New guy played w/ my usual partner and i today, need help...

[zeg]

I suppose you're right, it just gets frustrating being stuck behind glacially slow fourballs every weekend. Everyone gets so worked up about summer but it just means that all the hackers decide to play golf again. I miss Winter/Autumn when only dedicated golfers are on the course.

I don't think laying down a number as the score when you're "good enough" to go out on the course is the right approach. I have yet to break 100, but I more than compensate by playing quickly. I agree with the above post that you ought to at least be to the point where you advance the ball with nearly every swing. But there's a big difference between range and course, and even between par 3 course and regulation course. Until you're playing regularly on the bigger course, it can be difficult to keep the score down. Like I said, though, this doesn't mean you play slowly.

I ran the numbers once and the amount of time that an extra 10 or 20 strokes adds to a round is quite small -- it shouldn't be more than 15 or 20 minutes. If someone is taking five hours, it's because they're playing slowly, not because they're taking a lot of strokes. The way I see it (and play it) is that there's no sense in taking a long, precise pre-shot routine for every shot if the odds are that you're going to shank with regularity. I just aim, take a deep breath, and focus on the swing. No sense debating whether I'm a 5 iron or a 6 iron out, or worrying about the wind, etc.

[shades9323]

that's a bit extreme imho seeing roughly 60% or more weekend golfers don't, but I love it, the courses would be empty even come Saturday and Sunday Mornings.....

The courses would be empty because they would be closed....

[MiniMoe]

I remember when I was a kid, we had to go out with the pro or the assistant and hit some balls and answer a few basic rules questions before they would allow us on the course. Now, with the advent of the chain golf store, anyone can buy a set of clubs and some balls, plop money down at the pro shop and play a round of golf even if that person has no business on the course. It is going to suck, but you have to tell your friend he has to take some lessons, or at least go to the range until he can make contact. What he is doing is not playing golf, he is trying to learn golf. The range is where that takes place, not the course.

That being said, anyone is welcome in my group. All I ask is that you keep up. There is a limit to how many shots you should be taking on a hole. I don't mind a few 7's, 8's or 9's, but it is hard to watch a 12 on every hole..... pick it up already.

[ham_man]

I'd go further and say anyone who isn't likely to break 100 should leave the fairways for people who can actually play.

If they play pace, who cares what they shoot?

[sp33d]

holy crap... I went out with a guy last year that had Never, swung a golf club and he shot a 75 (on 9)... And that took forever, I cant even imagine....

[powerfader]

I don't think laying down a number as the score when you're "good enough" to go out on the course is the right approach. I have yet to break 100, but I more than compensate by playing quickly. I agree with the above post that you ought to at least be to the point where you advance the ball with nearly every swing. But there's a big difference between range and course, and even between par 3 course and regulation course. Until you're playing regularly on the bigger course, it can be difficult to keep the score down. Like I said, though, this doesn't mean you play slowly.

If they play pace, who cares what they shoot?

I would say that you must be the exception and not the rule. I can't believe people are actually saying that your handicap doesn't dictate the speed of your round. If you're constantly looking for your ball, three putting, leaving balls in the sand and just taking more shots then it stands to reason you're going to have a longer round. Having a quick pre-shot routine and not taking ages to read greens helps but to be frank most players don't do this. I don't care what their score is, it just seems to me that there is a direct correlation between handicap and speed of play.

[timtim]

I can't believe people are actually saying that your handicap doesn't dictate the speed of your round.

People are not actually saying that.

Some of us are simply saying that the score you shoot should not dictate if you can play on the course. We are saying that your ability to stay in the bubble between the group ahead and the group behind.

[ham_man]

Some of us are simply saying that the score you shoot should not dictate if you can play on the course. We are saying that your ability to stay in the bubble between the group ahead and the group behind.

Bingo bango bongo. Pace and general not-be-a-dick etiquette are the only things I care about. What you shoot, or what rules you play with, are all of your business and none of mine.

[meenman]

I would say that you must be the exception and not the rule. I can't believe people are actually saying that your handicap doesn't dictate the speed of your round. If you're constantly looking for your ball, three putting, leaving balls in the sand and just taking more shots then it stands to reason you're going to have a longer round. Having a quick pre-shot routine and not taking ages to read greens helps but to be frank most players don't do this. I don't care what their score is, it just seems to me that there is a direct correlation between handicap and speed of play.

I am pretty sure this debate has happened in this forum before.

High handicappers that golf regularly are generally not the ones slowing down the course. Die hard golfers are well aware of pace of play. We have all played with a newb that needed to be taught how to play ready golf, at the same time I have played with many 8-12 HCs that are turtles. Where it gets aggravating to play with them is on the green. Maybe we need to enforce the time limits on these people. The other thing that really seems to slow down play is the guy that hits a 150 yard drive and wont hit his 2nd shot when the group in front is 220 out.

[powerfader]

People are not actually saying that.

"I ran the numbers once and the amount of time that an extra 10 or 20 strokes adds to a round is quite small -- it shouldn't be more than 15 or 20 minutes. If someone is taking five hours, it's because they're playing slowly, not because they're taking a lot of strokes." ACTUALLY What this guy said basically equates to: "your handicap hardly dicate's the speed of your round". Have you ever played on a weekend before, because the groups holding the entire course up are the 30 handicaps. I'm not saying they should never be allowed to play, we were all 30's at one point, but out of courtesy they should be at the driving range or par 3 courses until they can play bogey golf. I don't think that's a controversial or rare point of view. As for the vacuous cretin that left me a negative remark calling me an idiot, I think we can safely assume he's the one holding everyone up.

[BirdIsTheWord]

That is definate grounds for unsolicited swing advice. Or a nice way to drop the hint on him would be to chip in with your other partners to get him a lesson, he can't hate you for giving him a nice, subtle gesture. Besides, he can't get too offended. He MUST know that he's not any good, even if he doesn't want to say it out loud. Good luck!

[Undr Par]

looking back when I starting playing Golf I can remember my former Boss taking me out during Twilight Hours when the courses were slow, and he set the ground rules down from the very beginning.....I do agree that a newbie should never play in the peak hours of the weekend....just not a good mix to say the least.....there will be a log jam a country mile if he does....

speaking of slow play though, I've played with some Low Cappers many a time who were just as slow as a newbie because they thought they were on Tour and that every putt etc....was a life or death situation...and please 10 swings before hitting the actual shot is a bit extreme don't you think?

[zeg]

I would say that you must be the exception and not the rule. I can't believe people are actually saying that your handicap doesn't dictate the speed of your round. If you're constantly looking for your ball, three putting, leaving balls in the sand and just taking more shots then it stands to reason you're going to have a longer round. Having a quick pre-shot routine and not taking ages to read greens helps but to be frank most players don't do this. I don't care what their score is, it just seems to me that there is a direct correlation between handicap and speed of play.

Ah, but here's the thing. A three or four or five putt shouldn't take much longer than a two putt unless you're taking an absurd amount of time lining up short putts that you're going to miss anyway. A second sand shot? You're already standing there, just set up and swing again.

As for looking for your ball, that is a valid point; I'd say that someone shooting over 100 shouldn't worry too much about losing a ball. If I don't know right where it is, I will either play a provisional or take a drop and just accept that I don't actually care what my "real" score is for the round. No reason to spend 5 minutes searching.. So, obviously, all else being equal, more strokes take more time. Still, the problem of slow play seems to be so rampant that I can't believe it's just a matter of those damn 30+ handicappers on every course every weekend. It takes a lot more than 20 extra strokes to account for an extra hour of gameplay.

[NotAStick]

Oh, it's more about searching for balls than how many strokes you play.

I've spent plenty of rounds stuck behind some guy shooting 110 (probably more like 140 with all the lost balls) who spends 5 minutes TWICE on every hole looking for a ball in knee-deep weeds.

I've also played happily with someone shooting 120 who shrugs and hits a provisional for a ball in the weeds and simply plays along at the pace.

I take a long time setting up my shots, but one tee shot, one shot from the fairway and one put. Can't take THAT long, eh?

[tjy355]

"I ran the numbers once and the amount of time that an extra 10 or 20 strokes adds to a round is quite small -- it shouldn't be more than 15 or 20 minutes. If someone is taking five hours, it's because they're playing slowly, not because they're taking a lot of strokes."

Definitely not a rare point of view, but I would say it is controversial because it is just not true. Pace of play is not directly associated with skill.

Obviously a less skilled player with a slow routine is going to take longer, but it is because they are slow not because they are less skilled. Some of the slowest players I've encountered are better golfers and conversely, I've played with many 25 handicaps who know how to keep it moving. It's all about awareness and etiquette.

[icthus]

So he's the youth director at your Church? Then he deserves the truth. I'm sure he can take it. Just make him pick up at 10 and go on. He will eventually get the hang of it or quit.

[eahollis4]

Tell him he needs to live at the driving range and putting green for 2 or 3 months before playing again. It''s like circumsition you'll be doing him a favor a later on in life.

[Shindig]

I can't believe people are actually saying that your handicap doesn't dictate the speed of your round. If you're constantly looking for your ball, three putting, leaving balls in the sand and just taking more shots then it stands to reason you're going to have a longer round.

Yeah, but then they finish the hole and they are still waiting for that O'Hair/Crane twosome ahead to clear.