The longest round in the history of golf

[StarMonkey]

I played a foursome round back in december (there was snow on the course and the lakes were frozen with at least 2 inches of ice) which lasted between 6 and 7 hours. We weren't playing slowly, I think everyone was a bit frozen up that day as there was a fairly long queue at the tee's and there was always a group in front and a group behind.

I played yesterday, and 3 of us walked 18 holes in just over 4 hours. We let a group and a single in carts through as we were playing twilight time. It would've been quicker but the walks between some holes were ridiculous. The first 3 and a half holes took an hour! Still, I'd like to play the course again but definitely in a cart this time!

[flanagan]

I'm interested to know how many courses allow 5 people out at a time. Over here (Ireland) that's not allowed, and if a round is going to take 7 hours I can see why. It's good that you let people through, but I'm surprised you weren't ask to break up the group

Unfortunately, over here it's a common practice, and tradition and common sense, which seems to prevail across the ocean, doesn't usually prevail here. The excuse is always "we make them get 3 carts" (i.e., additional green fees speak louder than inconvenience for the rest of the players). So, tough to get courses to do anything about it, if they are allowed to tee off in the first place. Courses should split them up, and people that have respect for other players shouldn't play in fivesomes (let alone play 18 holes in over 7 hours).

[right handed phil mickelson]

Yea that's just not right. I get mad if I play a round in more than 3 1/2 hours.

Me and my friend gabe routinely play a round in about 2 hours 45 minutes. Driving a cart, that is. Walking, I'll play a round with a foursome for our high school golf team in about 3 hours 45 minutes.

But 7 1/2 hours man?!

Im disappointed in you....

[Zeph]

Longest I've had was 6 hours at some corporate tournament through work. The average handicap was probably around 20 something, 4-some flights and I think it was 20 flights on the 18 hole course. We had some waiting, but spent a lot of time walking and looking for balls struck here and there. The course was not marked, so we had a 15 minute extra walk the wrong way. It was a long way from green to tee on many of the holes.

[Able Hands]

Playing in a group of five is not something that I have ever done before. I can guarantee that I'll never do it again.

I do work (for free golf) for the course as a handyman, and I'm friendly with the assistant, and general managers of the course. I think that is the main reason we were allowed to go out as a group of five. Also the course is in the process of rebuilding it's clientele so it is generally a quiet place. If the course had been full, we would have voluntarily broken into two groups.

Was it irresponsible to play in a group of five? I don't believe so on this course on this day. Would I try to do it at a high volume course? Absolutely not. I looked at the sign in sheet at the end of it all, and there was only an additional 4 or 5 groups that went out after us. As I said we let all of them play through us, and as such we did not hold anyone up for more than about a minute. None of the groups was back-to-back, so we did not cause a pile up either.

In the end, who did we hurt? No one! Well, no one but ourselves.

[flanagan]

Certainly sounds like for the conditions of play, etc. it shouldn't have been a big deal for anyone out there that day, but, seriously, how does it take that long?

[kafka01]

As long as you guys realize how bad and slow you play and let EVERYBODY pass i couldnt care less if you played the 18 from sunrise to sunset.
Its your time.....

[Greg]

once we started out as a group of 8 on a local course but split up into 2 groups of 4 after 3 holes, that was last year, back when I first started and didnt realize how bad that was. Im to the point now that I hate playing in more than a group of 2 anymore as it takes so long to play in foursomes. I played a couple weeks ago in a foursome with a new person who hadnt played in a long time and another friend who hadnt played in a couple months. I played poorly myself as I lost concentration waiting so long. My one friend still played pretty good but was getting frustrated with the slow play and had to let several groups play throught, took about 3 1/2 hours to play 9, about twice what it usually takes for 2 of us to play and many times can play 18 in that amount of time with a twosome. I played my worst all year. I dont think ill ever do that again.

[Dub]

Groups of five that back up the course are nerve wracking....shouldn't be allowed....even if they are letting folks play through.


I have very little patience for such conditions.

[flanagan]

Just when I thought I'd seen it all, went out with the family for a Tuesday night 2 person best shot (you all call scramble, I believe), my wife and I playing with each of our two daughters. We catch up to a twosome (also playing best shot) by the fourth hole and ended up waiting forever after for them to finish. Never thought I'd be held up by a twosome, while playing in a foursome, especially in that format. By the time we got done another foursome behind us was sitting with us on every tee and passing time waiting for them to get far enough along on every hole so we wouldn't have to wait hours in the fairway. I can't imagine how long it would have taken if two others were playing with them.


Just goes to show it isn't necessarily the size of the group, and I really believe they still would have been slow but possibly a little faster playing their own balls. BUT, no course with integrity should allow fivesomes during peak hours and it is way too common.