Etiquette: Eating/Break at the Turn

[chipper2]

When I go with friends to play it is for a relaxing day of friendship. No big hurry. We normally grab-n-go and have a nice lunch when we finish. When at each hole is there is one or two groups ahead of us waiting. All we are doing is spending more time waiting then playing, then a lunch break is in order. It will help the groups behind you. Most courses are afraid to tell slow group to move faster. They might lose a customer in the future. My answer is they lose the groups behind. The course get a reputation of being slow.

[uttexas]

In America it is grab and go.

In some Asian countries (from my experience), it may be customary to eat a sit-down lunch at the turn.

[walk18]

I grab a brat, throw on mustard,onions, and hot peppers and head straight over to the 10th. Nothing better!

[Fourputt]

Yeah, the letting people through part is fine, but after that, when you decide to re-start onn the back 9, you have to cut another group off, which having been that group many times, pisses me off big time. Why don't we all just grab-n-go?

This is the issue. When you lose your place on the course, you might never get it back. That is the warning that I've seen posted several times at snack bars located at the turn. Some players don't seem to understand that they really don't have the right to stop and start again at their leisure. They have an obligation to maintain their place on the course and to maintain pace of play with the group in front of them, including any pit stops along the way.

This used to be more common back in the day when courses weren't so crowded, or at private clubs where it was often an accepted practice to stop and have lunch in the restaurant between nines. These days most public courses (and a good many private ones) are simply too busy to allow that sort of policy. A group that stops for more than a couple of minutes at the turn may have to wait a long time for a break in the action to allow them to return to the game.

[Zeph]

If you've got time and know there are no groups immediately behind you it's OK, but if this is not the option then I very much agree that grab-and-go is the way to go. It's annoying as frick with flights that takes a break and cut inbetween other flights. As it has been pointed out by others, it can affect many flights coming behind.

[mkrolewski]

For most courses, due to relatively long round times, one is more or less relegated to just a few minutes break between front and back nine.

If the course is backed up, obviously your break can be longer. Generally, any group taking a long break is immediately passed. And generally are allowed back in when they are done. Of course a long break is pretty short -- maybe one or two groups will get by. I have never seen anyone go into the club house/bar and sit down to order between nines.

I think the issue will allowing groups back in to the sequence is the inevitable scattered group who is coming back, one at a time, trying to finish their food, etc, taking what seems like days to tee off rather then they allowing another group by them while they get organized. I wish there was a rule like until all your foursome is present and ready, you cannot start the next tee.

The compliment to all this grab-n-go is really making the break almost useless. How fast can you eat even a hot dog? Is wolfing down a sandwich really a break? I feel a bit bloated from gulping down food. I feel like I do not even have time for a bathroom break. It would be nice if the round timing had a real break - 10 -15 - 20 minutes or so and a marshal to monitor it to (1) get lunch (2) change shoes, shirts, whatever (3) answer those annoying messages (4) reset your equipment (5) take front nine stats or whatever else needs doing. Or just play through. Then the marshal would have some working room/time to restart groups when the entire group is back and ready.

[Fourputt]

And now you have just cut 2 or 3 foursomes from the course's income each day. That money will be made up by charging the rest of you more for your rounds. Don't see this happening anyplace I play.

[Mr Eagle]

NEWSFLASH!

Leading scientists from around the world met in London yesterday after the announcement from professor Fatbarsteward that the human body can survive for over 4 hours without having to take in sustinance.
The scientist have been told that trials have initially shown that it is possible to walk and swing your arms occasionally for up to 6 hours (Yes Thats 6 hours! )without having to eat.Although recomending water and a piece of fruit every two hours it is now known that Hot dogs,Burgers,Three course brunches and the like should in future be reserved exclusivley for Fat Bloke ,Trainee Fat Bloke and Mr & Mrs Large.



Golf is a game of 18 holes,there is no half time

[ctw262]

I played today and at the turn I grabbed a gatorade and a snickers (frozen, of course). the course wasn't even crowded, but I guess it's just habit to grab-n-go.

[Zeph]

We don't have a shop on the turn here, so that option is not present. I always carry one or two sandwiches and some fruit, apple, banana, pear on the course. If noone is trailing us we might take a 5 minute break at the turn to eat a sandwich, but I don't have a problem with eating while I walk.

[MI Rob]

I like to grab n go. I like to maintain my pace of play. Everytime I stop and eat I will lose focus and play worse on the back 9.

[Slice and dice]

On 3/13/2009 at 8:48 AM, Bump-n-MI said:

Imagine if 1 of every 4 groups decided to "sit" at the turn…it could get real ugly and potentially lead to 5 1/2 + hour rounds later in the day.

I don't think that's exactly how it would work. When the second+ group stops for their place it opens a gap that would be absorbed by the waiting party caused by the first group to stop. A delay likely isn't additive after the first (maybe second) group decides to break.

I was a stop and break guy, but seems like common practice is grab and go. I'll keep it moving!!

[iSank]

Wow this one took a nap for awhile. With each game it’s great to get out, at Gleneagles you may call in an order but either way, you sit out for 10 minutes after the 10th hole. I found that pretty cool on a chilly Scottish morning to have a tomato bisque warm you for 10 knowing everyone sits out 10. Then in Melbourne it was great having an ice cold beverage before heading back out for 10. Would it work here in the US, maybe here on Lana’i but not on Oahu or other courses. 

[ChetlovesMer]

I've never really been a stop at the turn kind of guy. A couple of times I've been invited out to private courses in which that was the custom, and it was fine. But for me, I prefer to do all of my actual meal eating and stuff after the round. If for no other reason than as I get older it takes me longer and longer to warm up. If I take a long break at the turn I might be on hole 15 before I'm all loosened up again. 

I will say, the course I currently do most of my playing on has a lot of folks who stop at the turn for a bite. I've never noticed it clogging up the 10th tee. I have passed a lot of folks at the turn and that can work out great. ... for me anyway. 

[boogielicious]

7 hours ago, Slice and dice said:

I don't think that's exactly how it would work. When the second+ group stops for their place it opens a gap that would be absorbed by the waiting party caused by the first group to stop. A delay likely isn't additive after the first (maybe second) group decides to break.

I was a stop and break guy, but seems like common practice is grab and go. I'll keep it moving!!

You quoted someone from 12 years ago BTW. I was my birthday though!😀

[ncates00]

2 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I've never really been a stop at the turn kind of guy. A couple of times I've been invited out to private courses in which that was the custom, and it was fine. But for me, I prefer to do all of my actual meal eating and stuff after the round. If for no other reason than as I get older it takes me longer and longer to warm up. If I take a long break at the turn I might be on hole 15 before I'm all loosened up again. 

I will say, the course I currently do most of my playing on has a lot of folks who stop at the turn for a bite. I've never noticed it clogging up the 10th tee. I have passed a lot of folks at the turn and that can work out great. ... for me anyway. 

I agree. It depends on who I’m playing with. Some buddies in one group like to go right to the 10th tee. Some buddies in another group of mine always stop to grab a snack and some drinks.
 

I don’t mind either one. When I play with the first group, we’re usually playing local and quickly. The second group is my “let’s hang out, catch up, and go to a course we’ve never been” group so we enjoy taking more time. 

[dagolfer18]

At my home club, the snack bar/grill is basically on the way from 9 green to 10 tee, so a lot of people stop for food and drinks at the turn before heading on to the back nine. 

I will usually stop at the turn, mainly to get something to drink and maybe a quick snack, but on the few occasions I’ve ordered a meal, I ordered on the ninth tee, picked it up at the turn and continued on to the back, eating as I play. 

I think it’s also worth noting that this also tends to create a backup on 10 tee. When I make the turn, it’s not unusual to see a group already teeing off and then occasionally a group or two waiting, so I’ve had waits of close to half an hour before.

Edited May 21, 2021 by dagolfer18

[StuM]

I look at the turn as a Pit Stop in racing, Get In and Get Out quickly.  I also suggest one person get the orders while the others hit the loo.  I do not mind paying for my playing partner's bottle of water/beer or hot dog now and then.  They can buy me a drink after the round and call it even.