Why rush ?

Bimey. I didn't expect all this...

I personally think the real problem is that golf is played by people. People want things to happen at their pace, and how and when they want it to.

On a sunday in the summer the 1st tee on my course is full from 7.00am till 11.00. but from 11.30 till about 2.00pm it can be like a Tony Blair Fan Club Meeting . Tumbleweed blowing across the fairway. At 2.30pm it starts to pick up again.

So a group on "3.30 flat", "proper golfers" could don there spikes, stretch their hamstrings, tee off at 2.00pm and sprint around at fast as their liitle legs could carry them. It would be just open fairways all the way.
or the obligatory club four-ball funeral procession could tee off at 2.00 and hope to finish before dark. keeping out of everyone's way.

But they don't because that time doesn't suit either of them.

I have played with really slow players who were a joy to be around. They did their best to make sure you enjooyed your day. I have also played with golfers who made me feel like I was just in the way and just preventing them being somewhere far more important. I know which i prefered.
 
So it's a saturday medal in July and the tee is fully booked from first light till say 3pm.
If the first group take 3 1/2 hours and the second group take 4 hours and there are no gaps in the field, how long will the last group take?
 
bobmac said:
So it's a saturday medal in July and the tee is fully booked from first light till say 3pm.
If the first group take 3 1/2 hours and the second group take 4 hours and there are no gaps in the field, how long will the last group take?
Click to expand...

If everyone is keeping up with the group in front and ahead of the group behind then everyone should get round in the same time. Everyone plays at the speed of the slowest group ahead of them if there are no gaps. My concern would be that the second group lost half an hour on the first group.
 
I dont particularly mind slow play, but it does bust my chops when slow players in front have me hanging about too much and i lose my rythm.
Nothing worse than losing a score because you were left hanging about for a green to clear and the flow of the round has gone.
 
Why rush?

I dont think any one rushes as they will get round in the time IT TAKES THEM. In other words, people do not want this time to be increased by others who get rigamortis in their arm (or forget ettiquette) when its time too call the group behind through.
 
i would also let the shorter hitters take the honour on the tee if there was a chance of reaching the group in front. the thing i really hate is waiting to take your tee shot because the group in front is taking their time. for some reason i always let the frustration get to me, resulting in a duff off the tee, and hilarity from my playing partners who have been waiting because i thought i would reach the group in front.... this happens every frikkin time...
 
what winds me up is that guy in the group in front, about 50, balding, big pot belly, flourescent green shirt, WITH THE COLLAR UP !

he thinks he's charles howell the 4th

how am I supposed to concentrate on my game now ?
 
Reading some of the comments on this thread. I can see a lot more burst eyes and insurance claims comming. For gods sake. Live and let live. (Now all go round at my pace or else. Big Vinny will come get you):D
 
the speed of play often badly affects "hackers" 18+ players who start getting flustered because some group is coming up behind them.

If i had a shilling for the weekends where we'd be playing in a medal and someone would say "that group keep waiting for us" and i reply "well they can't get through us because the group in front of them are still on the green and the one in front of them is on the tee."

However they get themselves in such a pickle that it destroys their game and ultimately any enjoyment which you try to take from the game.
 
Gareth said:
As much as I enjoy my golf, I'd sooner spend a Saturday afternoon playing with my son.
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Unless I'm playing in a comp, I get the best of both worlds, I play golf with my son :), and we mostly play when my wife is working (Nurse with lots of weekend shifts) so we don't lose out much on family time.

As for slow/ fast rounds, it takes as long as it takes me. Sometimes I get let through the group in front, sometimes I let the group behind through. the only bain is when I consistently have to wait on the group in front and they refuse to let you through when they are miles behind the next group. I would much rather just keep smoothly rolling along without pushing or being pushed.
 
bladeplayer said:
Ah Chris .. realy ? i usualy find you the rock of sence mate but realy ? youd rather be on the course an hour longer than play out of turn , what is the magic appeal of having the honour , except in matchplay ..
Click to expand...


To be honest I would never be an hour longer by playing in turn. I do always go first with my regular partner and I wouldn't be rude enough to barge my way through to play when it's someone else's honour as I consider the honour an "honour"

Me ! a rock of sense? mmmmm have you seen your doctor lately?


Chris
 
Interesting this as I've just been out playing.

2-ball, not rushing at all because it's actually a very nice day here so in no rush to get off the course.

We went round in 3 hours because a) the only 4 ball we came across let us through immediately and b) we were both playing well.

We weren't even watching the clock or anything, only realised when we finished.

As Murph said, I played the same amount of golf (even with a couple of practice putts extra after holing out) as I do in a 4 or 4 and a half hour round at the weekend.
 
The thing that gets to me is waiting as a four ball to play to the green. You all proceed and putt out. The group in front are still on the next tee teeing off. Another 5 minutes wait. Aaaaar
 
I always love the guy who hits a career best drive 250 yards down a par five, who has another 250 to the green, but is waiting for it to clear. Hello? You only got half way with a driver off a tee peg. You are ot going to make it, what ever club you pull.
 
murphthemog said:
I hate waiting. Full stop. Doesn't matter where I am, waiting is waiting. Any one happy waiting has way more patience than me, or is an idiot.

4 1/2 hours golf has the same amount of golf in it as 3 1/2 hours golf. The difference is waiting.

If I wanted to stand around watching the grass grow, I could do that at home.
Click to expand...

well said Murph. Couldn't agree more
 
I don't care if you want to play slower than me so long as you do the decent thing and wave me through....... very rare nowadays. And if I'm playing slower than you, you will get waved through. You want a five hour round? Fine, but I don't. Be courteous and their's every chance I'll buy you a beer.
 
A year or so back, a mate and i tee'd off at 7, and he was back in his house 3 miles away from the course , after we had played 18 holes, before 9 o'clock.

We both beat our handicap by miles that day

Just gives an indication of what can be achieved. Anyone who thinks it's because i play a short course, i have been round West Hill twice, in under 4 hours.


I dont suggest for a moment that is what anyone should do, but it is indicative of what a reasonable golfer can achieve (i was playing off about 24 when i went round West Hill).

i think you can play at whatever pace your group wants to play at (and then play through anyone and all who are playing faster) NOT just what you want to play at. In a group you shoudl play at the speed that teh Rules of Golf say you should play at , and i quote :

"There is a responsibility, therefore, on all players and administrators to ensure that golf is played at a good pace, and a pace appropriate to the course being played. Factors that may influence what is considered to be an appropriate pace may be the difficulty of the course, the distances between greens and tees, the climate and also the range of ability of the players on the course."

Nowhere in there does it say that you decide the pace of play based on how long you want to spend smelling the roses. The R&A etiquette section therefore tells you what you must do, and anyone smelling the roses is in breach of the Etiquette of teh Rules of Golf.

So STOP IT and speed up !
 
Not got kids and HID is more than happy for me to take as long as I like playing and doing her own thing. As a lot of you know my mum hasn't been well this year and had chemo. I tried to cram games in and then rush to see her at weekends. I was so focussed on getting round and thinking about her the golf was pants. I didn't enjoy it. got ratty with my partners and was a real bell end. Stopped for a bit except for comps (with my mums blessing) and as she got better slowly got into roll ups again.

The point is there are sometimes more important things. Even if you can get a round in and attend to these it doesn't mean you'll play any better. I can see the whole kids/family time thing even without them. I think that is why a lot of guys try and get on the tee for first light so they can reach some sort of balance. I don't think there is a need to take more than 4 hours at my course but some will. I think like everything in life there has to be give and take both at home and on the course.If you are holding the course up it should be apparent and so do the right thing
 
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