Speeding up the game!

downwesht

I have taken a break from golf since the arrival of my two kids.One of the main reasons is because it took up too much time.
I am a fast player, 18 hole 2 ball under 2 and a half hours at our ease.However its getting stuck up behind slowcoaches often had me out for 4 and a half to 5 hours.
Slow golf is hard to play, spoiled my enjoyment and frustrated me to the point of packing up.
My question is how can golf be speeded up?
My suggestions would be
1. pick up the ball if you can no longer score a stableford point.
2. putt out without replacing the ball each time.ie finish out.
3. punish slow play with points deduction

What do you think?

slave1

Forward tees, shorter course, should be less chance of searching/losing the ball because of 'lesser' club and less spray, you would also be coming into greens with more height so better chance of holding them, more enjoyable too.

mike12

Best way to keep playing is get out early as possiable even jumping ahead of the first tee time if the club will allow it. I'm much the same as yourself i like to keep walking and hitting shots hate the standing around and when i play with my mate first thing we are done in less than 2 and a half hours.
Rough where you can walk up and find your ball would be a help but there is an attitude that golf should take over 4 hours for a 4ball that will be the hardest thing to change.
Marking a 12 inch putt should be against the rules.

Wichita Lineman

Nobody likes to be out for over 5 hours but 4 or 4.5 hours for a fourball isn't slow. Why does everything have to be done at a million miles an hour? I find a lot of the time I am getting ready for my shot when my playing partners are taking theirs, some people don't do that and that can be a bit annoying alright.

If I wanted to run for 3 hours I'd join an athletics club

Slicemeister

mike12 wrote: »

Marking a 12 inch putt should be against the rules.

All gimmes? Might as well bury tar barrels at that rate.

I'm gonna mark a 12 incher if it means not standing on another player's line. And if not, if it's flat putt out. Tricky breaker, I'm marking it.

slave1

12inch putts not interfering with play, no marking, get up and hit it

Slicemeister

slave1 wrote: »

12inch putts not interfering with play, no marking, get up and hit it

100%. At the players own speed.
I'd be giving a tricky 12 inch putt more consideration than a straightforward putt.

I think every fella should be helped locate his first two lost balls in a round before being left to his own devices on the third. Meet at the green or next teebox without interrupting progress.
Harsh I know and I've been there myself, losing so many balls on a bad day and lads continuing to look for my lost ball even against my own insistence to walk the hole.

BigChap1759

downwesht wrote: »

I have taken a break from golf since the arrival of my two kids.One of the main reasons is because it took up too much time.
I am a fast player, 18 hole 2 ball under 2 and a half hours at our ease.However its getting stuck up behind slowcoaches often had me out for 4 and a half to 5 hours.
Slow golf is hard to play, spoiled my enjoyment and frustrated me to the point of packing up.
My question is how can golf be speeded up?
My suggestions would be
1. pick up the ball if you can no longer score a stableford point.
2. putt out without replacing the ball each time.ie finish out.
3. punish slow play with points deduction

What do you think?

Have you considered playing on your own?

alxmorgan

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Nobody likes to be out for over 5 hours but 4 or 4.5 hours for a fourball isn't slow. Why does everything have to be done at a million miles an hour? I find a lot of the time I am getting ready for my shot when my playing partners are taking theirs, some people don't do that and that can be a bit annoying alright.

If I wanted to run for 3 hours I'd join an athletics club

4 may be fine but I think 4.5 is slow

mikepajero182

I'm curious about the 2 ball playing 18 holes in under 2 and a half hours. What lenght and par is the course? Thats amazing for a two ball.

Ciaranra

slave1 wrote: »

Forward tees, shorter course, should be less chance of searching/losing the ball because of 'lesser' club and less spray, you would also be coming into greens with more height so better chance of holding them, more enjoyable too.

Don't agree we have par 3 golf or pitch and putt if you want to go down this road,
Golf is long if you don't have 3-4.5 hours play 9 or something else

mike12

mikepajero182 wrote: »

I'm curious about the 2 ball playing 18 holes in under 2 and a half hours. What lenght and par is the course? Thats amazing for a two ball.

Roganstown off the yellows 6500 yards and never felt rushed during the round. some decent walks between tee boxes as well.
The problem is guys think 4.5 hours isn't slow, if there is no real rough on the course than it is.
Looking for ball's should also be done in an ordely manner. 4 guys line up a yard apart walk up down up again in the area the ball is supposed to be in takes about a minute if you haven't found it by then you aren't finding it at all.
Only 2 balls lost in the ACC over the last 2 years using this method:eek:.

Webbs

I would have thought an average of 10mins per hole would be good going for a 2-3ball. So thats a 3hr round.

You invariably have to look for a ball a few times in a round and even if you are only looking for a couple of mins or so each time it adds up. If you add on that a full time sheet then it only needs a few groups to be wayward off the tee and its all going to slow down. Even letting people through will still slow up the course. I would imagine 3.5hrs is good going in the middle of a full time sheet

Webbs

I would have thought an average of 10mins per hole would be good going for a 2-3ball. So thats a 3hr round.

You invariably have to look for a ball a few times in a round and even if you are only looking for a couple of mins or so each time it adds up. If you add on that a full time sheet then it only needs a few groups to be wayward off the tee and its all going to slow down. Even letting people through will still slow up the course. I would imagine 3.5hrs is good going in the middle of a full time sheet

blue note

Within reason I just don't get worked up over rounds that could be faster. Anything over 4 and a half for a fourball is taking the p1ss a bit, but 4 hours is a nice pace for a fourball.

It's nice when you're out first and you settle into a fast pace, but I just don't let slow play ruin my enjoyment of a round.

Tiger Mcilroy

Why is it always the majority that is decreed as the problem in this debate, golf is a game that takes time and punishing people for "slow play" when your group is running round the course is not a solution to anything other than your own self created "problem".

The solution imo is to accept that its not your speed of play that dictates how fast others should go and adjust your behaviour to suit.

Im sick of listening to playing partners moaning about how slow it is the second they are held up even slightly...people lose golf balls which means searching for or hitting provisionals its all part of the game. The clubs need to take reponsibility for the serial offenders of course but then what can they really do unless they have groups on a clock and can back the accusations of slow play up?

alxmorgan

Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »

Why is it always the majority that is decreed as the problem in this debate, golf is a game that takes time and punishing people for "slow play" when your group is running round the course is not a solution to anything other than your own self created "problem".

The solution imo is to accept that its not your speed of play that dictates how fast others should go and adjust your behaviour to suit.

You are assuming the majority are slow. Just because a round takes 4.5 hours does not mean that the majority are that slow. It may mean one or a few groups are that slow and the rest are stuck with that pace.

Your speed of play should not necessarily dictate how fast others go but the recommended speed of a play for the course should. And I have yet to see a course that says 4.5 hours for a fourball is expected.

Tiger Mcilroy

alxmorgan wrote: »

You are assuming the majority are slow. Just because a round takes 4.5 hours does not mean that the majority are that slow. It may mean one or a few groups are that slow and the rest are stuck with that pace.

Your speed of play should not necessarily dictate how fast others go but the recommended speed of a play for the course should. And I have yet to see a course that says 4.5 hours for a fourball is expected.

Thats pretty much my point..people playing fast have to accept that there is a standard round which the majority fall into and decreeing that this is slow play is not correct, the op talks about round under 2 1/2 hours and in this context its not the majority that is the issue.

alxmorgan

Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »

Thats pretty much my point..people playing fast have to accept that there is a standard round which the majority fall into and decreeing that this is slow play is not correct, the op talks about round under 2 1/2 hours and in this context its not the majority that is the issue.

Fair enough. 2.5 hours for a 2 ball seems very fast alright. I'd imagine that if you want to play that quick you are better off being first on the course....which to be fair to Mike I think he does do by the sounds of it.

I would however say that slow play is a much bigger issue than fast play. In my experience anyway

The Premier Man

mike12 wrote: »

Roganstown off the yellows 6500 yards and never felt rushed during the round. some decent walks between tee boxes as well.
The problem is guys think 4.5 hours isn't slow, if there is no real rough on the course than it is.
Looking for ball's should also be done in an ordely manner. 4 guys line up a yard apart walk up down up again in the area the ball is supposed to be in takes about a minute if you haven't found it by then you aren't finding it at all.
Only 2 balls lost in the ACC over the last 2 years using this method:eek:.

Ah the line formation we have been implying this for years and it rarely fails

Deise Vu

I am a very fast player to the extent that I would almost always have a club in my hand before I get to my ball and see the lie or the exact distance to the flag. That said, I don't get overly bothered by slow play unless it is ridiculous (anything beyond 4.5 hours is ludicrous).

This is because there is a fundamental point of queing theory in action every time we play. Even if everyone can average 12 minutes a hole when the course is clear (3 hrs 36 minutes for 18 holes) if the course is full it will take much, much longer because of the simple fact that you cannot always 'bank' your gains over average time but nearly all of your losses are cumulative. Put simply if you play like Rory Mc for the first six holes but the group ahead are having a 'mare you can go no faster than them. When the pendulum swings the other way and you start losing balls the time lost is cumulative. You might be able to 'bank' some gains in the last six holes but you will never recover all the lost time. Now put 40 groups of inconsistent golfers out there and see what happens to the groups near the end.

That said, there are persistently slow golfers who think they own the course and that a line to the hole will be revealed if they examine it from every conceivable angle and, of course, they should take a minute or two to compose themselves before every shot. That and stupidity like marking cards on the green, leaving bags on the wrong side of the hole and poor flag etiquette drives me insane if I am permanently swishing a club looking at it. That can only be dealt with through education and, dare I say it, enforcement such as removal from the course or time bans. Let's face it , we love complaining but who wants to be the enforcer?

Edit:Just think what further complication there is when you are playing like Rory Mc for six holes but one, or all, of your playing partners are playing like drains. Like I said, people who are consistently finishing a hole or more down on the preceding group need to be sanctioned and it should be easy to measure. Everyone else needs a chill pill (and a lesson in queing theory).

Tiger Mcilroy

alxmorgan wrote: »

Fair enough. 2.5 hours for a 2 ball seems very fast alright. I'd imagine that if you want to play that quick you are better off being first on the course....which to be fair to Mike I think he does do by the sounds of it.

I would however say that slow play is a much bigger issue than fast play. In my experience anyway

For sure slow play can be an issue and it would interesting if there was a study done to show the average competitions round times for a year in a club.

Rikand

I like to play quickly myself, but 4 - 4.5 hours for a fourball is fine.
3.5 - 4 hours for a 3 ball is fine.
3 - 3.5 hours for a 2 ball is fine.

Quicker than that and really you're probably not taking due care and attention to your game, which in general would be detrimental to most people.

Slower than the above though and you're probably taking TOO much time, which again in general would be detrimental to most people.

Russman

Obviously it depends on the length and condition of the course you're playing, but IMHO, anything over 4 hours, well ok, maybe 4hrs 15mins is getting into the slow area.
I'm usually out in the first few groups so its not an issue, 3hrs 15mis give or take, would be fairly regular but I don't expect that pace if I play at 11am. That said, this notion that people are "running around" the golf course really p1$$es me off, its simply not the case. I've often played in well under 3 hrs and its been a casual stroll.

Its not rocket science, there's no outlandish behaviour needed to speed up play, just being ready to play when its your turn and leaving your bag on the correct side of the green would do wonders for the vast majority of slow players. Even playing "ready golf" isn't necessary to be at a decent pace.

You'll always get 1diots with elaborate routines, but if the other elements are up to pace, its not always a huge issue, apart from it being a pain in the a$$ to see Jonny who's been a member for 25 years, lining up every putt from both sides like he'd never seen the greens before.

brick tamland

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Nobody likes to be out for over 5 hours but 4 or 4.5 hours for a fourball isn't slow.

Obviously depends on the course but for most 4.5 hours is slow in my book. Some of the new style courses just take longer (palmerstown house, heritage ect)

Similar to OP I've 2 young kids and I have to play early. There are various ways always suggested to speed thing up but will never happen. Getting out in the first 2/3 groups is the only answer.

ShivasIrons

Consider this on the major professional tours players walk quite quickly, generally don't have to look for balls, the bag is left in the correct place to exit the green, bunker raking is not done by the player, less shots are taken, all things that help immensely with the speed of play, yet these are not the habits that are copied, it's the glacial routines and dilly dallying before the shot that is copied.

One of the main issues with slow play is that quite a number of club golfers have no idea how to play quickly. Most traditional courses in Ireland are easy to play quickly, tees next to greens, little long walks etc and as a result 3-3:30 for 4 players is easily attainable but unfortunately if you asked certain golfers to do this they couldn't as they don't know how. Also clubs should educate players in how to play quickly but few clubs are willing to tackle slow play, as many players get insulted when they are told they are slow. The view should be taken that the 4 or 5 players that hold up the field should be dealt with even if it is uncomfortable, after all they can ruin the day for 100 or more players.

When golfers think that 4 hours or longer is acceptable on a traditional course then slow play will be an uphill battle also bear in mind that some courses (Killeen Castle, Fota etc.) will take much longer to play. So every course should have a different time rating as to what dictates a reasonable time to play.

bustercherry

I've come up with a great solution; just don't play. 1 round in 2 months and haven't missed it plus the bonus of avoiding .1s.

The biggest issue for me was not the slow play but listening to people moan about slow play all the time, irrespective if it was slow or not. It's got tedious at this point (just like these continuous threads on it), plus not enjoyable when the conversation for a whole round is about slow play and what the guys in front (and some people give out about behind too) are doing.

blue note

Russman wrote: »

That said, this notion that people are "running around" the golf course really p1$$es me off, its simply not the case. I've often played in well under 3 hrs and its been a casual stroll.

This is very true - when I have the course to myself or my group has the course to ourselves you can finish a round in what would be a ridiculous time on a Sunday morning, but on a Saturday evening you're amazed when you look at your watch at the end and realise how quick you were.

But on a busy day, there will always be a group that has a bad hole, or spends a minute trying to find a ball or whatever and when one group stops it has a knock on effect for all the groups behind. If it's a significant delay and they call a group through, the whole course has to wait while the group rejoins play. These are just the facts of Sunday morning golf and while people could do things to be faster, busy days will always be slower.

I also do get annoyed by people "running around" the golf course though. The likes of the people that hit when you will be out of range by the time the ball lands, or who want to race to a green and off it so they are waiting with you on the tee when you're still waiting to be able to hit. These people need to relax and enjoy the game even if they could play it faster.

stitcheddepin

we are members of clubs, so playing speed and timesheets of that club often dictate the speed of your round. u cant seriously expect to play a fourball in anything less than 4 hours now on a sat or sun. friends of mine have stopped playing because they were always in a rush and agitated around the course, u should pencil in the acquired time (with spouse or work or whatever) as playing up peoples holes wont make any difference, and you're golf certainly wont improve. im all for a faster round, but enjoying the round seems to be lost on some people, and that involves going at the dictated pace of the course with plenty of banter.

mike12

stitcheddepin wrote: »

we are members of clubs, so playing speed and timesheets of that club often dictate the speed of your round. u cant seriously expect to play a fourball in anything less than 4 hours now on a sat or sun. friends of mine have stopped playing because they were always in a rush and agitated around the course, u should pencil in the acquired time (with spouse or work or whatever) as playing up peoples holes wont make any difference, and you're golf certainly wont improve. im all for a faster round, but enjoying the round seems to be lost on some people, and that involves going at the dictated pace of the course with plenty of banter.

I think what annoys me most is one day you play in 4 hours the 4/5th tee time the next you are 4.30/45 in the same tee time because you are caught behind some muppet that thinks he is Keegan Bradley or Jim Furyk.

alxmorgan

stitcheddepin wrote: »

we are members of clubs, so playing speed and timesheets of that club often dictate the speed of your round. u cant seriously expect to play a fourball in anything less than 4 hours now on a sat or sun. friends of mine have stopped playing because they were always in a rush and agitated around the course, u should pencil in the acquired time (with spouse or work or whatever) as playing up peoples holes wont make any difference, and you're golf certainly wont improve. im all for a faster round, but enjoying the round seems to be lost on some people, and that involves going at the dictated pace of the course with plenty of banter.

I take what you are saying....the issue I have is that the attitude of "it takes a long time, let's just try to enjoy it" is enabling the slow players to continue being slow.

HB2002

slave1 wrote: »

12inch putts not interfering with play, no marking, get up and hit it

Just curious to know if everyone who is saying just stand up and take the putt have ever said to themselves after missing the putt.... 'feck it... should have marked it!' ?:)

FixdePitchmark

1) There should be very very few 4 balls - they just don’t work. (Once a month
on a certain day)
2) People need to walk faster - not just when a group catches them
3) You should have your club in hand and all distance prep done before your shot. Do not watch every aspect of playing partners shot.
4) People should be on clock - easy to do in this day and age
5) I'd ban all practice swings myself - but 1 or 2 should be norm.
6) Freezing over a 10 inch putt is not acceptable - (even if i miss plenty)
7) Be ready when you are in turn to putt - so many people do not understand this - then when you tell them they read their putt :eek:
8) Reading a putt from 3 sides is not acceptable - maybe the odd big big one. But not on in a non event.
9) Big championship courses are not suitable for societies or beginners.
10) Be ready to play on tee, a tee - tee and ball and 2nd ball. (No honour)
11) Hit a provo when needed.
12) Walk faster again - not running , just walk.
13) Pick up when gone - for god sake , it is an 8/9/10.


After all that be (ironically) tolerant - becasue an angry golfer is way way worse than the slowest player in the world.

Also turn up early, be ready and don't be running around like a headless chicken. Have a pencil

But after all that - know when it is going to be slow , be ready and relax if it is slow. Don't turn up thinking you can get around in 4 hours at the weekend 4 ball. Someone in a rush and an angry late golfer, is way worse.

G1032

Bar being ready to hit your shot when it's your turn I don't think there is a whole lot that can be done now with courses the way they are.

I played golf for 25 years and stopped playing a couple of years ago because
A) - I simply couldn't justify the money spent on it anymore
- It took far far too long to play a round of golf

25 years ago I was able to go out on a Sunday morning and play a round in well under 3.5 hours. That became impossible once the courses started getting longer and the greens bigger. When I stopped playing it was taking 4.5 hours per round (plus 1 hour travel there and back + say 20 minutes tog in /tog out )

I heard Tony Jacklin discuss this topic on Sky Sports a while ago. His fix would be to reduce the distance the ball is able to travel. This will in turn lead to shorter courses and smaller greens which will in turn reduce both maintenance costs (and thus cost to the player ) and playing time.

But I don't think we'll see any changes to the ball travel distance anytime soon. Players really do have to stop analysing every putt like it's the 10 footer to win The Open. They've got to be ready when it's their turn. Let players have a pre shot routine if they like but it doesn't need to take 60 seconds. 90% of the time they're playing on their home course

---

they know the distance, they know the wind, they know the breaks on the greens. Just get on with it and hit the bloody shot

Deise Vu

HB2002 wrote: »

Just curious to know if everyone who is saying just stand up and take the putt have ever said to themselves after missing the putt.... 'feck it... should have marked it!' ?:)

Not me. I always reckon I would miss more by over-thinking a shot. From 12 inches, there is rarely any break if you hit it firmly enough. No-one is saying to rush the putt, just take it without the rigmarole of marking it.

Wichita Lineman

Not every golf club has the same issues so I think to ban fourballs would be a backward step for some. I usually play in a fourball, but have played in three balls, two balls and on my own with equal ease.

As always I think there is a lot of selfish thinking going on here regarding so called slow play. It's me, me, me and feck everyone else - as long as I get to run around and get my golf in so I can be home after 3 hours. Get out of my way would ya cant you see this is my round of golf and that takes precedence over everyone else!!!

I am actually quite a fast player in that I don't dawdle between holes, dilly dally with excessive practice shots, survey putts from every possible angle or freeze for 5 minutes before striking the ball BUT I do like to play at a good sensible steady pace without running.

I played soccer for years on a Sunday morning and with midweek training no one can tell me that time spent on golf is any longer, you just think it is. In fact I reckon I am home earlier from golf than I ever used to be on a Sunday when I played soccer.

alxmorgan

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Not every golf club has the same issues so I think to ban fourballs would be a backward step for some. I usually play in a fourball, but have played in three balls, two balls and on my own with equal ease.

As always I think there is a lot of selfish thinking going on here regarding so called slow play. It's me, me, me and feck everyone else - as long as I get to run around and get my golf in so I can be home after 3 hours. Get out of my way would ya cant you see this is my round of golf and that takes precedence over everyone else!!!

I am actually quite a fast player in that I don't dawdle between holes, dilly dally with excessive practice shots, survey putts from every possible angle or freeze for 5 minutes before striking the ball BUT I do like to play at a good sensible steady pace without running.

I played soccer for years on a Sunday morning and with midweek training no one can tell me that time spent on golf is any longer, you just think it is. In fact I reckon I am home earlier from golf than I ever used to be on a Sunday when I played soccer.

You are right on this but the same could be said of slow players. I'll go at my pace and feck everyone else. I paid me money I'll take me time.

Basically the extremes on either side are not good...as with most things in life. As long as everyone is moving along at a decent pace and not doing silly things that hold up play every (reasonable) person will be happy I think

Wichita Lineman

^ I agree with that alxmorgan, neither extreme is good.

stitcheddepin

we had a starter in my old club years ago, and he used to travel around the course on a buggy and tell slow groups to catch up. worked well, avoided negative interaction between two fourball groups and kept things ticking over pace wise. if every club had a thick skinned marshal it would benefit the game.

Loire

I'm in this boat - 2 young kids and just not enough time. Haven't played 18 holes since the clocks changed, and before then it was after work rather than Sat/Sun mornings. This might sound daft, but I'd be very interested in playing 9 hole competitions - maybe as an accumulator with the following week or something for points / handicap. That way I could tee off before 9 and be home at 11...

Loire.

alxmorgan

Loire wrote: »

I'm in this boat - 2 young kids and just not enough time. Haven't played 18 holes since the clocks changed, and before then it was after work rather than Sat/Sun mornings. This might sound daft, but I'd be very interested in playing 9 hole competitions - maybe as an accumulator with the following week or something for points / handicap. That way I could tee off before 9 and be home at 11...

Loire.

In the summer I tee off at 7:30 and am generally home by 11:30. Nobody gets up that early for a leisurely stroll

mike12

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Not every golf club has the same issues so I think to ban fourballs would be a backward step for some. I usually play in a fourball, but have played in three balls, two balls and on my own with equal ease.

As always I think there is a lot of selfish thinking going on here regarding so called slow play. It's me, me, me and feck everyone else - as long as I get to run around and get my golf in so I can be home after 3 hours. Get out of my way would ya cant you see this is my round of golf and that takes precedence over everyone else!!!

I am actually quite a fast player in that I don't dawdle between holes, dilly dally with excessive practice shots, survey putts from every possible angle or freeze for 5 minutes before striking the ball BUT I do like to play at a good sensible steady pace without running.

I played soccer for years on a Sunday morning and with midweek training no one can tell me that time spent on golf is any longer, you just think it is. In fact I reckon I am home earlier from golf than I ever used to be on a Sunday when I played soccer.

I like to play at a decent pace but i am never walking what i would call fast. The guy i can get around in 2 and a half hours with reads every putt from every angle. 4 hours is totally acceptable for a 4 ball.
I live 5 mins from the club happy to tee off at 8 on and a sunday but would like to be home for 12.30 which should be doable.

PARlance

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

1) There should be very very few 4 balls - they just don’t work. (Once a month
on a certain day)
2) People need to walk faster - not just when a group catches them
3) You should have your club in hand and all distance prep done before your shot. Do not watch every aspect of playing partners shot.
4) People should be on clock - easy to do in this day and age
5) I'd ban all practice swings myself - but 1 or 2 should be norm.
6) Freezing over a 10 inch putt is not acceptable - (even if i miss plenty)
7) Be ready when you are in turn to putt - so many people do not understand this - then when you tell them they read their putt :eek:
8) Reading a putt from 3 sides is not acceptable - maybe the odd big big one. But not on in a non event.
9) Big championship courses are not suitable for societies or beginners.
10) Be ready to play on tee, a tee - tee and ball and 2nd ball. (No honour)
11) Hit a provo when needed.
12) Walk faster again - not running , just walk.
13) Pick up when gone - for god sake , it is an 8/9/10.


After all that be (ironically) tolerant - becasue an angry golfer is way way worse than the slowest player in the world.

Also turn up early, be ready and don't be running around like a headless chicken. Have a pencil

But after all that - know when it is going to be slow , be ready and relax if it is slow. Don't turn up thinking you can get around in 4 hours at the weekend 4 ball. Someone in a rush and an angry late golfer, is way worse.

I agree with most of that apart from the highlighted part. I think you're just being a Mammy there.

Personally, I like someone who sweeps in just in time on the first tee, no warm up, shoe laces still untied, half a sambo in hand, the other half rammed into his mouth making breathing a struggle.
He tees off and finally stops chewing half way down the fairway when it's time to says his hellos and..... Got a pencil Fix?

doublecross

Got this email from Tralee GC a few days before playing last year. No harm if every club did it.

We have set the timesheet at 10 minute intervals to spread the field which will help with Pace of Play. I would ask all players to tee off at allotted time and NOT before but on time per Rules of Golf.

We would ask all members and visitors to co-operate with the ranger in dealing with Pace of Play to ensure the competition is run in a proper, fair and enjoyable manner for all players.

Players should use these types of strategies to maintain a good pace of play:

If it is safe, walk directly to your ball and prepare for your shot. You can then play immediately when it is your turn.

It is quicker to ‘putt out’. Often you can read and prepare for your putt while other competitors putt.

Leave your buggy on the ‘away side’ of the green.

If you have the honour on the tee, mark your card AFTER hitting

If you get behind make the effort to catch up over the next few holes

If a lost ball is going to hold up play then call the following group through.

Walk BRISKLY – don’t stroll

If there is a doubt about a ball being ‘out of bounds’, in rough or outside of a hazard it would be expedite to play a ‘provisional ball’ before proceeding.

Wichita Lineman

Every one has different priorities in life and I appreciate if you have small kids and maybe a working wife it's more difficult to get out. That's life folks. I've been there too, served my time and done it with joy. My kids are older now and I have a working wife who appreciates I need an odd break from the daily grind. Golf is that break and I intend to enjoy it.

If 9 hole comps only were introduced in my club it would be empty in weeks. No thanks. We all have other demands and things calling on us, doesn't mean that express speed golf is going to solve any of them. Apart from the antics of the extremists already mentioned it's really up to yourself to find a time that suits your needs.

FixdePitchmark

Wichita Lineman wrote: »

Every one has different priorities in life and I appreciate if you have small kids and maybe a working wife it's more difficult to get out. That's life folks. I've been there too, served my time and done it with joy. My kids are older now and I have a working wife who appreciates I need an odd break from the daily grind. Golf is that break and I intend to enjoy it.

If 9 hole comps only were introduced in my club it would be empty in weeks. No thanks. We all have other demands and things calling on us, doesn't mean that express speed golf is going to solve any of them. Apart from the antics of the extremists already mentioned it's really up to yourself to find a time that suits your needs.

Well - most stuff being mentioned is sensible.

Golf is too slow - just because you are happy out - doesn't mean it is the way to go.

4.5 hour + rounds - is not on.
4 hours or under only.

Rikand

HB2002 wrote: »

Just curious to know if everyone who is saying just stand up and take the putt have ever said to themselves after missing the putt.... 'feck it... should have marked it!' ?:)

I have the yips. So I mark everything

Rikand

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Well - most stuff being mentioned is sensible.

Golf is too slow - just because you are happy out - doesn't mean it is the way to go.

4.5 hour + rounds - is not on.
4 hours or under only.

Lets see how the fourballs in portmarnock go Saturday week. We name and shame any group thats out there over 4 hours!

HB2002

I don't want to be on the golf course for 4 hours if I'm playing a three ball
I understand if you're playing a championship course it can take longer but 4 hours on a weekend for a 3 ball shouldn't happen.

I know it depends on how the day is going.... if none of your three ball are breaking 90 then obviously it's going to take a little longer.

But there are simple things you can do that speed up the round without taking the enjoyment out of it and without making you feel you are running around the place.

Be ready to take your shot
Have checked you yardage and decided what you are going to do as your partners are taking their shots.
Have your club out but watch your partners shot incase like me it don't always go where it's meant to.
You have 5 minutes to look for a lost ball.... use it... but let the crowd behind you tee off if they're already waiting.
Leave you golf bag in the right place for exiting the green
Have the flag ready to be put back.
If you're first up don't bother marking your card till after you've tee'd off.

If you shaved 10 seconds off each shot that's not on the green you'd save 10 minutes roughly off your round... 3 of you playing that's half an hour saved!.

FixdePitchmark

Rikand wrote: »

Lets see how the fourballs in portmarnock go Saturday week. We name and shame any group thats out there over 4 hours!

Well we know it will be 445 to 5 hours +

That is part of my point above.

Championship course , a links, 4 balls , a hard links, a society. But it is a day out.

I don't think you should turn up late, thinking it will be 4 hours.

You do that sort of thing once a month - but we are talking about general, day to day golf or club golf here.

Wichita Lineman

Fix, all I'm trying to say is that an express round of golf wouldn't be for me. Neither is a painfully slow round. As previously stated I could never be considered a slow player. My opinion that's all.