Whats The Rush

[need_my_wedge]

@OP, I was just recently pondering the same. I don't like waiting around on shots, we should be able to play and move on each time, standing around waiting causes people to start stressing out (when there is no need to). I don't think I'm a slow player at all, but I recently realized that in order not to be seen as a slow player, I was rushing around the course at a rate of knots. I play my shot and am then walking straight off, not necessarily chatting with my playing partners, just going to my ball to be ready to play the next shot. Whilst I was zipping round 9 holes in 1.5 hours, it was having a detrimental effect on my game. I wasn't focussing on shots or playing the game, or enjoying the game, just on getting round in a quick time, when there was absolutely no need to get round in any particular time.

I'm now trying to slow down a bit on the course and enjoy the round more, after all, I am supposed to be there to enjoy it. If, in slowing down I start to lose distance in front, and someone behind is quicker then I'll let them through where possible. However, if in slowing down, I'm still keeping up with the players in front, then that will dictate the pace of play, and I'm still not a slow player .

 

[Rlburnside]

Fact 1
Some people like to play quickly
Fact 2
Some people like/need to play slowly.
Fact 3
Some people play in between

The only way to keep everyone happy is to let the fast players out first and the slower players out last.
That way, the fast players take 3 hours =happy
Slow players take 5 hours =happy
Everyone else 4 hours =happy.

Fact 4
Mixing slow players with fast players will not help anyone.



Fact 5
No-one has the right to tell anyone else how long their game of golf should take.

What about the players that are slow and think they are fast

 

[bobmac]

What about the players that are slow and think they are fast

I'm sure the fast players will soon let them know

 

[Jacko_G]

@OP, I was just recently pondering the same. I don't like waiting around on shots, we should be able to play and move on each time, standing around waiting causes people to start stressing out (when there is no need to). I don't think I'm a slow player at all, but I recently realized that in order not to be seen as a slow player, I was rushing around the course at a rate of knots. I play my shot and am then walking straight off, not necessarily chatting with my playing partners, just going to my ball to be ready to play the next shot. Whilst I was zipping round 9 holes in 1.5 hours, it was having a detrimental effect on my game. I wasn't focussing on shots or playing the game, or enjoying the game, just on getting round in a quick time, when there was absolutely no need to get round in any particular time.

I'm now trying to slow down a bit on the course and enjoy the round more, after all, I am supposed to be there to enjoy it. If, in slowing down I start to lose distance in front, and someone behind is quicker then I'll let them through where possible. However, if in slowing down, I'm still keeping up with the players in front, then that will dictate the pace of play, and I'm still not a slow player .

I'm not sure how you can't talk while walking to your ball?

Talk between shots, talk walking off the green talk walking to the tee, walking off the tee, up the fairway.

 

[Orikoru]

Ive been wanting to post this for a while but wasn't sure how to word it , Im probably still unsure,

With work and family commitments I get to play on average 1 round of golf a week and pay for the privelage , ,I don't get to practice either range or playing 6/7 hole on an evening
Im turning 50 in 2019 , overweight but in general in good health so when I go out for my round of golf I want to relax and enjoy my round not running around the course because every1 wants to be in in 3 hours ..

Im getting tired of this need for fast golf, quick golf etc now dont get me wrong there is nothing I hate more than being held up by people who have lost a Cpl of holes as I would always call people through if we drop behind for more than one hole
I hear everyone complaining about slow play but yet to meet anyone who is a slow player ,

My Questions ..
Are we setting out with the wrong attitude ? should we be going out for a round if we have only 4 spare hours? if your playing under time pressure can you enjoy a game of golf even on an empty course ?

For many if not all on here golf is a pastime ,say it again to yourself .. a pastime ..!! a way to switch off from stresses of work and possibly family to clear your head , to stop on the journey in life and smell the roses , to appreciate the roses , to appreciate the beauty of the golf course the beauty of a good shot , the frustration of the bad round with the "I cant wait to get out again to put that round behind me"

Does anyone else get what im saying ? does anyone agree ? or am I mad ? possibly all 3 maybe

Interested in your replys and if the replys vary with the age …

As a side note I follow Mike H and Jezz E on Twitter and love their exploits around the globe, now I appreciate this is their work but I love their love of everything golf, isn't it time, well for us older chaps to see, appreciate and enjoy our pastime and see and appreciate the positives in our out in the open air, personal challenge with the course , our game and the elements ?

over to you ...

I agree with most of what you're saying. I'm often playing my golf in a fourball where the handicaps range from 18 to 30 - 4 hours is about standard for us, and I think that's perfectly acceptable. We don't dawdle but obviously there's always a chance one of us is having a bad hole so it adds up with the additional shots taken - with our handicaps we're not all going to par every hole! I don't enjoy being held up by slow groups, but I would also hate it if I felt like I was rushing every shot.

I feel that, within reason, any group has the right to play at their own pace as long as they let the following group play through as soon as practicable. 4 hours isn't slow, on competition days I've had to crawl round in over 5 hours before, that was slow. And that's always because the old duffers go out first and don't want to let anyone through.

 

[duncan mackie]

As long as I am not being held up and waiting on shots, and in turn l am not holding up anyone else then l don't really mind how long it takes. Enjoy the round & smell the roses on the way (or whatever is the equivalent).

But here's the rub - if you are playing singles matchplay behind a field of 30 4 balls playing a competition (club /society whatever) you will be held up and waiting - and you will be holding up the game behind you in the same way!
Even if you play through a few games the same issues will continue to apply!
Now, many members course recognise this and take steps to minimise it (from segregated tee's to 2 balls only at any time) but these bring their own issues in the enjoyment stakes for many - whilst generally resolving mixed course timings.
Some courses are well set up for playing though - some do not lend themselves to it at all!
If a course is full then faster groups will be held up from time to time.
Outside the mixed course environment he real problem isn't those not rushing - it's those dawdling.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I'm not sure how you can't talk while walking to your ball?

Talk between shots, talk walking off the green talk walking to the tee, walking off the tee, up the fairway.

That was my point, I was in such a rush to not be that slow player, I wasn't taking the time to chat. Something that I should be doing as part of enjoying the round.

 

[patricks148]

That was my point, I was in such a rush to not be that slow player, I wasn't taking the time to chat. Something that I should be doing as part of enjoying the round.

i don't understand how you can rush around and think you don't have time to talk to PP. on every hole you would be doing some waiting and why wouldn't you talk to PP walking to the green waiting to putt, walking to the next tee and then the next shot makes no sense to me.

Played in a 4 ball yesterday had several conversations at length with all 3 of my pp and still got round in under 3 hours without running or not enjoying it>

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There is always time to smell the roses but also no reason why people have to crawl around. I natter away, take in the scenery and love ready golf. You can manage all of these things quite easily.

If people want to take 5hrs to play a round then fill your boots but that will kill golf for the majority. Factor in driving time there and back, arrive before your tee time, play round, socialise after. Not everyone can spend 5-6 hours on a Saturday / Sunday every week. That is not condusive to family life. If you have that spare time then consider yourself lucky but the rest of have to manage our time a little better.

 

[Slab]

I don’t recall the last time I played golf when I had to be somewhere else afterwards at a certain time, I just don’t plan my golf days like that. If I have an appointment or something I need to do then I won’t play golf that day, if I'm playing golf then I won’t plan any appointments after it

Basically I don’t ‘squeeze in’ 18 holes

 

[Jacko_G]

I'm off now to "squeeze in 18" before picking the kids up from school.

Toodlepip.

 

[need_my_wedge]

i don't understand how you can rush around and think you don't have time to talk to PP. on every hole you would be doing some waiting and why wouldn't you talk to PP walking to the green waiting to putt, walking to the next tee and then the next shot makes no sense to me.

Played in a 4 ball yesterday had several conversations at length with all 3 of my pp and still got round in under 3 hours without running or not enjoying it>

OK, so I'm not playing the whole round in silence. However, I am one of those types that when I focus on any particular thing, I don't hear, and tend not to communicate well. If I'm in a hurry, my focus is striding off towards my ball, which is very often not in the same direction or place as others, so off I go. My point being that I have recognized this as a down side to my enjoyment of the game, and something that I am working on trying to improve .

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I think to answer your 1st question, you don't have to rush to get round in 4hrs. Doing the right things will achieve that quite easily. My issue is when it becomes stop/start, that's when I lose my concentration. I've played rounds longer than 4hrs that have flowed smoothly, not an issue at all. What really frustrates people is the lack of thought and consideration shown by some.

This ^^^^^. I am in my 60's and only play once a week, time isn't an issue however on a Sunday morning 4 ball, 4hrs inc a 15 min halfway house break should be easily achievable on my home course, if the course flows but is slow then so be it, however on Sunday we were the 2nd group out and were standing after pretty much every hole, now they were friends in front and despite a word at the start and at the halfway house they made no discernible effort to improve their pace of play. My mood at the finish was to say the least unhappy, so much so I swerved the post match gathering as I knew I would say something (possibly regrettable). In summation my weekly game completely ruined thro' their lack of thought. I am playing with one of the culprits on Sunday and I shall be having a quiet word and ensuring that we keep up with the pace of play or let a faster group(s) through.

Its not just about one's own game, a level of awareness of those around you should also be paramount.

 

[Slime]

4 ball should be 4 hours maximum!

Why?
What a ridiculous statement.

 

[Tashyboy]

Don't think I have ever ever played a round under four hours. My PP are slow. Cannot understand why if I am usually the shortest driver of the ball and a PP is ten yrds further forward 20 yds to the left he is not stood at his ball ready to play. I hit my shot, he/they then look at the pin, look at distance, choose club and go through routine. It takes an age. I have got to the stage that " chill Tash chill". this week two lads are on holiday, one dropped out and I played a two ball with a guy I had only previously played with once. We had a fantastic day, we played at a fantastic pace, but we're stuck behind a fourball for fourteen holes when we walked in. Not coz we were bogged off, we had a cheesy Cajun chip cob instead. We were chilled and had a good natter, looked for balls when we knew we were waiting at a par three ( found 20 odd balls between us). I am getting to the stage now where the exercise, company, chillin and realising that playing golf is better than being at work. Stuff the clock.

 

[Imurg]

Why?

He'll be back in 3 3/4 hours to tell you.....

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I don't think anyone should ever go out a busy course with the attitude that it's ok to dawdle round and call people through. That causes congestion and hold ups in itself. Keeping pace is not an issue on a course full of 3 and 4 balls. Why is it acceptable for 3 or 4 people to adversely affect everyone else on the course?

 

[duncan mackie]

This ^^^^^. I am in my 60's and only play once a week, time isn't an issue however on a Sunday morning 4 ball, 4hrs inc a 15 min halfway house break should be easily achievable on my home course, if the course flows but is slow then so be it, however on Sunday we were the 2nd group out and were standing after pretty much every hole, now they were friends in front and despite a word at the start and at the halfway house they made no discernible effort to improve their pace of play. My mood at the finish was to say the least unhappy, so much so I swerved the post match gathering as I knew I would say something (possibly regrettable). In summation my weekly game completely ruined thro' their lack of thought. I am playing with one of the culprits on Sunday and I shall be having a quiet word and ensuring that we keep up with the pace of play or let a faster group(s) through.

Its not just about one's own game, a level of awareness of those around you should also be paramount.

Excellent summary of the reality of many club rounds.

My playing partners yesterday felt I was rushing, and as such felt rushed. As one frequently took over a minute actually over his shot on the tee time was getting chewed up.
Marking 1ft putts, and the subsequent need to move markers around etc
In fairness they realised pretty quickly that if they hadn't got onto the tee within 2 minutes they weren't going to be taking their well earnt honour - but again I sensed they were feeling under pressure to get on with it in a manner that wasn't appreciated.
Had we been behind a slow game, with an even slower 4 ball behind us, everyone would have been happier, and the round would have taken another 30mins (which isn't the be all and end all; simply a reality. Any 2 ball further back would just have been even more frustrated....

 

[jim8flog]

To be fair, ready golf in match play isn't correct or should I say, I wouldn't in matchplay.

2019 rule change - you can play out of turn in match play with the opponents consent.

 

[patricks148]

He'll be back in 3 3/4 hours to tell you.....

not if he's gone to sneak in 18 holes at Machrihanish