Respectful way to play thru

[Kraemer]

How do you pass a group if you're a single player; I know it's easier to
do on or around a par 3, but what is etiquitte?

[Three Putt]

It's up to the group in front of you. First thing that goes through their head is.....screw him, he's a single, he can wait, he ain't going to rush us. It's part of the game. Look at it as a time to practice on the last green with chipping and putting.

[Big_M]

Well... last time out I was one of about 7 groups on the ENTIRE course, but two foursomes were ahead of me. I caught them on #2, just barely. Waited a fair bit on 3... then was waiting with one on the teebox at 4. They told me I was the caboose on a long train... I thought that was BS since I heard the starter say I should only see 1-2 groups in front of me, but they were 4's. On #4 I peeked over to #6 and could see no one was on the box or in the FW... so there were two 4-somes in front of me and nothing else. I could either stay behind them and play in 5hrs or get through and play in 3.5hrs. On 5 I again caught captain train statement and I said "hey there's only one group ahead of you guys... you mind if I play through and try to get past them on 6. They let me through taking all of 2 minutes and the next group waived me through as soon as I hit the 6 tee box. I was finishing 18 and I saw them back on 12... so I sure am glad I spoke up. My round took just a hair over 3 hrs walking.

my point is this... if it's wide open, people should let you through and if they don't I have no problem saying something. If it is busy and you really aren't going anywhere... then just relax and practice or pair up if possible.

[Nyper]

The course closest to my house is the slowest course on the face of the earth. It's one of the cheapest in the area ($42 on weekends still isn't THAT cheap) so it's where the people go who hardly ever play.

I always get stuck behind people there. Most of them play so little they don't even think to let someone play through. I caught up to one group once and after waiting for 3 or 4 holes I finally just asked if it was ok with them if I played through. They said "what do you mean?"

It got the point where I would just skip a hole entirely out there to get around people.

Not to keep ranting about that course.. but it's just pathetic. I've had a couple rounds out there that neared 6 hours. One time in the summer I teed off at 5:30pm, thinking it'd be less crowded by then and I could still squeeze in 9 since the sun set to late. At 7:00 I was just walking off the 4th green! At that pace it would have been a 6 1/2 hour round! I walked straight to the clubhouse and asked for a rain check. When they asked why I said it's too slow. They said I should have played through. I told them there were 5 groups besides me on the 5th hole!! 3 on waiting on the tee box, 1 in the fairway, and 1 on the green!

I refuse to go back to that course now. If they'd just send a ranger out to keep the pace up it wouldn't be so bad.

[glebert]

I wish I knew. I play as a single a lot. The ones I hate are the guys who won't even make eye contact with you as they rush their (lousy) tee shot so that they can stay ahead of you.

[Fourputt]

I wish I knew. I play as a single a lot. The ones I hate are the guys who won't even make eye contact with you as they rush their (lousy) tee shot so that they can stay ahead of you.

I've been behind jerks like that. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your preferences, we rarely get out as singles on my home course. It's just too busy during the season, even on weekdays. I'm more likely to be as a twosome, and they are even more loathe to let 2 players through. Most golfers are good about it if the course is open ahead of them, but there are always the ones who either don't understand etiquette, or just don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. I hate it when a slow group forces me to ask... they ought to be able to figure it out for themselves when they see us waiting for them on every shot.

[DaSportsGuy]

Unless the group in front of me offers to play thru, I usually don't say anything.

At least you can get some good practice time in while waiting.

[HoosierGolfer]

You are at the mercy of the group in front of you. They should "invite" you to play through. If they don't, about all you can do is bit your tongue and enjoy the weather.

[Lemay427]

Bomb it over their heads on a par 4


I have had this happen before where a group either doesn't see me or doesn't know the etiquette. If this happens, I call the pro shop and let them know and see if they can send a marshal out to either speed play or tell them to let me through. I think it makes more sense for these people in the future if the golf course tells them rather than a player.

[meyer378]

You just pretty much have to wait, sometimes the people in front of you are courteous and will let you through, and other times you will wait all day to finish a round. This is also why I make sure to let people play through when I am with a larger group.

[The Road Dog]

If this happens, I call the pro shop and let them know and see if they can send a marshal out to either speed play or tell them to let me through. I think it makes more sense for these people in the future if the golf course tells them rather than a player.

This is the best Idea I have seen on this topic, make it a point to preload the phone number of the course you intend to play that day. It makes sense to call the pro shop to complain about slow players and you never know when an emergency might occur and you need to contact the clubhouse. Lemay I gave you a reputation point cause I like the idea. Thanks. If I do this right I'll have a GC listing in my phone where all the courses I regularly play will be stored and then it will also help me get last minute course info or find a course I can get on quickly.

[Chief Broom]

Ask.

It's as simple as that. Ask to play through.

I don't make a big deal or issue of it but if a group demonstrates that they lack the ability to maintain the pace I'll insist on playing through. Obviously this means there are open holes in front of them and that they aren't being held up by other groups. Polite firmness goes a long way in getting one ahead in this world...

[colin007]

most courses have a sign up that says to let faster groups thru. if you ask and the slow group says no, then they are most likely breaking the course rule on allowing players thru. you may want to mention that when asking to play thru.

[Smallville]

Every time I played as a single at my course last year, I was always invited to play through. May be a midwest thing. I f the course is full and people are keeping the course pace (4 to 4.5 hours) you should probably just tough it out. I have asked before, on other courses, if I could play through and the group ahead always let me.

[Fourputt]

Unless the group in front of me offers to play thru, I usually don't say anything.

The practice thing only works if there's nobody following you. I find that on the rare times when I do get sent out alone, there is still going to be another group behind me, so practice is mostly limited to chipping on the next tee box. And it still doesn't help when I'm standing in the fairway waiting for the green to clear.

I mostly avoid playing alone if at all possible. I don't really enjoy it, and even when the course is playing at a reasonable pace, it will feel slow to a single. If I have to wait, I'd rather at least have someone to chat with instead of twiddling my thumbs and fuming.

[Jay-Bird]

It's up to the group in front of you. First thing that goes through their head is.....screw him, he's a single, he can wait, he ain't going to rush us. It's part of the game. Look at it as a time to practice on the last green with chipping and putting.

I find that groups in front will usually let me through. Occasionally I run into either (a) the stubborn group, who refuses to let faster play through, or (b) the Rules Ignorant / the etiquette ignorant. You can deal with either of the two groups the same way. If you are in a hurry, or if you simply must get through - you can continue to press them at every tee. They should get the hint. If you have the opportunity to say anything, without yelling, I've found it effective to say "Do you mind if I get through you real quick?" But keep it polite. Say it with a smile. If you're in a hurry or simply must get through, do not hit practice balls or multiple shots. This will give the group ahead the indication/validation that you are fine back there.

Every time I played as a single at my course last year, I was always invited to play through. May be a midwest thing. I f the course is full and people are keeping the course pace (4 to 4.5 hours) you should probably just tough it out. I have asked before, on other courses, if I could play through and the group ahead always let me.

I only got stuck behind one group of 'the stubborn' this year. (unfortunately plenty of etiquette ignorant).

[MiniMoe]

I have no problem asking to play through if the group ahead of me is really slow and they don't notice my or my group behind them waiting on every shot. I usually wont do it right away... I'll give them a few holes to notice and let us go ahead, notice and do nothing, or not notice because they are having too much fun. If I do have to ask, I explain that the course is wide open, we have been waiting a few holes, and we are good players so we will not hold them up at all. Very seldom have I been turned down. But it is very important while playing through, don't dilly dally. Hit your ball and play..... even a little faster than normal just to show your gratitude. So what if you play that one hole bad.

[mdl]

I've never understood how you're supposed to do this unless the group in front is super polite and waits for you at the next tee. My buddies and I are often riding up behind a group, but we walk, and most of the bad players drive, so it's hard to get a chance to ask, even if the group in front is a hole or two behind. Like, the group in front is taking their 2 chips and 3 putts a piece while we sit in the fairway waiting to take our second shot. Never seems reasonable to run 150 yards, ask them if they can wait for us after their tee shots on the next hole or something, then run back and finish the hole.