I play all of my golf at public/municiple courses, basically because that's what I'm willing to pay for golf. I'm a fast player. I can ride 18 if I don't have to stay on the path in under 2 hours if I'm playing well. My most agrivating experience lately came at the course I play most often. It was cold so the 4-some in front of me had those stupid cart heaters and enclosures. I was playing in short sleeves. The refused to let me play through the whole front 9, and as a result I started playing 2 balls on a few holes. What made me the maddest was that there was no-one in front of them. I was the second off the tee that morning. They wouldn't let me play through, and then at the turn, they told the starter that I couldn't play in front of them because I was playing 2 balls and would hold them up. I just about lost it. I demanded on got my 9 hole rain check, but haven't been back to that course yet.
I know we all have tons of stories about the horrible slow play, but I think that the biggest problem with it is pride. I'm 22, and most people middle aged (40-50) resent the fact that some punk "kid" is pushing them down the course, so instead of letting me play through, they'll slow down. I've seen it happen dozens of times, and have had by drives stepped on, kicked into the rough, and even just picked up on several occasions. I would think that by the 5th time I'm rolling it up next your cart after your second shot, you'd let me play though and get rid of me.
That mentioned, I'm not at all adverse to joining up with people. I recently moved to my area, and don't have a group that I play with, so I usually start by myself. If it's a slow day and I catch up to a 2 or 3-some I'll join up, but I play my best golf when I play fast and by myself.