The slowest pre-shot routine ever.

[stevelev]

I played in the monthly medal today, and was so frustrated all the way round. I played with 2 members of the club I had not met before.

Player 1, assessed his shot as he approached it, made club selection line up, few practise swings, took shot. Whole process about 20 seconds.

Player 2, On reaching ball, stood behind for about 5 seconds, then went to side of ball and took a few practise swishes with his hand(no club). Then went to his bag took out his club,
check his grip, waved it up and down 3 times,
Line shot up from behind ball.
Stand at side of ball, line feet up using club pointing down in line of shot to be played.
Then take 3 practise swings.
Step away from ball,
Re-address ball checking feet line with club again.
Finally take shot.
This whole process took a minimum of 40seconds per shot, never less often more.

Now was I wrong to let him know that all be it a pre-shot routine it was slow play, and affecting not only the other 2 players with him but the entire field behind our group. I let him know several times that the pace of play was to slow, and we should have been aiming to finish in less than 4 hours. He just shrugged it off saying that he had never played a 3 ball in less than 4 hours, and about 4 & 1/2 hours seemed good to him.

We were the 2nd group out and our round took 4&1/2 hours for our 3ball. Several times we had to apologise to groups behind. Needless to say by the end of the round i was fuming and anxious to get off.

He asked if we would both like to play with him in future weeks as the other players he had played with no longer play with him. I wonder why??? We both said there was no chance unless he learned to play quicker as it is frustrating to play at such a slow pace.

Question is, was I wrong to tell him about slow play, and refuse to play with him in the future? Also should I contact the committee to raise my concerns in relation to slow play.

Also how long does your pre-shot routine and actual shot take. From reaching your ball please not taking your club out.

 

[beggsy]

i think you was in the right to tell him why just let it affect you

 

[Jimbooo]

Where's the "I've never timed my pre-shot routine" option?

 

[goldenbare]

not sure how long my routine is but I would like to think I keep things moving along as well as I can.
In a 3 ball in our comps I usually look at 3hrs 40 mins as a good standard time, about 4 hrs for if we have to play in a 4 ball at the back of the field because of odd numbers.

 

[Doc]

4.5 hrs for a 3 ball is an hour too long.

I'd have walked and gone had a beer or four.

Did you not let the groups behind through?

Steve...

 

[stevelev]

4.5 hrs for a 3 ball is an hour too long.

I'd have walked and gone had a beer or four.

Did you not let the groups behind through?

Steve...

It was only the slow guy holding it up, we were both ready to play our ball, half the time we played our shots during his pre=shot routine cause it took so long. The group behind did say to us after the round that the guy is notoriously slow, and they could see we were playing as quickly as he allowed us.

I even told him that due to the length of his pre-shot routine he added at least 45 minutes onto the round, more if we would have waited for him to play before we hit our shots.

I am in two minds as to whether to write to the committee. I think it is unfair not only on the playing partners but the entire field.

 

[Doc]

I reckon you'd be well within your rights as a fee paying member to write to the committee.

But really there must be a better way to go about it?

Do you really need to get involved if he is known to be slow?

Cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm glad you told him and maybe once he can't get any playing partners the message will sink in. How can he honestly think 4 1/2 hours is acceptable for a three ball. Its a shame you let it get into your head and affect your game but I guess inevitable if you are getting grief from others behind. Not sure if writing to the committee will do anything other than cause waves as he obviously already has a reputation.

I've a set pre-shot routine that I stick to but I'm pretty sure those that played with me on Wednesday (or behind) will say I wasn't slow and so you can have one and still get it round sharpish.

 

[stevelev]

I reckon you'd be well within your rights as a fee paying member to write to the committee.

But really there must be a better way to go about it?

Do you really need to get involved if he is known to be slow?

Cheers

I am more than happy to get involved if it means that other players wont suffer the same problems down the line.

I'm not sure what to put in the letter is more to the point, what rules etc are to be mentioned. Does anyone have any idea?

 

[TXL]

I'm not sure what to put in the letter is more to the point, what rules etc are to be mentioned. Does anyone have any idea?

Not sure about rules however, in European tour events players can be fined if they have more than one "bad time" recorded against them - there is a set number of seconds per shot, somewhere in the region of 45 seconds from the time they reach their ball and/or it is their turn to play.

Also, in one club I belonged to they implemented a slow play local rule. Basically if your group took more than 3h 45m for a medal 3 ball and your group was more than 15 mins behind the group in front at the end of the round all three players were penalised 2 shots. Harsh on the non slow players but it sure cured the slow players

 

[stevelev]

Not sure about rules however, in European tour events players can be fined if they have more than one "bad time" recorded against them - there is a set number of seconds per shot, somewhere in the region of 45 seconds from the time they reach their ball and/or it is their turn to play.

Also, in one club I belonged to they implemented a slow play local rule. Basically if your group took more than 3h 45m for a medal 3 ball and your group was more than 15 mins behind the group in front at the end of the round all three players were penalised 2 shots. Harsh on the non slow players but it sure cured the slow players

I like the sound of that, would definitely make the game a little quicker, not a rush to play, but stop people taking forever over the ball, and ensure that no undue delays.

I also think that more player should see letting others play through as a benefit to the whole field rather than holding up jst the group behind so they have the course open in front of them.

 

[SGC001]

Quite right to mention it. However, if you'd lost ground and the group behind were waiting; you probably should have called them through as in that case as a group you would have been holding them up.

Maybe you could have a social game and help him with his routine or suggest they practice a shorter one / learn a new one from the pro if needed. They might not be aware they are that slow and need showing how others compare.

Videoing your own routine is good anyway, as you can check timings (consistency and pace), see if you are deviating etc:

Isn't there something like a shot clock guideline: 50 seconds for 1st to play approach shots (and par 3's), 40 seconds tee shots and 2nd / 3rd to play approach shots.

Btw we have a guy who times out over a minute at my old club (timings obtained from an away day 1st tee video).

If they can cut their routine down great as it should fall comfortably within these timings, but slow play where I played was more about, not calling people through when it's obvious a ball isn't going to be found easily, not been ready to play as players are walking to up to each ball in turn and chatting, marking scores before teed off on the next, leaving trollies / bags in daft places, marking the ball if you've putted up to a foot, not calling groups up on call on holes, rigidly sticking to the teeing box order if the long hitters on the tee 1st and the others could tee off, fiddling with their bags and tees for 2 minutes after having teed off.

On 1 occasion the same guy who takes a minute pre-shot routine teed off last on a par 3, the other 3 were at the green before he'd set off from the tee. he was slower between shots and that was more of the problem than the time taken in preparation for shots.

As you can tell we had 1 or 2 issues with it. The commitee introduced recommended times for groups and any group finishing over 4hours and more than x minutes behind the group in front got a warning, 3 warnings (so if you got stuck with a slow player 1 week, you'd be unlucky to get caught again and again - so it may be you) and you had to play at the back of the field for x amount of time.

I don't think they ever went down the on the clock and then penalties route as I don't think they could get anyone to give up a game and time players.

 

[palindromicbob]

The guy should read The Cure for a Grumpy Old Man by Peter Alliss. There is a good bit in that about this very type of player.

If you want to quote rules you could ask the committee to consider implementing pace of play guidelines.

Slow play is governed under Rule 6-7 but is probably one of the hardest rules for a golfer to self regulate themselves on as the definition of slow play varies. Better left in the hand of referees and committees.

Pace of play come under etiquette guidance:

To quote:
It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, it should invite the faster moving group to play through.

So you were more than within your rights to pull him on his pace.

Did the course assign the 3 ball? If so then you could make a request to never be set up with him again.

With all this time wasting did he actually manage to put in a good score?

 

[Whee]

People playing slowly really doesn't bother me. I enjoy the social element of the game and getting out for a round, so if we're waiting for the group in front, it's a great time to light up a smoke, get some fluid on board, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Life's too short to be getting wound up about being outside doing something you enjoy, for longer than you'd planned.

 

[bobmac]

If I were in the position, I would make a point of calling through as many groups as possible until he gets the message.
Also, if he is well known for being slow, why was he in the second group out?

Stick all the slow coaches out at the end and let them take 5 hours if they want.

 

[CMAC]

How far behind the group in front were you?
I'd also recommend calling each group behind through that ends up waiting!

Long pre-shots can be annoying but you can walk smartly between shots, be ready to take your shot in turn, leave your bag on route to the next tee etc etc

The starter would be a person to have a quiet word with but no need to go all committee on him, unless he's oblivious to it all he'll get the message.

 

[thegogg]

I think you do need to bring it to the attention of the committee especially as he's a known slow player otherwise how's it going to be resolved?

Slow play is by far the biggest discussion point/gripe in the bar at our club after all comps with a 100% of players agreeing it needs to be looked at with some sort of penalty being handed out to known culprits.

 

[bobmac]

I think you do need to bring it to the attention of the committee

I know what you mean but...
The guy has paid his membership for the year and he has as much right to be on the course as anyone. Who then has the right to tell him at what speed he plays at?

We're all different in life, some like to play fast and some prefer to play slowly.
I don't think anyone has the right to dictate to others how fast or slow they should play.

What I do ask is that they respect the other golfers who want to play at a different speed to them by either going out early (faster players) or later (slower players)
If this happened, the faster players would run round at 07.30 the medium players would have a pleasant walk around 9.00 and the slow coaches crawl round about 11.30

As long as the slow coaches let the faster players through, they can take all day out there as far as I'm concerned.

As it says in the good book..
Keep up with the group in front. If you cant, let the following group through.

 

[needmoreclub]

The known slow coaches at our club are put at the back of the draw for time requested. I think every club has them and most people know who they are.

 

[Bacardibatman]

If I were in the position, I would make a point of calling through as many groups as possible until he gets the message.
Also, if he is well known for being slow, why was he in the second group out?

Stick all the slow coaches out at the end and let them take 5 hours if they want.

^this


on the same wavelength