The difference a SLOW round makes...

[patricks148]

ive just come back from playing a Tie.

teeing of a good hour before us there were three 4 balls with Caddies behind them were 4 two balls that they wouldn't let though. Luckily id won my match by the 13th so walked in, I imagine they are still out on the course now 5 hours later.

They were from Southern England by the way

 

[John_R7]

You can only play what is in front of you.
Ended up with a free run in front of us for most of Sundays round and took 3hrs 5mins for a 2 ball in the second round of the club championship. Week before it was 4hrs 10mins.
I prefer the quicker but do not let the slower get the better of me.
Play the course (time wise as you find it).
On the slow rounds:-
walk slower
chat more
take time when you can but do not change your pre-shot routine

One thing I do avoid is sitting down, that can impact me a little.

 

[el marko]

Really enjoyed my round at Merrist wood when i played last year but i was put off the membership by the slow rounds and the very long grass in the fairway

 

[JCW]

3 1/2 hours for a 2 ball on a quiet course , did you have a lunch break ?, I played Lee Park GC in Liverpool last week teeing off at 4pm in 2 hrs 45 mins with a mate . over 5 hours for a round .....................toooo slow

 

[dufferman]

Is this pace really a Southerner thing?? I've never played a round of golf further north than Oxford, so I wouldn't know, but I'd say 4 1/2 hours is a 'standard' round for a 3 ball in Surrey?

 

[bobmac]

When I was young, there was a sign in the clubhouse that stated
A 2 ball must not take longer than 3 hours
A 3 ball must not take longer than 3 hours 15 mins
A 4 ball must not take longer than 3 hours 30 mins

That was 40 years ago and it was north of Oxford

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We can usually get round our 6,400 yard course (with some severe rough in places) in less than four hours in a medal. Four ball social games are also round in less than four hours too and for me that's not rushing, and a pace of play to suit most. I have played five hour rounds at other courses and members seem to accept these as the norm. Surely they need re-educating as do the owners, management. If no one questions the status quo so it will remain in place

 

[dufferman]

We can usually get round our 6,400 yard course (with some severe rough in places) in less than four hours in a medal. Four ball social games are also round in less than four hours too and for me that's not rushing, and a pace of play to suit most. I have played five hour rounds at other courses and members seem to accept these as the norm. Surely they need re-educating as do the owners, management. If no one questions the status quo so it will remain in place

You're right - it's common place to think 4 1/2 is the norm. So much so that a 3 1/2 hour round is fast in my books!

Maybe my golf would improve if I moved 'oop north?!

 

[woody69]

Is this pace really a Southerner thing?? I've never played a round of golf further north than Oxford, so I wouldn't know, but I'd say 4 1/2 hours is a 'standard' round for a 3 ball in Surrey?

4.5 hours isn't really standard for me, especially for a 3 ball, but it may be depending on the course. I personally judge a 4-ball "standard" round to be about 4 hours, however on the course I currently play at it's nearer 4.5 hours due to quite punishing rough and a few "hold-up" holes in the design with longer walks between tees etc and it playing close to 7000 yards. Over 18 holes it only takes 1 min 30 extra per hole (or just over 20 seconds extra per person) and suddenly the round is 30 mins longer almost. It really isn't much, which is why I find it amusing that people proclaim how ridiculous it is for a round to be 3.5 hours rather than 4 when you have 4 players.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I just have a bag of sweets I dip into; do the careful glove on and off; take a drink; carefully clean grooves - and look around being thankful that I am out playing golf.

 

[dufferman]

4.5 hours isn't really standard for me, especially for a 3 ball, but it may be depending on the course. I personally judge a 4-ball "standard" round to be about 4 hours, however on the course I currently play at it's nearer 4.5 hours due to quite punishing rough and a few "hold-up" holes in the design with longer walks between tees etc and it playing close to 7000 yards. Over 18 holes it only takes 1 min 30 extra per hole (or just over 20 seconds extra per person) and suddenly the round is 30 mins longer almost. It really isn't much, which is why I find it amusing that people proclaim how ridiculous it is for a round to be 3.5 hours rather than 4 when you have 4 players.

I guess the course you play also makes a difference. The few I play round here tend to be on the long side (Merrist Wood, Pine Ridge) and other just seem to be very busy (Blue Mountain, Traditions) but granted other courses aren't always so busy or long!

 

[el marko]

I guess the course you play also makes a difference. The few I play round here tend to be on the long side (Merrist Wood, Pine Ridge) and other just seem to be very busy (Blue Mountain, Traditions) but granted other courses aren't always so busy or long!

All of those are crown golf and they all attract terrible terrible golfers who couldn't give a damn about the people behind that they're holding up. I live almost next door to Pine Ridge and find it an absolute abomination how that course is managed.