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Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

post #1 of 20
10/30/08 at 2:52am
Thread Starter 
& be nice about it.

I play with a guy some times that plays extremely slow. He never seems to start thinking about his shot until it is his turn. Spends forever lining up putts....

What do you say to a guy in this situation?
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post #2 of 20
10/30/08 at 3:05am

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

It's a difficult situation to be in and I'm not sure there's really any way to ask them to speed up without offending them or getting them out of their own game and then offending them because they play bad as a result.
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post #3 of 20
10/30/08 at 4:27am

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

I usually just tell the person that we're not on the PGA Tour and to play faster. If it's a beginner, explaining "ready golf" also helps. I will say this, though: There's no need to sugar-coat it. Slow play is not acceptable and should not be tolerated. It's as big a breach of etiquette as speaking during someone's backswing or stepping on their line. It ruins everyone's day, including those within his group as well as all of the groups behind. And, if he can't take the criticism and/or refuses to play faster, I will not play with him/her again.
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post #4 of 20
10/30/08 at 9:58am

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

I play with a buddy that is terribly slow, I basically just tell him to stop playing so darn so or I'm going to leave lol
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post #5 of 20
10/30/08 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

One time it was just me & him playing...I had already hit my drive. When it was his turn he started telling a story. I told him to just go ahead & hit & tell his story later. He hit a poor shot & then blamed me for rushing him. Then he was mad the rest of the round :[

Also, he is not a beginner......he is a normal weekend hacker that shoots somewhere between 90-100 most rounds.
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post #6 of 20
10/30/08 at 2:18pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

I've done this: hurry to every shot, walk fast, try to leave the slow guy as far behind as possible at all times. They'll eventually rush and keep up. I also would take no practice swings, and hurry up and putt. They eventually get the message when all they see is the rest of the foursome waiting all the time.
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post #7 of 20
10/30/08 at 2:39pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by Pat007 View Post
I've done this: hurry to every shot, walk fast, try to leave the slow guy as far behind as possible at all times. They'll eventually rush and keep up. I also would take no practice swings, and hurry up and putt. They eventually get the message when all they see is the rest of the foursome waiting all the time.
Exactly what our group does with a slow player. Basically show him that the object of the game is to constantly move forward and if you don't, you'll be left behind.
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post #8 of 20
10/30/08 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

I've tried that....doesn't work work. He will just continue to go slow. Plus if hits a ball in the woods..he will look forever....he will even look for your ball lol

He's a good guy besides the slow play...but that can be irrating lol
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post #9 of 20
10/30/08 at 3:16pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by juanrjackson View Post
He's a good guy besides the slow play...but that can be irrating lol
You need to just be honest and tell him that. I'd do it the next time you play before you go out onto the course. Just in a nice conversation tell him that you really wish he could speed up his play somewhat. Give him a target time you'd like to play 9 in that way he knows what you're talking about. If he's not willing or unable to speed up his play then you either need to accept it when you play with him or don't play with him.
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post #10 of 20
10/30/08 at 3:37pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Well I agree to the ready golf theory. Usually where I play, there are marshals out there that keep the pace of play pretty much on time, but if I had to actually tell someone I was playing with, I would be nice about it at fist and say that he needs to pick up the pace. I have a few other things to say, but being a public forum, it's best they stay with me..
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post #11 of 20
10/30/08 at 3:49pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

There is no extra time allowance for beginners on a golf course. I found that out the hard way when I started. If there are no marshalls or they won't do their job then it makes it tough on everybody.

That being said, my home course has a 'peer pressure' policy, ie the pro shop doesn't police slow play and won't get involved. But there is a rock hard rule that you must defer to those who ask to play through. No exceptions.
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post #12 of 20
10/31/08 at 12:05am

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by juanrjackson View Post
I've tried that....doesn't work work. He will just continue to go slow. Plus if hits a ball in the woods..he will look forever....he will even look for your ball lol

He's a good guy besides the slow play...but that can be irrating lol
Well, what I usually do is start blaming myself, and imply that "I" am the slow one. Sometimes they will see through what I am trying to do, but a lot of times they will actually realize that we are slowing things down. I feel your pain though; I can't stand to be the hold up. I hate to wait too, but I'd rather wait than be the "wait"....
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post #13 of 20
10/31/08 at 5:47am

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Perhaps if you try the "we" pronoun next time. Something like "hey that group behind us is waiting for us maybe we should speed it up. That way it doesn't seem like you're singling him out as the cause of the slow play and he'll be more willing to pick up the pace. Even if it just makes him walk a bit faster it'll still help.
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post #14 of 20
10/31/08 at 5:28pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by microcrayfish View Post
Perhaps if you try the "we" pronoun next time. Something like "hey that group behind us is waiting for us maybe we should speed it up. That way it doesn't seem like you're singling him out as the cause of the slow play and he'll be more willing to pick up the pace. Even if it just makes him walk a bit faster it'll still help.
This is exactly what I do. By using "we" it's not personal and you're not specifically pointing fingers at someone. End the end, it all depends on how well you know the person. If they're a close friend, I have no problem telling them to speed up. Strangers are more delicate.
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post #15 of 20
10/31/08 at 5:38pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

I find out when the slow guy is planning of teeing off and I make sure to get a time in front of him. Either people get that it's discourteous or they don't.
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post #16 of 20
10/31/08 at 7:09pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by juanrjackson View Post
One time it was just me & him playing...I had already hit my drive. When it was his turn he started telling a story. I told him to just go ahead & hit & tell his story later. He hit a poor shot & then blamed me for rushing him. Then he was mad the rest of the round :[
Also, he is not a beginner......he is a normal weekend hacker that shoots somewhere between 90-100 most rounds.
Hate to break this to you, but, He golfs like a girl, not an LPGA girl, not a woman, a girl. He is there socially, not for the game. You need to pick another "something" to do as a friend with him, not golf. If you get him to speed up, as you said, he plays bad and blames you. I had a friend that did just the same and I cut him out of my golf. If he called or asked to play I would tell him I'm trying a new swing or working on my game and I'm playing by myself for a while or I'm going out with my son more this year, just dad and son stuff, then suggest another event to do with him, go to a game, play cards, whatever. Most likely, he will not change. What did it for me was when he started a story and would not stop talking, I paced off my yardage, took pratice swings, lined up my shot, got into my stance and then hit and he just kept looking at me and talking. After a few times trying to play with me and not getting to, he moved on. I've played with guys that are not that good and are really there for the buds, more social than the sport, but they keep up the pace. Your Friend cannot see the forrest and probably never will. Don't mean to be harsh, but that's what I've seen... jmoc
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post #17 of 20
10/31/08 at 7:22pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Originally Posted by juanrjackson View Post
I've tried that....doesn't work work. He will just continue to go slow. Plus if hits a ball in the woods..he will look forever....he will even look for your ball lol

He's a good guy besides the slow play...but that can be irrating lol
When my friends do that, I always pull a crappy Top Flite from my bag and chuck it at them. That normally gets the job done.
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post #18 of 20
11/1/08 at 4:33pm

Re: Slow Golfer....how do ask them to speed up....

Silentfinks' 'tough love' strategy is the perfect SECOND step to speeding up your group when someone causes the group to play slowly.

My first tactic is to say something like, 'hey guys, we need to get on our horses and get going here.' Then point out the group breathing down our necks and the green space between us and the group in front of us.

If that doesn't work, no problem employing Silentfink's strategy.

dave
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