I have been noticing very slow play at my home courses. I am a member at two courses and the play there is so slow. I can hardly get a round in under 5 hours. If I go after work for some twilight golf i cant play more than 9 because of slow groups. Anyone else have any experience with very slow play lately.

Amen my fellow wrxer! Today, i went out at 5 to my local muni to walk 18 holes. I went to the range real quick before to warm up, and then was at the putting green waiting for a time to get on. I got on behind 2 guys in a cart, so i thought i would be good. I was very, very wrong. These guys were some of the slowest golfers i've ever seen. I had to wait a good 10 minutes before teeing off on each hole for them to get out of my range, and then they were hacking around not even on the green by the time i got to my ball. These guys were taking a good 12 practice swings before each shot, backing off, playing mulligans and each others shots. They would also hit multiple balls off the tee(kinda funny to see that many balls go in the water.) Anyway, it was hard to get a rhythem going, but i still had some holes that i played real strong on, so i thought that they'd finally wave me through. Nope, i'd get to the tee box, they'd just drive off 80 yards far right to one of their tee shots. It took me almost 3 hours for the front 9, however at the turn they went into the clubhouse, so i got off of 10 really fast, and then walked the back 9 in an hour. I could have played 18 much faster, and at my own pace if these two "gentlemen" just let me play through... come on guys. I do not care if you are a guy who shoots in the 70's, or 130's. As long as you can keep moving!!!

End of rant. Still shot a 82 though(10 over), 41 out and 41 in.

I write it off as summer vacation.

Luckily I am able to play weekday mornings.

I had the same thing happen to me today. Two younger gentlemen infront of me with carts and I was walking. When I got out today they were a hole and a half in front of me and i caught them by #4. I just ended up giving up and walked off after 9 because I was so frustrated.

That's why I am becoming a teacher weekday summer golf all summer long.

Too many rangefinders and not enough lessons in course management.

Most people feel like they need 3 or 4 practice swings before every shot, after their playing partners have all hit. People just need to get ready while everyone else is hitting.

Also, golf carts and cart path only slow down play.

I could talk about this all day long...it drives me nuts

No doubt. Saturday, hit a drive right near the 18th tee box (I'm on 16). I find my ball as a group got to the tee. I was waiting for the group in front of me to finish and I stood there watching as 2 guys got out of the their carts and just stood there. The guy that was up took a good minute to get his crap together and plug a ball into the ground, then another 30 seconds to hit. It took them 5 minutes to tee off. Ridiculous.

Yesterday morning was a nightmare. 3 of us were out there nearly 5 hours as two three-somes in front of us kept joining up and playing as a sixsome. I called the clubhouse on the 3rd hole, ranger came out, they split up... for a while. They kept teeing off together, then one group would go in front of the other. It was ridiculous. I mentally checked out after the 10th hole. The ranger was useless.

What the hell is going on? I thought the economy was bad. Can someone explain to me why people are even playing golf and spending money on it. (skycaddies and sureshots) Seriously, why do these golf courses say they are hurting and play is down from years past. Why can't I f****** loop a course twice then. GOD DAMN IT. Then on top of that, you get a-holes that can't get off the tee in less than 5 minutes.

I HAVE FRIGGIN HAD IT WITH SLOW PLAY.

Sick of watching golf cart derby all over the fairways, sick of guys standing around yapping on the tee of a wide open hole, sick of not-ready golf.

I want to lunge at these people.

Slow play in carts is inexcusable. When I go with a buddy of mine during the weekday, we can have no problem walking 18 in 2.5 hours. Went out today, took us 5 hours. Stuck behind 2 carts with the spray and pray game plan. I lost count of how many times they looked back at us from the fairway, and then again at the green. I have to admit, I may or may not have intentionally pulled driver a little early and ran one close to them., yelling "fore" at the top of my lungs. Yelling seems to vent a lot of frustration for me.

I blame the golf channel and the swing gurus who preach all the pre-shot routine stuff. I mean, it's good to have a routine, but some people stand there picking their targets, take 4-5 practice swings, jigger with their alignment, pull off and go through it again. Have a routine, but keep it short, do what you can while your partners are doing whatever, and get on with it. People are trying to be pros or something -- just hit the ball already.

People who thrash around the brush looking for balls, or go fishing in water hazards are kind of annoying too. If I can't find a ball in about 30 seconds I'm done looking.

Me and a buddy played with carts this weekend, we were behind a 4 some. When we were at the tees they were waiting oin a group ahead of them. On the first nine I think one of the guys game fell apart because they slowed way down, we asked to skip ahead of them and it was not a problem. No pressure on them, we played our 18 in 3 1/2. I don't understand what the deal is. If it is slow, ask to play through, if the course is always slow, find another course. Money talks in a slow economy.

I PLAYED A 6 HOUR ROUND YESTERDAY.

I don't know what to do anymore.

It seems like the average round of golf is about 5 hours on an executive course nearby and 5 1/2- 6 on one of the bigger ones. It's just not fun at all when it's that slow.