We Need To Talk About Slow Play

GreeBo · 02-04-2014 01:38PM

denisoc16 wrote: »

I played in the society with Dealerz & Reganovski & as he says it was around the 4hour 15 minute mark. We weren't racing or anything but we kept a good pace. Over 5 hours in a 2 ball with or without a buggy is madness if you ask me. I've played in scratch cups on links courses in fourballs that haven't taken as long as that

It was madness, but like I said we were still well ahead of the members (2 youngish lads) behind us.

Part of the problem was the insistence to stick to the track in the buggy; on a course like that it means loads of walking across the fairway to your ball with a handful of clubs and then trying to figure out yardages and lines. Also finding a ball in the rough is much harder when you cant just go straight to the line you took.

PARlance · 02-04-2014 01:44PM

Personally I think sending Societies out in 4 balls is a no no.
Even if there are members out ahead in 4 balls. The societies are always going to be slower and a Soc 3 ball would be a better match.
If the 3 ball is held up a bit then so be it, if the fourball of members ahead are ticking along then it shouldn't be longer than 4:30 at worst.
They would probably pick up their pace if they had someone behind them too.

Adding a 4th ball to a society is just increasing the lost ball searches etc that you just wouldn't get from members.

josie19 · 02-04-2014 01:47PM

PARlance wrote: »

Personally I think sending Societies out in 4 balls is a no no.
Even if there are members out ahead in 4 balls. The societies are always going to be slower and a Soc 3 ball would be a better match.
If the 3 ball is held up a bit then so be it, if the fourball of members ahead are ticking along then it shouldn't be longer than 4:30 at worst.
They would probably pick up their pace if they had someone behind them too.

Adding a 4th ball to a society is just increasing the lost ball searches etc that you just wouldn't get from members.

I played in a society in work for 1 season. 5 hours for 3-balls. Gave that up :mad:

Loire · 02-04-2014 01:50PM

I wonder, and this probably is a crazy suggestion, but for the run of the mill, weekly, stableford competitions, should a circle about 18 inches in diameter be drawn around the hole. Inside this and you just pickup?

bustercherry · 02-04-2014 01:52PM

So now it's societies causing slow play? Last week it was range finders.... Next thing you'll all be blaming the Brits.

bustercherry · 02-04-2014 01:52PM

Loire wrote: »

I wonder, and this probably is a crazy suggestion, but for the run of the mill, weekly, stableford competitions, should a circle about 18 inches in diameter be drawn around the hole. Inside this and you just pickup?

No

Miley Byrne · 02-04-2014 01:57PM

GreeBo wrote: »

It was madness, but like I said we were still well ahead of the members (2 youngish lads) behind us.

Part of the problem was the insistence to stick to the track in the buggy; on a course like that it means loads of walking across the fairway to your ball with a handful of clubs and then trying to figure out yardages and lines. Also finding a ball in the rough is much harder when you cant just go straight to the line you took.

Slightly off topic but......Two reasons I personally don't like using buggies at any time in this country but especially in winter time

1. Having to stay on the cart path is a pain.

2. Impossible to warm up on a cold day.

Russman · 02-04-2014 01:59PM

bustercherry wrote: »

So now it's societies causing slow play? Last week it was range finders.... Next thing you'll all be blaming the Brits.

There's an English lad plays with our society, and he has a rangefinder too......that must be it.

FixdePitchmark · 02-04-2014 02:03PM

A bit radical.

But I don't think there should be any 4 balls in golf.

Dealerz · 02-04-2014 02:03PM

bustercherry wrote: »

So now it's societies causing slow play? Last week it was range finders.... Next thing you'll all be blaming the Brits.

Eh I think you will find that it's the Romans fault, what have they ever done for us?

gymman39 · 02-04-2014 02:04PM

Russman wrote: »

There's an English lad plays with our society, and he has a rangefinder too......that must be it.

LOL your gas:D

FixdePitchmark · 02-04-2014 02:07PM

Lets face it - the minute you see a shot routine - you go this is going to be a long day.

Lads with Galvin Green normally - (joke)

TrapperChamonix · 02-04-2014 02:12PM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

A bit radical.

But I don't think there should be any 4 balls in golf.

You pulling out of our game on 25th???:eek::eek::eek::D

josie19 · 02-04-2014 02:13PM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

A bit radical.

But I don't think there should be any 4 balls in golf.

That'll put an end to 4-ball better ball so

We play 3 balls on my course but it still takes close to 4 hours - yet when we play 4-ball better ball it takes only about 10 minutes longer

FixdePitchmark · 02-04-2014 02:16PM

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

You pulling out of our game on 25th???:eek::eek::eek::D

NOt a chance - I think it has to be all 4 balls or none. I have all day for that one

But - if others say it is only 10 minutes longer - I'm listening ?

Slicemeister · 02-04-2014 02:23PM

I can only think of two courses locally who have time reminders walking off the 9th green. They're a good idea imo.

If some fella could devise an app for slower players to alert them when they've crossed a preset time limit by that course, simultaneously an announcement over the pa in the clubhouse naming said offenders.

"Would players John Doe,Malcolm x and the visitor in the manky IJP trousers please return to the clubhouse for their mandatory stoning? Thank you"

Boskowski · 02-04-2014 02:32PM

While I'm unhappy about slow play either deliberate or due to ignorance I have to agree with the people not happy with the 'runners'.

I mean it's a game you have to devote some time to. It will simply take anything between 3 to 4 hours depending on number of players and format.
I cannot understand the people who come out to play and the moment they step onto the course they act as if they wanna get off it as quickly as they can.
I really hate slow play but I hate that group behind you just as much who are constantly standing there tapping their feet looking down at the group ahead of them. I mean where are they going to go anyways? There is another 5 or 10 or 20 groups right ahead of us. Are you planning to plow through all of them?
It's a game of golf to be enjoyed not a bloody race. If you must go around under 3 hrs get the earliest tee time or maybe think about taking up a different sport.

Seve OB · 02-04-2014 02:34PM

Loire wrote: »

I wonder, and this probably is a crazy suggestion, but for the run of the mill, weekly, stableford competitions, should a circle about 18 inches in diameter be drawn around the hole. Inside this and you just pickup?

You are right, it's crazy (and stupid), sure why not make the hole twice the size while you are at it.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

A bit radical.

But I don't think there should be any 4 balls in golf.

What about foresomes and fourballs? Aghhhhhhhh the end of the Ryder cup :eek::eek::eek:

Seriously, I guess you mean fourballs when it comes to single competitions, and I would agree with you.

Carpo86 · 02-04-2014 02:39PM

I'm not a fan of slow play and personally play very quickly (possibly too quickly to the point of carelessness). I also think clubs should invest the time and effort in finding solutions to speeding up the pace of play as much as possible. I also think a lot of the suggestions put forward in this discussion are goods ones.

It does irritate me a bit though when I'm playing with someone and the spend the whole time moaning about how long the round is taking. My attitude is once I'm out there, I am there to enjoy it and while my natural pace is a quick one if it so happens that I am held up, well then so be it I suppose. I'd prefer to spend the time having a friendly chat and enjoying the walk/air then listening to a guy moan for 4/5 hours...

Oilbeefhooked! · 02-04-2014 02:42PM

Obviously the first of a group to play from the tee,fairway or green needs a little more time get yardage /read putt etc.
But if you are 2nd ,3rd or 4th to play and it takes you more that 30 seconds to play your shot once the previous players ball lands/ or is marked on the green - then you have a problem with slow play!!
ps. prob shouldnt include fairway shots in that as you obviously have to reach your ball and not everyone is going to be standing at there ball with club/yardage sorted.
However thats another point - i think its ok to walk ahead of the player currently to play from the fairway to reach your own ball and prepare for your own shot so long as you are out of his line and not affecting his shot in.Thoughts?
Too often , you see guys standing beside the bloke playing, only then to move out to their own ball, when they could easily have been there preparing with no affect to the previous player. I know its an etiquette thing to stay behind whos playing, but so long as its not affecting someone else's shot then get to your ball and get ready to play!!

alxmorgan · 02-04-2014 02:46PM

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Obviously the first of a group to play from the tee,fairway or green needs a little more time get yardage /read putt etc.
But if you are 2nd ,3rd or 4th to play and it takes you more that 30 seconds to play your shot once the previous players ball lands/ or is marked on the green - then you have a problem with slow play!!
ps. prob shouldnt include fairway shots in that as you obviously have to reach your ball and not everyone is going to be standing at there ball with club/yardage sorted.
However thats another point - i think its ok to walk ahead of the player currently to play from the fairway to reach your own ball and prepare for your own shot so long as you are out of his line and not affecting his shot in.Thoughts?
Too often , you see guys standing beside the bloke playing, only then to move out to their own ball, when they could easily have been there preparing with no affect to the previous player. I know its an etiquette thing to stay behind whos playing, but so long as its not affecting someone else's shot then get to your ball and get ready to play!!

Definitely and does really help to speed things up.

alxmorgan · 02-04-2014 02:48PM

Boskowski wrote: »

While I'm unhappy about slow play either deliberate or due to ignorance I have to agree with the people not happy with the 'runners'.

I mean it's a game you have to devote some time to. It will simply take anything between 3 to 4 hours depending on number of players and format.
I cannot understand the people who come out to play and the moment they step onto the course they act as if they wanna get off it as quickly as they can.
I really hate slow play but I hate that group behind you just as much who are constantly standing there tapping their feet looking down at the group ahead of them. I mean where are they going to go anyways? There is another 5 or 10 or 20 groups right ahead of us. Are you planning to plow through all of them?
It's a game of golf to be enjoyed not a bloody race. If you must go around under 3 hrs get the earliest tee time or maybe think about taking up a different sport.

Again 99% of people would have no issue with this. I have to say that the speed merchants are a non-issue in comparison to the snails. If we ever create a thread on here to try and slow rounds down we'll all be happy

GreeBo · 02-04-2014 02:48PM

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

Too often , you see guys standing beside the bloke playing, only then to move out to their own ball, when they could easily have been there preparing with no affect to the previous player. I know its an etiquette thing to stay behind whos playing, but so long as its not affecting someone else's shot then get to your ball and get ready to play!!

I think its ok to stand back out of the way, its the lads who stand and watch their partners ball come to a complete stop further up the fairway...and then watch in case it moves a little bit more....argh!
Watch him hit, unless its heading to trouble, move on.

josie19 · 02-04-2014 02:48PM

Be very careful moving ahead to the right of a right handed player. I'm not going to mention that word :eek::eek:

GreeBo · 02-04-2014 02:49PM

Carpo86 wrote: »

It does irritate me a bit though when I'm playing with someone and the spend the whole time moaning about how long the round is taking. My attitude is once I'm out there, I am there to enjoy it and while my natural pace is a quick one if it so happens that I am held up, well then so be it I suppose. I'd prefer to spend the time having a friendly chat and enjoying the walk/air then listening to a guy moan for 4/5 hours...

True, but there is a line, if you just accept slow play ahead then you are part of the problem IMO. You should be putting slow players under pressure if you are behind then.

Freemount09 · 02-04-2014 02:50PM

Just to clarify from my previous post re esker hills round time, I wasn't looking to name and shame anyone here regarding slow play.

That group of three 4 balls in the middle would have (should have anyway) slowed it down for all those after and that sounds like a stunt was pulled to get them out in the middle of ye.

I had to stop going on the boards outtings due to a new arrival, but with the talk of regular 5+ hr rounds, tbh, this is not tempting me to more society outtings.

Society outtings in general (not just Boards GS) do take longer I stopped going out with a local society too as I couldn't justify a round of golf, sandwich and chat afterwards, and travel to - from taking 9 hours, when I can play a round in home course and be there and back in 4.5 hrs.

Seve OB · 02-04-2014 02:50PM

Oilbeefhooked! wrote: »

However thats another point - i think its ok to walk ahead of the player currently to play from the fairway to reach your own ball and prepare for your own shot so long as you are out of his line and not affecting his shot in.Thoughts?
Too often , you see guys standing beside the bloke playing, only then to move out to their own ball, when they could easily have been there preparing with no affect to the previous player. I know its an etiquette thing to stay behind whos playing, but so long as its not affecting someone else's shot then get to your ball and get ready to play!!

Agree 1000%, I mentioned it earlier

Seve OB · 02-04-2014 02:54PM

Freemount09 wrote: »

I had to stop going on the boards outtings due to a new arrival.

What kind of excuse is that

Oilbeefhooked! · 02-04-2014 03:00PM

GreeBo wrote: »

I think its ok to stand back out of the way, its the lads who stand and watch their partners ball come to a complete stop further up the fairway...and then watch in case it moves a little bit more....argh!
Watch him hit, unless its heading to trouble, move on.

Agreed , but im talking about if player A is middle of the fairway 200yds out and his three playing partners are all around 160yds out, but 2 are in left rough and third players away out right , then so long as you are sure your not goin to affect Player A's shot (eg if he normally plays plays a huge slice , you wouldnt head to the balls on the left)
then imo the other 3 players in the group could all be at or at least heading towards their balls and preparing for their own shots, while obviously watching and being aware of Player A's shot in.(ie Standing still while he takes his swing).
I really feel its the little things like this that add up and lead to long rounds.

PARlance · 02-04-2014 03:29PM

Slicemeister wrote: »

I can only think of two courses locally who have time reminders walking off the 9th green. They're a good idea imo.

If some fella could devise an app for slower players to alert them when they've crossed a preset time limit by that course, simultaneously an announcement over the pa in the clubhouse naming said offenders.

"Would players John Doe,Malcolm x and the visitor in the manky IJP trousers please return to the clubhouse for their mandatory stoning? Thank you"

Castleknock have something like you are suggesting Slice.
Apparently it's used most days but the 2 times I played they didn't.

It's basically a GPS tag that is given out to each group. The tags are monitored from the clubhouse and if you're falling behind they send out the snipers.

We Need To Talk About Slow Play

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