I wish speed golf were more popular

[nevets88]

Because if there were courses that offered it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. There are no courses near me that offer anything remotely like it. It would certainly alleviate a little bit of golf's slow play problem.

 

[Abu3baid]

6 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Because if there were courses that offered it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. There are no courses near me that offer anything remotely like it. It would certainly alleviate a little bit of golf's slow play problem.

 

I don't think it would alleviate it. The course would either have to be a speed play or regular play, I don't see a situation where it can be both. It would tender to those speedsters that want to run while they play, but is there really that big of a demand for it to war rent opening a course up for this niche group? 

[nevets88]

6 minutes ago, Abu3baid said:

I don't think it would alleviate it. The course would either have to be a speed play or regular play, I don't see a situation where it can be both. It would tender to those speedsters that want to run while they play, but is there really that big of a demand for it to war rent opening a course up for this niche group? 

Emphasis on a little bit. 

[Fourputt]

Speed golf would do nothing to help pace of play on the normal course.  It would not make the game more fun for most real golfers.  I really don't see any real benefit to it.  

You can play at a good pace without having to play speed golf.  All it takes is a little education and using common sense.

[Abu3baid]

Just now, nevets88 said:

Emphasis on a little bit. 

I don't think it would impact it even a little bit.  My contention is that it would be on a different course all together, so how would it address the pace of play issue even a little?

[Hardspoon]

4 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Emphasis on a little bit. 

I agree that speed golf would make pace-of-play a little bit...worse.

If you take the players who want to play quickly and shuffle them onto "dedicated" courses (or times), you're going to lose their ability to push/pull along slower groups that at least are aware of their position on the course.

Spoiler

On a personal note, I would HATE speed golf.  I wouldn't even try it.  Playing a round in less than 3 hours (as a fourball) does not seem enjoyable to me.  I've played a couple rounds in the 3:10 range and those were already starting to feel rushed.

 

[Golfingdad]

25 minutes ago, Abu3baid said:

I don't think it would alleviate it. The course would either have to be a speed play or regular play, I don't see a situation where it can be both.

 

19 minutes ago, Fourputt said:

Speed golf would do nothing to help pace of play on the normal course.  It would not make the game more fun for most real golfers.  I really don't see any real benefit to it.  

Agree.  If a course would adopt something like this it would have to do so in a manner similar to how some courses have adopted footgolf.  In fact, the course I'm playing this afternoon has footgolf.  The 18 footgolf holes zig zag through and around the front nine of the golf course, so it would be impossible for them to have both going on at the same time.  They close the course to ball/club golfers at around 4pm and then open it for footgolf after that.

Speed golf would have to be similar, however, it would only work if it was before regular golf, since they'd slam into a logjam of regular golfers at some point if they didn't start 3 hours later.  So the course would have to close off the first "x" minutes of tee times to reserve for speed golfers.  The good news is that they could put the tee times at, what, 2 or 3 minute intervals?    They could send off a wave a speed golfers each weekday morning and only take up 15-20 minutes of tee times from the regular golfers.  It's do-able.

For the record ... I could not express to you how little interest I have in trying something like that, though.  I walk.  I ride.  I don't run. 

[jsgolfer]

I don't think I play Speed golf, but I played yesterday by myself in a cart and I was done in under 2.5 hours and this was playing multiple shots on each hole.  No one was on the course as it was so hot, but you don't have to run to play fast.

[bkuehn1952]

We would have threads complaining about the guy who had to follow someone who only could do 18 in 79 minutes and he had to wait forever.

There just are not that many good cross country runners who also can play to a single digit handicap (while running).

[DannyMac]

I think playing a round of speed golf would be the only way for me to play a round of golf without swing thoughts .  I would have no problem if my club had the first 2 tee times of the morning reserved for speed golfers, as long as it doesn't damage the course in any way.

[RayG]

Will somebody else carry my clubs?

What is the attraction of playing 18 holes in under an hour? or even less than 2? If you're playing JUST be done in 2 hours to go home early... why play?

[Groucho Valentine]

I tried speed golf once. I dropped dead after the first hole. 

[Hardspoon]

This needs to be taken to the (il)logical extreme: you aren't allowed to stop moving even to take your shot, so every swing (including putts) is made "Happy Gilmore" style. You simply carry three or four clubs on your back in a quiver and change them while you run.

[Aflighter]

1 hour ago, RayG said:

Will somebody else carry my clubs?

What is the attraction of playing 18 holes in under an hour? or even less than 2? If you're playing JUST be done in 2 hours to go home early... why play?

Exactly.This game isnt about speed.If your in a hurry then golf isnt your game.

[Golfingdad]

34 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

This needs to be taken to the (il)logical extreme: you aren't allowed to stop moving even to take your shot, so every swing (including putts) is made "Happy Gilmore" style. You simply carry three or four clubs on your back in a quiver and change them while you run.

So ... polo, and you are the human AND the horse?

[ScouseJohnny]

2 hours ago, Hardspoon said:

you aren't allowed to stop moving even to take your shot. You simply carry three or four clubs on your back in a quiver and change them while you run.

Sounds like all that's needed to complete this scenario is a burly man in khaki with a beret and a big moustache screaming, "You 'orrible little man," as you attempt to play golf.

[allenc]

I wouldn't mind trying it.  I agree that it has nothing to do with speeding up play in general, it would have to be a completely seperate event.  To those who ask what's the point -- what's the point of regular golf?  Get a small ball into an even smaller hole using instruments particularly unsuited to the task (paraphrasing Churchill I believe)?  It's just another challenge.

5 hours ago, jsgolfer said:

I don't think I play Speed golf, but I played yesterday by myself in a cart and I was done in under 2.5 hours and this was playing multiple shots on each hole.

Well you're no Kim Jong-Il.

[newtogolf]

What does one wear to play speed golf?  I sweat enough just riding and playing regular golf in the heat of the summer.