That's right folks another 'slow play' rant. I've been saddled by slow players for the last two weeks and it's mainly because people are not playing ready golf. They stand around zoning out until it's their turn to hit. Once it's their turn, THEN they start thinking about the shot.

Then there's the knuckleheads in carts, apparently so fond of each other that they can't bear to separate, they have to stay together in the cart at all times. Usually goes something like:

1. Drive the cart up to the first ball, zone out until it's your turn to hit
2, When it's your turn to hit, THEN start looking around for a yardage marker and rummage around your bag for a club
3. stand behind the ball and stare down your target like a tour pro for a good 5-count
4. take a stance, freeze for another 5-count, then 2-3 full simulated practice swings
5. now then, address the ball for reals, freeze again for another 5-count
6. chop at the ball and mis-hit it anywhere from 75-125 yards.
7. NOW hop back in the cart and drive over to player 2's ball and repeat the whole idiotic process.

Lack of awareness of and disregard for ready-golf is IMO the principle cause of slow play. If people want to grind over their four-foot putts I don't really care - at least they are trying to play golf and do well. It's the obliviousness that bugs the hell out of me. Golf is wonderful, but that doesn't mean I want to spend 5-6 hours playing a round, when 4, in theory, will do just fine. Maybe these people are REALLY in no hurry to get home.

It just seems like a lot of people these days get into the game of golf without a proper introduction, without learning the basic etiquette and customs of the game. Hell, so many people don't even bother to learn the rules never mind the etiquette. What's the point of even complaining? How could I possibly expect an average person to exercise some basic awareness and consideration for others???? It's hopeless. People are hopeless. They are too far up their own butt to even begin to think of such concepts.

I wish I could just not care what people think of me, and just be a huge a-hole, and tell people on the golf course exactly what I think of them and what they're doing wrong, and how they could speed up their play. But I'm too nice, too reserved, and I tend to avoid conflict. I'm afraid of people, even complete strangers, perceiving me as anything less than genial and civilized.

Maybe it's time to re-think that. Because if everyone's passive, all hell breaks loose eventually. If people, if GOLFERS don't act to uphold traditions, then nobody will and they will eventually die.

I hate to see golf turn into such a casual 'activity'. At times it seems like it's going the way of bowling, something people just decide to do on a whim. Maybe golf courses should just rent golf shoes and balls too, I mean that's how casual and unschooled these people are that I see on the course all the time. At this rate, people will soon be treating golf with all the seriousness they do miniature golf, or bumper cars.

You wouldn't go hunting or fishing or even downhill skiing without a proper initiation, because they're a little too difficult to just stumble your way into. Golf is the same way, you can't just go out there a blind newbie and experience the game proper...but for some reason, ignorance of rules and conventions, and lack of proper ability are way too tolerated in golf.

I'm just tired of coming home from the golf course, worn out and irritated from standing around, waiting on people all day. There is a better way. Or is there?

"Men are disturbed not by things that happen but by their opinions of the things that happen."
-- Epictetus

So I'll ask a question and I am being serious.

Where is a new player supposed to learn the ettiquette of the game? I picked up the game 6 years ago and am a hacker. I read the decisions book a few years ago to get a feel for the rules. So I have a general understanding of those.

Ettiquette though is a different animal. Where can I find that in one place to learn? I've picked up some here and there but that's it. Hell, I don't even know if I fix pitch marks right.

The good thing is you'll never complain about my speed of play. I almost never take practice swings and generally play quickly. I remember letting two and threesomes play through when I was playing solo because I didn't want to hold them up as I duffed my way down the course.

Speed of play is more a question of awareness of your surroundings and what's going on. Some people just don't realize they are holding up the group behind them. Others are aware but don't care.

Also speed of play ultimately lies with the course IMHO. They can either spread out tee times to reduce log jams or police rounds. Of course this can lead to the #@$% ranger keeps bugging me posts as well.

How regional/time of day is the slowplay problem? For example I've been playing a 6:40 am tee time on Wednesday. Being the 2nd or 3rd group off, there is no delay. I'm in Maine and we probably don't have the same course crowding issues as other regions. If I play on a Weekend though, I expect to wait at times. The course is gonna be busier.

here are a couple places to start
http://www.usga.org/playing/etiquette/etiquette.html

http://golf.about.com/cs/beginnersguide/a/golfetiquette.htm

http://www.pga.com/play/etiquette/

In response to the OP I know that feeling and it is very frustrating to see someone sitting in a cart waiting for thier patner to hit then driving 10 yards to their ball to replay the whole proccess over again, when they could have all that prep time while their partner was hitting.

I agree nobody wants to call anyone on anything anymore.

I love the snow skiing analogy,Golf and snow sports are similar business markets.

When you buy your lift ticket the "skiers responsibility code" is printed on the back. In case you miss that there are signs in the bathrooms, the cafeteria and on lift towers stating the rules. And if you miss that and disobey the rules then ski patrol will take your ticket and, prior to kicking your clueless arse to the curb, lectures you on the code. Of course If you brake the OB rules they just call the sheriff and you end up in jail with a ten thousand dollar fine.

If you choose to take a lesson they spend half the first lesson getting you to understand the skier code, or as we call it in golf etiquette.

On a crowded day try letting empty chairs pass you by when its your turn to load, Everyone will let you know your screwing up real quick.

In golf we just complain online when the same thing happens.

Where do most people get the idea to play golf? ......... from TV.

If those announcers would explain WHAT is happening and WHY as it happens in the tournament then people would at least have an idea of what to do (and not do) on the course.

Happens all the time in US football commentating.








Otherwise the people sound just like those fast lane hogs who don't move over and more importantly STAY over until THEY need to pass someone.

Hope that's not you in that particular case

A good quote for sure meaning perception is reallity(as I see it )but I can still understand the OP frustration.
Anything over 4-41/2 hours for a round is too much.
A tour pro needs to assess every possible outcome of his shots before he hits as the ball is likely to go where he hits it.
The guys Tenementrock is talking about rarely hit the target and would probably play better if they spent less time fannying about and just hit the damn ball.
Trouble is if you start railroading people you gain a reputation.
The only solution is to try to find a course with less of this type of player on it.

Thank you so much for adding those links. I will go read them so I can escape from the 'unwashed masses'

I have a question abotu the cart etiquette. When you play your shot, do you put your club back in the bag before you get in the cart, or do you just carry it with you, and put it back when you get to the next shot. I always figure that someone behind me is waiting to play a shot, so why take any more time to get out of their way, just bring it to the next shot. You'll have all the time in the world there. I would just get to the cart and sit and wait for my partner to put his clubs back. He was right in the sense that we weren't going anywhere(had to wait on groups ahead), but it just seemed like we could help the other guys out a little...am I wrong on that?

But to get back to the OPs point, however about following a group in the cart where the person goes through the whole routine(inlcuding pulling club and putting it back) only to hit the ball 20 yards! It will be a while before you need a different club, and you don't need to do much analysis if you're going to hit it 20 yards.

Thank you for actually taking the time to learn about etiquette.

To the ^^^^ post The 10 seconds it takes to wipe off your club and put it back in the bag is not a big deal, but please do not spend 5 minutes giving it a bubble bath while others are waiting

IMO, ready-golf goes against the ettiquite of the game. The person who is farthest away hits first.
Perhaps instead of preaching the virues of ready-golf, you should be preaching to people to let faster players through.

I think the OP was just referencing golfers who sit there and watch all their playing partners hit their shots instead of going to their ball getting yardage, deciding on club, shot to hit etc(if its not in the line of another golfer of course) So in reality you have to wait for four golfers to go through club selection pre shot routine, hitting the shot, cleaning the club, getting back in the cart driving to partners ball and wash rinse repeat.
Me personally if I am away I will tell my cart partner to drop me off with my club and go to his shot and I will catch up to him after I hit my shot so he can go prep for his shot. Tenement tell me if I am way offbase here

Maybe i am one of the lucky golfers who play in a weekday group who ALWAYS plays ready golf and we play usually with 4 and get done in no more than 3 and 1/2 hours and usually get done in more like 3 hours and 15 minutes walking .... it's not that hard when you have playing partners who love to play FAST and have a idea how to still have fun playing while doing it !!!

It doesn't go against etiquette. Away plays first isn't always practical. Sometimes you're away and for whatever reason not ready to hit...do you really want the rest of the group to wait on you just because you're a few yards farther from the pin?? Away plays first is just sort of a general guideline to avoid a lot of hemming and hawwing and pointlessly polite "You first" "No, by all means go ahead please" "No after you, I insist!" back and forths. IMO Ready golf is just a smart, evolved way to get thru a round without wasting time, that's all.

OP,
i feel your pain. I only have less than 30 rounds that i have played and i have been fortunate to have never encountered slow play until yesterday. By the time i finished the front nine, 3 1/2 hours had passed. Yes, 3 1/2 hours, of course no rangers were out that day but still. ....after the 11th i just picked up my bag and left because it was getting rediculous.

I have a ready golf question..well two actually:


1. Ready golf in my mind means being at your ball with club in hand and ready to swing the club as soon as it is your turn. So If I am 30 yards past my partner but in his line if sight to the pin. How do I play ready golf?

2. I am just getting back into golf at the age of 47 after taking about 10 years off to finish raising teenage girls...and I am taking it back up to walk the course and get some much needed exercise. Its always a slower round on foot ....what are most of you thinking about those of us who want to walk?

I have to both disagree & agree with you.

First, the disagreement. "Ready golf" is proper etiquette:



Second, the agreement. "Playing through" is proper etiquette:



Both quotes are from the USGA Rules of Golf section on Etiquette:
http://www.usga.org/playing/etiquette/etiquette.html

I do wish more golfers would both keep good pace & let faster groups through.

Probably want to stay low to the ground, crouch and duck behind your bag if you can, and hope to God your partner doesn't skull it.

Yeah, I do this a lot. Sometimes, like if it's raining, I may just keep 4 or 5 clubs with me in the cart (if there's room).

Twist

I hear people quote Pace Times all the time... but how is that a practical thing to talk about. I mean, what course are you playing? What's the yardage, slope, rating? Some course only allow carts on paths, some courses have lots of OB (which in turns means lots of provisionals for hackers), etc...

Anyway, saying how long a round takes you can only be so relavent to others who aren't playing your course.

That's my two cents on that.

Twist

As to the question at hand...

I always play ready golf, even to the point of not waiting for people behind me to hit. Some people just take too long and I feel better when I'm not the one holding everyone up. Sure, there are times I go ahead and someone may have to yell to me to "watch out." But I'm cool with that, I don't mind being ready to duck or dive.

I play with someone who just doesn't get the concept of ready golf (they cheat a lot too)... I was even told by another friend that this person complained about my etiquette when I hit out-of-turn. But this is the same guy who will walk 40 yards away from the cart without a club or an extra ball when he hits toward an OB line. Not to mention, he never scores that correctly!!!

Twist

You should know the yardage where your partner is hitting from and pull the 2-3 clubs that'll fit your shot 30 yds up the road. Walk as far as you can up the fairway on your partner's blind side without entering his field of vision -- if you can't see either of his eyes when he's looking at the green, you're fine. Right after your partner hits, you can walk briskly to your ball and start your preshot.

Your partner can move up the cart during your preshot and wait for you to hit and you can hop back on and ride to your next shot, but FWIW, when I'm riding (against my will) and I'm hitting an approach shot to a par 4 in this situation, I'll pull the 2-3 clubs I might use to hit my approach, the 58-degree wedge that I use for just about any possible shot inside of 40 yards), my putter, and my small towel. I tell my partner, "see you up there."



I completely disagree that it's always a slower round on foot. There is nothing that can bring a golf course's schedule to its knees quite like four horrible golfers playing in two carts, crossing from left rough to right fairway, circling around and around, leaving each cart on the wrong side of the green to the next hole, etc. Walking and ready golf were made for each other -- it can be done with carts, but it seems to put a greater strain on people's common sense that way. I frequently play as a single walking with either a twosome in one cart or a twosome + a single in a cart, and I am never, ever playing catch-up. Pretty much the opposite, actually.

I understand where you're coming from on that, but I still think that the person who is farthest away from the hole should hit first.
Even if you hit when you are ready, the group is still only going to be able to play as fast as the slowest player.

Oh I disagree... If I'm the closest to the hole and wait for 3 others to hit who are slow to begin with... that IS going to take more time, because I could be hitting while they are working on their setup rituals.

Also, worst case is when you are sandwiched between a couple of slow players.

Plus, by showing them that it's okay to play a little bit more speedy, you will hopefully be showing them the way for future rounds.

Actually the worst case is when you are the furthest back and you are supposed to hit first, but you stop at the cart girl to pick up a drink...and when you get to your ball, the other 2 or 3 haven't hit yet...BECAUSE I'M UP!!! What the hell. It's not like putting, your not going to get my line!!! And if you're afriad of me hitting you, still hit and the move back. I do that all the time.

I played a match in my club championship today, and one of the players was s-l-o-w. He would NEVER pull a club until it was his turn to hit, even if he was standing there for 3 minutes waiting. Then he'd take 2 practice swing and finally go.

Wow!! Glad I am not the only one who has been bugged by this. My two best scores ever were played in a 4some in 3 hours and 45 minutes in a Tournament format. Not just on weekend hack about for 50 cent skins. Too many beginning golfers and even wanna be low handicappers are too taken in by pre shot routines. I have seen guys take 2 minutes to pull the trigger then hack it 50 yards, then do it all over again.
I know it is totally wrong, but if I can see there is a hole open ahead of the group in front of me I will politely ask once to play through most of the time this works. If it doesn't, they get a ball across the bow and Oh I didn't think I would hit it that good. That usually gets a group moving. I've had balls hit into my grooup before because I had slow players in my group and I know it gets me moving

Ready golf to me is ruining the game I truly hate it.

I play with several guys that play so fast its ridiculous, they rush there butts off so they can get in the bar and sit and drink for two hours.

I do not advocate slow golf , but for goodness sake smell the roses. Spending time with friends on , outside enjoying a leisurly game of golf is what it is all about.

What in the world is your hurry. I would rather be on a golf course than any place else

If you like it so much why don't you live there??? But seriously Ken, what I think you are missing is that people like me love it every bit as much as you do. You have limits too, you would hate to play a six hour round. I feel that 3-4 hours is plenty long time to spend out in the hot sun playing golf. Over 5 hours is just pointlessly long. It drains you, it sucks up your whole day. You can smell a lot of roses in 3.5 hours. You can have the same experience in less time.

Ready golf doesn't mean rushed golf, it's means every player in the group gets their s*** ready at the same time whenever possible, so it overlaps and you save a lot of that in between time. It's more fun and it's easier to play good golf when you play at a nice crisp pace.

+1

I may have mentioned this in another thread (or earlier in this one) but what's the deal with throwing out a specific time a round should be played under?

I mean, aren't all courses different? Can you really play a 7000 yard course in the same time as a 6600? What about the rating and slope, shouldn't those impact the time as well?

Maybe I understand this differently and this could be a little off topic... but I play with a friend who is new to the game like me... with both shoot 100 - 130 depending on the course (he's a little more consistant, as he doesn't try any fades or draws around trees like me!!!)...but anyway, my point is; when we play a round, and he scores a 112, he's all pissed about it. (he cheats too, so it's probably more like a 117), but I try to tell him that the course rating and slope are higher on this course, so your not going to score the same as an easier course.

He doesn't seem to get that...but that is the way it works right? And isn't it the same thing for how long a round should take you? I just don't see how a round of golf at a course that's 6500 yards with a course rating of 72 and a slope of 115 can take the same time as a course that's 7000 yards with a rating of 74 and slope of 130 (fyi, just pulling numbers out my arse)???

First if I could live at the golf course and play 45 holes a day I would . But A I have to work and B I do not have the stamina anymore.

This mornings round for me was about 3 hours and 35 minutes which was not bad I was only playing with one of the speedsters.

He is always in a hurry, I saw he was getting ready to hit a pitch on one hole and stopped walking to my ball. Our other playing partner walked up to mark his ball. Thinking the guy would not hit with him there I went on to my ball The minute the guy picked his ball up the guy hit his shot badly and looked pissed he had to wait a second. I notice that more and more you hardly have time to mark your ball and people are hitting. Or they do not want to mark theres to speed things up. Then I always ask them to go ahead and mark it.

If I want to take and extra moment looking at a putt and nobody is waiting why should I not. But some guys roll there eyes at that.

As far as playing better playing fast LOL so what do you do when its a tournament and everyone slows down. Well if you are like my speedy friends you play like crap and blame it on the pace.

I love it when people playing in tournaments complain about slow play , Like they ever played in a tournament where the pace was brisk.

Do I have my limits I have no idea if so I have not reached them. You see when I am on a golf course I am exactly where I want to be.

Stupid slow play I do not support , you know the guy that walks across the fairway to his ball then back to the cart for a club .

But ready golf is different its like you want to play fast and I am just suppose to keep up with your pace of play. That is simply not happening. I am not rushing my shots because other people think its a race.

That's not what my definition of ready golf is. Ready golf, to me, means that you are ready to play when it's your turn, possibly taking shots while other people who are away aren't quite ready, etc. It doesn't mean taking a shot if people are on the green marking their ball.

Ready golf is being in the game, instead of scratching my arse eating a bannana while the rest of my group takes a their shot. But that doesn't proclude following the rules or most on course ettiquitte.

Something for us all to remember is that everyone has a different tempo. I tend to be fast. Other people are slower. There's nothing wrong with that.

If someone is rushing your shot, that's rude. There's no need for eye rolling if you take some extra time on the occasinal putt. It may be called for though if you stand over every putt, mark, lift, place, take a dozen practice strokes, step away and look at it some more, then finally putt regardless of distance.

The complaint is mostly about hackers who are playing in a way that will grind a course to a halt and are clueless about letting others play through or don't care. The course I play has a recommened pace, it's 4 hours something for 18. 4 hours for a round is reasonable to me. It's when it takes 3 hours to play 9 that it kills me.