Speeding Up Slow Play - Players

**tbjohnston** · May 23, 2008

One of the banes of playing golf with two particular folks is the fact that they are slow golfers. On a course that I've walked (in a foursome) several times in 3 hours 30 minutes in a foursome, with these two it will take 4 hours 15 minutes, and they will feel they are playing quickly. Here's what I've got for advice, but I wonder if I'm missing something:

1) Play from the proper tees - unless you're a single-digit index, don't play from the tips.

2) Be ready when it's your turn - use the time spent walking or while others are hitting to think about your shot and prepare as much as possible

3) Leave your clubs (or your cart) in the direction of where you need to be next; if possible, never walk backwards after hitting a shot

Anything else y'all would suggest? And what impact do you think each of these will have - which are the most important??

Thanks.

**thor** · May 23, 2008

there is a guy like that in our group. we just keep on playing. there has been times when he is looking for a lost ball and we keep playing. we have even putted out and moved on to the next tee and he is still looking for his ball.

it drives me crazy

**Undr Par** · May 23, 2008

it's funny this thread is up as I was going to post the same exact thing.

I've been playing with my Neighbor now for 2 yrs (he's alot older then me 54, I'm 36) but playing with him the last 4 times I've been aware of just how slow he is.....2 weeks ago it took us 5hrs and 20mins to play 18....yeah that's right 5hrs, nobody in front of us or behind us, he lost roughly 5 balls that day and he takes alot of time looking for balls, and he stands firm on who should hit 1st and all that (that's fine but I pee alot so at alot of tee boxes I go pee, so you would think he'd tee off right? wrong he waits) I'm all about ready golf

last week we play 9 holes, it took 2hrs and 43mins just to play 9 holes, once again it was him holding everything up...

so yesterday we played 18 with a fellow co-worker of mine, on the 3rd hole I lost it, we had a 4some (with 2 ladies) trailing us like flys on dog crap, once again he lost 2 balls already before the 3rd hole, when he finally got on the hole he acts like he's a freakin Pro Golfer where he goes on both sides of the ball in an attempt to read the greens, then he leaves it short (2 ft away) so he marks his ball, again I lost it, I said come on now just finish that out...he states well it's not my turn bluh bluh..etc..... come on now ready golf is what I said, and these lost balls, give it 2 minutes if you don't find it, drop and take a penalty (oh and that's another thing, he takes Mulligans practially every hole).....

I've about had it with playing with him, my scores have gone down hill playing with him thus far this season......the 4 times I've played with him I've shot 93 on 18holes, 95 on 18holes, 44 on 9holes, and then yesterday a 107 on 18 (I haven't shot over 100 for 2 yrs) but when I've played by myself twice (I shot a 91 on 18holes and then an 88 on 18 holes).....granted I'm not a great golfer myself but I love to play ready golf and steady golf, to much down time screws me up, and with him it's always too much down time. And not to beat up on him but he hasn't shot better then a 115 at anytime playing with him.....and the 115 was yesterday......I realize patience is a virtue and that I'm not much better then him....but his slow play has really gotten to me....

**Craig Mac** · May 23, 2008

....but his slow play has really gotten to me....

After all that I don't think I would play with him again

1)

I think all three of those would help speed up play, I went out recently with two guys I work with that are occasional golfers and the biggest problem they had was being ready when it was there turn, I had to play director a little bit just to keep the pace up.

**xTsUnAmI** · May 23, 2008

about 3 weeks ago a saturday round took me, 6 hours 45 minutes... Thats right, ridicolous, the group ahead of us was insane.. Even called the clubhouse before the turn, but they didn't do anything about it...

**rudygu** · May 23, 2008

about 3 weeks ago a saturday round took me, 6 hours 45 minutes... Thats right, ridicolous, the group ahead of us was insane.. Even called the clubhouse before the turn, but they didn't do anything about it...

6 hr 45 min?? Holy crap! Were there only 4 of them?

**xTsUnAmI** · May 23, 2008

yeah, there were 4 groups of 4 doing some short of tournament ahead of us... It was so ridicolous.

**bigphil** · May 24, 2008

i played with a fellow like this today. he had the WORST pace of play i have ever seen! im not speedy-gonzalez, but i play ready golf, keep it in play (most of the time) and generally keep a very steady pace. from the first fairway this guy stands behind his ball visioning his shot for about 20 seconds, then he stands over the ball for another 10 and then hits a crappy shot. he did this all day and it only took me until the 3rd tee box (i was playing tips and these guys were playing white) i hit my shot, the next guy hits his, and then this guy gets up there again and just sits there...sits there...sits there! i lost it!!! i said, "holy crap man!" just hit the damn ball! we were already a hole and a half behind after two! he speed it up a little after that, but still....my gosh! it drove me crazy, all day!

**Undr Par** · May 24, 2008

i played with a fellow like this today. he had the WORST pace of play i have ever seen! im not speedy-gonzalez, but i play ready golf, keep it in play (most of the time) and generally keep a very steady pace. from the first fairway this guy stands behind his ball visioning his shot for about 20 seconds, then he stands over the ball for another 10 and then hits a crappy shot. he did this all day and it only took me until the 3rd tee box (i was playing tips and these guys were playing white) i hit my shot, the next guy hits his, and then this guy gets up there again and just sits there...sits there...sits there! i lost it!!! i said, "holy crap man!" just hit the damn ball!

man that sounds like my neighbor as I stated above.....accept for me playing from the tips...

and yeah Craig Mac...I told my Wife that I really think I'll start avoiding playing with him much anymore, as I really haven't enjoyed my playing with him, I just don't like his company anymore.....

**JonnyGolf** · May 24, 2008

The thing I hate about slow players is that it makes me hurry my routine because I feel pressure because we're behind. Uggghhhhh.

What do I think they should do. Hurry up and miss your putt! If you make that 30 footer, it will only be luck, so get your speed and then hit it.

**Craig Mac** · May 24, 2008

about 3 weeks ago a saturday round took me, 6 hours 45 minutes... Thats right, ridicolous, the group ahead of us was insane..

Had to read that twice!! That IS rediculous. I can tolerate a little bit of waiting especially if the course is busy, but I couldn't fathom that kind of pace. I think I would have just went to the range after spending 3+ hours playing 9 holes.

I just don't like his company anymore.....

That statement is says it all, it's a game, it's supposed to be fun. And if it's not fun, lose the guy.

**Backspin** · May 24, 2008

This will sound bad...but...if the group ahead is really slow, as in ignorant of ettiquette, I hit into them. If they are older, slower people I deal with it but if they gather at every ball and talk away I let them have it.

If a playing partner is slow I simply show him the group behind us that is waiting. They usually catch on and speed up.

**bflat450** · May 24, 2008

This is the worst... Today played with 2 people slow as hell. In addition there was another slow group ahead of us, and a fast group behind us. We had to wait on every tee, and on every green the group was waiting on us. Took us 2:45 to play the front!! Luckily those 2 people left and those behind us went home so we played the back in about 1:30 which wasn't bad. Played better on the back also.

**Shindig** · May 24, 2008

1)

I disagree. I think your length, accuracy, and shotmaking ability needs to figure into this too. With some courses having tips over 7000 yards, there's no sense putting a short hitter back there, no matter how good is short game is.

Of course, good players playing from too far back is rarely the problem.

Anything else y'all would suggest? And what impact do you think each of these will have - which are the most important??

Check out last year's Slow Play Week - or as I think it should've been called, pace of play week. Informative articles. Worth reading.

The thing I hate about slow players is that it makes me hurry my routine because I feel pressure because we're behind. Uggghhhhh.

Seriously! I do it too. I joke that I play best when there's a slow group behind me and a fast group ahead of me. It's probably true.

This will sound bad...but...if the group ahead is really slow, as in ignorant of ettiquette, I hit into them. If they are older, slower people I deal with it but if they gather at every ball and talk away I let them have it.

No! Don't hit into the group ahead of you, for three reasons:

1. You could be liable if you hit them. 2. You might ruin whatever concentration they have, and then their shots will get worse, eating up more time. 3. More importantly, they might cause your ball to be lost, which could adversely affect your score. If you've already called the marshal and nothing's been done about it, go up to them when they're being slow and ask them to pick up the pace or to let you play through.

**xTsUnAmI** · May 24, 2008

Had to read that twice!! That IS rediculous. I can tolerate a little bit of waiting especially if the course is busy, but I couldn't fathom that kind of pace. I think I would have just went to the range after spending 3+ hours playing 9 holes.

But I already paid for the 18, so might as well play em. The dude I was playing w/ was seriously pissed though.

**atltony** · May 24, 2008

The thing that gets to me the most is when I'm playing with a friend who happens to play much slower than me. It's hard not to come off like you're nagging them along. Recently if one of my playing partners is obviously slowing us down for no good reason (ie. insisting on waiting for me to putt or chip on before reading their putt, chip whatever; insisting on teeing off in order of honors; waiting to walk up to and assess their shot in the fairway/rough until I've hit when completely out of my shot line; or leaving their bag on the wrong side of the green) I will just show them the back of the card which states "Play Ready Golf!" and kinda draw an analogy to a restaurant which says "No Shirt/No Shoes/No Service" and ask them if they obey those rules. Obviously they say yes and then I proceed by saying that a golf course is just like any other business and you should follow their rules as well. Kind of a softer way of telling people they are causing slow play and need to hurry up.

Anyone have other ways to gently tell people they need to pick up the pace?

**golf_junkie27** · May 24, 2008

Announce to your group that you play ready golf and that you don't go looking for balls. It's one thing to search an area where you think a ball may have landed. It's another thing to know that you're ball is sitting in an owl's nest but you're still going to look.

Other than that, there is really nothing you can do. I've played really fast rounds and I played rounds where I thought I was going backwards.

My opinion is pretty constant. Whether you're pretty good or pretty awful, I don't care. Just be ready to play.

**jwnolefan** · May 24, 2008

about 3 weeks ago a saturday round took me, 6 hours 45 minutes... Thats right, ridicolous, the group ahead of us was insane.. Even called the clubhouse before the turn, but they didn't do anything about it...

...what, did you try to play Riverbend?

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