Slow, Oblivious Idiots

Went out to play today with my wife and a couple friends from work.  We were at the 1st tee along with 3 young guys who were well dressed and were playing from the tips so we let the go ahead and go before us, thinking we would hold them up.  They took a little longer that I thought they should and hit some poor shots but I didn't think we'd see them again considering we had myself (12 handicap), a couple of ~110 shooters and my wife who is a beginner.

The first hole is a par 5, downwind; I smoked my drive and was within hybrid range so had to wait for the green to clear.  No big deal; it was the first hole.  We finished up and went to the 2nd tee.  As we're approaching, the best dressed guy in the group ahead (wearing long pants even though it was probably close to 80°), comes back in his cart, holding a handheld GPS, and says "I just hit one about 340".  I almost said "no you didn't" right there, but decided to hold my tongue.  Of course when he actually got up to the tee and took his mark he failed to mention how far he had actually hit it (my guess is maybe 260).  This is a 351 yard dogleg right par 4 with water on both sides and behind the green, so if he really hit one 340 it would be on or near the green.  I guess he had already "chipped on" or whatever because we never saw where he hit his second from, but rest assured that the rest of the day (and I had plenty of time to watch) I never saw him more than about 230 yards from the tee box.  And I never was able to hit before they hit their second shots, and I top out around 250 unless I have a tailwind (and we waited on every tee to hit).

Its really quite hard to describe how slow and clueless these guys were.  I was expecting things to be slow, given my partners (who are not great golfers but are great company), but this was truly amazing.  A marshall talked to them at one point (when they had 3 groups backed up on a par 3 tee box behind them) and it sped them up for about 2 holes and then it was back to how it was.  It was so bad that my wife and I had to leave after 16 holes, having been on the course for 4 hours and 45 minutes.  On the 15th (par 5) we had to wait to hit our approach shots, and then all four of us hit approaches, chipped/putted out and proceeded to the 16th tee (par 3) where the group in front was only starting to hit their shots.  Simply amazing.  And it wasn't like we played quickly around the 15th; like I said before, 3 of the 4 in our group were not good golfers.  They never offered to let us play through (I'm not really one to ask but maybe I should have).

When we finally left I was happy to be off the course, and I love golf... I think this is one of the things that keeps people from playing.  These guys seemed to be completely clueless about how slow they were - there was a 5some in front of them they could not keep up with, and and a 4some of 2 hackers and one beginner female were riding their butt all day and they still seemed oblivious.

Sorry about the rant but its better for me to do it here than get in a fight on the course.

My favorite is the people who stand on the green looking back and counting their score after they've finished the hole. It's not that hard to remember your shots so I don't understand why people do it.

I have played on courses where if you're a hole behind the ranger will ask you to speed up.  If you don't catch up in a reasonable time you'll be ask pick up and and go to the next tee to close the gap.

So I'm consistent here I just, on another thread, said while it is annoying to play a long round, I'd rather do that than see anyone hurt by hitting into a slow group.  But I understand the frustration as we all have experienced slow groups that are inconsiderate and just unconcerned with others on the course.

This.

If people are holding you up then take your drive and head past your ball to where their playing and ask if they'd mind your group playing through on the next tee as you're having to wait a fair while behind them. If you don't ask, you don't get.

There's a reason why there's so many threads on this subject, it's because it's so friggin frustrating! Fortunately, the golfers described are in the minority.

The only thing I disagree with is criticizing someone who chooses to wear pants when it's "close to" 80deg.  So what?

Other than that, they shouldn't have been playing from the tips which erks me when people play off of the wrong tees.

I don't get this either... out where I am 80 degrees is pretty cool... When I played in high school, our coach wouldn't let us wear shorts until it hit 100...

Back on topic, slow play is frustrating, no doubt about it... it can take you out of your game mentally and make it so it isn't even fun anymore.  It would've been nice for them to let you play through but like you said, they were clueless.

The funny thing to me is that yesterday there was a thread about accidentally hitting into the group ahead (in part to avoid slow play) and today there is one complaining about slow play.  Seems like these threads alternate day to day.

I dont mind slow play if there is a good reason for it, ie - in a comp and people are taking more time etc thats understandable but your situation I can totally agree with its annoying.

I really hate it when I watch members from where I play sitting on there 2nd/appraoch shots waiting for the green to clear although there is no chance they will hit it even if they make good contact and i am sat on the Tee waiting for them to move on.

I don't care what set of tees you play or what you wear (pants or shorts wise) as long as you don't play slow.  I would have called the pro shop to ask them for assistance in keeping the pace of play.  Luckily at the course that I have my deal at they don't tolerate slow play and have been known to tell a group to pick up.  This is a great business practice because it allows more people to enjoy the course in a given day and more people come back knowing that pace of play is enforced.

If you are a high handicap, doesn't playing from the incorrect tees (in this case, the tips) increase the chance of slow play?  Sure, you can play from whichever tees you like but let's be realistic here.  Depending on the course, playing from the back tees if you are a weak player will be a much harder fight and would almost guarantee a longer round; especially, if the back tees forces you to carry things like hazzards...

Uhhh...I only wear pants golfing. I think wearing shorts looks sloppy (in my opinion). Playing the incorrect tees is by far the biggest waste of time on the golf course, yes there are little bits of etiquette that everyone should know, but playing the correct tees would solve so many problems.

My biggest pet peeve is when you arrive on the tee, join a group of people and they decide to play the back tees because you are doing so. I always tell them to please play whatever tee they are comfortable with. Sometimes I make an issue out of it if they clearly do not have the game for a longer course. Sometimes you just have to speak up, it's not being rude, it's actually being kind of polite. You just don't have to be mean when you say it.

when i play palm springs in the summer, i were pants (light, dry-fit ones).   they protect my legs from sun burn.

Ok, so I do care and you are right.  I just didn't want my bias to show.  I have had people play back with my group and keep pace no problem, but as a general rule it does kind of make me crazy to see someone play the tips that has no business being there.  I just didn't want to admit it.  LOL - you busted me.

Is there a rule of thumb for slow play? Ex: If a beginner is in front of a better and more experienced group. Obviously the better more experienced player would finish a hole quicker. Also does the course matter? Ex: There are courses that are better suited for better players and there are less difficult courses for lets say the beginners. Just curious. Thanks

Yep: If you're not keeping pace with the group in front, you're playing slow.

Note that if there's no one in front, that doesn't mean you can go as slow as you want because eventually someone will catch up to you, and every extra minute you took up to that point is an extra minute you have now forced them to wait on you. So another general rule of thumb you'll hear is: Pick up and move on once you're laying double par.

Where do you play in the Palm Springs area... just ask because I live in the area.

Some low cappers may seem slow because they take more time around the green and on the tee box, but since they spend less time looking for balls and it's "their turn" less often, they're typically faster overall. If you keep up with the group ahead though, it doesn't matter what your index is. A lower handicap players doesn't have the right to play through based on his or her index.

I tend to agree with your original stance: if they're keeping pace, it's nobody's business how they're doing it.  Since no one else should be concerned with their score, as long as they're not inconveniencing other players, let 'em play whatever tees they want.