I play a lot as a single, so often catch up with other groups - if I can see I am not going to be let through I just stay on each green having some practice (checking for anyone following of course).
I find that as long as I can get into and then stay in a rhythm, the actual pace of play doesn't affect my score, but if slow play causes me to lose rhythm, then my play suffers.
One of the guys I play with frequently has a MAJOR slow play issue, in that he honestly thinks people in front are slow, while he is ALWAYS last off the tee box (even if he had the honour), and last off the green, always messing around with his bag when play is moving on, and DETESTS letting other groups through. I try to avoid playing with him but he is my cousin...
Yesterday, we were playing as a foursome, and were waiting on a threesome in front of us, for a long time, on EVERY STINKING SHOT. The 3rd hole is a par 5, and the group in front of them was off of the fourth tee, when they were teeing off on the 3rd hole. We had a walk on single with us, that was a firey old guy. He was at least 60 yrs old, was playing with us from the "blue" tees (the tee-boxes in front of the championship tees) and is an 8 handicap.
The three of us were kind of griping a lot on the second hole, and he didn't say anyhting. We get to the third hole, and he says this is @#$%^& ridiculous. I'm calling the clubhouse. This course is semi-private, and he is a member. He looked at us like he may have been offending us by ratting them out. Needless to say, he had his pick of three cell phones to use in about 2 seconds.
He dropped off after 9, and there was no way we were playing behind them as three, when they were holding us up as a foursome. When they were ******** around at the turn, filling up their coolers with beer, we jumped ahead of them. After about 4 holes, they were at least 2 holes behind us. They must have been hitting two or three balls off the tee, each, until they got one that suited them.
When we jumped ahead of them, the marshall was right there. He was the one that talked to them on the third hole, and we told them what we were doing. He said I'll go talk to them again, which gave us enough time to tee off, without them being on the box at the same time. Actually, now that I think about it, getting their beer and getting back on the course was the fastest thing they did all day.
I actually played OK, so maybe slow play isn't as bad as I think, NOT!!!!!!
Last edited by stlcard_25 : February 21st, 2005 at 01:11 PM.
Reason: inappropriate language
Slow play is a pet peeve of mine. At my home course there are a lot of the same groups that play early every weekend and most play at a good pace. The key is to play ready golf. Be ready to hit when it your turn. There is no reason a high handicapper can't play in under 4 hours.
I don't understand how every golfer I know complains about slow play but it's always the other guy who's slow. It doesn't matter if you're a low handicapper, a "duffer", or just a beginner....if everyone would just keep up with the group in front of them the pace of play would improve. The guys I hear complain the loudest are the better players that take far fewer shots per hole than the group in front of them. They just don't get the fact that golfers making pars are going to be a lot faster than golfers making doubles.
And because they are getting par/birdies they should be let through Duhh I think you will find that it is actually in the rule book somewhere.
when I first started playing a round was 4 hours or less. Then at some point 5 hours became acceptable. I play at a place in Canada that have the toughest rangers I have ever seen. The carts have GPS and the rangers know exactly who is where on the course. I have played a few rounds where I have heard them get on the players on front of us. A good ranger can make a huge difference.
We had a horrible time on Friday. I was playing with my parents, and pulled up to the first tee just as a foursome was leaving, one of the guys walked off the tee and said "ya like playing slow? cause you're gonna today!" and laughed. We thought maybe there were other groups ahead of them, or he was laughing off a bad tee shot. We weren't playing the best golf, but waited on them on EVERY hole. We never caught them on a tee box, but there were many times where they were still driving to their tee shots when we got to the tee box. It was almost a blessing that they decided not to obey the "carts on path" rule for the day, because even zig zagging the fairways to get to their balls they took forever. By the end of the round, we were convinced they were doing it on purpose, even pulling up to one tee box as they sat at the end of the tee in their cart, then sped off when we pulled into view. It was possibly the worst display of sportsmanship I've seen in a LONG time. For reference, when we were waiting on the third tee, the closest group in front of them was on the 7th green. I think it took 4 1/2 hours plus to play a 5400 yard course.
And because they are getting par/birdies they should be let through Duhh I think you will find that it is actually in the rule book somewhere.
Yes, they should.....if there's room for them in front of you. If the course is full and there's no place for them to go then they wait like the rest of us. :nodsmiley Just because you're fast doesn't automatically give you a free pass to play through the entire course!
I'm the first guy to let a group play through if there's an opening. If I'm waiting on the group in front of me there's no point in waving the group behind me through. No matter how fast they are playing!
We were booked solid at my course today and didn't have one problem with slow play. I worked the proshop by myself with a starter. No marshal. Our tee times are spaced 7 minutes apart. My starter rode the front once through and saw no problems, and I make it a point everyday when someone makes the turn to ask them how things are going. Anyway, we had no problems. By the time the first group finished 18 the rest of the groups started coming in about one every 7-10 minutes.
Personally, I don't like extremely slow play. I don't want to have to wait more than 5 minutes to hit a shot. I can normally get in a groove, but if I have to sit and wait I start hanging the ball out to the right and pushing it. It takes me a few holes to get back into the groove. It's enough to ruin a round.
The only real time I complained about slow play was a few years back when me and my buddy would play 2-3 times a week and were pretty quick (18 holes in 2.5 hours walking when no one is on the course) We went out one evening fairly late and got behind a couple of pretty arrogant non members and their 2 kids (less than 10) who felt that since they were paying to play they could take the time they wanted. I'm all for getting kid in to sports early but these kids were hitting like 25yrds MAX. They fathers refused to let us play through saying that there was a group in front of them and that's why they were slow. that if we played through there would be no place to go since the group in front was slow too. Total BS. As it turns out we were waiting to tee off on 7 and the group ahead that was so called "holding" them up had already hit their tee shots on nine. Luckly they gave up after 9 and we were smooth sailiing for the rest of the round.
I'm sure you have told more than one speedy golfer where they could go
Actually, you won't find too many players around that play faster than me so I really don't have much of a problem with guys catching me. BTW...I make it a point not to cause problems with guys that have 14 weapons within easy reach!
Slow play you say
I have been in both positions & when somebody is hitting balls at you it is more frustrating IMO. I love when slow players keep looking back thinking you are going to hit at them. Me & my golf buddies have found a few solutions. 1. We play a game called poison where you chip the ball at the tee blocks. (Only works on the tee box though). 2. We try to call the shots that the slow group are gonna hit. This is my favorite. Just a quick question to any slow golfers on the forum. Can we play through?
February 21st, 2005, 09:20 AM
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