What is your definition of slow play?

[eich41]

Just to clarify, I don't think fast play is exclusive to good players, however, I think the vast majority of time, slow play is due to poor play.  As I said above, I think the biggest culprits of slow play is looking for lost balls for far too long, especially when the ball is certain to be unplayable.  If you can't afford to lose a golf ball, you need to find a new hobby.  The other reason why better players typically aren't going to be the cause of slow play is simply because you move fast when you play well.  So even if the 2 handicap is reading putts a long time, taking 4 practice swings etc., they will move fast.  It doesn't take long to play when you hit every fairway, the majority of greens, and at worst two putt.  They will spend zero time searching for balls, little time raking bunkers, they won't be chipping back and forth across the green at any point, etc.

Also I'll agree with the sentiment about guys waiting for the green to clear from 300 out after a 200 yard drive.  But that goes back to how many guys think they drive the ball 300+.

[mcanadiens]

Maybe this speaks more to the muni courses I tend to play, but the biggest problem is numpties watching numpties hitting the ball. I got an eyeful of this routine yesterday. One was chopping the ball 40 yards per swing. His partner would watch him hack and only then go look for his ball in the rough. And no, they wouldn't let me through either.

[saevel25]

Just to clarify, I don't think fast play is exclusive to good players, however, I think the vast majority of time, slow play is due to poor play.  As I said above, I think the biggest culprits of slow play is looking for lost balls for far too long, especially when the ball is certain to be unplayable.  If you can't afford to lose a golf ball, you need to find a new hobby.

I don't see that happen too often. I think the inability of golfers not to play when they are ready is the biggest factor.

I think the issue is that they get all four golfers to look for the ball. The other three should hit their shots while the one guy is looking. That should make up nearly all of his 5 minutes of search time. If he hasn't found it by the time his cart partner returns with the clubs then drop a ball.

I can say for certain the guy who is looking for his ball the longest is one who did not hit a provisional. No way he's riding back to the tee box. I might say, playing a provisional speeds up play because you know you have another ball in play already and the golfer might not be as concerned on losing the first one.

I've seen groups were the lowest handicap is a 20 and they can get 9 holes done in 2 hours or less. You can play bad golf at a good pace ;)

[eich41]

I don't see that happen too often. I think the inability of golfers not to play when they are ready is the biggest factor.

I think the issue is that they get all four golfers to look for the ball. The other three should hit their shots while the one guy is looking. That should make up nearly all of his 5 minutes of search time. If he hasn't found it by the time his cart partner returns with the clubs then drop a ball.

I can say for certain the guy who is looking for his ball the longest is one who did not hit a provisional. No way he's riding back to the tee box. I might say, playing a provisional speeds up play because you know you have another ball in play already and the golfer might not be as concerned on losing the first one.

I've seen groups were the lowest handicap is a 20 and they can get 9 holes done in 2 hours or less. You can play bad golf at a good pace ;)

I certainly don't think that all high handicaps are slow.  I'd say the majority of them do play right along.  The problem of course is that it only takes a group or two playing slow to clog the whole course.  Low handicap players can get away with playing more methodically, simply because their more efficient in the first place due to hitting quality shots and not spending much time with the other things that slow high handicappers down, like looking for lost balls.

As for the time looking for lost balls, I think we're kind of saying the same thing.  They spend too much time and have the whole group looking for balls.  Also to be fair, most high handicappers aren't going to hit a provisional (unless it's a league or something).  They'll just take a drop and play from around where they went into the trouble.

I also have to add that I joined a semi private course last year (members only on the weekends and Friday afternoons) and it's been money well spent.  First our tee times aren't stacked as they aren't trying to accommodate as many groups as possible to get their money.  It's also more of a "players club", and I'd say the average handicap is around 10-12.  I haven't had a round touch 4 hours on a weekend yet this year.  If I'm out M-Thurs, I've had a few 4.5 hour rounds, and played through some foursomes who were definitely going to be putting in 5 hour rounds, but they were non-members who were likely trying to soak in the experience of playing one of the better tracks in the state.

[Moppy]

I was walking nine alone Friday evening on a very hilly course, the only other people out there were two twenty somethings and a girl riding carts. You could hear them speeding up the crushed stone cart path like they were racing NASCAR, hitting quick and moving on. when they caught up to me I waved them through, they were gone out of sight in five minutes and I never saw them again.

Maybe that is fun golf for some of you. I am not sure though that I would keep playing golf if that were the point of the game. I need to relax at the ball and gather my thoughts and focus to get any kind of good result. Golf is an exercise in focus for me, anyway. If there were some course marshal enforcing a 3:15 pace on a foursome (alone that would be no problem) then they can live without my money.

[krupa]

I would agree that bad golfers play slow er than better players simply because they hit the ball more.  However, that certainly does not mean that bad golfers are also slow golfers.  I played 18 with a friend this weekend.  We were the first ones out, didn't fart around, and were done in less than 3 hours.  Our scores:  110 and 116.

[eich41]

I would agree that bad golfers play slower than better players simply because they hit the ball more.  However, that certainly does not mean that bad golfers are also slow golfers.  I played 18 with a friend this weekend.  We were the first ones out, didn't fart around, and were done in less than 3 hours.  Our scores:  110 and 116.

Agreed.  The vast majority of slow players are bad golfers, but that doesn't mean the vast majority of bad golfers are slow players.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krupa

I would agree that bad golfers play slower than better players simply because they hit the ball more.  However, that certainly does not mean that bad golfers are also slow golfers.  I played 18 with a friend this weekend.  We were the first ones out, didn't fart around, and were done in less than 3 hours.  Our scores:  110 and 116.

Agreed.  The vast majority of slow players are bad golfers, but that doesn't mean the vast majority of bad golfers are slow players.

I could modify that statement to say that the majority of slow players are relatively inexperienced players and have never been shown how to eliminate those time wasting activities.  What they know about the game they have learned by word of mouth, and that means that they haven't really learned anything of import.  Certainly nothing about pace of play.  They don't know what a fast round is, so they have no clue that they are slow.  Then a ranger comes up and tell them they have to play faster, which means nothing to them because they think that they are already playing as fast as they can.  All they do is get flustered and play worse, enjoy it less, and they still haven't learned anything.

Since most courses in the US don't actually have any sort of program to help that situation, I think it's up to us as concerned players to help out when we can.  If I'm paired with someone who is obviously new to the game not getting the job done as efficiently as it could be, I'll make a few suggestions in a tactful manner, and such counseling is generally accepted in good spirits.

[logo]

I was out on the course a few weeks ago and a dad and son were ahead of me. The son would hit maybe 30 drives while the dad coached him until he hit a good one. I had to wait for this at the tee off for 3 holes before they finally let me pass. Its fine if you want to do stuff like that but NEVER hold someone else up because of it.

[colin007]

id like to hear from people in other countries, specifically ireland or scotland (maybe parts of England also).  i played last summer with a lady from Ireland, she belongs to a club, told me that if your foursome takes more than 3.5 hrs they take away your tee time privileges for the next week.  do it twice and they take them away for a month.

is slow play an "american" thing?

[HawkNballs]

I played with a high capper yesterday (I usually do). This guy stood behind his ball and took 5 practice swings, then 3 more after he sets up next to his ball. He tops the ball 40 yards and the whole process started over. I wanted to poke my eyes out with my ball divot tool!

[Moppy]

id like to hear from people in other countries, specifically ireland or scotland (maybe parts of England also).  i played last summer with a lady from Ireland, she belongs to a club, told me that if your foursome takes more than 3.5 hrs they take away your tee time privileges for the next week.  do it twice and they take them away for a month.

is slow play an "american" thing?

She belongs to a club... Hmmm.

[danL]

If 18 holes take more than 3.5hr you are playing too slow and if you don't let me through I'm calling the Ranger. :)

[colin007]

She belongs to a club... Hmmm.

true, but she said the pace of play in her area is similar on all courses.  we were on pace to play in about 3:50 and she was fuming because it was taking so long.  we were waiting on every hole.

[SoundandFury]

I played with a high capper yesterday (I usually do). This guy stood behind his ball and took 5 practice swings, then 3 more after he sets up next to his ball. He tops the ball 40 yards and the whole process started over. I wanted to poke my eyes out with my ball divot tool!

Assuming it was a random pairing, I would have mumbled something about playing ahead and taken off right quick.

[rkim291968]

I was out on the course a few weeks ago and a dad and son were ahead of me. The son would hit maybe 30 drives while the dad coached him until he hit a good one. I had to wait for this at the tee off for 3 holes before they finally let me pass. Its fine if you want to do stuff like that but NEVER hold someone else up because of it.

On some courses, such coaching is not allowed.  Neither are practice shots (can't hit multiple times unless it is a provision shot, e.g.).    Common sense also calls for that one does it only if it does not delay the pace.

[colin007]

call the pro shop/ranger.  i dont hesitate any more.

[rkim291968]

id like to hear from people in other countries, specifically ireland or scotland (maybe parts of England also).  i played last summer with a lady from Ireland, she belongs to a club, told me that if your foursome takes more than 3.5 hrs they take away your tee time privileges for the next week.  do it twice and they take them away for a month.

is slow play an "american" thing?

I've heard that from more than a few Europeans (Danish, German).  And I believe many courses don't have carts - you have to walk.   To me, anything slower than 3.5 hour round is a slow round.  But my home course enforces 4.5 hour round.   They don't bother to move the pace along if pace is 4.5 hours or faster.