This is Riverway GC, a city owned course in Metro Vancouver. I play there 10 - 15 times a year. It's hackers, pros, kids, couples, seniors, weekend warriors etc. Everyone knows that it's a 5 hour round and you will catch up to the groups in front and just be patient. The marshals patrol regularly and move players along as best they can but it backs up. If the group behind feels they are being inconvenienced by the group in front they should call the pro shop and have a marshal come by. Launching balls into the front group is just ignorant.

I belong to a semi-private course. If I have a early tee time, ~8AM, and I'm playing with three other members, we can walk our 6600 yd 18 in under four hours...sometimes in 3.5 depending on my playing partners. We play ready golf We rarely remove the pin We leave our bags in a spot between the green and the next tee We walk with purpose (there's no strolling) We never take more than 3 minutes looking for a ball Most of us shoot in the 80's, a few in the 70's

@georgesealy4706

22 күн бұрын

I have seen foursomes play in which everyone goes to everybody's ball to watch them play a shot. It's like groupthink or mind meld on the golf course.

@04stiger

22 күн бұрын

ready golf is a good idea. We implement it ourselves in our regular comp.

@seangallagher1927

22 күн бұрын

​​@@georgesealy4706don't forget the discussion after each shot and waiting for it to come to a complete stop. Then it takes them a few seconds to remember what they need to do next 😂

@davidd1395

20 күн бұрын

That’s too slow.

@jl3303

16 күн бұрын

That’s the time to go to the course. I need to get up earlier 😂

You just let faster playing groups through, thats how its always been when I've played over the years, a bit of consideration for others goes a long way

@248horns

22 күн бұрын

That works however quite often there are two or three waiting in front of you so perhaps the best method would be for a steward to have a word at the source of where the hold up is?

@jl3303

16 күн бұрын

That’s the thing, most aren’t courteous. It only delays you 2-3 minutes to let a faster group go through but I will get ignored from 10 feet away by groups of 4 grumpy old heads or have groups of new people that don’t know any better running off the tee and then taking forever after that. This is why you need course marshals and it is so rare to find one that does their job.

@jeremyhenninger7545

16 күн бұрын

Hold ups start at the cash register!!

@boswellwhanau

16 күн бұрын

Only works if there is somewhere for that group to go but often there isn’t so it is pointless letting them play through.

@magicmark8315

16 күн бұрын

Thing is, anymore it's totally backed up everywhere. You can't play through when there's nowhere to go.

Golf courses are getting too greedy, setting the tee times to close together, for more money, and they don't marshal the course, again cost cutting on staff. I have been on a course where it took 5 hours for nine holes...I quit after 9.

@darklordojeda

22 күн бұрын

This is the answer to the question. Tee times that are 5 minutes apart and NO MARSHALLS are the cause of slow play. One of the courses I play at regularly the guy that works the counter is also the Marshall and he is on the ball with it, I witnessed him go to the people in front of my group who were really dragging and he told them to pick up and move on to the next hole. They complied. He's awesome! On the larger muni courses though it's horrible and they're raising the greens fees, for what? Greed is the answer.

@njstan8188

22 күн бұрын

People don’t listen to the Marshalls. They think they can do whatever they want.

@superluigi8539

16 күн бұрын

Ok 5 hours is crazy lol even for 18

@freddywong5234

16 күн бұрын

That's why I joined private club that each tee off time is 10 minutes increments. It's cheap to join a private club ( there is also an expensive one)in Australia, 😊

@jwdecosta

16 күн бұрын

Sounds like two many players at your course need to master pitch and putt before venturing out to the golf courses that are a bit tougher 🤷🏻

I haven't seen it mentioned, but the spacing of tee times can make a huge difference. When I play at one of my local courses that has 10 minute spacing, it's extremely rare for me to experience slow play. However, at another course it's 8 minute spacing, and the play can get very, very slow, esp. on a weekend.

@w1ldwesty

22 күн бұрын

At a previous club we had no tee times. Just show up and go when then group in front is clear. Was an absolute nightmare during comps. Problem is most clubs wont lenghten the gaps, especially at weekends. More teetimes = more £££

@jimcook4156

21 күн бұрын

This is 100% true. My private club is 10 minute gaps, and it mostly works. 8 minute gaps would be a nightmare.

@thisisreallife5086

21 күн бұрын

@@w1ldwesty @jimcook4156 Let's do the math. Let's assume all tee times are taken by foursomes who take 4 hours to play. Once the course is full (4 hours after the earliest tee time): 10-minute gap: 96 golfers would be on the course at any given time. 8-minute gap: 128 golfers would be on the course at any given time. That's 25% more golfers than a 10-minute gap. 25% more revenue for the course. But here's the deal. The course with the 8-minute gap and 128 golfers will just bottle-neck as the day goes on and even more golfers will be on the course. As play slows the tee times don't stop. More and more golfers keep teeing off and adding to the delay. Hence 5 hour rounds. It would be hard to convince the owner to increase the gap and decrease his income. But I think the golfers would be much happier - and maybe some fights would stop?

@thisisreallife5086

21 күн бұрын

@w1ldwesty @jimcook4156 Let's do the math. Let's assume all tee times are taken by foursomes who take 4 hours to play. Once the course is full (4 hours after the earliest tee time): 10-minute gap: 96 golfers would be on the course at any given time. 8-minute gap: 128 golfers would be on the course at any given time. That's 25% more golfers than a 10-minute gap. 25% more revenue for the course. But here's the deal. The course with the 8-minute gap and 128 golfers will just bottle-neck as the day goes on and even more golfers will be on the course. As play slows the tee times don't stop. More and more golfers keep teeing off and adding to the delay. Hence 5 hour rounds. It would be hard to convince the owner to increase the gap and decrease his income. But I think the golfers would be much happier - and maybe some conflicts would be avoided?

You never hit into a group in front, you can seriously injure someone

@AlinNZ

22 күн бұрын

That’s the point 😂

@patod7340

22 күн бұрын

Then that's an assault - is it worth the risk and stupidity, I've played courses where groups have hit in to us - we aren't the slow players it was the group 3 or 4 ahead of us so your not even addressing the problem group

@seangallagher1927

22 күн бұрын

Golf courses need to space tee times out more. Give people plenty of time and there would be far less issues. Problem there is they'd make less profit/bigger losses. Also a course marshal making the slow groups let people through would definitely help

@dereckguilfoyle1040

21 күн бұрын

@seangallagher1927 Marshall's are key, when you play the Old course if you get behind they kick you off the course

@CJD666

20 күн бұрын

@@AlinNZ You think that's funny? Glad you don't play on any courses I play on.

ABSOLUTELY!!! Slow play is a disaster!

@Weshopwizard

21 күн бұрын

The real enemy.

Part of any initiation to the game of golf must include etiquette. Little things like using only 2 balls on the practice green. Parking your cart/pullcart behind the green or out of the way. Carding your score at the next tee, not at the hole just played. Allowing faster players ahead. Not lifting your pinky at tea. Those types of things.

@Diogenes-ty9yy

10 күн бұрын

Yes, the one golfing concept that has been neglected is etiquette. It's a gentleman's game and sometimes others will try your patience, but I learned long ago that getting angry on the course hurts nobody but me. The calmer I am, the better I play. My golf buddy and I usually play on Mondays and, as we're both over 70 years old now, we always let better players play through. I cannot enjoy the game if I'm angry.

I learned to play golf in Sun City Arizona and the two things they taught me was, don’t beat a guy with a tan and a 1 iron in his bag😂 The most important one was “you can play bad but don’t play slow “

A couple of years ago I was playing on a nine hole public course. Group in front of me had a newbie who would take five practice swings every shot. That all by itself wasn't the problem though. The problem was every time he hit the ball it went about 50 yds. He would take five practice swings, hit the ball 50 yards or less then repeat the process all over again for the entire hole. After about five holes of this insanity his friends finally told him to stop taking five practice swings. There was no fighting or cursing but was surely a test of everyone's patience.

I have a Funny story. Years ago I was playing golf with my poor late brother. We were at our favorite course that we grew up on. In front of us were five some of elderly gentlemen and they played slow which we didn't mind. The group behind us were in a hurry so they hit into us, and the ball bounced off the top of our cart. I jumped out of the cart and hit the ball back to them. Another came zooming to us and landed next to my brother. Now Alan, my brother, was a football linebacker in college so he was 6-3 and was a fit 275lb. I am proud of my little brother. So Alan just picked the ball up and yelled thank you then put the ball in his pocket. The five elderly men finished the green and so we continued our play. This is the funny part. Just as we were about to put, a hot head raced up to the green stopping his cart with squealing tires and demanded his ball back. Alan was 10 inches taller and outweighed this guy by 100 lbs. Alan calmly said this ball ,as he pulled out of his pocket, it's my ball now. I firmly told the guy we have a 5 some in front of us so go around or wait, but I will not be as polite as my brother if you hit into us again. We never saw them again. They went to the back 9

@georgesealy4706

22 күн бұрын

My friend is always packing. I never worry about idiots on the golf course.

@RobinHood-pf2bf

17 күн бұрын

​@georgesealy4706 Well, that is stupid ! If you are gun owner you would never show or use your gun for intimidation or in a disagreement at a golf course!

@georgesealy4706

17 күн бұрын

@@RobinHood-pf2bf It isn't stupid to defend yourself when somebody attacks you with a 9-iron. You made up the crap about intimidation. Right? I have seen immature, beer-guzzling idiots do all kinds of things on a golf course. And yes, that includes fights too. One time a guy beat another guy because they had a bet going and there was a disagreement about rules. All civility and morality have gone out the window. The world is a violent place.

@Rmn_ski

15 күн бұрын

Most gun owners are afraid of the boogey man that they hear about on their slanted news source. That’s why they say things like, ‘it’s a violent world’. Lol.

In Melbourne Australia you are expected to play in 4 hrs, anything slower is a joke.

I heard in Germany to get a licence to play 18 holes on a golf course you need to be a certain standard golfer and be able to complete 18 holes in no more than 112 shots this sounds a good idea

When I play with unknown players I always ask if they practice Ready golf and everybody says they do but in reality they don't! Most of the time they don't actually know what Ready golf is. Slow play is a huge problem in Sweden and most courses don't have a marshall or a starter. The slowest player on the course dictate the tempo.

The only practice swings I make is on the putting green. Its the watching Pros take 10 minutes to hit the shot, its alcohol, and blatant selfishness is the reason for slow play. A large part is the starters not managing the tee sheet, and letting people show up late

@vintageswiss9096

22 күн бұрын

Bah, don't blame the alcohol. I could never deal with some of these duffers sober... 😂

We have so many new golfers in the Vancouver area with more $$$$$$ than they know what to do with , their +50 Hcp is all good here . Play from the tip , don’t replace divots let alone ball marks . Golf is slow as hell in the Vancouver area .

I say it every time this happens. If you're keeping up with the group in front of you there isn't a beef. I played an excruciating round last week. I have a membership at a course that also has time shares. Father, son, daughter.....rental clubs for the kids. No hurry up in them at all. They were two groups ahead and a wide open two holes in front of them. A twosome right in front of us sharing a putter on every green and fishing balls out of the water. Also, leaving the cart 60 yards from the green, walking from shot to shot. I finally hit into their cart when they left it behind in the fairway to go putt. I have no qualms with any of these shenanigans provided you are respectful of the groups behind. If you're just out messing around then let people play through. We were playing as a twosome and never an invite at the next tee to play through or along even though they had yet to tee off. I think a lot of this falls on the golf courses to better regulate the pace of play. Rangers are either spineless or nonexistent in my area. When it's packed up, just be ready to play your shot, not skimming the lake for balls until they clear the green and then go get your yardages and select a club. I don't think it has as much to do with which tees they play as it is just plain being inconsiderate or uneducated in etiquette. Take plenty of golf balls and learn to let go of them when they're lost. Take a drop and move along. I can hit it 100 times almost as quickly as I can 75. To much youtube going on out there.

@cleveland2022

22 күн бұрын

And you nailed every point on why slow play is a problem. Great post

Slow play is the worst, and lots of reason for it. High handicappers on difficult courses, or overgrown rough, should know they are slowing the course down by looking for off the fairway shots. Then you have the so called "big" hitters that are 300 out on their 2nd shot, and wait for the green to clear. I see this more than the ball hunters, and it drives me crazy.

@raptors11111

13 күн бұрын

Lol i hate when its me in that "big hitter" situation. Wouldnt be 300 but if im like 230-240 or less in ill wait since its reachable. But of course i always hit a shit shot after standing there for 5 minutes waiting for the green to clear....but if i had been able to just walk up and hit i couldve made the green...its a catch 22

This is why it’s important for busy courses to have a full time marshal. Put em on the clock. Too slow and get them to sit out until it clears

I’ve played many rounds this year so far that have taken over 4.5 hrs. Totally frustrating. I’ve played golf for 30+ years and have never seen it this bad. What I’ve noticed are people not playing the tees suited for their skill level. No one polices this. What courses that have marshals that are powerless.

@cleveland2022

22 күн бұрын

3 weeks ago took 5 hrs and 20 mins

@toastyBOOM

22 күн бұрын

It’s not really the tees (unless the distance is drastic). I’ll suck and walk 18 (5800yd to 6400yd) in 3-3.5 hrs. It’s all the retards that literally go to a each persons ball, have to search for balls every shot, don’t move with a purpose, and/or just literally take all day for each and every shot

While I agree with setting up the course for the lower handicap players, lost balls and time are important. Unfortunately, due to the wet, but warmer Winter, rough has shot up and hasn't dried off, this is making a big difference to all handicaps, as better players can't play to the greens, in some cases, and higher handicaps are spending more time hunting for balls.

Slow play is bad and I think golf coaches have a large part in that. They tell everyone to have a routine and stick to it. I’ve seen ppl take 10 or 15 warm up swings on every shot, aim point putting taking forever, and zapping every flag even though their playing partner hit from 3 yards behind them. All their routine. Add in the golf courses blame for things like 6min between tee times. The marshal not forcing ppl to wait til there tee time. Forcing a 2 ball of 25+ handicappers to play with 2 more, and higher roughs the game is slowed down and backed up. I just don’t see a fix for this at this point.

I am a new player at 43, Ive only played on course twice so far. First was on new years eve, not many groups, my 2some would let anybody who caught up play through, as we're beginners. The next time was a shit show, super busy and every tee box had 5 carts in line waiting, started over an hour passed our time. I think its a mix of things, tee times were only 8 mins apart at this course, high handicaps with physical limitations like myself playing slower than some would like, forcing foursomes, too much alcohol can get things a little out of hand, etc. That being said, some of yall need to fucking chill, relax a bit and enjoy the time outdoors, or politely ask to play through. The guys i play with are all construction workers, cant say we would react well to purposely being hit in to.

I agree slow play is getting worse everywhere these days, at my own course 5 hour rounds only happen during competitions, with regard to hitting a ball into the group in front this can never be an acceptable practice. Many times you find the group in front are waiting on the group in front of them, however we can not ignore what appears to be a growing trend is the amounts of alcohol being consumed before and during a round of golf, this must have an impact on the overall behaviour of the group/players. My experience is in the main these players tend to be visitors to the club.

Golf courses need Marshalls to make sure play is moving along. The carts with the alert don’t do anything.

If you play slow let the group through ASAP

A few years ago a course in my area had tee times minutes apart. The starter, in order to keep his schedule,told us to tee off even though the group ahead was in our landing area. We laughed at him. The course was sold and the tee times are 10 minutes apart. A foursome can play in 3&1/2 hrs without rushing now.

Four ball takes four hours at our course and at 69 years of age plus walking. What on earth is wrong with these bozos.

@superluigi8539

16 күн бұрын

Maybe they are brand- new and you are at a public park golf course. No offense but I can tell the kind of guy you are just from the way you commented

two key points--------was there a "gap" between slow group and group in front of them? and point 2 , it is NEVER a solution to hit into group -----yell, gesticulate, moan whatever but NOT hitting into group

@greasby1golf871

22 күн бұрын

Who says they were slow?

The course I play at her in North West suburbs of Illinois had extremity slow play due to the high grass on every hole. This lasted until the owner was out playing and his round lasted over 6 hours. He witnessed people taking a ton of time always looking for balls. Needles to say, the grass all gone, they added a couple extra bunkers and play is much faster.

Our couse has a tee time every 12 minutes for groups of 4. So we have 12 minutes to hit our shots, walk to our balls, find them if off the Fairway, and hit again, then move. The issue is courses (public) are jamming too many people on the course. Think about it... the best players in the world get around 20 minutes between groups, play in 3's or pairs and have marshals, volunteers and spectators to find their ball if they miss the Fairway. I blame public courses for slow play.

And here I am telling all my students that golf is a gentleman's game..

The people who demand to play the same ball the pros play are also averaging double bogey every hole. Shit golf takes longer and everyone is shit at golf.

@cleveland2022

22 күн бұрын

It is not the ball, its the screwing around. The walking back to the cart, then going to the other ball, then back to the other one, fiddling around putting clubs back in the bag

@jeffee1933

22 күн бұрын

@@cleveland2022 the ball rollback was more of me alluding to a mindset. Although, poor time management is key, if you’re making birdies it will just plain take less time than shooting 96 will no matter how indecisive you are over a shot.

@cleveland2022

22 күн бұрын

​@@jeffee1933yep. Agree

@justinanderson9972

20 күн бұрын

I'm 51 been playing golf since I was 9 years old I was playing the same type of golf balls pros were playing when I was 9 but guess what The golf courses were shorter balls didn't go as far we actually walked golf courses they weren't pristine manager except they had very nice greens and had way more fun when I was younger nowadays golf courses are too long golf courses can't maintain long golf courses anymore that's why they're shutting down left and right in the United States to play golf this way too damn expensive I remember playing nine holes for $3.75 plus a $0.50 pool cart golf courses of priced themselves out of the market manufacturers have priced themselves out of the markets The game is in the downward spiral due to greed The only reason they've made bigger golf courses so they can put more houses around them again greed

@jeffee1933

20 күн бұрын

@@justinanderson9972 “Golden Age Thinking”

Everyone thinks they can hit a driver 300+ yards. I can't count haw many times I've seen them waiting on the tee box until the group in front of them is 350 yards out. Then they get up and pound it 200 yards, or right into the woods 50 yards away. Then they'll give each other 10 foot gimmes on the green to catch up to the group again. Then whine that they have to wait all the time.

Golf but louder 🤣🤣😂

I'm a ranger at a golf course in United States and I would be the 1 that wouldn't let that get started let alone happen

We (a four ball) used to get so frustrated by slow play (4 and a half hour rounds) that we started booking 7am (Summer) or 8am tee times (winter), and the result was we were always finished in 3 and a half hours. It always annoyed me that trolleys were left at the front of the green when people were putting, so they would have to walk back to the fairway to retrieve them, instead of exiting at the rear of the green. Or 4 people spending 5 minutes looking for one guys ball in the rough, and then not even ready to play their own shots, was infuriating. Just a little bit of thought, would speed up play for everyone.

At my club, they let the thick grass grow wild, knee high in many spots. And it's not hazard staked, so the penalty for a lost ball is severe. Hence, people spend an inordinate amount of time looking for lost balls, especially in a money game . Either cut it back so lost balls can be found, or hazard stake it. Ridiculous for a course that caters to amateurs. Additionally, some courses are just not set up for walking (i.e., distances between greens and next tees several hundred yards, lots of elevation changes, etc.). I have no problem with walkers, but when a course is not realistically designed for walking, those who choose to forego a cart can really slow things down. My club has restricted walkers to certain times for this reason...the walkers were typically playing 5 hour rounds. They were not happy at all, but it has helped.

@CJD666

20 күн бұрын

Looking for a lost ball is 3 mins is the maximum and all Golfers know that. The public courses do not regulate who plays there and this causes problems when there are golfers with a vague knowledge of the game.

Yup golf at my local is slow as shit as well. Looking at 5hrs on a weekend, and it was even a full 4 1/2 on a random monday afternoon last week. Its gone mad how slow rounds now take. I do somewhat agree with "shrink the game", i mainly want golf bros who are there to drink first and play golf 2nd to just find a different hobby, and maybe the noobs to just not play at peak times like a saturday morning. But the main thing golf needs is rule changes. I'd say a couple good rule changes that make sense and would speed up play are: 1. Gallery rule. A ball that cant be found quickly but stayed in play due to thick rough, leaf cover, plugged in the fairway, etc is a free drop from your best guess as to where it was. Cuts down on searching time and unnecessary penalties. We dont have spotters and dozens of fans like the pros do. 2. OB drive becomes 2 off the tee or drop it where it went out and youre hitting 3. The current rules (3 off the tee or hitting 4 from where it went out) are so god damn harsh for no good reason. If your 2nd shot from the fairway goes in the water hazard you don't have to drop one from the same spot hitting 4, you move up to the water/drop zone and hit 4 from there. This harsh penatly off the tee encourages people to take forever searching for their OB drive in hopes they can find it and maybe be able to punch out, but maybe if the penalty was just a stroke instead of stroke + distance people would be quicker to just let it go and quickly reload.

It doesn't matter why it happened. The group that started the fight needs to be banned from playing golf anywhere for the rest of their lives. It is unacceptable In any situation to start a brawl on a golf course

@vincenzod9431

16 күн бұрын

If you hit into a group numerous times and don’t yell fore , you started the fight. If I get hit after I warned a group behind ; you better believe they are getting hit too.

YES!! Slow play is absolutely killing the game. Courses MUST put out course rangers who MUST enforce pace of play vigorously!!!I

Much to unpack here. You touched on the main point-start times too close, people hunting golf balls-theirs and others, lack of civility, alcohol, etc. I can understand it happening once on an undulating course if the cart ahead is out of sight, but there should be an apology and caution from that point forward. People playing provisional balls and then hunting the lost balls for 5-10 minutes is killing pace of play. Play Ready Golf please!

I'm 51 and I've been playing golf since I was 9 years old I remember being able to play nine holes for $3.75 plus $0.50 to $0.75 for a pool cart and we never had these kinds of issues there was more golf courses too golf courses weren't trying to stroke the golf the players now in the United States golf courses are shutting down left and right they have literally priced themselves out of the market golf industry is pricing themselves out of the market I'm actually glad to see the industry is not doing so well greed greed greed

I'm new to the game,and my slow play is down to my skill level. However,I always let groups through if I'm being slow,because I read the clubs rules on etiquette!!

I rarely even have a practice swing when i'm on the tee, or on the fairway. I have a few swings in between the others teeing off. Watching idiots putt is the worst, thinking they're on the pro tour.... a course most have played out a million times.

@greasby1golf871

22 күн бұрын

Buy a pair of running shoes and cancel your golf membership

You can never hit into the group ahead even if they’re slow. I once got hit into 5 times, when we were waiting for a group ahead of us. Dangerous and also incredibly annoying! Cut the rough like you said so that it’s not so thick you lose a ball 5 yards off the fairway and play ready golf.

Actually Alex not sure but I know over the last 10 years many golf courses have shortened the interval between tee times and this is contributing to creating slow play. As an example my home course 10 years ago was 20 minutes it was then shortened to 15 and now stands at 12. I can agree with there thinking add few more tee times to keep the prices down. Another problem I see is golf etiquette has totally been thrown out the window, music blarring on the course, people totally interrupting you during your swing or putt. Courses are now hesitant to correct bad behavior for fear of losing customers. I still love the game and the problems that exist but at 72 years old just fortunate and lucky to still be playing.

It is etiquette (part of the game) to not play into the next flight or to not tee up the ball on a par three before they left the green in front. Legally is everyone responsible for his ball i.e. if he hurts someone or causes damage. Issues: long hitters with a good handicap they know their distance and sometimes you don’t want to wait for your tee shot when the flight behind you comes to the tee box and the flight in front of you is playing its 3 and 4th shot in front of the green while you know you can reach 40 yards short of the green. So people in front walk then back 20 yards to tee up your ball because the felt you could have reached the green ?? In my country, environmental regulations mandate that rough areas can only be cut after a certain date to promote biodiversity through natural seed distribution. I’m sure this wasn't a consideration when the game was first established. I was in correspondence with the R&A, because why would you get a penalty stroke for loosing a ball or playing it OB. Penalties are designed to penalize breach of rules or taking unallowed advantage = cheating. There is no rule to hit the fairway. If there is rough of 1.20 yard height next to the fairway ? there is no chance to find or play the ball from there. Even a single handicapper has 2 or 3 erroneous drives during a round and will search for his ball because of the penalty stroke. I remember having played a round and at every tee box except on the par 3s, we had to play 3 to 4 provisional balls because it was possible that the first one ended in the rough. The R&A has effectively introduced in their last change a suggestion for a local rule primarily for high handicappers to allow to drop a ball backwards in the line of the lost ball to the point where played last with a penalty. Guys if there was no penalty for a lost ball or OB, wouldn’t that speed up ??. BTW when I asked what was the origin of that rule, they didn’t know but it was introduced 1744 a time where witches were still burned. I think it is time to review why we do what, on the course. If the prov. Ball is in the fairway and the first ball in the rough. You lost already a stroke for a shot without progress. So without the penalty shot every normal player would progress with his provisional ball. Otherwise it was in the spirit of the game to penalise a erroneous shot, why would an air shot or a hacker not count for a penalty as well. The rules were never made to penalize an untalented player or a bad shot. And at last, many golfers watch golf on TV and these guys take time as well. I cannot remember having seen someone to make a put within 30 sec unless a tab in. Happy Golfing

It all comes down to simple courtesy. If you know you’re holding up people in the back either, let them go by or quit spending so much time looking for your ball. And don’t wait for every member to hit their ball individually if one person is on one side of the fairway and other person on the other side of the fairway you both hit at the same time.

Last Summer I took heat stroke because of slow players ahead.20 mins of green activity at every hole! I waited aim point , get behind a plumb read. I rang the Pro shop at the green was near the shop, were unable to push on play. I walked off the at hole 14 ( 4 1/2 hrs )! unable see correctly with heat stroke! 33c heat, so all water was gone 4 LItres each! with my 3 ball group. I now go the first 7am slots in a comp. Or just take the kids out in the evening. 20 min / 30mins per hole should a disqualify 😡😡12-15 is plenty for a 4 ball.

Been back up north for 2 months and haven't completed a round in less than 4+ hours yet!!

Didn’t realize golf had evolved into a contact sport.

We have a long championship course with some good walks between tees. We suffered from slow play but have got on top of it by policing it and playing 3 balls instead of 4. Now 1.55 to 2hours for p and 4.10 for 18 holes

I’ve grown up playing golf I hit a standard but never got any better but wouldn’t class me and my friends as slow but the one rule I’ve always been told is your place on the course is with the group in front not the group behind . As for hitting into the group in front you should be barred from the course if you do this imagine seriously injurying a person all because you have no patience and don’t know what’s going on up ahead of you

Courses are set up for vanity, my clubs ethos is to turn the course out like a championship course every day rather than the members club it is , then bitch about slow play.

Alex. If you were the King of Golf.....how long should it take for a group of 4 to play 18 holes? Assume each of the people are taking it seriously and trying to score well.

Just played a decent course but the rough was so thick I could see where the ball landed but couldn't find it multiple times, it was very frustrating!! I hate slow play but this was definitely an issue. Times that by 3 or 4 players and your going to back things up if your not always in the fairway. This course did not need the roughs this thick!!

The problem is that people are simply trying to act like pro golfers when theyre not instead of just playing..its very aggravating..about a month ago I was golfing with my family and this foursome of late teen early 20ish kids were screwing around and after a while whilst they were on the one of the greens I yelled at them from the tee to get moving and stop messing around..naturually they sped up..maybe i should've drove up to them instead of shouting from a distance but its stuff like this shouldnt be happening on the course..some just lack course etiquette and consideration for others

@shanewilliams1216

21 күн бұрын

Welcome to the ME ONLY thought process !!! No care for anyone else on the course , they paid their money they can take as long as they want !!! It was the SAME WAY when Tiger brought all the asshats into the game way back when , they were a pretty messed up bunch too , and now are at the age to see how they all acted on the course when they started and are NOW complaining about SLOW play......LOL

What's your go-to club for a fight-to-the-death golf course brawl?

It wasn't slow play. There was another post indicating that the police was brought in. They explained that the group behind them kept hitting balls to where they were several times over several holes despite being told not to do that. Finally, they had enough and this scene ensued.

Yes, my local club is a nightmare on weekends. 5 hours is the norm. We constantly have to get the course marshal to speed people up. Rules of etiquette are if your group is slow you ASK the group behind if they want to play through. If you know you group sucks, then you play best ball. If someone smashes a tee shot no one in your group can reach, then WHY are the three of you wasting time hitting a tee shot? Just hop in the cart and go! If you are a 30 handicap maybe stick to par 3 courses or spend money on a lesson instead of greens fees? Corporate tournaments should have limits on alcohol. About a month ago a tournament full of blackout drunk 20 somethings got into a brawl with of all things the guests of a baby shower being held in the clubhouse. 10 police cars were dispatched, charges were laid, and when golf bags were searched several 40 ounce bottles were found. We watched these guys fall out of power carts, pass out on tee boxes, and almost be incapable of walking they were so drunk. Worthy of note is we saw no marshal or drink cart the whole back nine. Golf used to be fun, but now is starting to become a chore.

Everygroup shoud recieve a fob from the club at the start of the round. Every tee box should have a sensor that reads the fob and registers the time you took to get there. Then clubs can punish slow play.

Course set up is a big issue - my course is set up for better players with ridiculously long grass and punishing rough that results in exactly what you mentioned - nearly always one member of the group is looking for a ball. Not only slows the game, there is a financial cost in losing more balls - particularly annoying when the growth is oftentimes around trees which is punishment enough. Saps all the enjoyment from the game. This is incredibly frustrating given the majority of members are higher handicaps and of an older age profile. Tee times should also be spaced further - 10 mins not 8 mins as used on some courses - in an effort to avoid pinch points; even longer if playing in groups of 4.

It isn't only on the players, the courses could do some things to speed up play. First, shorten the course. Move the back tees up. Keep the back tees for special events, don't even mow them. Second, implement a double-par score maximum, or better yet, a double-bogey maximum for everyday play. It makes no sense for people to be putting for a 10, 11, or even a 15 (as I have seen). A double-bogey round is 36 over par. Isn't that bad enough? It gets me tired even thinking about it. Third, remove penal bunkers and many bunkers in general. Lots of courses want to be more than they are. They put in crazy bunkering and have highly sloped, fast greens. It raises maintenance costs and slows down play. Sure, if you want to play an upscale course and pay a lot of money, that's fine. But most people just want to go around the golf course, get exercise, have fun, and make it a snappy time. It shouldn't be a torture chamber.

@04stiger

22 күн бұрын

some good points there

I’ve been playing golf for 50 plus years here’s my take. Covid RUNIED not only golf but the world. Covid brought too many novices to the game. They Know NOTHING about Etiquette NOTHING about slow play, hitting into other players, impatience, not fixing ball marks, disrespecting the game, getting drunk and on and on. At some point we will need to pass an etiquette test to have the ability to be aloud to play. Sometimes it’s absolutely brutal out there. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 wasn’t like this back in the day.

@shanewilliams1216

21 күн бұрын

Tiger brought a shit load of ASSHATS to the game also , I remember it well as I worked at my buddies 9 hole course in that time period , it was bad , but these COVID players are the worst yet !!! But whats funny is, its the TIGER asshat crowd that are now complaining about SLOW PLAY , ( Along with us old timers that have been playing for the past 49 years !! ) I am 63 and started playing at 13 .

My experiences are that groups in front are ignorant of Golf etiquette. Starters/Shop Pros should be informing them of their courses rules/guidelines prior to play. Also have course marshalls/gatekeepers on buggies to monitor play, i.e. Enforce slower players to step aside......

Taking 2 minutes to "read the line" on a putt and walk to one side of the green, then all the way back behind the ball, kneel down, get the line, stand over the ball another 30 seconds, take the putter back, nice follow through and 15 feet past the hole, rinse and repeat. I've seen this all too many times and this is one of the real problems, it's people taking all the time to "assess" the shot only to chunk or thin their ball 20 yards ahead only to go through the entire process over again. I don't mind somebody doing all those things if it actually works but when they do it and miss so badly they're just being jackasses and that's when I'll yell out at them to hurry up.

Play has definitely slowed over the last couple years however there is still a thing called respect and that also has been disappearing

Courses set 8 minute tee times. By 10am the entire course is backed up. They try to send too many people out each hour and odds are the group in front of you is waiting on the group in front of them. Don't hit into anyone...it is super dangerous.

Very rarely one thing that starts a fight like that. Probably a combination of slow play but then add in 1 or 2 a**holes into the mix, plus probably some alcohol, and you have a fight.

Nobody wants to wait in between every shot. No round should be over 4 hours. I play in Las Vegas and we often play in the afternoon as fewer people are on the course. If we run into a group in front of us that is slow, we will skip the hole to get our round moving again. No ready golf, no one lets u play through , n 10 minutes on the green is ridulous

I started playing at different times to get a decent round of golf without losing an entire day but it can mean that you play more on your own (i.e. early doors or in the evening).

Crowded golf courses are nothing new. All that is required is to keep pace with the group in front. All it takes is one slow play group to cause a problem which won’t be salvageable. Hitting into slow players in front isn’t the answer. Catch them on the tee ask them to keep up or ask to play thru or just skip a hole and go in front of them.

My home course takes a tee time every ten min but don't monitor it so for example the 320 time is a little late and I'm 330 on time and the 340 is a bit early it's happened where all three groups are at tee box at same time it gets me frustrated I always show up early and wait. For my exact time if everyone did that It would be much better it's very annoying to feel like your holding up a group because they are all there at same time

8 minute tee times. No marshal checking on pace of play. I played a course the other day, the front took so long nearly 3 hours they wanted groups to wait so the league could go off. The poor starter had too navigate that mess even though its not his fault and the pro or manager should have to deal with that shit show.

If a course has 10 minute tee intervals, long par 3's, a drivable par 4, and a few blind shots it will by design get backed up. What happens too often is a slow group in front of us and then a fast group behind.

@darklordojeda

22 күн бұрын

The muni courses near me are at 5 minutes. It's ridiculous.

@Chris54321

22 күн бұрын

@@darklordojeda Holy cow. 5 minutes is insane.

slow play is destroying the game- totally agree. BUT- most courses can do something to alleviate it- cut the grass, there should be no rough so long that you can't se the ball from 10 yards away or so- clear up under the bushes and trees. I don't care if it makes the course easier- we should get round in 3 1/2 to 4 hours for a 4 ball playing matchplay or stableford, maybe a tad longer for a medal.

The issue where I play is, the course allowing 6 soles and 5 soles play and these people are betting money, so they really take too much time. They are usually club members and think they can play anyway they want. It really hurts the game for others.

I try to tee off before 6.30 a.m. 🌄

where are the course marshals to help coordinate the pace of play?

Many times the course is just busy and we can only play as fast as the people in front. When people hit into me more than once, they will not find there ball, or I will send it back to them, to make my own point. There are a lot of A$$ holes out there.

i absolutely hate slow play. it destroys my game and always ends in complete frustration. im a 9.7 and the way i get around slow play is i always have to be first on the tee sheet. that way i can finish in around 3-3.5hrs. if that turns into 5 hrs i get no feel and can count on 20+ extra strokes

Why not have course marshal's policing this. That way people who do not understand slow play etiquette (letting quicker groups through) can be educated and it will help make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

It’s those who spend multiple times looking for a ball, which is fine if you do want to take the time to look however let the group behind you through if they’re waiting while you continue to look for the ball.

Long round at my course is 4:20 I’ve seen some players though who are terrible they laser every pin could be 320yards and they’re in trees lol We all get ready for our shot and go I’ve played in a two ball at our club in 3hrs All that said I’ve had people tee potting behind us and they can’t play and bases all loaded infront of us, what they think we can do lol

Here’s the problem you have so many people on the courses in America on the weekends that it’s going to be a 5 and a half hour round and you’re going to be waiting on every shot and slow play is a huge problem but when it back to back all the way around the course and people get pissed and want to hit up on you like it’s your fault they need to be kicked off the course but I’ve literally been waiting on every shot and have the people behind me bitch to the ranger and him come and tell me I need to speed it up and have to lay into him because he can see there is no where to go it’s ridiculous

I won’t even play with friends because I like to blow and go. I usually play 18 in about 90 minutes. I have a wife with a 3 year old and a 2 year old. I can’t stand around at the course for 4-5 hours. My course is nice. Everyone lets me play through because they know I’ll be out of the way in seconds. I’ll even run to the green and putt really fast. I love golf but it has to be at a certain pace. I don’t enjoy watching my friends take 6 practice shots or read a green for 90 seconds.

There's so many new golfers out there facing United States I don't know how it is around the world but slow place a problem and there are golf course we tried to keep our eyes on it to make sure it does people don't hit into other people

I think it's do to so many people being interested in golf right now but not knowing the rules and etiquette. Or it's just those type that do not care what anyone thinks. They believe rules and etiquette don't apply to them and we all know people like that. Either way, take it to the parking lot. If you're still mad by the time you get there at least you aren't holding up the people behind you 😂

Call the clubhouse!!

Much of the blame needs to be put on the Golf Club’s tee time setup if that public track has 7-8 min gap b/t tee times = ClusterFuck creates 5+ hour rounds which is unacceptable unless it’s a tournament!

It is called motivation also a lot of newer golfers need to be at the range and not on the course

Why do they leave the rough so long it’s difficult to see your ball, and on top of that they put the flags in the most difficult places on the greens as if they’re hosting the US Open. Management of courses nowadays are in the crapper as more hillbillies are allowed to play either shirtless, collarless, or sleeveless.

Golf courses jam every group possible onto the course. My opinion is, greed and piss poor management is the biggest issue.

I think the biggest problem in golf is slow play. We get it all the time at our course with fivesomes. I think as long as you tee off when you are supposed to and keep up with the group in front, there is never a problem. A Marshall to monitor pace is essential, otherwise those slow players don’t care and it ruins the day for everyone. Golf is played for fun, can’t understand someone reading a putt from three angles for a 9!

Golf courses are just being greedy with the golf boom that happened and making tee times too close. Every place I play on the weekends it's literally just backed up and almost 3 groups playing a hole every time.

Some people should just go bowling

People today have gone crazy ... many walk right up behind the group in front EVEN if they themselves have nobody behind them ... speed isn't THE problem .... respecting the GAP between groups counts for a lot of this ... TAKE IT EASY but keep moving instead of half running to push in front of you while nobody catching u up ... come play golf ... CHILL OUT .... golf isn't a running sport at all ... realize it before u start playing it ... ur there to actually enjoy the moment and take a breather from the world in it's entirety....

Just keep up to the group ahead and the Marshalls will know where the problems exist.

I also can tell you I'm 51 then playing golf since I was 9 years old and have never never taken the amount of time to hit a shop like a produce it's pretty much walk up to the ball pick a club and hit it cuz I'm not making a living at it