Slow play?

Chief99

Hi,

What do you think of the following, happened me last Sunday. And just to be clear this is not about Male/Female golfers.

I was playing in a 3 ball (all male 15, 17, 20 handicaps). There was a 4 ball in front of us (4 women) and a 2 ball behind us (2 women). Our group tee’d off on time behind the 4 ball and played the first hole – I don’t think the 2 ball behind tee’d off directly behind us. Anyways the women in front we really fast and didn’t hold us up at all, however we were a little slow and I noticed the 2 ball behind us on the 4th (they weren’t waiting for us, I could see them on the previous fairway). I saw them again (2 ball) on the 6th but they knocked their tee shots down and didn’t see them again until the 13th hole. At this hole we had tee’d off and they were on the green, one of the women actually apologized that they were putting as we actually have to drive slightly over the green. Then on the next hole my 2 playing partners played their 2nd shot and have moved forward I had just played my 2nd (was in rough on right) when the ladies hit a ball past me onto the fairway, with no call of 4, now in fairness they probably didn’t see me but they obviously they could see my playing partners even though there was only 2 of them. Then we were on the green and I could see then standing on the fairway acting annoyed as we were holding them up. The next hole was a par 3 and obviously they had to wait for us to finish out on the green, but I could see one of the women walking over to the previous green to complain that we were holding them up (remember they did hit a ball down on top of us!). Anyways on the 17th we passed by the women and one of them remarked it was slow. Then on 18th (par 4) one of the guys hit a ball into a drain and when we noticed the ladies on the tee we called them through only to be shouted back "its too late now”. Then to top it off they really took their time on the last - I mean we had signed our cards, entered scores in computer, returned to our bags they were just off the green – probably just to say we held them up even more! Another point this 2 ball were visitors (open week). Interested to hear your thoughts!

Mister Sifter

Simple, you should have let them through.

Kevinmarkham

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Simple, you should have let them through.

Yep, agreed.
Them hitting the shot on 14 when they didn't see you is unfortunate, but once on the par three you should have invited them to play onto the green and then waited for them to hole out before finishing the hole yourself. Some people would resume putting once the group behind had played their tee shots, and this is OK as long as you don't hold them up. Once you've invited them through you shouldn't get in their way.

A very similar thing happened to me at Carlow a few weeks back, and we were the group behind. It's infuriating, and bemusing when you get invited through on the 18th.

This is in no way aimed at you, Chief99, but a lot of players find it hard to let other golfers through. It's either ignorance, obstinacy or pride. If there's no one in front of you and you're holding people up, let them through. It makes your game more relaxing.

NFH

I'm gettin angry just readin this. I've played plenty of golf where ya get held up and its just somethin ya have to deal with (that is unless the group ahead arent pullin the piss). Alot of the time we meet up with the slow players, but I'm never ratty with them, always mannerly. I would'nt be surprised if ye were alot younger than the women. I remember a few years back my friends and I wanted to get t-shirts made up that said "Men Play Through" , would have been funny if you were wearing them at the time.

Firstly the way I look at it is a 2 ball has no preference over a 3 or 4 ball. They can wave their arms and give out all they want, why should you have to rush your game to please those two. They should take into account that a 2 ball is faster then a 3 ball and also as a general rule men usually have more ground to cover if they have to walk to farther back tees etc. If it was me I would have let them through, not to be nice or anything but just so as to let the annoyance of them pass and you can enjoy your game.

Chief99

Guys I take all points on board and we definitely did not decide not to let them through or anything. But as I said they hit a ball through us and they acted annoyed as if we were holding up play?

And just to clear up on the par 3, 1 hit the green and other 2 were just off, the ladies were on the tee when we were tappin in (4 foot putts) so there was no point letting them tee off. And seriously we didn't hold them up again until the 18th tee box.

PeterJamesDoyle

If there was nobody behind the ladies 2 ball, I'd have let them thru. Firstly because it is part of the etiquette of the game, and secondly, you wouldn't be looking over your shoulder to see if they were behind you or not.

That really takes the enjoyment out of your own game, feeling under pressure from players behind.

You know what women are like in golf clubs. They do more bitchin than men do. They were probably playing crap golf as well.

Don't take it to heart. They are complicated creatures.

Chief99

Should have added I've been playing golf for years and know protocol and have no problem letting anyone through but really thought this took the biscuit

NFH

MEN PLAY THROUGH!!!

Kevinmarkham

Chief99 wrote: »

Guys I take all points on board and we definitely did not decide not to let them through or anything. But as I said they hit a ball through us and they acted annoyed as if we were holding up play?

And just to clear up on the par 3, 1 hit the green and other 2 were just off, the ladies were on the tee when we were tappin in (4 foot putts) so there was no point letting them tee off. And seriously we didn't hold them up again until the 18th tee box.

Well then, I would tend to side with you and say that they had no reason to gripe and you had no reason to let them through. Did they apologise for the shot on 14 when you were out of sight? If they didn't then that pretty much sums up their knowledge of etiquette.

jj72

By the sounds of it you should still have let them thru. the fact your 3 ball couldnt keep up with the 4 ball in front is a pretty clear indication that you were playing slow.....But i can see why ur pissed, hate that crap people carry on with when their held up for a few mins, what rush were they in?

Chief99

Kevinmarkham - they didn't apologise

jj72 - your right is saying that it must look as if we were slow if we couldn't keep with with the 4 in front of us but they were actually really fast. It was a 9 hole course and we passed the same male 3 ball at almost the same spot second time round (probably lost 1/4 of a hole)

OilBeefHooked2

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Simple, you should have let them through.

+1
All the drama of your post would never have happened if you had the courtesy to leave them through.
Edit to say your place on the course is behind the group in front not in front of the group behind.

Jagera

If they were consistently behind you for all holes, then I would have let them through. But it sounds like they weren't.

When I'm not sure I usually ask the group behind if they want to play through. Especially if I'm in a 4-ball and they are in a 2-ball. If they say no, then it case closed. If they say yes, everyone's happy, and you get to spend another 10 minutes out in the daytime, and not working.. Everyone's a winner.