So my buddy and I were in a cart playing as a twosome and the course was pretty wide open, later in the evening. We caught a group of kids (15-16?) on th 4th hole just after they teed off. I was hoping for a gesture to play through as we were clearly faster and they were all walking, open holes in front of them. Instead we get nothing, I even asked loud enough for them to hear and none of them even turned around. Its like they purposely ignored us and wouldn't let us through. So we just decided to skip the hole and move on.

We get to the 7th and catch another threesome of walkers. Older guys this time, open holes in front. I figure they would let us through no problem. Nope. Same thing, they just teed off and we were on our way to the teebox and they ignored us. So we had to skip the 7th as well. Whats wrong with golfers nowadays? No etiquitte at all!!!

common sense prevails here.
they should have let you through.
if the course was full maybe i could understand but if the course is wide open what the hell is the point in rushing?
they let you through they can settle back down to their normal pace.

The point is I dont like skipping holes and golfers should understand some ettiquite. If you have a fast group in a cart and you are walking then let them play through. It never use to be a problem years ago. It seems now people act like they do own the course by not letting faster groups through.

Did anyone make you skip the holes?

No but I'm not playing at a 4:30 clip behind some slow walkers when the corse was wide open and we were playing twice that fast. Common courtesy says to let faster groups through when open holes are in front.

I, unlike the others on here.. completely AGREE WITH YOU.

To me, an great relaxing round of golf includes actually playing golf and not waiting after each shot. Out here in Orange County, CA.. golf etiquette is terrible. People out here all have a sense of entitlement and really have no golf etiquette at all. It's really quite dissappointing, especially when my dad taught me etiquette as part of the fundamentals of the game.

I mean what you described happens out here all the time, but one funny thing was this foursome was putting and myself and another were going to go out before them (we were riding) the lead guy tells his group to pick up thier balls and go to the tee so they can beat us to the tee. I was amazed, and we eventually were allowed to play through them on #12 (incredible that it even took that long)

It can be a problem. Even the rules say twoballs should have priority in courtesy of the course. The problem is, it can only be expected and not demanded - that is the whole point of ettiquette. If the group in front are ignorant of this fact, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than have a polite word with them. A simple "do you mind if we play through?" usually does the trick. I wouldn't skip the holes just to get done quicker. Anyway, it's not really worth getting worked up about it - you're not doing anything wrong, just being patient.

unfortunately, if this was a public course it's pretty much the norm. Kids especially, most won't let you through simply out of spite, because they think you are insulting them.

I once played in 5 1/2 hours at a course around here. And if you think that's bad, that was only through 11 holes! ...I was caught behind 3 or 4 groups of teenagers and finally walked off. Worst part was i made 3 calls to the starter and spoke with the marshall twice. Nobody even spoke to them. And this is actually a fairly swanky 36 hole course where one is private...so you'd think they'd do something, but no

we can cry about lack of etiquette, but fact is it's loooooonnnnng gone and never coming back. Just join a private course

I was taught early on that onesomes and twosomes had no status on a golf course.

Not saying it was right but thats what I was taught maybe they still believe that.

That's a good example of people's misconceptions of the game. If that's what they're told, how would they know any different? Maybe a word from a starter at the beginning of round to say what the correct courtesy of the course is would help. Unbelievable.

That is an antiquate rule. Besides even when that used to be printed on scorecards and whatnot, common courtesy should prevail. That rule was basically set in place to let single players understand that they can't just blow through the course and play through every group they encounter. That alone would put the pace of the entire course at a crawl. However, that rule didn't mean that a slower group with open holes ahead shouldn't let the faster player(s) through. Under no circumstance should a slower group make a faster group wait on them.

This is the exact reason I have the standing first tee time at my club and always request the first tee time when playing elsewhere. Even in my normal morning threesome we finish is under 2.5 hours.

One of the problems is that buggies are designed for people who can't physically walk the golf course and are used far too much by people trying to whizz round a busy golf course in 2 and a half hours. When it's busy just walk, you may play through a couple of groups, but you'll have a lot more experiences like this where people won't let you play through.

These threads are becoming more and more common. Sort it out people.

Unfortunately, a lot of the courses in the United States don't allow you to walk anymore. And most only allow walking late in the afternoon.

There should be no problems letting faster groups play through if there are clear holes ahead.

That said, there's nothing worse than having the course full of stormtroopers in carts trying to bully their way through the field just because they think that it's their right.

If you are in a cart and think that crowding the groups ahead of you while they are teeing off is acceptable, perhaps you need to reflect on your own standard of etiquette.

I'll always let a cart driver through if it's required, but not if they are over-caffeined, impatient wankers with an inflated sense of entitlement and no manners.

I have seen a trend in this. Maybe an 'all cart' or 'all walk' policy should be introduced to stop a group of carts being stuck behind a group of walkers? I know over here a buggy is a luxury for the older gentleman and haven't heard of a course yet that makes you use a buggy.

I assume most people don't know rules or etiquette. Why didn't you just ask to play through? In my experience most people won't say a word but if I politely ask to play through because I don't want to rush them 90% of the time people have no problem at all.

I hear you.

The only thing I don't like about golf is golfers.

Ignore him...sounds like he's the type of guy who was playing in front of you. They should get their own course so they're surrounded by similar ilk.

Etiquette in this "me" world today is hard to find.

I agree with the OP about how he should be able to play through when there are open holes. However, if you are a twosome on a busy day where the course is already crowded then, you have no "rights" as far as I am concerned. It would be foolish for my foursome to let you go through when you have no where to go. The pro shop should make that emphatically clear to singles, twosomes, and threesomes as well. Do not expect to be allowed through if there are no open holes.

Absolutely spot on. As a general rule, my playing partners and I will let people through if all we have to wait on is them. If we are already waiting on the group infront of us, we don't.

Unfortunately, it's not just regarding playing through that people display a lack of common sense. I was at a local course's pro shop today, not playing but looking to buy a rain suit, when a guy comes in to check in for his tee time. He looks at the clock and says, "10 minutes, right?" So the guy working tells him yes, but the course is actually ahead on tee times today - a beautiful, perfect for golf Sunday with the parking lot full and the course packed - and the starter may be able to get his group off early if all 4 of them head to the first tee. Unheard of, right? So what does this joker who shows up 10 minutes before his tee time do? He says, "I'll get a small bucket for the range." I know what the guy working the counter wanted to say was, "Forget the range, pal. If you wanted to warm up, you should have gotten here earlier. We are AHEAD of schedule on a SUNDAY, and you're going to screw that up!!!" Of course, what he had to say was, "OK sir." Some people just got no sense. Probably played a six hour round too.

Should they have let you through? Probably but there obviously was more people on the course then you thought. You skipped the 5th hole only to catch another group on the 7th. Then you have to skip the 7th...sucks. I see you are a + handicap and probably play with a similar player to yourself. This exact situation happens to me and my buddy as well, both very fast and decent players so we fly around. Now I only really play tournaments, very early, very late or try to find 4 or 8 guys to get some kinda game so we all take our time and play for something.

Where were the on-course marshals? Was anyone monitoring pace of play?

By the way, where does it say that anyone has the right to expect to play a round at a pace they determine to be acceptable. Slow play is not conducive to good golf but neither is golf at a macht schell, "Sherman through Georgia" cavalry charge.

Good etiquette is a multi-laned highway. Don't expect to get what you are unwilling to give.

He did ask.

I'm gonna disagree with your rant. If the groups ahead are keeping pace of play, then there is no issue here. They don't have to let you through. Perhaps, instead of "yelling", you should have went up and POLITELY asked to play through.

At the very least, you could've asked to play the hole together and then putted out and moved on. This is what I suggest to a group when I'm playing as a single.

No marshalls, public course late in the day. Was wide open till we caught the kids on the 4th, skipped the 4th and caught the older guys on the 7th. Skipped the 7th and I didnt run into another group till later in the backside on the 13th. I also asked the kids if we could play through and they ignored us. I said something like "You guys mind if we play through?". None even turned around. We did finish before dark btw.

i hate when people speed around in the course on a cart like they are in some sort of race. why not just relax and play some golf, and enjoy your time on the course.

I obviously don't know you, so take this with a grain of salt ... but ...

You sound a little like the whiney, "nowadays" type yourself. It's all about you and the he|| with everyone else. You are not ENTITLED to play through ... nor are the people who drive 60 mph in the left lane when they aren't passing anyone ... nor are the people who ran up their credit cards to ridiculous levels.

"Nowadays", people feel they are entitled to certain things just because they want them. You were playing a public course, with no rangers, in the afternoon. No one forced you to play there. If you hated it that much, stick to playing your country club on weekdays.

AceAZ,

Unfortunately, you are the one without a clear understanding of etiquette.

Twosomes have NO rights on the golf course. If you can't make a foursome, sit back and enjoy your wait.

If there is a fast group behind you and open holes ahead you should always let the group behind play through. Its good etiquette and good sense.

It has nothing to do with relaxing or having fun as it is neither relaxing nor fun to have to wait on every shot.

Bad etiquette is a plague on golf and it is clear from your post that you are part of the problem.

There's a difference between what you are entitled to and good etiquette. Does the 4 some of walkers in front of his group of 2 have to let them through? No, should they? Yes if there are open holes in front of them. If there's nowhere for his 2 some to go then no way should they let them through. Playing on a busy day at peak hours is 100% different then booking a tee time for a 2 some on the weekends at 9 A.M.

Why is it so - because of $$$$$ only ?

Where I'm from, you can walk any course you like - buggy's are very rarely used, and only by people who really need them.

Played Friday morning 0745 start with two of my buddies. One dropped out after 13 holes and 16 in by himself to make a Drs. appointment. Myself and the other continued on behind two slow foursomes. And finished just shy of 6 hrs. on the course. Maybe a twosome have little rights but explain to me how 6 hours is justified? And yes we saw rangers on the course but nothing was done to improve the pace of play.....they didn't seem to care and as a twosome any complaint would have been made with the obvious " as a twosome you will of course play faster than a foursome there's nowhere to go". It's not uncommon to have 5 hr. rounds any more......the two of us wanted to play another 18 but not at this same course, called another about 25 miles away got on with no one in sight and played a nice 3 hr 20 min. 18 holes.

Step Aside And Let the Man Come Through! IF not wait till they are just out of range and send off a warning shot.

+1... Golf courses are just becoming waaay too crowded and the golfers themselves are not making things any more enjoyable. Etiquette is going down the drain, along with common sense. It's also bad when people take too long to play thru a hole (c'mon people, if u lost your ball, take a max. of 1 to 2 mins. to look for it if it's busy or you're holding up the pace of the group/rest of the course. Can't find it? Freakin' drop another ball!).

I should also add one of the kids didnt even make it to the ladies tee on the 4th and they were looking for his ball. At that point we decided to just skip it after being ignored. It was obvious it would be another 15 minutes for them to get to the green.

Well said.

Having a little patience may have helped. If OP had waited, and followed them as usual, by the end of the hole they may have noticed you waiting, and let you play through on the next hole.

As for the teens ... young players can only learn rules & etiquette from other players. All one has to do is walk up to them and explain things.

Not playing as fast doesn't necessarily constitute slow play ... Everybody on a golf course, at some point, has to wait their time. It's how things are. 2 blokes in a cart are going to be faster than a group of 3+ walking. Every golfer should take this into account when they step up to play. A little patience & perspective never hurt anyone.

I'm not going to argue online with you. If you read the first post he say's "i asked loud enough for them to hear me but they didn't even turn around" Basically they were turned and walking away from him and he said it assuming they could hear him That's not really asking. My point is to walk up to someone face to face and say excuse me do you mind if i play through, I don't want to rush you guys all day as I know your just trying to enjoy your round" then wait for a response. Saying something to someones back and hoping they hear you is not the way to get it done.

Rules are rules, and they are there for a reason - but sometimes, they can be bent a little. If there is a two-ball infront who are being incredibly slow taking f****** ages on the green ahead of you you're playing to and not having the common-courtesy of letting you through I will (only very rarely) hit my approach shot when the guy in that group puts the flagstick back in the hole just send them a little warning to hurry the f*** up and stop being so damn slow. There's nothing worse than stubborn golfers who know they're being slow and that the group behind them is having to wait all the time. Completely unacceptable.

Rules & etiquette aren't the same thing.

Slow play & 2 guys in a cart playing faster than everyone else aren't the same thing.

J13 is on the money. All you have to do is walk up to them, face to face, and say "Excuse me fellas, do you mind if we hit through? There's only 2 of us, we're in a cart and moving along rather quickly. We'll be out of your way in 30 seconds".

Making a comment as you walk by a few metres off to the side in the hope they hear you doesn't cut it.

You hit the approach before the guy gets the chance to clear the green? Why? I'd like to say that I would leave every pin out for the rest of your round, but since you decided to risk killing me, I'd just go ahead and get you tossed with a quick phone call. No way you can deny seeing me or deny that you thought you couldn't hit the green with a 150 yd approach. Why does everyone have to be standing over the ball and swing the second it's clear? That adds to your own stress level. I say find your ball, decide on a shot and club, and once it's clear, pull the club and prepare to hit. You guys make it worse on yourselves.

I just wanted to clairify the "no status" of singles and twosomes. Regardless of what was done in the past, the USGA rules covers this on Page 2 of etiquette.

"It is the group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, IRRESPECTIVE of the number of players in that group."

That said, I agree with a number of posters about the carts racing around trying to work through the course as fast as possible. I do think that the slower group should have invited the OP through (bad etiquette), but the group behind needs to realized that whether or not that group of kid's knew the correct etiquette, they also showed the same "self importance" ("I" need to get around) as the kids they were complaining about.

I am amazed at some of the responses on this post. Have more patience, no status on the course??? I'm sure the same ones talking this way would not have the same opinion if they were stuck behind a slow group of walkers and having to wait on every shot. Groups backing up on each other because some group is slow and refuses to let faster groups through is what causes alot of the slow play that everyone gripes about!!!

If more people started treating others the way they would like to be treated, everyone would be better off. Course etiquette is something that I was taught early on as a young kid. Letting faster players through is a basic lesson everyone should be taught. Too bad that is not the case nowadays.

Also, to everyone that does get let through, play fast and get out of the way.

As someone who usually walks I'm a little offended by this whole "Walkers inherently slow down the pace of play" business. I'm usually stuck behind a group of people in carts and while it might take me a few more moments to get to my ball and to the next tee, I'm not holding up my group by walking. I'm usually waiting on people in carts to drive back and fourth in their cart to each other's ball or find a good place to park their cart.

I can play in less than 3 hours walking if there is no one in front of me. I've never played any faster than that with a cart.

I played a 6 hour round yesterday with no walkers on the course.

Walking isn't what slows the pace down. It's people being slow unto themselves.

wow!

All I have to say is this "there's right way to do things and a wrong way to do things".

If it was me in the 4ball I would allow the 2ball in a cart to play through....who want's a group up your A** the whole round?

Yeah, it sucked for the OP to have to skip holes but unfortunately if they wanted to play fast and the group wasn't letting them....so be it.... skip holes. It happens at private courses as well....probably not as much but it happens.....usually everybody knows one another.

Let's face it if you play public/muni's you're not going to play fast unless you're the first few groups off in the am......5-6 hour rounds are the norm......if you want to play fast you need to be at a private club.

and when does "sending a warning shot" constitute good etiquette??

Show me in any rules manual where it says this.

Common sense says they should have let this guy play through. Maybe he didn't approach it in the best manner, but why in the world any group would want another on their butt all day long when there is open holes ahead is beyond me. They're obviously oblivious to their surroundings and current situation.

It's stated in the bylaws of almost every private club. The reason being that they want some continuity on the tee sheet. Many clubs will not let twosomes out at all (at peak times), unless they join up with another twosome. I wholeheartedly agree with this and would never think of trying to get out as a twosome before noon at my club.

Additionally, I am in no way encouraging slow play (I play in 3:20 on Saturday/Sunday mornings at my club), but occasionally when we head over to a public course it feels like it's taking forever. I often remind myself that the group in front of me paid good money to play the course, so they have just as much right to enjoy it as "better" golfers. Unfortunately, if they can meet the pace of play requirements posted on the card or in the clubhouse (which are often 4:18), they've held up their end of the bargain. The whole concept of "we're scratches, we're fast" is ridiculous. I've played with plent of 20 handicappers who are quite a bit quicker than the +2's - 4's in my group. Regardless of skill level, everyone has the same rights on the course.

If it's taking six hours, simply don't book tee times at that course. I would certainly imagine that burden of responsibility to increase pace of play, lies on the course, not the golfers if it is indeed taking six hours. Or, make the first time, get out of bed and race around so you can be done in two hours and tell everyone just how fast you play golf....sweet.

Oops forgot to add this.

Any of you who have stated that you "buzz the tower," "fire a warning shot," etc...are complete fools. There's nothing I would love more than to see you slapped with a huge lawsuit after you have to pay for $5k in new dental work.

I can't believe that you consider yourself golfers, let alone men, and hit into others.

For all of you who think a single or twosome have no "rights" on a golf course, I refer you to the R&A and USGA Etiquette manual:

"It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. "

There is one thing worse. That is hitting a person with a struck shot. I love the fact you think slow play is horrible but hitting at someone isn't.