Yet another slow play thread ...

rudebhoy

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My course had an open on this morning. Last lot out (a 3 ball) were booked for 11.56. Me and my regular PP booked the 12.04 slot, hoping to get a full 18 in before it got dark.

When we got to the 1st tee, the 3 ball were waiting to tee off as the 4 ball in front of them had just went off. Right from the start, the pace was atrocious. It was obvious that the 4 ball was holding up the 3 ball in front of us, and that in turn was holding us up. By the time we reached the 5th green, both the 4 ball and the 3 ball were waiting to tee off on the 6th.

It had taken us 1 hour and 25 minutes to play 5 holes, and the pace was getting slower and slower on every hole. By then we'd had enough, and walked back in.

I reckon if we had stayed out, it would have been near enough a 6 hour round - although it wouldn't have of course, as it would have been dark by about the 12th.

We were pretty hacked off, but also felt sorry for the last couple of groups in the open as there was no way they would get their 18 in. Not great as they would be visitors to the course, would have paid their entry fee and would rightly have expected to get a full round in.

Anyway, lesson learned for us is do not book to play immediately after an open!

More to the point, there is also a couple of lessons to be learned for the club,

1. you need more than 8 minutes between tee times for comps made up overwhelmingly of 4 balls, particularly when the majority are visitors
2. you need to be 100% confident that everyone who has booked to play in a comp will get the full 18 in - don't be greedy with the scheduling

I'll be mentioning this to the powers that be when I'm next up at the club.
 

PhilTheFragger

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Why were a 3 ball , who are always going to be faster than a 4 ball , put out at the back?

They should have been first out

Asking for problems that is
 

Jensen

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My course had an open on this morning. Last lot out (a 3 ball) were booked for 11.56. Me and my regular PP booked the 12.04 slot, hoping to get a full 18 in before it got dark.

When we got to the 1st tee, the 3 ball were waiting to tee off as the 4 ball in front of them had just went off. Right from the start, the pace was atrocious. It was obvious that the 4 ball was holding up the 3 ball in front of us, and that in turn was holding us up. By the time we reached the 5th green, both the 4 ball and the 3 ball were waiting to tee off on the 6th.

It had taken us 1 hour and 25 minutes to play 5 holes, and the pace was getting slower and slower on every hole. By then we'd had enough, and walked back in.

I reckon if we had stayed out, it would have been near enough a 6 hour round - although it wouldn't have of course, as it would have been dark by about the 12th.

We were pretty hacked off, but also felt sorry for the last couple of groups in the open as there was no way they would get their 18 in. Not great as they would be visitors to the course, would have paid their entry fee and would rightly have expected to get a full round in.

Anyway, lesson learned for us is do not book to play immediately after an open!

More to the point, there is also a couple of lessons to be learned for the club,

1. you need more than 8 minutes between tee times for comps made up overwhelmingly of 4 balls, particularly when the majority are visitors
2. you need to be 100% confident that everyone who has booked to play in a comp will get the full 18 in - don't be greedy with the scheduling

I'll be mentioning this to the powers that be when I'm next up at the club.

Is that Brancepath Castle ?
 

HomerJSimpson

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Maybe one didn’t show up.
If they booked that slot others are not going to change times at this time of year.

I guess that could be the case and there being a no show. I guess the problem is the three ball are going to be faster if the rest of the field are all four balls and so unlikely to be let through, especially in an open competition. Frustrating for the OP and the pace of play clearly unacceptable but not sure how it would get changed given a big field in a competition all in four balls.
 

Lump

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Don't get why 4 balls are allowed in comps. At my club (and any I've played in opens) if it's singles then only 3 balls are allowed.
It’s a false theory that 3 balls are quicker to play then 4 balls. It’s all to do with the players.
I played as a 2 ball today, every other group booked on was 4 balls. We got let through 4 groups and got round in 3hr15mins with little to no interruption to play of the groups that let us through. It took me saying something to the 2nd group before they finally considered letting us though. It’s not about keeping up with the group infront but seeing the group behind is quicker.
 

Jamesbrown

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Always seems to be slow in opens. Very frustrating. People don’t know how to get round in a timely fashion.
Opens should be dare I say it. Stableford format. Can’t score. Pick up and pee off.
Even in a medal and I get into crap I’ll pick up and move on. Some need to learn to call it a day.
 

fowlero

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It's not always the size of the group but the pace of the players in it.

We played a round on Saturday as a 4 ball and there was a 2 ball booked in behind us they weren't ready to go before we teed of so we told them we would let them through at the earliest opportunity, they couldn't keep up with us even though we were continually held up by the 4 ball in front of us. We were glad that they weren't ready for us to offer them to tee off before us, otherwise we would have been stuck behind them all day, they were a hole and a half behind us for most of the day :eek:
 

Grant85

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Always seems to be slow in opens. Very frustrating. People don’t know how to get round in a timely fashion.
Opens should be dare I say it. Stableford format. Can’t score. Pick up and pee off.
Even in a medal and I get into crap I’ll pick up and move on. Some need to learn to call it a day.

I've mentioned this before but it's strange how some clubs have a culture of players not NRing in medals.

Personally I really don't think there's a problem. If you are well over your handicap and get into a bit of bother. What is the point in running up an 8 or a 9? Once you get to net double bogey, pick up and move on - you aren't going to suddenly make a run of 5 birdies when you currently average less than 1 birdie per round.

As long as you play out the rest of the holes to the best of your ability, you aren't negatively affecting anything. I know a lot of guys who would play an informal stableford medal between themselves on medal days - obviously the chances of either of them winning the medal were slim, but this would allow them to retain interest as they were used to playing 4 ball matchplay every other day they played.

The guys who carve 2 brand new balls out of bounds and then go to their bag for a third! Give it up, you've just spent £6 as it is.
 

Lord Tyrion

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I've mentioned this before but it's strange how some clubs have a culture of players not NRing in medals.
I have to admit, I have always been in clubs where NR is looked down on, you don't do it deliberately. You get your head down, you plough on. I've no problem with what you suggest but that needs pushing from the top within a club, positive action if you like.
 

Grant85

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I have to admit, I have always been in clubs where NR is looked down on, you don't do it deliberately. You get your head down, you plough on. I've no problem with what you suggest but that needs pushing from the top within a club, positive action if you like.

Yes, agree.

You can’t really imagine a club encouraging players to NR, but it would make a difference if members took it on their own initiative.

Amazing the number of times you get held up on the front 9 & play generally speeds up on the back, as some players have lost interest.

Perhaps the new handicap system will help with net double bogey becoming the worst score for handicap purposes.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

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I have to admit, I have always been in clubs where NR is looked down on, you don't do it deliberately. You get your head down, you plough on. I've no problem with what you suggest but that needs pushing from the top within a club, positive action if you like.

Recent communication from my place on NR'ing reminding us all that in a medal or similar 'strokeplay' competition you can pick up and NR on a hole but continue to play as best you can and hand in the card at the card - as your score on each hole completed counts in the context of CSSS.

Well I think that's what it said. The point of the message to us being that we should always complete our round and post our score - even if we NR.
 
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Recent communication from my place on NR'ing reminding us all that in a medal or similar 'strokeplay' competition you can pick up and NR on a hole but continue to play as best you can and hand in the card at the card - as your score on each hole completed counts in the context of CSSS.

Well I think that's what it said. The point of the message to us being that we should always complete our round and post our score - even if we NR.
An NR is counted as one over buffer - that’s all , carrying on playing as an NR is recommended because you can still get a HC cut due to Stableford adjustments- seem plenty people get cut after an NR
 
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