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Peter Paccagnin...
Handicap: 36
Herefordshire
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Hi
I have just returned from a round on my local course which is usually really enjoyable. However today I had a fourball in front of me who would just not let me through despite th fact that it would be minutes before I was out of their way. Surely they could not have enjoyed having behind them and I spoiled what wasa reasonable round for me. I was not like there was anyone in front of them.
At my old club I never experienced this. Everyone on the course was really good, if we were quicker they would let us through, if they were we would let them through. Is this kind of behavior becoming more commonplace or a I just being over-sensitive?
Regards
Peter
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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Hi Peter, Were you alone? Some people still think that lonely players have no rights on the course. Take your phone with you (umplugged) and if you need call someone in charge.
Regards.
Marcel
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Roger Akerman
Handicap: 13
East Sussex
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 118
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Hi Peter, I know its very annoying but if you were on your own at most course's you have no standing on the course in other words they do not have to take you into account.Having said that i find most groups will let you through as they don't like having you sitting up their backside all the time. Were these members if so have a word with the club secretary
Roger
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Carol Bellis
Handicap: 36
Kent
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 76
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This is yet another facet of golf ettiquette that I fail to understand. As a single ball, of course you are much faster - if however, you've decided to tag along behind several fourballs playing in a competition - more fool you. I can see why you are classed as 'no standing'. Generally, single balls are people who've finished work a little early and just want to play a few holes before dark. It is very frustrating to get stuck behind a fourball who are obviously NOT playing a serious competition, are losing balls all over the place and refuse to let you through out of sheer bloody mindedness.
On a brighter note - I was told by the pro that the single ball is permitted to dodge about and can cut a hole or more in front of any slower players as long as it does not interfere with their game - and assuming you don't upset anyone else!
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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According to the Rules of Golf single golfers now have the same standing on the course as everyone else;
Priority on the Course
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round.The term “group” includes a single player.
But then the rules also say that players should play at a good pace
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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I was surprised because no one mentioned the last edition of the Rules of Golf. But I remained silent because I'm not playing in the UK, now. When I wrote "... if you need call someone in charge." it was assumed that now we have the right to do that.
Thank you, Colin, for being cristal clear.
Regards.
Marcel
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Russell Middlet...
Handicap: 36
Essex
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 387
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Colin is correct about single players now having standing, and so they should, they pay the same amount of money as everyone else! At my course it's no good phoning the person in charge as they are normally stuck in the pro shop and can't leave it! We do have a course marshall on the 'good' course at a weekend, but he normally spends his time in the pro shop as well. Russ
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steve henton
Handicap: 7
texas
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The best rule for pace of play is to stay up with the group in front of you...no matter what. The pro shop should inform those who play, so they won't get an attitude when the marshall comes up and says, "Do whatever is necessary to catch up with the group in front of you." Tip 1: 2 players tee up on one side of the tee box and the other. As soon as one hits, the other player can begin to address the ball. The other two do the same thing. This cuts time on the tee box in half, maybe more. Tip 2: Make a rule that if you hit the ball out of play, instead of looking for the ball, you get a free drop at the edge of the rough nearest where the ball went in (if you spend time looking, you don't get this break). And tip 3: When on the green, let the person who is ready putt first, not who's away...then have a continuous putting rule. Be generous on gimmie putts. You'll catch up in no time without feeling hurried.
Steve H.
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Tony Dunn
Handicap: 36
DURHAM
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I really don't get these people who won't let faster players through, I think it's ignorant and can destroy a round, even in comps you can still let people through so why be so pig headed?
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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Hi Steve, Your tips are a bit hard to swallow. We want get rid of slow play but keep on trying to play GOLF. How far goes your "Be generous on gimmie putts." ?
Regards,
Marcel
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Russell Middlet...
Handicap: 36
Essex
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 387
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Slow play is the scurge of golf today, and to be honest I think it is only going to get worse. There are more people playing golf and at peak times the course is going to be very busy. The ideas that have been mentioned here are good ones and everyone should try to keep the pace of play moving along. I think everyone should always be ready to play their part by being ready to play their shot as soon as they can. Simple ideas like letting the person who is the shortest driver tee off first (as soon as the group in front are out of his range). Then by the time the biggest hitter amongst you is ready to play their shot the group in front will be out of range. Looking for balls must be the biggest time waster on a golf course. I've seen people hit their ball well into the woods and then go in after it, but forgetting to wave the group behind through! Be honest with yourself, you might find your ball, you might even find three or four other balls but don't do it if people are waiting behind you. This is the part of golf that needs to be policed harshly, the moment a course marshall sees a group start looking for a ball they should go over and wave the group behind through. If you look at some of the balls you find in the woods/ditches, etc, they are not high quality so why bother looking in the first place? Always take your bag/trolley with you. Don't leave it behind you then have to walk back up the fairway after you've finished the hole. Take your shot, take your bag/trolley with you to the next shot (unless you are just taking your wedge/putter across the green whilst leaving your bag/trolley between the green and the next tee) Again, play out of turn, don't wait for your mate who is going for the green (230 yards away) if you are going to lay up, lay up and then when the green is clear your mate can then play for it. Putting is another area where the speed of play can be made much faster. If you are ready to putt and the person who's ball is furthest from the hole has just taken their shot, then still walking to the green, take your putt. The first person to putt out grabs the flag and is ready to replace it as soon as the last person has putted out. When you reach the next tee, if you can play, then let the person who is ready tee off, then they can mark their card whilst the other players take their turns. Another way to let a single/pair of players play through your group is to take your tee shots, then when you are at your balls you wave the player(s) through, once they have taken their tee shots you can then play your second shots. Let the other group play their shot(s) when they reach their ball(s). If you walk slowly (and they should be walking quickly) then they should soon be past you and out of your way. I do hope these suggestions make sense. Russ -- 13/05/2009 19:40:43: post edited by Russell Middleton.
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Roger Akerman
Handicap: 13
East Sussex
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 118
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Well Put Russell, So much common sense here. A notice like this should be display at every golf club if only to make people more aware. But I feel a lot of the problem is cause by shear pig headed players who just do not consider anyone else on the course, Are these the same people that don't repair pitch marks or rake the bunkers? I wonder!!!
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steve henton
Handicap: 7
texas
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One reason there is so much slow play is that we are taught to play slow by all standards on the professional level. You have to stand behind your ball without a club, rub your chin and throw up some grass. You can't estimate that it's ten yards behind the 150 marker, you have to step it off. Then you must ponder a few more minutes (because you shouldn't hit the ball before you're ready). After all that, pull a club and go through your complete "pre-shot" routine, which takes another minute to a minute and a half. If the wind comes up during the process, put the club back in the bag and start over...on and on it goes.
I'm here to tell you, if you do that somebody's going to zing one over your head or just drive past you to the next hole.
Also, you will find yourself playing alone most of the time, because not even your friends will tolerate somebody acting like they are a pro, but couldn't get the ball 5 feet off the ground no matter how much time they took. I challenge any golfer to hit every shot within 20 seconds of getting your general distance, and I'll bet your score will be better than spending all that time you use to waste on the course trying to be Tiger Woods.
Steve
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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Hi,
looks like this one has been beaten to death but i would like to agree with Russell on one of his points 'Playing through' how often do you walk onto the tee and there are 8 golfers on the fairway in front of you. This just makes it slower as the first group has completely stopped to let the second group through. As Russell states the first group should play the second shot and let the second group work through you. regards steve
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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"One reason there is so much slow play is that we are taught to play slow by all standards on the professional level."
I'm quoting Steve and he is absolutely right. Perhaps golf authorities should consider introducing some rules to stop this. Chess and Tennis, just to mention 2 sports (and industries) that, like golf, have prestige, centuries of history and millions of fans, did so. How many times chess champions were defeated due to time problems? How many tennis stars took point penalties for not serving within allowed time limits?
I think some time control on the professional level would be good for golf and golfers of all levels.
Marcel
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TSG
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