When courses don't care about slow play - GRRRRRRRR

[chriskzoo]

So we went out to play on Saturday morning - high 40's, but very windy. In front of us is a 4 some of gusy in their 60's (nothing wrong with that) playing from the blues (6500 yards). This I was pissed about, as it was cart path only and of course every one of them hit their drives about 180 yards and as far from the cart path as possible. Surprisingly, they moved pretty well and we got stacked up on the 5th tee when we saw the real problem.

In front of this groups was a group (mind you, we're only 4 1/2 holes into the round here) was a group just getting to green at #5 - the group in front of them was already hitting shots to the 7th green - yes, they were already 2 holes behind after 5 holes.

So we pop over to the 7th tee and get some dirty looks from the slow group as they pull up to the 6th green (a par 3). Needless to say, we tee off and pretty much finish the hole before they putt out and get to the 7th tee - at which point we had to wait for the group that was 2 holes ahead as they were probably 25-30 handicappers playing from the blue tees. Finally, as we were waiting on the 9th tee for these bozos to finish the completely open hole in front of them, I have to give the pro shop a call - who claims "a group just got off #9, so they aren't really behind."

Having worked in a golf shop for 8+ years, I am not one to complain other than when the course has complete disregard for slow play. So we finally finished up 7 holes (we skipped 2) in 2 hours 15 minutes and the guy in the shop was actually nice enough to give us a raincheck for $20 of the $29 we paid. I appreciate the gesture, but I would rather have some rangers out there kicking ass.

[ryohazuki222]

I don't understand why everyone has an issue with bad players hitting off the back tees. Maybe it's just the courses I play, but theres really not much difference in time spent.

So what if they hit off the back tees. In certain cases, you end up in LESS trouble hitting from the back tees when you're not a long hitter.

I find it more irritating looking at poor time management AFTER the first tee off.

[NorCalGolfer]

9/10 times it's the courses fault for stacking tee times trying to make a buck. I mean, would it really kill them to space out the times to 15 mins instead of 8. Which is what it is around here.

[GoldenBear]

This weekend we were playing a course with play ahead of us that was so slow the twosome my playing partner and I were with decided to call the clubhouse. They sent a marshall out and when they explained the problem to him he kind of stared at them with a "well what do you want ME to do about it?" look on his face. Luckily we passed them at the turn...

[tm22721]

Many courses finances are in freefall and can't risk losing members by lectures on slow play.

[Slim 11]

Slow play issues (when not the courses fault for bunching up tee times) fall squarely on the shoulders of the slow players and their lack of etiquette. I don't care if a group is slow (we were all there at one time or another) but you have to let people play through if you are not keeping pace.
Rangers should be explaining this to slow groups. You don't need to be good to be on the course but you should have to be mindful of the etiquette. Golf is supposed to be a gentleman's game.