Slow Play Destroyed My Round

[James_Black]

I went out today on my own.
I started off great and carded 7 over for the front nine (I normally shoot around 13 over).
It looked like I'd shoot under 80.
Then I get stuck behind a 3 ball which wouldn't let me through.
I shot 8 over for the back nine (I normally shoot 2-4 over) equalling my best round.

Anybody else get stuck behind people that wouldn't let you through?

[Par Fore]

Not sure what you consider slow play????

On of my most enjoyable rounds was on a Wednesday afternoon in April.....sunny, 80 degrees, playing as a twosome.....buddy and I went off about 2 holes behind a 4-some....we caught them after a few holes, they didn't waive us through so we just took our time.....relaxed, took time to line up putts, chatted, enjoyed a cigar......they actually played a 4 hour round, so it really wasn't that slow and that is one of my most memorable rounds.....I shot pretty good, but the best part was just taking my time and relaxing....and since we both took a 1/2 day away from work, that made it all the better

As far as slow play, 5 1/2 hour rounds suck.....yep, they effect my play.....i get bored waiting 15 minutes on every tee box....especially if it's 100 degrees....

[lcfd42]

Yep, been there. I just usually go on to the next hole play through then come back to the one that was passed. That way you aren't interfering with the "anal sphinchter" players, and you are continuing your pace of play. This usually doesn't help though when the course is crowded, or there are groups ahead that are holding things up.

[Zeph]

4 1/2 hours is slow for a one-man flight, not 3. The group ahead may not have played slow, but they should've let you through.

[mrt10x]

I have had this happen to me many times. My best rounds have always come when the pace of play was quick and we never ran into any group ahead of us. I think 5 of the 6 times I have broken par took place during rounds like that. OTOH I have had many under par front nines turn into so so rounds on the back because we came to a screeching halt on the back. However, it sounds like you were playing as a single? Many courses have local rules that specifically deny singles and doubles play through privledges. It is often unknown,,,even to members, but it exists. A quick google search turned up several dozen hits that showed written rules. This is primarily done because groups playing through other groups slows down play, key the debate, and a single or double playing through foursome after foursome will slow the entire course down.
This is of course a moot point if the group you ran into was really playing "slow." If I am a single, playing during the week, or some other uncrowded time, and I run into a foursome with empty holes in front of them.. .I will simply go around them, play the rest of the round, either take my average for the hole I skipped, or if I am riding, try and go back to play it at the end.
http://www.plantationatleesburggolf....s/course-rules

[James_Black]

I have had this happen to me many times. My best rounds have always come when the pace of play was quick and we never ran into any group ahead of us. I think 5 of the 6 times I have broken par took place during rounds like that. OTOH I have had many under par front nines turn into so so rounds on the back because we came to a screeching halt on the back. However, it sounds like you were playing as a single? Many courses have local rules that specifically deny singles and doubles play through privledges. It is often unknown,,,even to members, but it exists. A quick google search turned up several dozen hits that showed written rules. This is primarily done because groups playing through other groups slows down play, key the debate, and a single or double playing through foursome after foursome will slow the entire course down.

Nobody was in front of them so it wouldn't have killed them to let me through.

Their pace of play was normal for a 3 ball but it was slow for me since I was playing behind them. don't know if that rule is in my club, we don't have a pace of play rule either.

[Ignorant]

4 1/2 hours is slow for a one-man flight, not 3. The group ahead may not have played slow, but they should've let you through.

I would say that 4,5 hours for a flight of three is definitively slow, unless the course is exceptionally hilly. One person should easily play 18 holes under 3 hours, 2 persons max 3h 15 min and 3 persons not more than 3,5 hours. If they cannot make that they surely are slow players.

And yes, they should have invited U through. Did U try to awake them from their daydreams?

[James_Black]

I would say that 4,5 hours for a flight of three is definitively slow, unless the course is exceptionally hilly. One person should easily play 18 holes under 3 hours, 2 persons max 3h 15 min and 3 persons not more than 3,5 hours. If they cannot make that they surely are slow players.

I got onto the teebox as they were hitting on a few holes but they ignored me.

[Bump-n-MI]

Your inability to cope with slow play ruined your round . Listen, slow play sucks but the bottom line is learning how to deal with it. There are always going to be a**holes on the course....

[Par Fore]

I got onto the teebox as they were hitting on a few holes but they ignored me.

Ahhh.....4.5 hours for a 3 some is a slow round.....IMHO, poor etiquette on their part, wouldn't have hurt them to let you by.....better yet, they could have offered to let you join.....

[Fourputt]

Your inability to cope with slow play ruined your round

Amen! If you want to play the game you have to learn to deal with the occasional downside too, especially if you go out as a single very often. Use the time on the tee box to practice your chipping... we can all use more practice there. I play little games with myself, chipping from one set of markers to another. It passes the time and keeps you in the game better.

[Bastid]

Well, now you learned the first rule of slow play. If they don't ask you to go, you wait one more hole. Then you ask them if they mind if you play through. I got so tired of the 5 hour rounds that I don't care anymore. If the course is packed and you won't go anywhere, that's the way of it. But if the group in front of you has open course in front of them, they need to be passed up. I make no apologies, I paid just as much $$$ as they did to play, I want to enjoy myself. Waiting 10 minutes on every shot while they take their time is just not going to fly. There is nothing mean about it, do it nicely and it will work.

It's the older crowd you have to worry about. Old people HATE to let young people through.

[James_Black]

Well, now you learned the first rule of slow play. If they don't ask you to go, you wait one more hole. Then you ask them if they mind if you play through. I got so tired of the 5 hour rounds that I don't care anymore. If the course is packed and you won't go anywhere, that's the way of it. But if the group in front of you has open course in front of them, they need to be passed up. I make no apologies, I paid just as much $$$ as they did to play, I want to enjoy myself. Waiting 10 minutes on every shot while they take their time is just not going to fly. There is nothing mean about it, do it nicely and it will work.

I was at the point of asking them to let me play through but at the 16th hole there really wasn't any point. At least I wasn't stuck behind them for the whole round.

Your right about the seniors, not all of them are like that but the majority are for some reason....

Amen! If you want to play the game you have to learn to deal with the occasional downside too, especially if you go out as a single very often. Use the time on the tee box to practice your chipping... we can all use more practice there. I play little games with myself, chipping from one set of markers to another. It passes the time and keeps you in the game better.

If I had a person that was playing faster than me behind me I'd let them through.

Most people are like that but I guess those 3 were different. Anyway thanks for the advise guys, I'll be playing tomorrow so hopefully I'll break the 86 barrier

[walk18]

I went out today on my own.

How were you planning on breaking 80 if you were 7 over on the front? Do you normally play the back 9 at even par?

[walk18]

Never mind I see you're normally 2-4 over for the back.

[James_Black]

How were you planning on breaking 80 if you were 7 over on the front? Do you normally play the back 9 at even par?

Pretty close to even par.

Holes are very short so all you have to do is keep the ball on the fairway.

[Yukari]

...I paid just as much $$$ as they did to play, I want to enjoy myself. Waiting 10 minutes on every shot while they take their time is just not going to fly.....

That is a typical selfish attitude that causes a lot of problem in the world. A sense of false entitlement. So you paid just as much, so what? You got the tee time after they did. If they don't want you to play through, that's just tough. Now I have been behind a lot of slow palyers, but never had I considered it an entitlement to pass them up because I paid as much as they did. That is full of crap.

[B-Con]

That is a typical selfish attitude that causes a lot of problem in the world. A sense of false entitlement. So you paid just as much, so what? You got the tee time after they did. If they don't want you to play through, that's just tough. Now I have been behind a lot of slow players, but never had I considered it an entitlement to pass them up because I paid as much as they did. That is full of crap.

I think his point is that they both paid equally to enjoy the golf course so neither of them have "superior" rights to the course over the other one, and hence should not imped each other. But they are impeding his ability to use the course in a way that standard golf etiquette indicates should be addressed, so he feels somewhat slighted.

The key lies in the "traditional etiquette". If this were an obscure rule or an unpracticed tradition then getting hung up behind slow groups would be expected. But, more or less, it's something that is supposed to be avoided.