Would you be in favour of your committee imposing penalties for slow play?

[SGC001]

Would you be in favour of your committee imposing penalties for slow play?

Yes or No, please vote (hopefully this poll thingy will work):

I don't have this problem at my course as it's quiet, but playing at a local municipal after a comp; where they seem to do nothing about slow play can be painful at times. Another local municipal has a club attached that does impose penalties on it's members for slow play and it seems to run better.

If yes what sort of penalties would you impose and would they change for a 1st, 2nd 3rd offence etc?:

Shot penalties
Back of the field
Temporary Suspension
Ban
Others?

 

[chris661]

Damn right I would. Slow play is going to be the death of this game.

 

[bluewolf]

Definately in favour. I don't mind spending all afternoon on the course, but if I have to leave at 5 to go to work, then feeing off at 12 shouldn't be a problem. I've had to NR twice this year due to 5 hour plus rounds. And no, I can't tee off any earlier as I only get in bed at 6am so I'm already coping with less than 6 hours sleep.

 

[bobmac]

Sorry, dont agree.
If someone wants to play slowly but calls people through or goes off at the end of the field, why should they be penalised?
If someone has lost holes on the group in front and wont call the group behind through then a course marshall would be a better solution in my opinion.

 

[Dodger]

Sorry, dont agree.
If someone wants to play slowly but calls people through or goes off at the end of the field, why should they be penalised?
If someone has lost holes on the group in front and wont call the group behind through then a course marshall would be a better solution in my opinion.

So slow play is okay of you call through or go off last is it Bob?

I'm surprised by your take on the matter.

 

[G_Mulligan]

my last two comp rounds have been very slow both times we have lost touch completely with the group ahead. Now I may get the reputation as a slow player as I have been in these groups but both times it has been a different player that has been slow. First time it was a very low handicapper who spent ages lining up a shot and reading putts from every angle before playing. Last time it was a high handicapper who takes about 6-7 half swings before every shot even while putting. He even did this when he was 3 off the tee and putting for a 9.

I may take more strokes than most of the guys I play with but my pre shot routine is quick and I am decisive once I have read my putts so I know it's not me but I am worried other members do not realise this.

 

[paddyc]

yes, but would be interested to know how this could be enforced and what constitutes slow play.

 

[SGC001]

The one that I know of that imposes penalties, sets a maximum time for a round of golf and any groups taking more than this time and finishing X minutes after the group in front gets a warning.

If you finish inside the maximum time you don't get a warning, if you finish outside it but within X minutes of the group in front you don't get a warning. They do nothing until 3 warnings have been accumulated as people play in different groups and they feel this makes it unlikely for people who aren't slow, but who are playing with those who are to get 3 warnings.

3 warnings and they have to play at the back of the field for a month, beyond that I don't know if it escalates toa temporary suspension.

I don't see why one group should wreck it for everybody behind them (2 hours 50 for 9 holes on a shortened course isn't acceptable imo), if people were let through when ground was lost this would be less of an issue.

 

[johnboywalton]

I am normally very impatient, but it does not seem to faze me on a Golf course, surely everyone plays at a different speed? I do not think you should be persecuted if you are not fannying about, you get on with the game, but you like to take a reasonable time with your shots/putting.
Although it clearly puts people off their "stride" waiting, it also puts people off their game rushing, so it must be about a bit of give and take?

Who decides what "slow play" is, I am sure on here and at every club it would be different?

 

[Mick47]

Voted yes, but unless the club employes a marshal (mine doesn't) who's to say who's holding up who on a busy day, I can see endless arguements, excuses and protests from those penalised

 

[AmandaJR]

I'd prefer a decent course marshal to keep things ticking over. If it becomes clear the same players are involved when play slows up then the captain could perhaps have a quiet word with them. We have a very slow player at our course, everyone knows it, everyone bitches about it but nobody says anything to them.

Having said that - I did and got the reply "not sure why but lately I've always been in the slowest group" - "well yeah coz you're in it"...I didn't say that actually but thought it !

 

[viscount17]

don't think you could impose shot penalties but there's nothing wrong in drawing persistent offenders in the later groups. you see it often in societies where they load the back groups with all the high or no handicappers - doesn't endear them to the clubs where they play.

 

[SGC001]

don't think you could impose shot penalties but there's nothing wrong in drawing persistent offenders in the later groups. you see it often in societies where they load the back groups with all the high or no handicappers - doesn't endear them to the clubs where they play.

I think you are allowed to impose shot penalties. Pages 19 and 50 of the rule book cover slow play etiquette and rules. The latter suggests that under 33-1 penalties can be given if a committee lays out the conditions of competition as such.

I find the results interesting so far, I'd have thought everybody would be in favour of sanctions of some kind for people who are constantly holding up others, but it's about a 60-40 split atm.

I no longer play at busy times as I can't stand waiting around, I'm not a member of a recognised club and do spend my money elsewhere. Surely clubs are losing money by sweeping the issue under the carpet. A club that penalised slow play would be more attractive to me as a prospective member.

I don't think it that hard to identify persistent offenders and if the threat hangs over a group it surely incentive for them to help other players become aware of how they are negatively impacting upon other users. Equally I think it's quite easy to decide upon a fair pace, there's plenty of guidelines around to give starting points.

I think it'd be difficult to identify individuals in a group (manpower issues) but looking over time I think persistent offenders could be identified and should be penalised in some form or other.

I'm all for marshalls, but i still think penalties should apply for competitors too.

 

[chrisd]

Slow play is difficult to pin on individual players. In a group, any hole could see 2 or 3 players looking for balls or struggling in the rough, maybe different players on different holes - how do you work out who to penalise?


Chris

 

[Driven2Distraction]

IMHO
known repeat offenders should be barred from playing in their usual 4ball/3some etc and paired up with others to encourage them along

we had to bail out after 16 (4 hours 10 mins) holes the other week as the group in front of us were appallingly ignorant of their surroundings (we'd been hard on their heels for 4 holes...... 16 is a par3 & after waiting for an age on the tee we arrived at the green to find out that the group in front hadn't even started teeing off on 17- both 17 & 18 were empty) - we mentioned it in the pro shop afterwards to be informed - oh yes, that's **********'s group, they're always slow.
So - split them up or don't let them play in 4's until they can learn to play at a sensible pace!

 

[bladeplayer]

Slow play is difficult to pin on individual players. In a group, any hole could see 2 or 3 players looking for balls or struggling in the rough, maybe different players on different holes - how do you work out who to penalise?


Chris

See.. rock of sence wasted my cash at the doc .. i voted NO. I agree in theory but its not manageable without a ranger , dont know bout ye'r clubs but there is definatly an old boys club/clique in our gaf , they would never be pulled , less established members might , be too much crap around it if you ask me

 

[Imurg]

The real issue isn't "slow play".
Yes, there are those who take their time and those who like to get on with it. We all play at different speeds.
The problem really lies with the inability of many to grasp the basic fundamental of calling a group through.
Waiting is caused by not letting people through, not necessarily playing slowly but more likely playing SLOWER.
If you have a few 4balls followed by a rash of 3 balls then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that sooner or later the 4's are going to have to start letting the 3's through. If they don't, then everyone behind the 4's is blighted by "slow play" - not really.
The 4's may be playing at a decent 4 ball pace but will easily be caught by a 3 or a 2.
If the 4's let the 3's through then everyone continues at their normal pace and everyone's happy.
Simple answer - educate the masses ref letting groups through.

As for penalties - hold up. We play this game for fun. One guy, identified as a persistent slow player, has a shocker and has to look for balls on most holes. As a result his group comes in 45 minutes over time. You're going to slap him
with a 2shot penalty just for having a nightmare...!

The only way to eradicate "slow play" is education.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I voted no. We are not good golfers and sometimes we have real horror shows, especially in medals. Play is inevitably slow when that happens. You do the right thing and call the group behind through. Time taken then while they play on. Searching for lost balls, provisionals etc all takes time. It is not a pro event running to TV schedules and as long as everyone can get round in daylight who cares.

The real issue we have is the same faces on the 1st tee every Saturday. Painfully slow and wouldn't let a group through if they were the only other ones on the course. It just sets the tone for everyone elses round and even more disappointingly they are oblivious to critiscism.

 

[GB72]

I went for yes and I cannot see a problem in finding the culprits at my club as most people are in the same groups most weeks. I would have a system whereby people were encouraged to report groups that have held them up unreasonably. 3 reports and a penalty is imposed. I use the term unreasonably held up as this would take into account lost balls etc and also not penalise those who like to play at a more sedantary pace but are happy to let other groups through. The problem is not slow per se but slow play coupled with poor etiquette.

 

[DaveM]

A big NO. You pay your subs to conduct what is only a hobbie. Much as slow play gets up my nose. Its a golf club. Not a bloody school or penal camp.