Why would you not let someone "play through"????

[johnboywalton]

I firmly believe we should all be able to play the game as we personally enjoy it,(of course with the consideration of others) so why does it seem there is such a problem with letting others play through??

Surely no-one wants to play with someone "chasing" them along, it must effect both sets of players? is it a pride thing, arrogance, ingorance, are they worried about losing their rhythm or is it simply poor knowledge that you can allow somone through?
Maybe it`s the Clubs fault for not enforcing it enough, especially with the more "established members" of the Club i.e Captain, Secretary etc.

It may be a naive question, but it does puzzle me

 

[GB72]

I think it can be all of the reasons described.

Ignorance in that groups hate to think that they are slow.
Pride, again a problem admitting that you play slower than others (nothing wrong with that).
The old chestnut of 'there is nowhere for you to go so why should I play you through'.
The long term members who think that they own the club so have no need to pay attention to anyone else.
The scratch team players who think that they own the course and play like every hole is the 72nd hole of the open despite it being a weekend knock arround.
Those in positions of authority who think they have more right to be on the course than anyone else.
And none of this is helped by the fact that some clubs do nothing about complaints about slow play because they are too worried about offending members who then leave.

 

[harvey4banger]

It's exactly the same as everyday life, people just dont give a poo anymore

 

[pbrown7582]

I firmly believe we should all be able to play the game as we personally enjoy it,(of course with the consideration of others) so why does it seem there is such a problem with letting others play through??

Surely no-one wants to play with someone "chasing" them along, it must effect both sets of players? is it a pride thing, arrogance, ingorance, are they worried about losing their rhythm or is it simply poor knowledge that you can allow somone through?
Maybe it`s the Clubs fault for not enforcing it enough, especially with the more "established members" of the Club i.e Captain, Secretary etc.

It may be a naive question, but it does puzzle me

your spot on asking why? it makes no sense to me to spoil everybodies day much better to let a quicker moving group through than feel under pressure as the keep hitting up behind you.

 

[DaveM]

There have been a lot of threads, about this sort of thing recently. Maybe I have just been lucky. But whenever I have been playing on my own. I have always been let though, usually invited to do so. Without asking. Plus many a time on coming up to a two ball I have been invited to join them or play though, Which ever I would like. Guess they are just more of a friendly bunch where I play.

 

[CMAC]

I get anxious as soon as the group behind even gets close and if they do I'll always be the one to say Lets let them through, usually greeted with groans or mumbling!
I dont get it either, our group will take X number of hours no matter who we let through so let them through and enjoy our game.

 

[Airlie_Andy]

I'll probably get flamed for this but hey what the hell. If their is a lot of four balls in front of my group and we are having to wait on the tee on most holes why on earth should anyone play through? It's just a busy day and allowing a faster group to play through potentially 4 or 5 groups in a row will only compound the problem further down the line surely. I wouldn't want to play through if it's clear I'm going to have to make the next 4 groups let me through as well. If people didn't waste time (please note I'm not complaining about taking a bit of time over a shot) by having no common sense then this wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Fore]

o

I'll probably get flamed for this but hey what the hell. If their is a lot of four balls in front of my group and we are having to wait on the tee on most holes why on earth should anyone play through? It's just a busy day and allowing a faster group to play through potentially 4 or 5 groups in a row will only compound the problem further down the line surely. I wouldn't want to play through if it's clear I'm going to have to make the next 4 groups let me through as well. If people didn't waste time (please note I'm not complaining about taking a bit of time over a shot) by having no common sense then this wouldn't be an issue.

That's not a situation where i would either expect to be let through or let someone else through. My club advise we let people through if our group has fallen more than a hole behind the group in front. This is generally done by both groups teeing off together then the group playing through go ahead and finish the hole. The group that have let them through just follow on.
Personally, i am happy to spend as much time out on the course as i can because i would sure as hell rather be out there than at work or doing chores etc.!

 

[johnboywalton]

Personally, i am happy to spend as much time out on the course as i can because i would sure as hell rather be out there than at work or doing chores etc.!

Yes that is how I feel, so if I am in a group and we have "well mannered" players close behind us, we always let them through at the earliest point, so we can go on and enjoy our game at our pace and they go on and enjoy it at there pace.....to me it is simple
I do agree at a normal busy weekend it is not so straight forward!!!!!

 

[Snelly]

I'll probably get flamed for this but hey what the hell. If their is a lot of four balls in front of my group and we are having to wait on the tee on most holes why on earth should anyone play through? It's just a busy day and allowing a faster group to play through potentially 4 or 5 groups in a row will only compound the problem further down the line surely. I wouldn't want to play through if it's clear I'm going to have to make the next 4 groups let me through as well. If people didn't waste time (please note I'm not complaining about taking a bit of time over a shot) by having no common sense then this wouldn't be an issue.

Common sense dictates that you would not let them through as it would be futile for all involved.

Common courtesy dictates that you would at your earliest convenience at least offer with an explanation of the situation. Assuming that those behind are not retarded and ignorant, they will politely thank you for the offer but respectfully decline as there would be no point in playing through.

This is what I have always done and always will. Everyone is happy, despite the fact that somewhere further up the course, there are several (either ignorant, selfish or stupid) individuals who do not understand the speed at which golf can and should be played who are spoiling the day for the majority of the field.

 

[Steve79]

I have never had an issue with letting people through.

There are two occaions where ive played in a group nad let people play through which have stuck in my mind for differant reasons.

In one of my first ever comps, I played with a low h/c who was in his early 20's, he put his drive on the 9th in some trees so we walked over to help him have a look when it became apparant it was going to take some looking for, i said i would call the group behind through, he was really embarrased and kept apologising for the rest of the hole for having to let the group behind throgh. i didnt understand why he was apologising?

Second one was in another comp, i was playing with one of the 'ive been a member for 25years' brigade we let a group through as one of the others in our group was having a mare and he was properly pissed off and made the comment 'in 25 years ive never had to let anyone play through....'

Both the above were two completley differant reactions to letting people play through and ive never understood either.

Should i be embarrased if i have to let someone through but why get the hump over it? Is there some unwritten rule somewhere that says your a knob if you have to let someone through for slow play?

 

[Aztecs27]

I'll always let people through unless it's backed up in front with nowhere to go.

 

[rosecott]

The question to ask is:

If I imagined I was in the group behind me, would I expect to be called through? If the answer is yes, call them through.

 

[bladeplayer]

Second one was in another comp, i was playing with one of the 'ive been a member for 25years' brigade we let a group through as one of the others in our group was having a mare and he was properly pissed off and made the comment 'in 25 years ive never had to let anyone play through....'

.

Played in a 3 ball couple of years back with an old boy of the same ideas as above (not saying its an age thing , it just happens it was an old boy i was with) we were very slow & we were delaying the group behind & those behind them , we were walking off the 5th tee box The group behind were walking off the 4th green , i said to one of the guys i recognised that we will get ya through in a couple of mins , to be told by the old boy "we will not" they can wait , i said we are a hole & a half behind the group ahead , & he said they are playing too fast & cant be playing well .. ?? anyhow as we were coming off the 5th green the group behind standing patiently in the fairway i again suggested we may let these through as we were playing too slow , to be told NO again , i asked the 3rd member of the group who said he wasnt geting involved & would go with what we decided .. as we were leaving the green i walked up to the group behind & explained it & in fairness they were ok with it ..there was a horrible tension in our group all the way around , was not enjoyable .. Whats the on course answer here ?

 

[rosecott]

My "on course" answer would be:

I am going to abide by Section 1 of the Rules of Golf and I am calling them through.

The tension might be just as great but you would feel better.

 

[bladeplayer]

My "on course" answer would be:

I am going to abide by Section 1 of the Rules of Golf and I am calling them through.

The tension might be just as great but you would feel better.

I wish i did do that & yes i would have felt better , spoke to the group behind & apologised again after the round , they were cool about , i actualy rushed my own game tho to make up some time , horrible round it was

 

[jammag]

Have to admit slow play does not bother me in the slightest. I hate being called through and often decline the chance. I like watching others play and if I get called through I feel I have to rush to make sure it was the right thing to do to call me through. If I turn up at the club and its busy then I expect to be held up its just one of them things. If people want to start earlier than me then I feel they have the right to the course so why should I barge through. I have no problem in letting people through my group if someone is having a mare or loses a ball I find it very easy to chill out on the course relax and just keep calm.

On the factor of slow play as my club has 2 starting points 1st and 10th they actually have starting arrangements so if you are a 2 ball you go off the 10th and 3 or 4 balls go off the first from 7-9 then they change over, the idea being that all your 2 balls should remain on one half of the course and vice versa. Quite a good system and those currently playing just intergrate with new starters so you may have to wait 5 minutes but thats no problem.

 

[Slime]

I remember a few years ago I played The Carrick near Loch Lomond.
I was playing as a sinleton with my wife carrying my bag.
Got to the 1st tee to see a 4 ball halfway down the fairway.........no problem.
I caught them up whilst they were still putting.....as if it was for a green jacket!
This carried on for ages, shot after shot, hole after hole, and they knew I was right behind them.
At the 7th hole I just walked through them, didn't play it at all.
When I walked past a couple of them I just looked at them and asked "why?" to which they replied "why what?".
Ignorant sods. :rant:

I'll always let faster players through
A). because it's polite &
B). because I hate being rushed.
I love golf, so the longer I can be on the course the happier I am, even if it's just having a smoke & nattering with my mates.

Slime.

 

[alnecosse]

I'll probably get flamed for this but hey what the hell. If their is a lot of four balls in front of my group and we are having to wait on the tee on most holes why on earth should anyone play through? It's just a busy day and allowing a faster group to play through potentially 4 or 5 groups in a row will only compound the problem further down the line surely. I wouldn't want to play through if it's clear I'm going to have to make the next 4 groups let me through as well. If people didn't waste time (please note I'm not complaining about taking a bit of time over a shot) by having no common sense then this wouldn't be an issue.

Totally agree this is the one that gets me the most just
because someone has caught up to you whats the point of letting them thru just to be standing waiting behind them on next T if your holding them up and theres space in front let thru everytime, but some golfers think the minute they catch you you should step aside even if your waiting as much as them.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Have to say I can't understand anyone not letting faster groups through, I have it when being 'pushed' round by a faster group and always let them go by.

That said I must be slow as I have never been let through or wanted to be.