Slow Play...How to stay patient

[jah7838]

How do you stay patient when players/groups ahead are slow

A couple of friends and I played a round on Sunday at a local course. When the group in front of us teed off, there was nobody ahead of them. As the round kept going, they started playing slower and slower. At one point, my friends and I saw 2 of the players in the foursome ahead LAYING DOWN IN THE TEEBOX. They also took their time on the green and in the fairway. It's one thing to have to slow down because of groups in front, but that wasn't the case until hole 11 or 12 that day. At that point it became more understandable, but they still played like they were the only ones on the course. Our thinking was, when the fairway cleared, go ahead and be ready to hit. They didn't seem to think that way. Nobody in our group could get into a rhythm, and we all played terrible. We stopped keeping score after hole 13 I think. We finished decently, but we were still frustrated. Any advice for days like that on how not to get frustrated. We played Poison in the teebox, if anyone is familiar with that game...I wasn't until Sunday. Thanks for any ideas.

[SteelPride]

A hunting rifle? :clapping:

[kyo-nax]

Poison is actually fun game.

 

Personally, I just call the shop if someone is laying down in the tee box.

 

It also helps to make one of your foursome really drunk so he goes crazy. ;)

[Bobbers]

First we send someone up to ask if we can play through. Next, we TELL them we're on a bit of a schedule and that we'd like to play through. Third, we get someone from the course to ranger the situation. Finally, well, see post #2...

[jah7838]

We actually discussed post #2, but we realized that it wouldn't be a good idea. And we talked to someone on the course who worked there, and he really didn't do anything about it. My friend was actually getting close to drunk...that was getting pretty funny at that point.

[honketyhank]

All I can say is "Don't hit into them or anywhere near them." They are probably the ones with a hunting rifle.

 

Been there. Scary. Don't be pestering Vijay unless your name is Boo.

[Debit]

At times, the pace of play can be brutal. Bring a paperback book, work puzzles, practice your chipping, rearrange the stuff in your bag, clean your irons. Or, heaven forbid, talk with your playing partners, i.e. discuss other courses in the area that enforce pace of play.

[theshow]

I like the rifle idea, just hit into them! JK. What you said was true, I don't know if anything would help. I've skipped a hole to play through groups before.

Some people just don't get it!

[Stankleberry]

Slow rounds are much better if you get paired up with people who are really terrible. Their bad shots and cursing etc are probably the best way to pass the time.

[gmw]

drop some balls in the fairway and start hitting into them. free beer if you actually take one of these SOBs out

 

I joined a small private club so I don't have to deal with this s$#% anymore

[wilwin]

It's often hard to be able to move ahead of the slow play so since I am not going anywhere, I'll spend more time on the putting greens. I probably don't spend enough time if there is no one in front of me, but on slow days I make sure I get a good look from as many angles as possible. The slower the day, the longer I spend on my putting.

[longballjs]

drop some balls in the fairway and start hitting into them.

 

Bad idea, I did that once - cops came to the course was a mess!!!!

[DeaconEsq]

I'd say never hit into a group ahead. You could end up liable if you hurt someone. Also, there are a lot of crazy people out there. You don't want to get shot on a golf course simply because you weren't being patient.

 

I like the other suggestions. Call the clubhouse, and ask them to do something about it. Politely ask if you can play through. Skip a hole and drive ahead of them.

 

I usually just chat with my partners, practice chipping, practice wedge juggling, or clean my clubs :)

[larrybud]

If they didn't have anyone in front of them, I'd try to move up after putting out and meet them on the next tee box to see if they get the hint. I was a single last sunday, in a cart, and I was up on the 4 some of morons on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tee box. They refused to even look back at me to acknowledge me, AND they were walking. I would have been out of their way in 30 seconds... I drove around them and skipped a hole.

 

If the whole course is slow, you need to adjust your entire tempo. Waiting is NOT good. Take 10 more seconds on the putting green, move a *little* slower. It doesn't take much to use up the couple of minutes that you might be waiting.

[PingG10]

I picture driving the green with a incredibly well hit, soaring tee shot that hits the slowest player in the group smack in the middle of the head just as he's lining up his 2' putt!

[odshot68]

Thats why they make country clubs...part of the crap you put up with a public courses...especially the cheap ones with twilight golf. Spend a few more dollars (god knows the economy could use it) and play an upscale course with rangers or better yet a private club!!!

[BennySC]

If it gets to the point that people are "laying down"

 

I take it back to the pro, ask for a rain check and leave.

 

If they cant oblige this request, dont ever go back and tell thirty of your freinds about it.

 

All in all, its really all you can do if they wont let you play through.

[alittleoverpar]

Just try to enjoy the day with your friends. If the weather is nice and your on the golf course, just appreciate the day for what it is.

 

Unfortunately, if you are on a schedule asking to play through is about the only option short of going around them.

[Debit]

It's often hard to be able to move ahead of the slow play so since I am not going anywhere, I'll spend more time on the putting greens. I probably don't spend enough time if there is no one in front of me, but on slow days I make sure I get a good look from as many angles as possible. The slower the day, the longer I spend on my putting.

 

Please don't do that. I'm in the group behind you; waiting for you to clear the green. Much better to get out of the way and press the clowns that aren't moving quickly enough. Don't hit into them -- that's as dumb and stupid as they are, but courteous pressing is simply encouragement. I's much rather wait on a tee vs. dodging the yahoos behind that are hitting into us when we have no where to go either. So your group is waiting (patiently and quitely), any my group pulls up behind -- these nobs have got to be blind to not see that they are disrupting multiple groups. In my experience, if your're not on their Word not allowed regularly, the slow group will claim they weren't aware of a problem. Multiple groups waiting on the tee box also encourages the rangers to DO SOMETHING.

[blkfaceanh]

Just yell at them when they're in the fairway taking their practice swing for 10 mins before they hit it right at the tree in front of them and tell them to "QUIT LOOKING FOR LOST BALLS, ITS GONE! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOU TO THINK YOUR ON THE TOUR" Looking for your lost ball for over 1 min is stupid. If that ball was that precious, then don't use it for golf.