What is a Reasonable Gap Between Tee Times

[GB72]

I was looking to arrange a small forum meet at Thorpe Wood and having found out that a mate was playing there last week I checked how it went. The answer was 'awful' as the course was booking groups in at 4 minute intervals. Now this is a muni so has large numbers of golfers of differing abilities and differing knowledge of etiquette. The result was sometimes up to 5 groups of 4 waiting on a tee to play some holes. Now I know that they need to get the money in but 4 minute gaps to me seems madness. Certainly the potential forum meet there is a no as I cannot see anyone wanting to sign up for what can be up to a 6 hour round at really busy times.

 

[USER1999]

We have 8 minute intervals, but I still think that's too close together. we get stuck on the fourth (first par 3).

To me, if no one tee'd off until the group in front had left the first green (par 4), then it would be about perfect, and we would whizz round.

 

[Alex1975]

Thats carzy, I would not wait for 5 four balls to tee off more than once I dont think. Thats just greedy.

 

[Oddsocks]

i think we run at 7 min gaps, which on a good day isnt bad, but you only need one slow group to cock things up. i have stood on our 2nd before and looked back down our 1st which is about 480 yard par 5.

One group on the Tee,
one that have just got to their drives
One that have got to their 2nd shots
one on the green putting.

not good.

 

[GB72]

The really insane thing is that, if I remember rightly, Thorpe Wood starts with a par 3. There is no way in the world that a group can clear a par 3 in 4 minutes so you are easily looking at a backlog of 3 or 4 groups before you even start.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It's 6 minutes at our place and we start with a short par 4 that's reachable for the big lads, then a par 3, then a par 5. It can be slow until you're on the 4th or 5th hole. Not that I mind, the view of Arthur's Seat is pretty nice.

 

[Twire]

Our competitions go off in 8 minute intervals, other than that, we don't have tee times, so it's just go when the fairways clear.

 

[EZprophet]

I think 7/8 minutes is pretty standard and probably good for most courses.

 

[turbowoowoo]

we are very lucky in that we have two courses.

alternately one is designated 2 ball upto 1:00pm and the other is 4 ball.

Only ever queued at the 1st once (for about 3 mins).

 

[sweatysock41]

Ours is 8 minutes - generally that is fine. Our 2nd is a par 3 so sometimes even with 8 minute intervals you have to wait on the tee there. Especially if you're following me and I've sliced it back down the 1st

 

[brendy]

Ours starts first thing with 8 mins then goes to 9 after a couple of hours then 10 mins after another couple of hours. Apparently it was tested and works better than any other solution at our course.

 

[thedrewser]

An issue we have is that from the first tee you hit over the lip of a hill/slope and you can't see the fairway, therefore you are reliant on the group ahead of you ringing the bell half way down the fairway.

If the group ahead doesn't ring the bell you can end up standing on the first tee like a dummy with a group or two waiting. After a time you just have to go and it's annoying to see the next group on the second fairway having not rung the bell.

 

[stevek1969]

ours are 8 minutes for non medal comp days during the week and 10 minutes for medals and comps it works pretty good and everyone adhere's to the 10 minute gap ,no teeing of early.

 

[DarthFader]

We have 8 minute gaps at our course and that seems to work ok.

 

[Aztecs27]

Ours are either 8 or 10 mins.

Unwritten rule is no singles or 2 balls before lunchtime, but if it's not really busy, you can usually get out...And the tee times stop at 4pm and you can rock up and get in line. Hardly ever have to wait to tee off. Most is 10 mins, but I use that time putting and stretching.

 

[TXL]

A lot depends on the course and the type of play. We have an 8 minute gap for regular play but increase it to 9 mins when we have a blue tee competition.

 

[TheJezster]

Ours is 4 minutes, we start with a 228 yard par 3, but our local rules are we can tee off when the group ahead are on the greens of the long par 3. It doesnt work out that badly I dont think but then it is a shorter course than most I believe.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We did have 10 minutes per group for the booked competition times but there were complaints that not everyone could get a game so to make the field bigger in the alloted tee times it's now been put back to 8 minut gaps to get more groups out. As out 1st is a par 3 it shouldn't really make too much difference and as it is only comps that have a booking you can usually roll up and go out whenever so its rarely an issue

 

[Evesdad]

An issue we have is that from the first tee you hit over the lip of a hill/slope and you can't see the fairway, therefore you are reliant on the group ahead of you ringing the bell half way down the fairway.

If the group ahead doesn't ring the bell you can end up standing on the first tee like a dummy with a group or two waiting. After a time you just have to go and it's annoying to see the next group on the second fairway having not rung the bell.

Our first is the same over a hill and if no one rings the bell you can be standing there like pratts. ours was ten mins got dropped to nine to squeeze a few more tee times in over the winter, has now been dropped to 8 mins.

 

[viscount17]

you remember correctly, about 170, OOB on the right so with any number of newbies there are bound to be some. next one is a par 4 slog uphill, also with that OOB.

for comps and weekends, and societies ours is 7 min. but tbh I think courses need to be a bit cleverer about it as there are a couple of log jam holes. be a bit more flexible, maybe 6 min. for 2-ball and 10 for a 4-ball.

mind you teeing off the first and facing a dogleg round the lake can make a mockery of tee times