Complaints about slow play...

[oughtaquit]

I would never have thought the statement that slow play is bad could in any way be controversial. For those aggressively asking what are you gonna do about it, my answer is that I rarely play anymore, sadly. And yes, I hear you already - I won’t be missed, who cares, good riddance, etc.

 

This is why we can’t have nice things. 

[Golferpaul]

2 hours ago, Carl Spackler3 said:

Your job as a golfer is to KEEP UP WITH, the group ahead or let faster groups play through. 

Not true at all.  There are dozens of scenarios where you should not let a group play through.

[Double Mocha Man]

8 minutes ago, Golferpaul said:

Not true at all.  There are dozens of scenarios where you should not let a group play through.

 

Can you name three of them? And when was the last time you let someone play through?

[tatertot]

3 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Can you name three of them? And when was the last time you let someone play through?

1. It threatens my manhood

2. I'm more important than you

3. It will throw off my timing, and I've got a chance to break 120 over here

[Golferpaul]

4 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Can you name three of them? And when was the last time you let someone play through?

Easy.

 

1.  When you only have a few holes left to play it's not worth the disruption to let a group play through so they can finish 6 minutes earlier.

 

2.  When you are playing fast but have had one bad hole looking for balls and now you are speeding up.

 

3.  When you are playing fast but the group in front of you had a slow hole and then picked up the pace and you now have a one-hole gap. 

 

There are lots of others.

 

Not that it is relevant, but I never let groups play through since I and my buddies play fast I'm the one usually waiting.

[Golferpaul]

5 minutes ago, tatertot said:

1. It threatens my manhood

2. I'm more important than you

3. It will throw off my timing, and I've got a chance to break 120 over here

Sounds like your manhood is already in bad shape.  And if you are shooting 120, your timing is already off.

[tatertot]

44 minutes ago, Golferpaul said:

Easy.

 

1.  When you only have a few holes left to play it's not worth the disruption to let a group play through so they can finish 6 minutes earlier.

 

2.  When you are playing fast but have had one bad hole looking for balls and now you are speeding up.

 

3.  When you are playing fast but the group in front of you had a slow hole and then picked up the pace and you now have a one-hole gap. 

 

There are lots of others.

 

Not that it is relevant, but I never let groups play through since I and my buddies play fast I'm the one usually waiting.

Sure ... you and your buddies play fast. You're the one waiting.

[Rob G 89]

Slow play bothered me so much it made me not enjoy playing. So I embraced it and saw what they did and adopted it myself.

things I do now 

1st hole par 4 

-I will not tee off till all players are on the green. This gives me a good buffer to start

-par 5s will not leave cart till green clears regardless if laying up or not 

-par 4s same will not leave cart until green clears

-I will laser every flag and then go back to cart to look at green on gps

-pull all flags

-mark and clean ball every putt

I think the biggest difference for is being in cart more waiting. I feel less exhausted and more relaxed when it’s my turn. Rounds are usually 4:30 but it t doesn’t feel that long because I’m setting my own pace

 

So some of you guys complain about slow players but some of us have to play that way to enjoy the game and play better.

 

[harveythomas]

I’m usually the fastest golfer at my club and regularly play 18 holes on an 6,400 yard course in 2.5 hours or less.  2 hours if getting a move on.  
 

Even I play people through a few times a year eg they’re in a buggy playing ultra fast sub 2 hour round.  I wave straight through.

 

I have someone in my group who’s slow that day or looking for a lost ball and they’re up with me.  Wave faster group through without delay.  
 

Someone who never plays anyone through.  I don’t know what to say.  Even if rare there are always instances when it’s justified even if rarely.  
 

Slow play and inconsiderate etiquette are the curse of the modern game.  

[Double Mocha Man]

10 hours ago, Rob G 89 said:

Slow play bothered me so much it made me not enjoy playing. So I embraced it and saw what they did and adopted it myself.

things I do now 

1st hole par 4 

-I will not tee off till all players are on the green. This gives me a good buffer to start

-par 5s will not leave cart till green clears regardless if laying up or not 

-par 4s same will not leave cart until green clears

-I will laser every flag and then go back to cart to look at green on gps

-pull all flags

-mark and clean ball every putt

I think the biggest difference for is being in cart more waiting. I feel less exhausted and more relaxed when it’s my turn. Rounds are usually 4:30 but it t doesn’t feel that long because I’m setting my own pace

 

So some of you guys complain about slow players but some of us have to play that way to enjoy the game and play better.

 

 

You solved your own problem but you created a problem for the golfers behind you.

[Nard_S]

 

Edited July 1, 2023 by Nard_S
Hah, she really threw down.

[puttingmatt]

Five hour Slow Players = Hackers 

Yes, that includes the ball skippers and fairway dribblers out there.

[nsxguy]

12 hours ago, Rob G 89 said:

Slow play bothered me so much it made me not enjoy playing. So I embraced it and saw what they did and adopted it myself.

things I do now 

1st hole par 4 

-I will not tee off till all players are on the green. This gives me a good buffer to start

-par 5s will not leave cart till green clears regardless if laying up or not 

-par 4s same will not leave cart until green clears

-I will laser every flag and then go back to cart to look at green on gps

-pull all flags

-mark and clean ball every putt

I think the biggest difference for is being in cart more waiting. I feel less exhausted and more relaxed when it’s my turn. Rounds are usually 4:30 but it t doesn’t feel that long because I’m setting my own pace

 

So some of you guys complain about slow players but some of us have to play that way to enjoy the game and play better.

 

 

2 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

You solved your own problem but you created a problem for the golfers behind you.

 

 

(I think 🙃 )

[Nard_S]

If you live in New England slow play is like running across town or commuting to work. It's a way of life, lol. We get around in 4.5 hours on Sunday and feel like we blazed through 18.

[Double Mocha Man]

50 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

 

 

 

(I think 🙃 )

 

I tried to read sarcasm into that post, but I really couldn't find it. I think the guy is serious. And hey, I'm no Penny. 😄

[nsxguy]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I tried to read sarcasm into that post, but I really couldn't find it. I think the guy is serious. And hey, I'm no Penny. 😄

 

Penny for your thoughts ?

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 7/1/2023 at 6:31 AM, Double Mocha Man said:

 

You solved your own problem but you created a problem for the golfers behind you.

I read that to mean that he's playing the same pace as the group in front but mentally adjusted his routine so he doesn't feel like he's on their tails every shot. 

 

[harveythomas]

I played in a 4 ball yesterday on a par 68 course.   6,200 yards from the tips.  Recommended time for a 4 ball including 10 minutes at halfway hut is 3.45.

 

Two of the group were high handicap golfers who play irregularly and were my guests for the day.  They didn’t have a clue about pace of play guidelines and etiquette in general.  Chatting away when they’re turn to play while the other two of us stood watching in bemusement.  Not ready to play when their turn even when not chatting.  Leaving their bag behind so they had to walk a long way back to get it.  Talking while others playing shots etc.  
 

I don’t think they liked it but I had regular words with them about it early in the round until they got the idea.  One of them wants to get good enough to join Rye which is a very rapid two ball course and the other complains that golf takes too long and I’m not surprised seeing the bad habits he’s picked up from his mates who play on pay and play courses.  So they both need to learn what playing a 3 hour or less round looks like.  
 

Anyway, with a 10 minute rain delay when we sheltered from a heavy shower we got it done in 4 hours 5 minutes.  It wasn’t great but we managed to stay ahead of the groups behind so we didn’t make anyone wait.  
 

I explained to the slow players we’d be there all day playing groups behind through if they didn’t get on with it.  I’d also chosen a tee time when it was quiet so as to minimise the risk of delaying others and the 30 minute head start proved very useful in that respect.  
 

It wasn’t always comfortable doing this but as the host and more experienced golfer I really feel it’s my duty to help them to learn how to play at a better pace and what’s expected to maintain the older traditions where etiquette and pace of play were often key.  Although not always happy at being what they felt like “hurried along” I think they recognised at the end that I’d saved us from a 5-6 hour round and that the 4 hours we still took was more than long enough as it was.  I just wish more people did this with their guests or with those still learning the game.  
 

We live in a society where it’s not the done thing to tell people off or correct them most of the time but it only takes one clueless or inconsiderate group on a course for the whole course to become a slow log jam ruining it for all but the snails.

 

Naturally it was a social game so it was good to chat and joke but plenty of time to do that while walking the fairways or between tees.

[MountainKing]

On 6/30/2023 at 8:57 PM, Golferpaul said:

Easy.

 

1.  When you only have a few holes left to play it's not worth the disruption to let a group play through so they can finish 6 minutes earlier.

 

2.  When you are playing fast but have had one bad hole looking for balls and now you are speeding up.

 

3.  When you are playing fast but the group in front of you had a slow hole and then picked up the pace and you now have a one-hole gap. 

 

There are lots of others.

 

Not that it is relevant, but I never let groups play through since I and my buddies play fast I'm the one usually waiting.

 

I'm looking at these scenarios assuming the course isn't packed and there's holes open:

 

1. Not worth the disruption to you.  If there's open holes and the group behind you is moving, and you're not, odds are pretty good they'll be finishing a lot more than 6 minutes earlier.  If this is an evening round this could be the difference between somebody finishing and not finishing thanks to you holding them up.

2. If you're in a foursome, if you're ball is lost, you need to start looking while the other 3 hit their shots.  By the time they're done hitting, if you haven't found your ball, it's lost and you need to drop and keep going.   If your entire group, for whatever reason decides to join the search party before anybody plays their shot, then you're falling out of place and should indeed let any group waiting through. Don't make a faster group watch your entire group look for balls.

3. If you have a one hole gap, you're not playing fast.

Edited July 5, 2023 by MountainKing

[MountainKing]

18 hours ago, harveythomas said:

I played in a 4 ball yesterday on a par 68 course.   6,200 yards from the tips.  Recommended time for a 4 ball including 10 minutes at halfway hut is 3.45.

 

Two of the group were high handicap golfers who play irregularly and were my guests for the day.  They didn’t have a clue about pace of play guidelines and etiquette in general.  Chatting away when they’re turn to play while the other two of us stood watching in bemusement.  Not ready to play when their turn even when not chatting.  Leaving their bag behind so they had to walk a long way back to get it.  Talking while others playing shots etc.  
 

I don’t think they liked it but I had regular words with them about it early in the round until they got the idea.  One of them wants to get good enough to join Rye which is a very rapid two ball course and the other complains that golf takes too long and I’m not surprised seeing the bad habits he’s picked up from his mates who play on pay and play courses.  So they both need to learn what playing a 3 hour or less round looks like.  
 

Anyway, with a 10 minute rain delay when we sheltered from a heavy shower we got it done in 4 hours 5 minutes.  It wasn’t great but we managed to stay ahead of the groups behind so we didn’t make anyone wait.  
 

I explained to the slow players we’d be there all day playing groups behind through if they didn’t get on with it.  I’d also chosen a tee time when it was quiet so as to minimise the risk of delaying others and the 30 minute head start proved very useful in that respect.  
 

It wasn’t always comfortable doing this but as the host and more experienced golfer I really feel it’s my duty to help them to learn how to play at a better pace and what’s expected to maintain the older traditions where etiquette and pace of play were often key.  Although not always happy at being what they felt like “hurried along” I think they recognised at the end that I’d saved us from a 5-6 hour round and that the 4 hours we still took was more than long enough as it was.  I just wish more people did this with their guests or with those still learning the game.  
 

We live in a society where it’s not the done thing to tell people off or correct them most of the time but it only takes one clueless or inconsiderate group on a course for the whole course to become a slow log jam ruining it for all but the snails.

 

Naturally it was a social game so it was good to chat and joke but plenty of time to do that while walking the fairways or between tees.

 

You did the right thing, sometimes people don't know they're doing something incorrect until it's pointed out to them, especially beginners.

 

There is plenty of time to be social on a golf course, but at the end of the day if that's your objective, just go hang out at the bar or somebody's house.  A golf course is a very expensive place to go to be social.

[nsxguy]

19 hours ago, harveythomas said:

I played in a 4 ball yesterday on a par 68 course.   6,200 yards from the tips.  Recommended time for a 4 ball including 10 minutes at halfway hut is 3.45.

 

Two of the group were high handicap golfers who play irregularly and were my guests for the day.  They didn’t have a clue about pace of play guidelines and etiquette in general.  Chatting away when they’re turn to play while the other two of us stood watching in bemusement.  Not ready to play when their turn even when not chatting.  Leaving their bag behind so they had to walk a long way back to get it.  Talking while others playing shots etc.  
 

I don’t think they liked it but I had regular words with them about it early in the round until they got the idea.  One of them wants to get good enough to join Rye which is a very rapid two ball course and the other complains that golf takes too long and I’m not surprised seeing the bad habits he’s picked up from his mates who play on pay and play courses.  So they both need to learn what playing a 3 hour or less round looks like.  
 

Anyway, with a 10 minute rain delay when we sheltered from a heavy shower we got it done in 4 hours 5 minutes.  It wasn’t great but we managed to stay ahead of the groups behind so we didn’t make anyone wait.  
 

I explained to the slow players we’d be there all day playing groups behind through if they didn’t get on with it.  I’d also chosen a tee time when it was quiet so as to minimise the risk of delaying others and the 30 minute head start proved very useful in that respect.  
 

It wasn’t always comfortable doing this but as the host and more experienced golfer I really feel it’s my duty to help them to learn how to play at a better pace and what’s expected to maintain the older traditions where etiquette and pace of play were often key.  Although not always happy at being what they felt like “hurried along” I think they recognised at the end that I’d saved us from a 5-6 hour round and that the 4 hours we still took was more than long enough as it was.  I just wish more people did this with their guests or with those still learning the game.  
 

We live in a society where it’s not the done thing to tell people off or correct them most of the time but it only takes one clueless or inconsiderate group on a course for the whole course to become a slow log jam ruining it for all but the snails.

 

Naturally it was a social game so it was good to chat and joke but plenty of time to do that while walking the fairways or between tees.

 

May I ask where this course is ? Also, was there a 4th in the group ? Day/time of the week ? Crowded ? Very open ? "Normal" ?

 

Thanks 👍

[Double Mocha Man]

2 hours ago, MountainKing said:

A golf course is a very expensive place to go to be social.

 

One of my good golf friends is funny.  I've learned to ask a question of him while we're walking down the fairway.  Back when I would throw a question at him when he was on the tee box he would just freeze and go into a 3-5 minute soliloquy standing on that tee as if it were a stage or soapbox.  Funny part is he is a course marshal.

[MountainKing]

3 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

One of my good golf friends is funny.  I've learned to ask a question of him while we're walking down the fairway.  Back when I would throw a question at him when he was on the tee box he would just freeze and go into a 3-5 minute soliloquy standing on that tee as if it were a stage or soapbox.  Funny part is he is a course marshal.

 

Weird how often you see stuff like this, especially on a weekend afternoon.   I guess maybe I'm the crazy one for thinking a golf course is for golfing lol

[Oh Hi Carl]

6 hours ago, MountainKing said:

 

I'm looking at these scenarios assuming the course isn't packed and there's holes open:

 

1. Not worth the disruption to you.  If there's open holes and the group behind you is moving, and you're not, odds are pretty good they'll be finishing a lot more than 6 minutes earlier.  If this is an evening round this could be the difference between somebody finishing and not finishing thanks to you holding them up.

2. If you're in a foursome, if you're ball is lost, you need to start looking while the other 3 hit their shots.  By the time they're done hitting, if you haven't found your ball, it's lost and you need to drop and keep going.   If your entire group, for whatever reason decides to join the search party before anybody plays their shot, then you're falling out of place and should indeed let any group waiting through. Don't make a faster group watch your entire group look for balls.

3. If you have a one hole gap, you're not playing fast.

I generally agree with the sentiments, although these points tend to be fact-specific.  For example, there are times when you can't safely look for your ball while others are hitting.  

 

You make an important point that others in the group should hit their shots before joining a search party.  

[Golferpaul]

On 6/30/2023 at 9:42 PM, tatertot said:

Sure ... you and your buddies play fast. You're the one waiting.

Correct.  Every time.

[Golferpaul]

On 7/5/2023 at 12:34 PM, MountainKing said:

 

There is plenty of time to be social on a golf course, but at the end of the day if that's your objective, just go hang out at the bar or somebody's house.  A golf course is a very expensive place to go to be social.

If you don't value the social aspect of golf, you should play by yourself.

There is nothing wrong with combining all of the other features of golf with being social.  You can't do that in a bar.

Golf is a social game, not a race.  So you might as well get used to it.

[Golferpaul]

On 7/5/2023 at 12:13 PM, MountainKing said:

 

I'm looking at these scenarios assuming the course isn't packed and there's holes open:

 

1. Not worth the disruption to you.  If there's open holes and the group behind you is moving, and you're not, odds are pretty good they'll be finishing a lot more than 6 minutes earlier.  If this is an evening round this could be the difference between somebody finishing and not finishing thanks to you holding them up.

2. If you're in a foursome, if you're ball is lost, you need to start looking while the other 3 hit their shots.  By the time they're done hitting, if you haven't found your ball, it's lost and you need to drop and keep going.   If your entire group, for whatever reason decides to join the search party before anybody plays their shot, then you're falling out of place and should indeed let any group waiting through. Don't make a faster group watch your entire group look for balls.

3. If you have a one hole gap, you're not playing fast.

 

1.  And the group playing through. I hate playing through a group and only do it when their pace is extremely slow.  If I only have a few holes left to play, I would never play through.  It's not worth the disruption to finish a few minutes sooner.

 

2.  That's not usually possible.  Golfers are not robots.

 

3.  Not true at all.  There are many reasons a fast group might have a one-hole gap in front of them.

[MountainKing]

On 7/7/2023 at 4:03 PM, Golferpaul said:

 

1.  And the group playing through. I hate playing through a group and only do it when their pace is extremely slow.  If I only have a few holes left to play, I would never play through.  It's not worth the disruption to finish a few minutes sooner.

 

2.  That's not usually possible.  Golfers are not robots.

 

3.  Not true at all.  There are many reasons a fast group might have a one-hole gap in front of them.

 

1) if you don't want to play through - that's on you, but it's still your obligation to have some etiquette and let the group behind you make that decision to play through or not.

2) Not sure how it's not possible - I've played hundreds of competitive rounds where it's done that way every time, and somehow managed to do it multiple times this year.   It's probably one of the easiest things to do.

3) Nope - if you have a gap that means you've fallen behind, and are no longer playing fast.  You now need to play fast and close the gap.

[Golferpaul]

17 hours ago, MountainKing said:

 

 

2) Not sure how it's not possible - I've played hundreds of competitive rounds where it's done that way every time, and somehow managed to do it multiple times this year.   It's probably one of the easiest things to do.

 

Wow!  Do you never worry about getting hit by a ball while looking for yours?   Or are you always the short hitter so the others are always ahead of you?

[Golferpaul]

17 hours ago, MountainKing said:

3) Nope - if you have a gap that means you've fallen behind, and are no longer playing fast.  You now need to play fast and close the gap.

KInda like driving bumper to bumper on the freeway - it doesn't get you there any sooner.  Some of us like to have a gap to allow for the inevitable slowing and speeding up of the group in front rather than standing in every fairway with hands on hips waiting for the green to clear.