort that takes the big groups, the majority are great, but you just need a group or two with a couple or few beginners with no clue on etiquette and pace of play and it becomes a nightmare for everyone behind them.

Golf is a bit like driving round the M25 in the rush hour. You can only go as fast as the people in front will allow you to!

 

[Dando]

I was in AG over the weekend and some guy was in there buying new golf gear for his weekend away at the Belfry - I bet the sales guy wished he was on commission as he bought the whole lot - FJ shoes, Ping irons, woods and bag, Pro V1's and a stack of clothing.

it was going to be his first time playing golf but at least he looked good!!!!!

 

[Marshy77]

This is a major contributory factor.

Not the groups themselves, but large groups playing in fourballs, away on a jolly boys weekend with no care for the time, mixed in with regular fourballs who want to play at a more normal speed.

I've worked at a resort that takes the big groups, the majority are great, but you just need a group or two with a couple or few beginners with no clue on etiquette and pace of play and it becomes a nightmare for everyone behind them.

Very true, that's not us btw as although we are a mixed bunch we know how to play (maybe) but do know when we need to get a move on.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Unacceptable that you pay your money, set out in good time to get round and then fail to finish the course. I doubt your get nothing but a stock letter apologising but they won't tackle the root causes

 

[MendieGK]

Unacceptable that you pay your money, set out in good time to get round and then fail to finish the course. I doubt your get nothing but a stock letter apologising but they won't tackle the root causes

I can but hope 😀

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can but hope 😀

I agree and you'd hope that customer service still counts for something but I fear not.

 

[Three]

I was in AG over the weekend and some guy was in there buying new golf gear for his weekend away at the Belfry - I bet the sales guy wished he was on commission as he bought the whole lot - FJ shoes, Ping irons, woods and bag, Pro V1's and a stack of clothing.

it was going to be his first time playing golf but at least he looked good!!!!!

What makes you think they're not on commission?

 

[Warbur]

I played the Brabazon yesterday and I guess we were lucky. Tee time off 9.30am and finished just after 2pm. This includes a stop at the halfway house and fishing my pp's trolley out of the lake to the rear of the 3rd green!!! Good job is wasn't very deep here as he was a bit of a drama queen so yours truly waded in to get it out for him!

Wouldn't have wanted an afternoon tee time though as the Romanian RWC squad were playing and the lady on the 10th hole challenge thought that most of them had never played before! I guess this is one of the problems with places like this as they're happy to let pretty much anyone on.

Still, we had a great day out

 

[Dan2501]

Ridiculous that they just let anyone on a Championship Ryder Cup course. Fair enough on all the other courses, but there's not many world class courses that people that have never played before are allowed on.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Ridiculous that they just let anyone on a Championship Ryder Cup course. Fair enough on all the other courses, but there's not many world class courses that people that have never played before are allowed on.

The Brabazon isn't a World class course - nowhere near

Why shouldn't people be able to play on it ?