Taking your time on the course

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Of course, no one likes slow play.  And we've all played with guys who spend way too much time sizing up a shot, checking wind, lie, making practice swings, checking the wind again, walking back behind the ball to line up...only to hit it 30 yards--then start the entire exercise all over again.

I try to take my time with each shot, giving myself a chance to make a good one, but without being excessive or slow.

The only place I really like to take my time, and feel rushed occasionally, is on the greens.  I mark my ball, clean it, fix my ball mark, read the putt from behind, maybe from the side, replace my ball with the alignment stamp lined up on my intended start line, and take a few practice strokes behind the ball.  For every putt over 10 feet I also pace off the putt.

Most of this I can accomplish while waiting for others to chip, putt, etc.  The only time folks are waiting on me is when I'm the last to reach the green and first to putt, which only happens a few times a round.  And, overall, I'm not really slowing folks up--except for that extra 45 seconds I spend right before I stroke my putt.

My question is this:  how much is too much?  Do I get a pass if I shoot 75, or if I take my time lining up that 40-footer and then roll it to within a foot of the hole?  Do I get credit for the fact that I'm a good putter (most days)?

I'm interested in feedback on this issue, because sometimes I feel rushed on the greens, and sometimes I feel self conscious about the fact that I might be taking my time on a putt when others in the group just line up and whack it most of the time.  I feel like overall, even taking my time, I'm taking far less time to hit my one putt (and then a tap-in) than others are taking to hit two or three.

What you are describing most people would call excessive and slow.  Your putting routine would drive me crazy if I got grouped with you.

[westcyderydin]

Some people go too far when it comes to pace of play, but then some people golf too darn slow.

What it comes down to is take your time. But be mindful of others and of how fast you are actually playing.

[GaijinGolfer]

I think people spent way too much time and overthink way too many shots.  See it, hit it, move on.  Theres no need to look at a putt from every angle or to pace off the distance.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

What you are describing most people would call excessive and slow.  Your putting routine would drive me crazy if I got grouped with you.

Though not everyone responded directly to the question "Is this too slow," from the responses given I counted that 8 people said it's not too slow (assuming that I'm not holding up the pace of play), and only 3 people (including yourself) said that it's definitely too slow.

That's not "most people" who've responded to this thread.  Maybe you've got your finger on the pulse of the golfing community as a whole.  But given the number of lines of text on this forum dedicated to complaining about slow play, I feel like our community is a pretty good judge of what's too slow.

So if you get paired with a guy who cleans his ball on every green and paces off the distance of his putts, then that's me--feel free to wait for the next group.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Though not everyone responded directly to the question "Is this too slow," from the responses given I counted that 8 people said it's not too slow (assuming that I'm not holding up the pace of play), and only 3 people (including yourself) said that it's definitely too slow.

That's not "most people" who've responded to this thread.  Maybe you've got your finger on the pulse of the golfing community as a whole.  But given the number of lines of text on this forum dedicated to complaining about slow play, I feel like our community is a pretty good judge of what's too slow.

So if you get paired with a guy who cleans his ball on every green and paces off the distance of his putts, then that's me--feel free to wait for the next group.

I wont need to because the marshalls will kindly ask you to speed up or take your business elsewhere.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by k-troop

So if you get paired with a guy who cleans his ball on every green and paces off the distance of his putts, then that's me--feel free to wait for the next group.

There's nothing wrong with cleaning your ball on every green.

As for "pacing off the distance of putts"...I've never even HEARD of anyone doing that until this thread. I've ever seen a pro do it. It would be laughable. That's what your eyes are for on the green.

45 seconds lining up a putt is also too long. Much too long. OK if you're doing it while others are putting.

And....it doesn't matter if yours is the only group on the course. It's not OK to spend inordinate amounts of time fussing about. The benchmark is not where the group behind you is, it's your own pace of play.

I'm all for routines and taking things seriously, but I would imagine that you would get a reputation that you wouldn't want in most golfing communities if you truly do what you say you do.

Line it up from behind, then do what Aaron Baddely does.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Shorty

As for "pacing off the distance of putts"...I've never even HEARD of anyone doing that until this thread. I've ever seen a pro do it. It would be laughable. That's what your eyes are for on the green.

I do it on almost every first putt. It takes five seconds and I'm almost always done doing it before everyone else even reaches the green with their putters in hand. Sometimes I do it on a line parallel to the side of my ball. AimPoint relies on getting the distance of the putt as one of the "inputs."

FWIW I read putts in about 15 seconds, and my pre-putting routine (when it's my turn to putt) takes about 20 seconds. So it takes me 45 seconds max from the time I have to start reading a putt (if I'm first to putt and last on the green) to the time when the ball is rolling towards the hole.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

I wont need to because the marshalls will kindly ask you to speed up or take your business elsewhere.

Apparently you frequent a course where the marshalls harass you, and possibly kick you off the course, for keeping up with the pace of play.  I've never heard of this before, but it explains why you're bitter.

Originally Posted by iacas

I do it on almost every first putt. It takes five seconds and I'm almost always done doing it before everyone else even reaches the green with their putters in hand. Sometimes I do it on a line parallel to the side of my ball. AimPoint relies on getting the distance of the putt as one of the "inputs."

FWIW I read putts in about 15 seconds, and my pre-putting routine (when it's my turn to putt) takes about 20 seconds. So it takes me 45 seconds max from the time I have to start reading a putt (if I'm first to putt and last on the green) to the time when the ball is rolling towards the hole.

Yes, this is exactly what I do.  I pace off the putt while others are chipping, reading their putts, etc, sometimes well off to the side, and sometimes as I'm walking to pull the flagstick.  I look at the putt from the side as I'm walking back to the ball.  Then I stand behind the putt to get a final read and line it up.  This almost always happens while others are putting.  Then I replace the ball, lining the side-stamp along my intended line, take about two steps back and take practice strokes along the line I want to hit the ball down.  I then step into the putt and hit it.  From the time I replace the ball until I hit the putt is maybe 30 seconds.  If I have to perform the whole routine while others are waiting (which only happens two or three times per round) it might be a minute total.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Shorty

Line it up from behind, then do what Aaron Baddely does.

If I could do what Aaron Baddeley does, then I probably wouldn't be on a golf forum on a Saturday afternoon.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by k-troop

If I could do what Aaron Baddeley does, then I probably wouldn't be on a golf forum on a Saturday afternoon.

Nice response.

[bilinguru]

Great topic.  I think different putts take longer to read than others.  I like to break down really long putts (40 or 50 feet, say) into 2 or 3 sections to help me lag it up there.

Putts with a lot of slope or multiple slopes also take longer because of the obvious difficulty, but also because if you judge it poorly, the next putt can be very difficult (taking more time).

The feeling that everyone is watching you, which makes you feel pressure to hurry up, is because they ARE watching you.  It's your turn!

But that doesn't mean they are thinking you are slow.

I've never had anyone tell me I putt too slow.  Once I have chosen my target.  I do the same thing every time and it takes about 12 seconds.  I take two practice swings, one looking at the hole to gauge weight, and one looking at the ball.  I step in, take one more look at my aim point and let it go.  On the odd occasion when I felt I was taking a bit too long reading a putt, or had backed off for some reason, I usually say sorry.  But every time, the guys I play with have always been very gracious and said something like, "Hey, no worries.  Take your time."

What bugs me is playing behind guys who are playing for money and grind over every putt, even 6 inchers.  Between each putt, there is usually a good bit of celebration or heckling as the case may be, which adds even more time to the process.   I don't think you have anything to worry about k-troop.

[clubchamp]

If you are getting your putt rolling in about a minute after starting your routine I'm not sure what makes you think you'd be slow. Now if a player is doing this and 3 or 4 putting I could see it getting old real quick.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Apparently you frequent a course where the marshalls harass you, and possibly kick you off the course, for keeping up with the pace of play.  I've never heard of this before, but it explains why you're bitter.

They dont harass people who keep a proper pace.  Theyve never harassed me about pace because Im not a slow player, hence no bitterness here.  My putting routine takes 20 seconds MAX.  I look at the putt from behind the ball, see the line, take a couple practice strokes and then hit my putt.  Its not long division and doesnt take a chalkboard, abacus and graphing calculator to figure out.

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Theyve never harassed me about pace because Im not a slow player.

Glad we have something in common.

[BigT]

If they are putting for birdie or par, maybe even for bogey on first shot I will give you what time you need. If they are putting for a snowman they have already slowed the group, make you put and get to the next hole. I dont like being rushed and I try not to rush others.

[sac1]

Originally Posted by k-troop

If I could do what Aaron Baddeley does, then I probably wouldn't be on a golf forum on a Saturday afternoon.

If we all did what Aaron Baddeley does, you wouldnt be finished in 5 hours.  Sure he just steps up and hits it, but next time you watch, put the stop watch on how much time he spends before this lining it up surveying the green etc.

[Grndslmhttr3]

I take all the time I need to get comfortable with my shot. More often than not, that amount of time is pretty short. All of my friends I play with are the same way, so we get through rounds pretty quickly.

Now if there's no one behind me, or if the group ahead of me is moving really slowly, I'll probably take a little more time, just to get more relaxed and enjoy the weather, since there's more to a round golf than just playing golf.

[Chief Broom]

I can't say that I've ever played with anyone I'd consider to be too slow on the green.  I know a few guys who take longer than most people, but overall even their slower speed on the green doesn't unduly cause delay.  I know a couple of guys who I characterize as being very deliberate with their putting, and most of them seem to be pretty decent putters, so as a result I respect their discipline.