Slow Play Solution...

So I have an idea that MAY fix slow play.... How about FASTER GOLF CARTS? Huh!!!! Golf carts we have nowadays are way too slow. The other day I was trying to skip the last few holes and head to the clubhouse and it took forever!! Why don't we have golf carts that go about 25-30mph. People get to their balls quicker, which will lead to faster play. Now it may lead to accidents on hilly courses, but there are golf cart accidents even with slow ones...Just an idea...

You know, slow play wasn't an issue when more people walked than rode in carts in the 90's. The country club I was at was always slammed, but well more than half the people there walked and I never played a round over 4.5 hours. I joined back there again two years ago. Everyone rode a cart and rounds were at least 4.5 hours.

While driving in a cart gets you to the fairway from the tee faster than walking, most people in a cart get to their ball, finish the conversation they were having in the cart, figure out their yardage, take a club, hit it. Then sit there after the ball has landed and and make remarks on the shot. Then clean their club, put it in the bag and get in the cart and then have to drive over to the other persons ball who is in the cart. The same process happens again.

While this doesn't seem like much time, let's say the amount of wasted time in a cart on a 2nd shot is about a minute. That's a minute for every single player in the group on every hole. In a foursome, that's 72 minutes a round just for 2nd shots. Granted, walkers will have some "wasted" time too so 72 isn't going to be the true number, but you see if even everyone takes 30 seconds of wasted time per shot in the fairway, that's 36 minutes added over the course of a round.

Riding a cart has it's advantage from Tee to Fairway, but going to from Fairway to green is usually faster for the walker. They don't pull 40 yards away from the green, get out and have to choose which clubs they may need. Walkers are direct golfers. Get to your ball, hit it, pick up your bag and move on.

Now, if you walk slow during all of this, it doesn't help anything at all. But just walking with a good pace is just as fast if not faster than riding in a cart.

I say this and I'll note I've walked 18 holes maybe 4 times in the last 15 years. I've just been noticing more and more how much time is wasted when riding in a cart. When you walk, you are thinking about what your next shot is going to be. But when you are in a cart, you get to your ball and have to refocus on the task at hand.

Another good test for this is to have 4 people ride in separate carts vs 4 people riding in 2 carts total. I guarantee that the 4 cart group will finish well ahead of the 2 cart group. Part of the amount of the time wasted I said above is waiting on the first person after they hit their shot. While I always try and at least walk to my ball and get a yardage so I'm ready, hardly anyone does that when riding in a cart.

So, while having a faster cart will get you from point A to B even faster, until the wasted time goes down that comes from riding a cart, I don't see it helping too much. Plus it would be dangerous at some courses.

[quote name='Tigerstinger1111' timestamp='1408677730' post='9984653']
... Why don't we have golf carts that go about 25-30mph. People get to their balls quicker, which will lead to faster play. Now it may lead to accidents on hilly courses, but there are golf cart accidents even with slow ones...Just an idea...
[/quote]

Because all of the drunk hacks doing donuts and off-roading over bunkers will kill themselves and their playing partners instead of just maiming themselves. Plus I think a faster cart might mean shorter battery life---it takes more juice to make it go faster. And if that's the case, there is no way my local course will do that. Their carts sometimes don't last 18, especially later in the day. On more than one occasion I have had to have my cart replaced mid-round.

if carts went 30mph there would 5 deaths a week...lol

That's why you don't sell less alcohol on the course. Limit it to I don't know like one beer a person. Make sure drivers are sober. Plus having a fast golf cart might make people more careful.

I don't know. I do know plenty of drinkers who have a golf habit. I wouldn't want to alienate them...

I setup a golf outing for roughly 12-18 of my buddies each year. This year was the 8th year and in two of the years somebody has flipped a cart. 1 drunk. 1 sober.

I have an electric Club Car and it was modified by the dealer to go 27 MPH. Even has a speedometer, horn, headlights and a built in cooler.

It speeds up play when I'm by myself or playing a twosome.

Hard on the batteries though.

[quote name='Tigerstinger1111' timestamp='1408731350' post='9988401']
That's why you don't sell less alcohol on the course. Limit it to I don't know like one beer a person. [/quote]

People will just bring their own booze, most do already.

[quote name='Tigerstinger1111' timestamp='1408731350' post='9988401']
Make sure drivers are sober.[/quote]

"Before we give you the key, blow into this breathalyzer. Oh by the way, we will be doing this every three holes."

That would go over well.

[quote name='Tigerstinger1111' timestamp='1408731350' post='9988401']
Plus having a fast golf cart might make people more careful.[/quote]

Haaaaaaaaa, right!


Bottom line, if you want faster play ditch the carts. Or instruct people how to play fast with carts as that is entirely possible. Dropping your partner off at their ball to hit while you go to yours. Faster carts only present liabilities with really no gain. We finished 18 with a 4some in carts in just over 3 hr 15 min this morning.

[quote name='Tigerstinger1111' timestamp='1408731350' post='9988401']
That's why you don't sell less alcohol on the course. Limit it to I don't know like one beer a person. Make sure drivers are sober. Plus having a fast golf cart might make people more careful.
[/quote]

More careful?! That's funnier than a worm-burner nailing a squirrel! Have you MET people in this world? The world is full of reckless idiot douchebags who only care about themselves who also seem to be missing the part of their brain that factors in consequences. It MIGHT work in a fancy expensive, exclusive elitist club, but on the public/muni courses that many of us play on...

If you've ever turned off the governor in a gas cart you know how fast they can go. My brother did it once when I was playing with him. It was fast, like dangerous fast. I wouldn't want that for the golfing public, especially the drinking golfing public.

there is no fix, you don't like it, take up fishing

Finally. A slow play thread...

Here's one fun solution:

http://www.golfboard.com/