Who puts the pin back?

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

I seriously doubt it only takes you less than 1.6 seconds to put a head cover on and put the club in your bag. But *that's* not the point either - the point is that every little thing adds up when there are 4 people doing it over 18 holes. This thread isn't about just putting head covers on, or just putting pins back in. It's about saving time wherever you can.

I'm not saying *you're* a slow player, so don't take offense - but your way of *thinking* is probably indicative of why a lot of slow players don't think they're slow.

I leave the cover off of my driver for the round.  It sets between my 3-wood and 3-hybrid that both have covers, so my driver doesn't get any "chartter".  Yes, I think I can put a club in my bag in a second.  It takes me less time to do that than many guys to just get to their cart.

I am not a slow player.  I have never held up anyone.  I can play 18 holes after work in 2 hours.  My way of thinking isn't the problem.  The problem is the guys that "think" doing these insignificant little things is good enough.  Guys that have horribly slow play and routines, but don't waste time putting their drivers away until their second shot...

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresh24

My gosh, how long does it take some of you to put your Wegde in your bag?  Are you somehow faster at it if you carry it until your next shot?

Here's another huge time saver.  If you "jump" into your cart landing on the seat without having to touch the floor of the cart with your foot first, you can save 24.2 seconds per round.  Think about it.  But watch your head on the top of the cart.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gresh24

If you are not waiting on the group in front of you, and you need to do these things to keep the group behind you off of you, you're too slow...

You clearly don't get that if you do wait to replace your head covers and you start your shot preparation while others are hitting and you get ready to replace the flagstick before everyone is finished putting and you don't worry about writing down scores until you clear the green area and you park your cart or bag in the most direct route from the green to the next tee and ......etc. (get the point yet?), then you DO save time over the play of 18 holes.

I work as a starter and I time players making the turn from the 9th green to the 10th tee all day long.  The ones who do all of these things which don't seem to matter to you are the ones who make the turn on time.  The players who ignore these things are the ones who bog down the whole course and are the ones who are primarily responsible for 5 hour rounds, so don't get snotty with  us.  Players who play fast just naturally do all of these things as part of their routine.

[Gresh24]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

You clearly don't get that if you do wait to replace your head covers and you start your shot preparation while others are hitting and you get ready to replace the flagstick before everyone is finished putting and you don't worry about writing down scores until you clear the green area and you park your cart or bag in the most direct route from the green to the next tee and ......etc. (get the point yet?), then you DO save time over the play of 18 holes.

I work as a starter and I time players making the turn from the 9th green to the 10th tee all day long.  The ones who do all of these things which don't seem to matter to you are the ones who make the turn on time.  The players who ignore these things are the ones who bog down the whole course and are the ones who are primarily responsible for 5 hour rounds, so don't get snotty with  us.  Players who play fast just naturally do all of these things as part of their routine.

Well, now you're adding about 5-6 other "time saving" things.  I was just talking about putting your club(s) back in your bag.  You're right, I do almost all of the other things you mentioned.

Sorry I have a differing opinion than you.  I know you're a starter, so I can't be right, but I see slow players, and bad players that hold up courses, having nothing to do with these time saving factors.  People that have very slow shot routines, or look too long for errant shots, etc.  Never once while experiencing a "slow" round did it matter when anyone put their club into their bag.  In fact "slow" players can do everything you mentioned, and still very easily have a 5 hour round.

[Vidocq]

first, not last

Now . . . how do you hold it?  Upright, holding the flag or upside down with the butt up in the air?

[Teamplayer]

First one in gets the pin is what I learned early on.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

Well, now you're adding about 5-6 other "time saving" things.  I was just talking about putting your club(s) back in your bag.

That's what I've been trying to get across to you. Obviously if someone saves time everywhere they can, but only has *one* habit that wastes time, then they're not going to be significantly slower. You may be that person, but you're the exception that proves the rule. It's more commonly the case that if someone is clueless about saving time in one area, they don't make attempts to save time in other areas either. And I said earlier, every little thing adds up when there are 4 people doing it over 18 holes.

Originally Posted by Gresh24

Sorry I have a differing opinion than you.  I know you're a starter, so I can't be right, but I see slow players, and bad players that hold up courses, having nothing to do with these time saving factors.  People that have very slow shot routines, or look too long for errant shots, etc.  Never once while experiencing a "slow" round did it matter when anyone put their club into their bag.  In fact "slow" players can do everything you mentioned, and still very easily have a 5 hour round.

Perhaps in theory, but IME people who have slow pre-shot routines, or who look too long for errant shots, are *also* not doing any of the little time saving tricks Rick mentioned.

Bottom line: You are not helping the pace of play issue prevalent on courses today by advocating *against* little time-saving tricks, as you are doing here.

[Gresh24]

I didn't advocate against anything.  I simply stated one 'routine' would not save me any significant time.  I would never argue against doing anything one can to keep up pace.  I just disagree that one particular thing really makes up fpr more than a few seconds per round.

To me, if you have to worry that specifically about time saving routines, you're too slow.  Common sense and common courtesy make up for more than routine.  And I see so many players that no 'time saving tricks' would speed up.

Again, I have never held up play.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Vidocq

first, not last

Now . . . how do you hold it?  Upright, holding the flag or upside down with the butt up in the air?

Doesn't matter as long as you don't let the bunting flap in the wind.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

I didn't advocate against anything.  I simply stated one 'routine' would not save me any significant time.  I would never argue against doing anything one can to keep up pace.  I just disagree that one particular thing really makes up fpr more than a few seconds per round.

To me, if you have to worry that specifically about time saving routines, you're too slow.  Common sense and common courtesy make up for more than routine.  And I see so many players that no 'time saving tricks' would speed up.

Again, I have never held up play.

The trouble is, this stuff isn't common sense.  It must be learned.  If that wasn't the case then every player would just do it.  It may seem like common sense to an experienced and aware player, but I've known golfers who've been playing for years who still haven't figured it out.  If you make a point of doing those things and point it out to your friends when they don't, then you are doing more to help the cause that you are by arguing against even one item because you don't see the need for it.  I've seen guys stand behind their cart and take 45 seconds to clean off each wedge and put head covers back on every club before moving away from the green.  It take more than common sense for some people.

[GaijinGolfer]

There isnt a set rule for who puts the pin in.  Personally, if I hole-out first I will go pick the pin up and hold it while everyone else holes out but IMO everyone should take turns putting the pin back.

[rustyredcab]

Fourputt has it right -- it is more about habit and awareness. Some of my country club friends never think of the flag because they play most of their rounds with a caddie. When they slum on a public course with me, these same guys are often super careful about raking bunkers (also a caddie task), fixing ball marks, replacing divots... These are guys who always stand in the correct spot on the green, always are ready when it is their turn to putt, often know which putts matter for the match. But when it comes to replacing the flag, they are not rude, they are just not in the habit of being concerned about it.