Slow Play

[nevets88]

I also noticed faster rounds during inclement weather as fewer players out there. Colder temps, a little rain but not really hot weather. People still come out if it is really hot. At least this is based on my little keyhole of experience.

I always wondered if that's maybe why in the UK, rounds are faster - people just want to get out of the weather quicker.

Anyways, complain about slow play that I do, the cynic in me thinks it will never be a "solved" issue, so what other ways can you think to avoid it?

And thank you so much for smartphones to make a slow round more tolerable. At least you can do something interesting while waiting.

[colin007]

solving the issue?  im not sure that there is a complete solution.  i for one would like to see the rangers in my area be more diligent.  actually make the slow groups skip a couple of holes ahead to catch up.  unfortunately, the rangers here seem to do nothing but chat it up with the other old guys playing.

[WUTiger]

Quote:

I think carts only speed up play when...

D. The topography of the course, or the weather conditions (heat, wind, etc.) make walking so difficult that a cart makes more sense.

In some cases, course layout and routing make carts almost mandatory (or in one case a requirement).

Three courses in my area - including the one I play most - were residential development courses. The holes wind in and out of the subdivision tracts. Two of the three have points at which the next tee box is a quarter mile from the previous green. One course has a mandatory cart policy, the other requires carts during peak play.

The third one has ridiculous routing on the back nine. If they would reverse two of the holes, you could save about a half mile of cart driving time. One group playing the course for the first time told me they got lost.

[ghalfaire]

Originally Posted by WWBDD

Yup ...

... and might I add, this is a really whiny thread.

I agree.  Why not just enjoy the day and your friends and consider how fortunate you are to be there.  Lots of people in this world would trade places with you.  Most rounds are done in less than four hours and seldom do I encounter the dreaded 4+ hour round.  Not often enough to worry about.

[GlobalGolf]

In my mind, there are only two reasons why slow play exists.  First, a course will effectively endorse slow play by improperly managing tee times - often purposefully, favoring higher revenue off greens fees over providing a decent golfing experience.  This turns out to be a great business strategy for bargain municipal courses in high volume areas, e.g. big cities.  They will sell out every tee time even if they put out two groups every 5 minutes.  They don't care and the people still come to play.  You will wait on every hole and your round is 6 hours.  Suckville.

The second reason for slow play is ignorant golfers.  It doesn't matter how good or bad you are - everyone who plays golf on a golf course needs to understand about how long a shot should take and about how long a hole should take.  If you are a crappy golfer, move faster and pick up your ball when you really need to be picking up your ball. You should know when this time as come by the looks on the faces of your partners.  I've seen guys shoot 135 without holding up the group.  Then again, I've seen guys shoot 74 with two holes open ahead of our group - agonizing over every 2-footer, changing clubs, chatting, answering phone calls, etc..  Slow play has little to do with scoring and ability.  It has everything to do with having respect for the game and for other people, some self-awareness and some common sense and decency.  And courses need to have active Marshall's to go around and remind people of all of these things so that everyone has a good time.  2.5 hours is nice, but under 5 hours is always a win.

[colin007]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I agree.  Why not just enjoy the day and your friends and consider how fortunate you are to be there.  Lots of people in this world would trade places with you.  Most rounds are done in less than four hours and seldom do I encounter the dreaded 4+ hour round.  Not often enough to worry about.

then this isnt the thread for you.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by colin007

then this isnt the thread for you.

Exactly. It's not like people are saying "man, yesterday it took me THREE HOURS to play eighteen holes, man!" Instead, I've seen nine holes take three hours. That's not golf. That's just standing (or sitting) around.

[nevets88]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I agree.  Why not just enjoy the day and your friends and consider how fortunate you are to be there.  Lots of people in this world would trade places with you.  Most rounds are done in less than four hours and seldom do I encounter the dreaded 4+ hour round.  Not often enough to worry about.

Dreaded 4+ hour round? Where I live, the typical round is five and half hours. When it is crowded, expect at least 6 hours. I've walked away from rounds that were pacing at 7 hours. 4 hours and change? I would love that. A five and a half hour round is alot like standing on a queue.

[Ernest Jones]

Maybe it's because I'm a n00bie filled with unbridled enthusiasm, but once I'm on the golf course I am in no hurry to get off! I agree that it's a drag waiting around to make your next shot and it can throw off your rythm but I'd still rather be there than here (work).

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by nevets88

Dreaded 4+ hour round? Where I live, the typical round is five and half hours. When it is crowded, expect at least 6 hours. I've walked away from rounds that were pacing at 7 hours. 4 hours and change? I would love that. A five and a half hour round is alot like standing on a queue.

What region are you in?  I couldn't imagine a 6-hour round here in the California Summer.  5+ hour rounds under the hot sun really sap my energy as it is.

[ghalfaire]

I would be untruthful if I said I have never run into a 5 hour round and I didn't say that.  I play a lot of muni courses here and that happens occasionally, but it isn't the norm.  I guess my point was that you shouldn't let it ruin the day or the round.  I don't prefer rounds in excess of 4 hour myself, but I don't let it spoil the outing when they happen.

Originally Posted by nevets88

Dreaded 4+ hour round? Where I live, the typical round is five and half hours. When it is crowded, expect at least 6 hours. I've walked away from rounds that were pacing at 7 hours. 4 hours and change? I would love that. A five and a half hour round is alot like standing on a queue.

[bplewis24]

When I play popular public courses in certain areas (closer to the city normally), I expect slow rounds and will make sure I have around 5 hours free to get in the full 18.  What annoys me, however, is when it's one of those days, and the foursome in front or the members of my group are not playing ready golf, making it go even slower.  That pisses me off.

Brandon

[SamW]

There's new rules at our club which have basically worked, but they only apply on Medal (competition) days (which is most weekend saturdays and about every 4th sunday). For reference Competitive rounds are a maximum of 3 competitors where I play:

1. First group over 2h5m through 9 holes is DQ'd and must stop playing and is banned from next 3 stroke play comps.

2. Groups finishing second 9 in over 2h5m are DQ'd and banned from next 3 stroke play comps.

The rules have been in force 4 months, this month for the first time there were no DQ's. I teed off at 9:38 and by 1:15 I was in the bar. This is so much of an improvement, I've had medal rounds in the past that were 4h50, which starts to effect your concentration and your enjoyment.

What's more although about 5 groups have been DQ'd in the past nobody has made any complaint about the rule or the time length (other than some people saying it should be 3h40 limit instead of 4h10).

[Edit] forgot to say that you can't play the course at all those days unless you are entered in the competition or playing twilight.

[nevets88]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I would be untruthful if I said I have never run into a 5 hour round and I didn't say that.  I play a lot of muni courses here and that happens occasionally, but it isn't the norm.  I guess my point was that you shouldn't let it ruin the day or the round.  I don't prefer rounds in excess of 4 hour myself, but I don't let it spoil the outing when they happen.

Believe you me, I've tried. I've had years and years of opportunities to acclimate myself to it, but I am at the end of my rope so I'm mostly playing 9 holes, that's what it has come to.

I love golf, but I have other things to do as well. And it just bothers me when I've seen in the UK how people play much faster. There's just such a lack of self-awareness here.

[johnclayton1982]

I think the problem with slow play is expectation.

I can go play a 3 hour round.  If I tee off Tuesdays at around 3 oclock, I know that I am going to be able to play really fast.  If I tee off Saturday morning, I know it will be 5 hours.

I think you can choose what speed to play, or when to play, but demanding that you get BOTH your optimal play pace and your optimal play time is asking too much, IMO.  If you want a fast round, pick those tee times.  You don't get both.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by nevets88

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

I would be untruthful if I said I have never run into a 5 hour round and I didn't say that.  I play a lot of muni courses here and that happens occasionally, but it isn't the norm.  I guess my point was that you shouldn't let it ruin the day or the round.  I don't prefer rounds in excess of 4 hour myself, but I don't let it spoil the outing when they happen.

Believe you me, I've tried. I've had years and years of opportunities to acclimate myself to it, but I am at the end of my rope so I'm mostly playing 9 holes, that's what it has come to.

I love golf, but I have other things to do as well. And it just bothers me when I've seen in the UK how people play much faster. There's just such a lack of self-awareness here.

You've got that backwards. There's too much self-awareness over here. It's awareness of others that gets people moving a little quicker.

[WWBDD]

Quote:

There's too much self-awareness over here.

Being self aware and self absorbed aren't the same thing.

[sean_miller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWBDD

Quote:

There's too much self-awareness over here.

Being self aware and self absorbed aren't the same thing.

The difference is in degrees I suppose, but they're related.