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

[flanagan]

oh boy.....

Then perhaps when you mature, you'll understand a different point of view. Seriously, if I or any number of people I know were near enough and playing golf with their family, slow play would have been the least of your problems. Whatever your level of regret or public restraint, doesn't really further justify posting the full flavor of your remarks.

[golf_junkie27]

I'm not a fan of slow play. However, a combination of slow and bad play is truly unacceptable. I don't believe in the excuse "they're learning how to play." When I first started, the first thing my brother told me was "Pick up the ball when you're struggling and move onto the next hole. Never hold anyone up because you're stinking up the course." That was the best advice ever for two reasons: respect for my fellow golfers and motivation to get better.

For the poster who wrote that he's hit over a group and forcibly played through, you should know better. That's a cowardly and dangerous act. One, be man enough to address them at the next tee box. Two, if you hit someone, what do you say? "I'm sorry I hit you. I did so because you were playing slow?" There are other ways to get a message "across." That usually involves face-to-face communication.

You can find another course that will suit your needs. Remember, too, that some courses are impossible to play on weekends. Those are the ones that I stay away from. Golf is tough enough without having to deal with a situation you can avoid.

[DJYoshi]

I'm not a fan of slow play.

HERB! there you are!

[DJYoshi]

most course here in GA consider 200+ rounds a good day. Our avg. is 4 - 4.5 hours. If you took that long down here I think people might start playing through on their own.

of all things from that slow round that i learned was: some rangers just don't want to deal with confrontation. several calls from me after 2 hours for 4 holes... then they sped up, and groups caught up to me since I went out as a solo... so then it was like...ok...4 people it'll take us a few to finish each hole.... but it still didn't matter...

was I pissed? yeah...I was like 1 over until I got caught up in that long round.... finished at 10 over on the day.... but whatever..it's over and done with... when you play a muni course..you know you're gonna get stuck somewhere... the avg at my local muni course here for a round is 5 hours... but when I go out and i'm lucky enough that it's empty.... 3.5 tops....

[Parker0065]

By this time, the 3% of me had seen enough. I proceeded to get out of the cart, pull out a tee, take my head cover off my driver, inserted tee and ball into the grass, and popped a shot out there right over their heads.

If anyone actually gets so mad that they feel they have to hit a golf ball at someone, then it's probably time for them to find something else to occupy your time, and seek some anger management. Believe me I have endured some absolutely painful slow play memories in my 35 years of playing golf but never have I intentionally hit into anyone. Most people here probably have never been hit by a hard line drive golf shot, I have and had to be carried off the course. Lucky for me it only took out my leg and I couldn't walk for a few days, but how about if your cute trick of intentionally hitting into that group would have hit one of them in the head and caused some permenant damage? I mean, how in the world could you be so ignorant as to jeopardize your future financial and or personal freedom over a group of slow golfers. All I can say is WOW!!!!

[microcrayfish]

Now I understand that many of you have families to worry but if you're going to be playing golf on the weekend at a busy course your round will be slow. That's the simple reality of the situation.

Complain all you want but if you insist on coming onto a golf forum and complaining about slow play then at least make the same effort to find a solution that works for you. If you're worried about not spending time with your family because you're playing for six hours then perhaps you need to make up that family time somewhere else; you know that the round will be slow so make time to spend with your family at some other point in your week. Maybe that means not going out for a drink after work or maybe you miss that baseball game that you wanted to watch. The fact is, you can't always have everything your own way all the time. If golf is an important part of your life and you want to spend time doing it then you may have to sacrifice other things. If you don't want to, or can't, give up other things then golf may have to go.

There seems to be a dichotomy between how long people think a round of golf should take and how long it actually takes. Is slow play unacceptable? Sure. Should course rangers make sure play isn't held up? Of course. Does that change the fact that your round will be slow on Saturday? Think again. It's time to face up to reality and come to terms with the fact that golf will take a long time on the weekend. It's your choice whether or not to deal with it.

(And for the record I can play 18 holes by myself in 2 and a half hours so I'm not taking this point of view because I play slowly and want to justify it.)

[bsettle]

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.

I have a comment on both your scenarios.

1.) Slow play, is not against the rules, other than the rules DO state you have to try and keep up with the group in front of you. If you can't, fine. I do not think anyone on this site would be upset if you are a high handicapper that cannot play at the pace of a low handicapper. BUT if a group is OBVIOUSLY playing faster than you from behind, IT IS A RULE that you MUST let them through. It is not our obligation convenience you because you are not following the rules. You have to convenience us, not because we are better players, but because the rules of the game you chose to play say so. Yes, you paid and can take your time, but we paid and have the right to play every hole. Remember, it is a rule. 2.) Driving slow in the fast lane, also a rule. Read the little white signs with black letters "Slower traffic keep right." Yes, we can go around in another lane, but the slow driver is the one not obeying the rules. Why should we have to convenience them?

[Hitman]

The worse thing about all the members here complaining about slow play and the foursome fivesomes and larger groups completly destroying a round of golf , is that those guilty of this hainess act , well they don't read these threads. I have seen the worst slow play in my life the past few weeks in Fl. with all the snowbirds who don't care because they don't have any where to be until the snow melts back home. One outing in Okeechobee got me behind 2 guy's who I know lost a total of at least 2 dozen balls between them, who would not let anyone through and said in North Dakota where they where from, people had more respect, so I figured that the 2 weeks of summer there, no one get's out because these two would be laughed out of the game.

I am not lightning fast, and hate with a passion slow play and the lack of anyone doing anything about it. The only thing the course and the pro care about is the bottom $ and until regular players start complaining and cutting into the bottom line, I believe it will only get worse.

[WilsonWill]

I have a comment on both your scenarios.

Im not speaking in terms of the rules, as they were clearly violated in both circumstances, Im commenting on how you let it effect your mood.

I guess its obvious that tone or mood is lost when conversing in this way, but I have not once intended on defending those who play slowly w/ no thought to others on the course. I think a few times in my posts I have said that explicitly. My whole points that I was attempting to make are two fold... 1. It seems foolish to me for someone to allow someone else to so negatively effect their mood and tarnish their enjoyable outting when such can be so easily avoided its not even worth it to complain in the first place. 2. I think some are overly critical and dont think of circumstances or situations that may be present to cause a person to play slowly. In this situation, it seems that the slow group in question were just inconsiderate and knowingly holding up play, but that is not always the case. Most people are considerate and aware of their surroundings. I simply disagree that there would be bedlam/chaos if the OP and the rest of the gentlemen stacked behind this group had simply gone around them to the next hole or skipped a hole for space and continued on. We are grown adults, its not like a bunch of 4 year olds trying to get to the lunch line first. And lastly, as others have said, I think its commonly a matter of unrealistic expectations. You are not going to get around a nice 18 hole course on a Saturday in 4 hours, I dont care how mindful everyone is, how focused the marshall is etc. If you go into such a circumstance w/ such lofty expectations, then youll undoubtedly leave feeling upset and not having enjoyed it as much as you could have.

[WilsonWill]

2.) Driving slow in the fast lane, also a rule. Read the little white signs with black letters "Slower traffic keep right." Yes, we can go around in another lane, but the slow driver is the one not obeying the rules. Why should we have to convenience them?

Ill address this one separately as I think it will better illustrate my opinion on the whole thing... Im not questioning or defending the slow driver in the fast lane. They are breaking the rules, and are not considering the other drivers, but their behavior is not under my control, so as I see it, I have two choices, 1. I can ride them, honk, flip them the bird and get pissed off. In the end, what have I accomplished? They dont care about me as theyve already made the choice to drive slowly in the fast lane. So basicly, ive gotten pissed, made a fool of myself, and Im still behind them in the fast lane going slowly. Now we have choice 2. I can see them, get upset a little, its only natural, go around them and continue on my way. Seems alot are choosing #1, more power to you if you want to live your life that way. Ill take #2 and be happy.

[Bump-n-MI]

I proceeded to get out of the cart, pull out a tee, take my head cover off my driver, inserted tee and ball into the grass, and popped a shot out there right over their heads.

I too was the "explosive aggressive" type in my younger days and can understand the frustration and temptation to do what you did. Fortunately I have found less aggressive ways to channel anger.

The only way I'd ever get that mad on the course again would be if somebody intentionally hit a ball over my head.

[kleinrider]

I am new to the game so i would consider myself a slower player. I don't know the clear definition of slow and fast player. I do know i try to play at off times so i don't slow anyone down behind me and if i am playing alone and someone asks if they can join my i normally say "no, i am just working on somethings" so i don't slow them down. I don't like the feeling people are behind me and waiting for me it really makes me nervous. I almost like if the group in front of me is playing slow so i can take my time (assuming no one is behind me)

Of course i am working on improving my game which i would think would make me a faster player or avg speed player.

[TheNatural]

No doubt this is probably the sports number 1 PROBLEM.

[iacas]

1.) BUT if a group is OBVIOUSLY playing faster than you from behind, IT IS A RULE that you MUST let them through.

I hate slow play as much as anyone else, but it's not a "rule." It's a commonly accepted practice, a matter of etiquette, but it's not a rule.

It's in the "Rules of Golf," but under the "Etiquette" section. You're not gonna convince anyone to play faster by telling them it's a "rule." There's no penalty for "breaking" it except the small risk of getting a 5-iron upside your skull.

[Jared]

To me, the difference is golf 15 years ago compared to now. Years back, etiquitte and manners were more strictly adhered to on the golf course. The game was more friendly, and ,not coincidentally, less popular. Now, especially with the Tiger effect (not blaming Tiger, just pointing out that he has caused numbers of new fans of golf, and golfers), combined with society as a whole being less concerned with the etiquitte and manners, has caused issues like this.

Nowadays, there are many people who don't: fix ballmarks, replace divots, have seemingly no knowledge that there are others on the course (loud conversations on the green or tee when there are other people in close proximity), are not concerned with slow play and not willing or aware that they should let faster players play through.

I miss the golf of my youth, when it wasn't "cool", and you could get quick round in late on a Sunday. I don't mean to characterize all new players this way, but in terms of who tends to be guilty of the above, it seems to be disproportionally slanted toward newer players.

[Fat Slice]

I think the rule is to keep up with the group in front of you. Also, if you are playing a fast round, I don't see why you would be obligated to let a super-fast group play through (although I usually would).

[flanagan]

By this time, the 3% of me had seen enough. I proceeded to get out of the cart, pull out a tee, take my head cover off my driver, inserted tee and ball into the grass, and popped a shot out there right over their heads.

You should have been thrown off the course for good. Hitting intentionally in the direction of anyone is more than irresponsible, and just plain dangerous. Nothing about your handicap or personality suggests perfect command of your golf ball under stress. There is no excuse, ever for that, whatever the skill level.

I hate slow play, but nobody has an excuse for teeing off and firing a golf ball "over" someone's head, or in their general direction.

[Jared]

You should have been thrown off the course for good. Hitting intentionally in the direction of anyone is more than irresponsible, and just plain dangerous. Nothing about your handicap or personality suggests perfect command of your golf ball under stress. There is no excuse, ever for that, whatever the skill level.

I couldn't agree with this more. Hitting into the group ahead is something you talk about wanting to do, not something you actually do.