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I played a five-hour round Saturday


JaxBomber17
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In a threesome. Everyone broke 100. Two of us broke 85. Our only wait was five minutes on the first tee. I ended up with an 83 (best score of the year) that EASILY should have been an 80 or better. I was playing with two good friends, probably my most frequent partners. We play a lot of scrambles with a fourth guy and usually do very well. But I definitely remembered why I haven't gone for a stroke-play round with these guys in a few years. The best part was after we let the second group play through on 14 or 15, and a third was immediately bumping up against us, one of the guys looks at me and says "See, that's what happens when you let one group play through." It took a LOT of self control not to say, "No, that's what happens when you're the slowest group on the course."

We teed off a little after 1, and by the time we made the turn at 3:40, I was pulling my hair out. It isn't that I had better places to be; I just can't focus like I should when I'm worried about the foursomes stacking up behind us with nothing but wide-open spaces up ahead. My game definitely felt the fallout as I started pushing my irons further right the more I rushed to make up for one guy never even pulling a club until the other two had already hit, and the other taking a solid minute to line up every single putt. Just an all-around frustrating day, and it really shouldn't have been. It was my first time out in a while after a few months of nothing but range and backyard work that has really paid off. These guys aren't casual players, either. We all count all our strokes, talk golf constantly, and, other than pace of play, know the rules of etiquette. I need to either find a way to get these guys moving a little quicker or just find some new playing partners before I say something I shouldn't.

I'm not going left or right of those trees, ok? I'm going over those trees...with a little draw.

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In a threesome. Everyone broke 100. Two of us broke 85. Our only wait was five minutes on the first tee. I ended up with an 83 (best score of the year) that EASILY should have been an 80 or better. I was playing with two good friends, probably my most frequent partners. We play a lot of scrambles with a fourth guy and usually do very well. But I definitely remembered why I haven't gone for a stroke-play round with these guys in a few years. The best part was after we let the second group play through on 14 or 15, and a third was immediately bumping up against us, one of the guys looks at me and says "See, that's what happens when you let one group play through." It took a LOT of self control not to say, "No, that's what happens when you're the slowest group on the course."         We teed off a little after 1, and by the time we made the turn at 3:40, I was pulling my hair out. It isn't that I had better places to be; I just can't focus like I should when I'm worried about the foursomes stacking up behind us with nothing but wide-open spaces up ahead. My game definitely felt the fallout as I started pushing my irons further right the more I rushed to make up for one guy never even pulling a club until the other two had already hit, and the other taking a solid minute to line up every single putt. Just an all-around frustrating day, and it really shouldn't have been. It was my first time out in a while after a few months of nothing but range and backyard work that has really paid off. These guys aren't casual players, either. We all count all our strokes, talk golf constantly, and, other than pace of play, know the rules of etiquette. I need to either find a way to get these guys moving a little quicker or just find some new playing partners before I say something I shouldn't.

Why not start by saying something you should ? Theres nothing wrong with an honest chat with them the next time. You'll be doing yourself, the other players on the course, and truthfully, your buddies a favor. If they don't/won't listen, play with those that do. And going forward,make sure you always schedule your tee times ahead of theirs . ;-)

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In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
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That's funny. I played a five-hour round on Sunday, because dear old starter didn't mention a darn thing about a four-group hacker scramble having the tee times immediately in front of us. Drank thee tall ones in the process just because I didn't have anything better to do while I watched them watching each other. Can't be doing that again anytime soon.
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In a threesome. Everyone broke 100. Two of us broke 85. Our only wait was five minutes on the first tee. I ended up with an 83 (best score of the year) that EASILY should have been an 80 or better. I was playing with two good friends, probably my most frequent partners. We play a lot of scrambles with a fourth guy and usually do very well. But I definitely remembered why I haven't gone for a stroke-play round with these guys in a few years. The best part was after we let the second group play through on 14 or 15, and a third was immediately bumping up against us, one of the guys looks at me and says "See, that's what happens when you let one group play through." It took a LOT of self control not to say, "No, that's what happens when you're the slowest group on the course."

We teed off a little after 1, and by the time we made the turn at 3:40, I was pulling my hair out. It isn't that I had better places to be; I just can't focus like I should when I'm worried about the foursomes stacking up behind us with nothing but wide-open spaces up ahead. My game definitely felt the fallout as I started pushing my irons further right the more I rushed to make up for one guy never even pulling a club until the other two had already hit, and the other taking a solid minute to line up every single putt. Just an all-around frustrating day, and it really shouldn't have been. It was my first time out in a while after a few months of nothing but range and backyard work that has really paid off. These guys aren't casual players, either. We all count all our strokes, talk golf constantly, and, other than pace of play, know the rules of etiquette. I need to either find a way to get these guys moving a little quicker or just find some new playing partners before I say something I shouldn't.

Ouch! Time to get new partners. . .

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

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"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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What made them so slow?

I'd have to guess.

1) Not playing ready golf

2) Taking too long per shot

3) Everyone searching for one lost ball instead of going ahead and hitting your own ball.

4) Hit provisional shots more often.

#1 cause of slow play is not playing ready golf. If you use a cart, drop someone off, go to your ball, then go pick them back up. Don't congregate around one ball and watch that person hit. If you don't play golf well, don't copy PGA Tour players and their routines. The number of practice swings isn't going to help you out.  You don't need to be going through your routine on that 2 FT putt when you already taken 8 strokes to get there. It's OK to just pick up and move on. Play more match play so that holes can be conceded more often. 4 people don't need to go search for a lost ball. Go hit your shots, then go over and help if they haven't found it yet. Be aware of the 5 minute limit as well.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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I play with my wife quite a bit, and she's really slow, on Saturday I shot 100, she shot 136, and we still finished in 4 hours with another couple we were paired with. We even let a couple groups through. We didn't really play ready golf,  I hear this a lot but I'm still not sure why it takes some people 5+ hours?  I've hit traffic jams at the tee before that have caused it to take that long, or an extended food/bathroom break at the turn that can eat up a bunch of time, but how many practice swings does it take to extend a game an hour?

Driver: TaylorMade Aeroburner;  9.5* S-Flex
3-Wood: TaylorMade Aeroburner;  15* 
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Irons: Nike Vapor Speed 6-Pw Steel Stiff
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#1 cause of slow play is

I agree with everything you mentioned, but I still believe management has got identify and have strict policy along with a ranger who can manage the course.

It starts with the Head Pro or Management to identify the areas which routinely create problems.

Next, the Ranger needs to help out on course in a manner without creating conflict, needs help from staff when necessary, or additional an Ranger on busiest times.

A good Ranger is someone experienced and trained to be helpful, polite and can communicate to customers and receive support when needed.

Club Rat

Johnny Rocket - Let's Rock and Roll and play some golf !!!

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A good Ranger is someone experienced and trained to be helpful, polite and can communicate to customers and receive support when needed.

I have yet to run into a course marshal that wasn't a complete tool.  Best case he'll roll by and make a bad golf joke "Hey, is the course record in jeopardy?" more than likely he will give me guff for something someone else did, like my last run-in with him where the first fairway was full of balls because the foursome on #2 all sliced their tee shots and he rolled up to the first tee before I ever hit a ball and made sure to let me know that the first tee is not the driving range.  I had no idea what he was on about until I drove down there and saw all the balls.

And then when we needed a marshal on a different course, a bunch of weekend hackers were playing from the tips and holding everyone up, the best we could get him to do was drive by and give a nasty look, they did not care.

Sorry, probably off topic, but I had to agree with your statement and then disagree in the fact that I have yet to see a marshal actually do his or her job in this manner, or help speed up golfers on the course politely.

Driver: TaylorMade Aeroburner;  9.5* S-Flex
3-Wood: TaylorMade Aeroburner;  15* 
S-Flex
Hybrids: Nike Vapor Speed 3-5 Steel Stiff
Irons: Nike Vapor Speed 6-Pw Steel Stiff
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Putter: Odyssey Works 2-Ball
Grips: Good Grip Tour Wrap Medium 
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Club Rat

A good Ranger is someone experienced and trained to be helpful, polite and can communicate to customers and receive support when needed.

I have yet to run into a course marshal that wasn't a complete tool.  Best case he'll roll by and make a bad golf joke "Hey, is the course record in jeopardy?" more than likely he will give me guff for something someone else did, like my last run-in with him where the first fairway was full of balls because the foursome on #2 all sliced their tee shots and he rolled up to the first tee before I ever hit a ball and made sure to let me know that the first tee is not the driving range.  I had no idea what he was on about until I drove down there and saw all the balls.

And then when we needed a marshal on a different course, a bunch of weekend hackers were playing from the tips and holding everyone up, the best we could get him to do was drive by and give a nasty look, they did not care.

Sorry, probably off topic, but I had to agree with your statement and then disagree in the fact that I have yet to see a marshal actually do his or her job in this manner, or help speed up golfers on the course politely.

Funny, but true.

We have one kid who is a +1 handicap and doesn't joke about anything golf related, but other than that everyone else is older and better "aged". :-D

:ping:  :tmade:  :callaway:   :gamegolf:  :titleist:

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TM Rac 60 TT WS, MD2 56
Ping i20 irons U-4, CFS300
Callaway XR16 9 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S
Callaway XR16 3W 15 degree Fujikura Speeder 565 S, X2Hot Pro 20 degrees S

"I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them." ~Harry Toscano

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It is ok to let faster groups play thru and you should.  BUT...if you are having to do it every time you play with these guys, they probably have the attitude now that "well, if they want to play thru...ok.  I'm happy with the pace we are playing."  That is just wrong.  If I am in a slow group, I constantly remind them..."Hey guys, we are 2 (or 3 or 4) shots behind the group ahead.  We need to pick it up."  I play in a tournament league and we play by the rules and putt everything out.  It is easy for our groups to fall behind.  You just have to keep reminding them that we have to pick up the pace.

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I'd have to guess.  1) Not playing ready golf 2) Taking too long per shot 3) Everyone searching for one lost ball instead of going ahead and hitting your own ball.  4) Hit provisional shots more often.  #1 cause of slow play is not playing ready golf. If you use a cart, drop someone off, go to your ball, then go pick them back up. Don't congregate around one ball and watch that person hit. If you don't play golf well, don't copy PGA Tour players and their routines. The number of practice swings isn't going to help you out.  You don't need to be going through your routine on that 2 FT putt when you already taken 8 strokes to get there. It's OK to just pick up and move on. Play more match play so that holes can be conceded more often. 4 people don't need to go search for a lost ball. Go hit your shots, then go over and help if they haven't found it yet. Be aware of the 5 minute limit as well.

I agree for the most part. However, it is not always possible to "drop someone off and then go to your ball." One of my neighbors is 20-30 years older than me. His ball is usually the shortest and mine tends to be the longest. The other guys in the group would not like me very much if I dropped my neighbor at his ball and then drove to mine. I would be standing in everyone's way. However, both of our practice routines are as fast as Snedeker, we do not look for lost balls for more than a minute, and I quickly read my putt from behind the hole and walk back to putt. I agree that it would be nice to drop someone off, but that only works if both players hit nearly the same length with their shot.

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I feel OP's pain. I could not concentrate if I had to play the front nine at 2:40 pace. I would definitely have said something during the first few holes when my group is falling behind. Something like "we should try to catch up to the group ahead of us" or something non-confrontational. If that didn't work, I would then say, we are too slow we need to pick up the pace. That would be the last statement and the last time I would play with the slow poke if it didn't change. I can't believe a threesome is holding a foursomes up. That's just brutally slow pace. I'm assuming no group was holding up the OP's group the entire time.

Don

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I feel OP's pain. I could not concentrate if I had to play the front nine at 2:40 pace.

I would definitely have said something during the first few holes when my group is falling behind. Something like "we should try to catch up to the group ahead of us" or something non-confrontational. If that didn't work, I would then say, we are too slow we need to pick up the pace.

That would be the last statement and the last time I would play with the slow poke if it didn't change.

I can't believe a threesome is holding a foursomes up. That's just brutally slow pace.

I'm assuming no group was holding up the OP's group the entire time.

That's pretty much the pace I get stuck playing every league night. It's probably one of the reasons, besides rock hard greens, that I have such a hard time playing well there.

KICK THE FLIP!!

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That sucks that those in your group are slow. Somehow I find it less ackward to tell my friends to play faster than it is to tell someone I get paired with (or "stuck with " )
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Why not start by saying something you should?

Theres nothing wrong with an honest chat with them the next time. You'll be doing yourself, the other players on the course, and truthfully, your buddies a favor.

If they don't/won't listen, play with those that do. And going forward,make sure you always schedule your tee times ahead of theirs.

Exactly!

ToJaxbomber.... I got many new golfers (co-workers) started in the game many years ago when I was relatively new to the game myself.  I knew them well enough and felt comfortable talking to them about "ready golf" and "Pace of Play" expectations.    Even though they sukked at the game, they grasped the concept and picked up the pace and learned to play ready golf.   Playing with them was never an issue afterwards.... some developed into pretty good players.  (some not)..LOL

Funny side story:

This was maybe 15 years ago when I paired-up with a complete group of NON-GOLFERS!!  Total hacks........   On the first tee, I was thinking to myself.......... "what kind of mess did I get myself into!" The funny thing is they played ready golf to such an extreme, they showed no etiquette.  This is what made the round bearable!  It was comical......three balls would criss-cross the green at the same time because they all played at once with no concern for the others.......LOL       We moved along nicely and I enjoyed the round because of this.    They scored huge triple digit scores, but took no time doing so.

Funny sidenote 2......i did get hit in the head with a golf ball that day!   One of them was 200yds offline to my right and maybe 100yds behind my drive and he proceeded to hit a sideways shot that 1-hopped and hit me right behind my ear on the back of my head...LOL   It didn't draw any blood and we all had a laugh.....

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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What made them so slow?

[quote name="saevel25" url="/t/83885/i-played-a-five-hour-round-saturday#post_1186146"] I'd have to guess.  1) Not playing ready golf 2) Taking too long per shot 3) Everyone searching for one lost ball instead of going ahead and hitting your own ball.  4) Hit provisional shots more often.  #1 cause of slow play is not playing ready golf. If you use a cart, drop someone off, go to your ball, then go pick them back up. Don't congregate around one ball and watch that person hit. If you don't play golf well, don't copy PGA Tour players and their routines. The number of practice swings isn't going to help you out.  You don't need to be going through your routine on that 2 FT putt when you already taken 8 strokes to get there. It's OK to just pick up and move on. Play more match play so that holes can be conceded more often. 4 people don't need to go search for a lost ball. Go hit your shots, then go over and help if they haven't found it yet. Be aware of the 5 minute limit as well.  [/quote] [quote name="Cupcakus" url="/t/83885/i-played-a-five-hour-round-saturday#post_1186184"]I play with my wife quite a bit, and she's really slow, on Saturday I shot 100, she shot 136, and we still finished in 4 hours with another couple we were paired with. We even let a couple groups through. We didn't really play ready golf,  I hear this a lot but I'm still not sure why it takes some people 5+ hours?  I've hit traffic jams at the tee before that have caused it to take that long, or an extended food/bathroom break at the turn that can eat up a bunch of time, but how many practice swings does it take to extend a game an hour? [/quote] These guys do not, in any way, shape, or form, play ready golf. I was generally longest off the tee, but by the turn I was hitting first because our shortknocker has this intricate pre-shot routine that involves 30-60 seconds of sitting in the cart thinking REALLY hard about his yardage or something. Honestly, no one thing the two of them do ever seems to take up THAT much time, but eight or nine little things per hole add up fast. Things like not even pulling a club until the other two have already hit their tee shots, taking ALL OF THE TIME to line up that putt for triple, not even starting to line up the putt until it's your turn to putt, etc. I guess I don't notice it as much when we play scrambles because everyone has the same yardage and you can get break from each oher's putts, but it makes me want to manually strangle someone when we're playing a normal round.

I'm not going left or right of those trees, ok? I'm going over those trees...with a little draw.

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Note: This thread is 3144 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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