Saw this on FB, maybe some good can come of this for the game...
https://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2...1rwCaHfz1aAh6gL7jLQX74adiktu62JPEQDNMlrUUshUs
https://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2...1rwCaHfz1aAh6gL7jLQX74adiktu62JPEQDNMlrUUshUs
The end of slow play??
- Thread starter patricks148
- Start date
try the new one
Neilds
Assistant Pro
Could the pace of play have improved because people are being made to wait the full 6/8/10 minutes between groups instead of just the usual “they have hit their 2nd and are out of range......”
IanM
Journeyman Pro
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
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- Monmouthshire, UK via Guildford!
...in Wales we are playing as singles, no chat, no short putts, no plumb-bobbing and round in 2hours 20...... but it doesn't feel like golf!
PaulS
Active member
As soon as it goes back to 3 and 4 balls the pace of play will drop , it’s quick right now because of - bunkers , pins , not searching for balls too much , 10 min 2 ball gaps etc , all things put in place to allow lots of spaces on the course but it’s with restrictions with many clubs only allowing members a certain amount of games a week etc.
The minute we go back to comps and 4 ball social games etc the time it takes to go around will increase.
It’s nice the pace of play at the moment but it’s also a false hope
The minute we go back to comps and 4 ball social games etc the time it takes to go around will increase.
It’s nice the pace of play at the moment but it’s also a false hope
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
If two balls was to become the norm, I would just quit, along with most of my friends, and the golf club would go bust.
Slow people just need to get a wriggle on.
Slow people just need to get a wriggle on.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I don't know, I can't see many golf clubs hampering their own income by saying no to fourballs on a long term basis.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Yes it's nice to get round quicker, but I would rather 20 mins longer and play 3 or 4 balls than only ever 2 balls.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I doubt many courses that rely on visitors and societies to bolster their finances would survive if 2 ball golf became the norm.
Yes, rounds are faster but not that much to make up for losing out on revenue from 3 and 4 ball societies
It would also consign Foursomes, 4BBB etc to history....
What I do think the current climate shows is that, with correct spacing of tee times, rounds can be played faster if you're not standing around waiting. Obvious but now we have the proof.
Yes, rounds are faster but not that much to make up for losing out on revenue from 3 and 4 ball societies
It would also consign Foursomes, 4BBB etc to history....
What I do think the current climate shows is that, with correct spacing of tee times, rounds can be played faster if you're not standing around waiting. Obvious but now we have the proof.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
You say that but apparently tennis is fine so what's the difference?
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Going back to the 1960's my old club had a 2ball/foursomes only rule until 10.30 am.
Gave the members a quick round until the visitors and 4 balls started at 10.30.
Foursomes was still a popular game then.
[For newbees foursomes are when two pairs play each other hitting alternate shots, not to be confused with fourballs or even the nondescript 'pairs']
Gave the members a quick round until the visitors and 4 balls started at 10.30.
Foursomes was still a popular game then.
[For newbees foursomes are when two pairs play each other hitting alternate shots, not to be confused with fourballs or even the nondescript 'pairs']
PaulS
Active member
When you play tennis you have to bring your own tennis balls and you are only allowed to touch with your hands your own balls - so they have to make their balls to make sure it’s theirs before picking them up.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
You could easily come up with some similar guidelines to play foursomes. i.e. only the owner of the golf ball touches it. They'd just have to tee it up for their partner on the odd holes and then back away again, or something.
williamalex1
Money List Winner
When we start up again [ hopefully next week ] we've to arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before tee time.
We should have our own clubs with us and change in the car park. More guidance to follow from the powers that be.
We should have our own clubs with us and change in the car park. More guidance to follow from the powers that be.
Crow
Crow Person
Played properly foursomes can be quicker than 2 balls. And foursomes is a 2 ball anyway.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
I would vote for that.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Just use the Texas scramble rule.
Hit drive mark and pick ball up then next player Places and plays his own ball.
Carry on like that. Alternative shots.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
I'm not sure in which edition of The Complete Golfer (1st Ed 1905) that Harry Vardon first had a go at four-ball foursomes (as fourball was called back then) - but in my 1914 copy - his views...?
The new foursome is also a selfish game, because it is generally played with too little regard for the convenience and feelings of other golfers on the links. It is very slow and couples coming up from behind who do not always care to ask to be allowed to go through, are often irritated beyond measure as they wait for four balls to be played through the green in front of them, and eight putts are taken on the putting green. The constant waiting puts them off their game and spoils their day.
And he goes on to go through how things get even slower and more confused when playing a four ball match - players in a pair working out what best to do; balls being mark and lifted ('continual lifting and replacing') etc.
Plus ca change. Vardon may have been thinking this over one hundred years ago - and he is of course right as we continue to think the same today
I'll add - he also admits that the fourball game has it's merits...however...
His book as a very interesting read for those interested in how the game was back in the day. But on this topic
See Chapter XVII - On Foursomes
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q4NFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=what+did+harry+vardon+think+about+four+ball+golf&source=bl&ots=jOWz1gPq68&sig=ACfU3U3tAUjFASuI1q9A3aX3UtwJ9BKk7Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjc08urjMLpAhXONcAKHX8pAE0Q6AEwDnoECA8QAQ#v=onepage&q=what did harry vardon think about four ball golf&f=false
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D
Deleted member 21258
Guest
Sadly doesn't solve it completely, wife/son left after 14 holes of a lot of waiting yesterday with 10 minute times. Still slow.
Its not always the total time taken, but the flow that is important to how it feels out on the course.
I thought Trevose has an interesting tee system, 2 ball golf upto 9am(could be remembering wrong with the timings!) and then 4 ball golf.
Its not always the total time taken, but the flow that is important to how it feels out on the course.
I thought Trevose has an interesting tee system, 2 ball golf upto 9am(could be remembering wrong with the timings!) and then 4 ball golf.
pendodave
Tour Rookie
I'd often thought it was a bit quaint that some more traditional clubs have a 2ball (incl 4somes) rule in place, but now I've seen it in action, I can see why they do it.
Having said that, I love playing with a group of mates, so while thinking that some windows during the week for 2balls might be a good thing, I'd never want to be a member at a club where I couldn't play as a 4 ball.
