IM SICK OF THIS *$#! whats ruining golf...

[Jay-Bird]

Wow. Sorry, man. Playing through slower groups it's not a privilege, it's in the rule book. I've dealt with this before - and I've skipped the å∫∫hº73s and got on the box right infront of them on the next hole. I also left them a ball that I found in the rough, a PINK ball - teed up for them. They probably missed the point, though.

[msd3075]

These are the reasons I am joining a private club

It depends on what type of "private" club you're talking about. I'm a member at two very different types of clubs, Champions GC in Houston and Hardscrabble CC in Fort Smith. Champions is the absolute dream club for every real golfer out there. The members are (generally) easy-going and don't at all fit into the country-club "snobbery" that most clubs have. People there respect the game. I've never had a group not let me through if there is open course in front of them. Hardscrabble is a different story. Granted I've only been a member for a short time, but the membership seems to have a chip on their shoulder and have the attitude that they are above all else. I've yet to play on a crowded day (the course is absolutely empty on Sunday mornings, so I play then), but I can see how the stuck-ups would NEVER let anyone through.

[msd3075]

Wow. Sorry, man. Playing through slower groups it's not a privilege, it's in the rule book. I've dealt with this before - and I've skipped the å∫∫hº73s and got on the box right infront of them on the next hole. I also left them a ball that I found in the rough, a PINK ball - teed up for them. They probably missed the point, though.

What most people don't know is that according to the rule a sinlge has absolutely no standing on the course and no group has to let them play through. I understand it's common courtesy to let a single through if they are being held up, but the group in front has absolutely no obligation to let him/her through.

[hamletsdead]

6 hours is inexcusably long. Frankly, 4-1/2 hours is way too long as well. If you can't break 100, you should not be playing from the blacks -- it's retarded, and you won't have any fun unless you're getting drunk and not there to play golf anyway.

The problem with most courses is that they are not designed for the new golfer. Even moving the tee boxes up doesn't help at most places, because the short hitter has the same identically hard approach shot to a postage stamp green surrounded by four bunkers. A better idea by far would be to have the Bethpage model put in place (e.g., different courses for different skill levels), so beginners and hackers can play on a course that is appropriate for their level, and not an impossible nightmare of lost balls, ten sand shots and four putts all over the place (or, if that still happens, at least it's on a course where everyone is doing it).

Since we don't have that option at most places, the starter should really assess the level of play and tell the group where they are going to play from, and the marshals should enforce the pace of play rules -- slow groups get a warning, and if they don't pick it up, they get booted or have to skip a hole to keep up.

Everybody knows about this problem, and the pro shops generally do nothing to alleviate it -- they keep booking start times too close together and sending people off even when they know there's a logjam six holes up. I was playing a couple weeks ago at Roddy Ranch in Northern California, and at 9 our group came to a screeching halt when we had to wait on FIVE groups ahead of us to tee off. Talk about frustrating.

[cocky_watchman]

I HATE SLOW PLAY-no excuse for it at all. I am relatively fast player, although I'm starting to take more time than ever to line up putts and the like, purely because there is no point playing quickly, since I will only have to wait on the next tee. It is helping my short game too, but I still get on with it in the areas where it counts regarding saving time. Things like, getting off the green, marking your card when you are waiting, playing a provisional etc. I think a big part of the problem is that everyone accepts the round is just going to be slow so make no effort to play quicker, well not quicker more time efficiently I'd call it.

I could easily go round in under 3 hours on an empty average length course. Yesterday was Mother's Day, so it was fairly quick and we went round in 4 hours. The previous week was 5 hours-that's TOO long for a round of golf for me. I find myself playing worse due to frustration and just getting fed up with it all. So it is a problem in UK too, but not as much as the US by the sounds of it. Municipals open to the public can be appaling-I have had 6-7 hour rounds in peak summer municipal rounds-I avoid those courses. They attract more 'non golfers', kids and first timers, so to be expected I guess. It's more unacceptable when seasoned golfers are just plain ignorant-I can honestly say it's very very rare that I have been let through, people just hate doing it. I think they see it like admitting they aren't good players.

The main problem is people play 18 hole courses who shouldn't. I only played a 9 hole pitch and putt when I was a kid. I didn't progress to the 'big course' until I was about the 120 shot average for 18 holes(I was only 11!!). I think that there should be a kind of minimum standard. It's not much to ask. i see guys with all the kit taking huge swings and the ball goes 20 yards into the rough, they then proceed to slowly walk after the ball and hack it forward another 20 yards-you know it's going to be a long day. These guys would take 150 shots if they scored honestly, and they take so long searching for the ball, parking trolleys in the wrong side of the green etc. It's a difficult problem, as I know people are not going to change-some of these people are in denial, in their heads they seriously think they are good golfers and have every right to take hours planning their shots. having said that, you can plaqy awful golf and be quicker, it's just a tougher ask.

[JetFan1983]

I loathe slowplay. Anyone defending slowplay has no clue what they're talking about.

[Jared]

Slow play makes me furious. I have a friend (no offense to the high handicappers), who would be around a 30 if he kept track. This guy can get it around in 3.5 hours if he's not held up. Not a good player, but fun to play with and never holds anyone up. It can be done, but I think its a combination of people feeling entitled and people being ignorant of how you may play more quickly.

In other countries (Sweden maybe?), new players must complete a proficiency and etiquette course before they are turned loose on a real golf course. Its a great idea, and unfortunately would probably result in lawsuits here in the States.

[lumpuckeroo]

I think slow play is a huge factor in turning people away from the game. Some people just can't/won't play at a resonable pace. A guy we used to play with was the first one to complain about slow play but would comment "I paid my green fees, I'll take as long as I want." He would hit multiple tee shots, pitches, chips, putts, we couldn't take it and don't ever ask him to play.

Don't quite playing, try to find a course were the pace is more to your liking and play there.

[Damien45]

Last week I was playing at my home course. I was a solo walking and I was hitting two balls. It was a Monday, a generally slow day. This was the case and the reason I was hitting two balls. I was trying out two new balls at the time. I had no one in front of me, and no one behind. That is until I got to the 8th Tee.

I caught up to a foursome. They were not very good, but neither am I. The group was playing incredibly slow and never even thought of letting me play through. It got to the point where I would light up a smoke as they got to their second shot, and smoke the whole thing before hitting. That didn't even keep me from pressing them on the greens. By the 14th hole I had a single in a cart catch up. We joined up and finished the 18. That was just rediculous.

[mirv]

a few years ago, a friend and i were paired up with two other random guys per the clubhouse's request so the course could move along better. well, the group in front of us, another foursome, were teeing off from the black tees and they weren't hitting it much better than the people in the original post for this thread. they'd usually manage to get past the ladies tees, but not by much, and always - ALWAYS - right. the two guys my friend and i got paired with turned out to be really cool, though, because they kept a running commentary on the group in front of us (since we were perpetually waiting on them and watching them). at one point, we were parked about 30 or 40 feet from them, watching as they teed off on a par 3 (as we had already finished our previous hole and these people weren't letting us play through, even though we're having to actually watch them tee off on every hole) and one of the guys says, loudly enough for the offending group to hear, "i have no idea what in the hell i'm doing. is this golf? this is golf, right? yeah. never played before in my life, so i have no clue what in the hell is going on. and THAT is why i'm playing from the mother f'n black tees." my friend and i almost fell out of our cart laughing.

[Jay-Bird]

What most people don't know is that according to the rule a sinlge has absolutely no standing on the course and no group has to let them play through. I understand it's common courtesy to let a single through if they are being held up, but the group in front has absolutely no obligation to let him/her through.

Not Correct. You have an outdated version of the rules... See page 3 of the 2008-2009 Rule Book... under " Priority on the Course " "... The term "group" includes a single player "

[Jay-Bird]

A note on slow play:

You do not need to take more than one practice swing. The course is not the place to tinker with or 'figure out' your swing - that's what the range is for.

[TheNatural]

These are the reasons I am joining a private club

LMAO and you and i are 20+ HC's pathetic that us high HC even #$** about this...

[WilsonWill]

I think alot of guys on this site need to take a big long step down off their high horse. Let me remind everyone, ITS A GAME! People need to lighten up and remember we are all (for the most part) grown men, playing a GAME. I dont understand why anyone would allow themselves the grief and stress accompanied w/ this type of thing when its so unbelievably easily avoided, that to me it makes it down right idiotic to continually complain about it. Itd be like being on a 4 lane highway and getting upset at someone for being in the fast lane and driving slow (another occurance that happens all the time). Guess what, theres a whole other lane over there, go around and just be happy. Same applies here, there are 17 other holes out there, go around and be happy.

Im not dismissing the rudeness and lack of consideration shown by those unwilling to let people play through, but why obsess about it and then let it affect your mood?

[right handed phil mickelson]

what i think a rule should be is if you can't hit it past the ladies tees, you have to pull down your pants and walk to the ball and hit it pantsless.

[TheNatural]

I think alot of guys on this site need to take a big long step down off their high horse. Let me remind everyone, ITS A GAME! People need to lighten up and remember we are all (for the most part) grown men, playing a GAME. I dont understand why anyone would allow themselves the grief and stress accompanied w/ this type of thing when its so unbelievably easily avoided, that to me it makes it down right idiotic to continually complain about it. Itd be like being on a 4 lane highway and getting upset at someone for being in the fast lane and driving slow (another occurance that happens all the time). Guess what, theres a whole other lane over there, go around and just be happy. Same applies here, there are 17 other holes out there, go around and be happy.

Listen Bud you seem like a good guy,,,i hope you let faster golfers through when on the front nine or early back nine... NOT EVERYBODY HAS 6 HOURS TO DEVOTE TO A ROUND OF GOLF ,,,,ADD IN 30 MINUTES COMMUTE TO AND FROM AND 7 HOURS! I HAVE 3 KIDS A WIFE AND A DEMANDING OCCUPATION THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS PERMIT ME TO PLAY ON THE WEEKDAY ,,, SO ASKING MY WIFE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT TOOK 7 HOURS IS LIKE ASKING THE IRS TO CUT ME A BREAK..... IF I DIDNT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD TO DO...YEA I COULD SIT MY ASS IN A CART FOR 5 HOURS ONLY TO ACTUALLY SPEND 1 HOUR HITTING THE BALL.....ONE SCRAMBLE I HEARD OF IN PHILLY LASTED 8 HOURS BUT EVERY GREEN HAD A STRIPPER AT IT.....THEN I WONT BITCH..... BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I WAS 2 GROUPS BEHIND THESE TOOLS,,,,THERE WERE 10-12 GROUPS STACKED BEHIND US....ARE WE ALL SUPPOSED TO SCAMPER AROUND THE COURSE TO FIND THE ELUSIVE OPEN TEE, THUS PUTTING TOGETHER OUR 18? THAT MY FRIEND IS THE CAUSE OF CHAOS. YOU SHOULD SCOLD YOURSELF FOR DEFENDING THIS BEHAVIOR ...ALAS, I HAVE JUST SCOLDED THEE,,,THOU HATH BEEN SCOLDED.....

[cocky_watchman]

I have a simple solution.

Each course has a marshall who goes round the course observing play. Anyone who is caught taking too long is given a strong warning. If they are observed continuing to play slowly they are warned again. A third warning, using the American term is 3 strikes and you're out. All of the group are taken, handcuffed, round the back of the clubhouse, where quicker players with good etiquette pay a pound/dollar a shot to hit a driver (Hi Bore XLS Monster) from 20 yards away at the tied up, naked group members. The group members have their butt cheeks painted with a simple target, hitting the target gives you scores and as always-POINTS MAKE PRIZES...WHAT DO POINTS MAKE???......PRIZES. Oh yeah. that would quicken up the riff raff. I'm happy to help run a pilot scheme if any course is interested????n Just PM me

[msd3075]

Not

Whoops.

I just remember that being taught to me when I played junior golf years and years ago.