Hey all, I was recently at a course in PA (Bensalem) with me and 2 other buddies. we tee'd off without anyone in sight but when we reached the third hole, we saw a group ahead and it was a 5 some. We then saw another group on the greens which was a 4 some, so even if we played through, we'd get stuck behind 4somes. The 5some seemed to have a fairly good players but regardless it did take longer than usual.

I dont mind the wait usually but waiting for a 5some kinda got me irked. a normal wait just seemed to be longer in general. But the what made it worse was that my dad's friend that i've known for nearly 20 years was in that group that prevented me from any confrontation. I then saw a ranger who I asked what's going on, and he tells me that there are foursomes all along the course and it would be impossible to progress any faster.

Now, again, I dont mind waiting for normal 4some pace but 5some that plays fast still takes longer than a normal 4some when they abide by all the rules because they are betting (5 minute ball search). What do you guys think?

If there was a 4some in front of them, and the course was jammed with 4somes, and they were keeping pace with the 4somes, it would seem to me that there is no problem. I hate slow play as much as the next guy, and having played many 5 - 6 hour rounds, I've just come to the realization that as long as the group in front of you is keeping pace with the group in front of them, and so forth and so on, and there are no wide open spaces, there is really nothing you can do. I personally have no problem with 5somes, as I've played in some myself. On my wedding day, me, my uncle, my cousin (who lives in another state and I dont get to see very often), and 2 of my best friends played as a 5some. i would have been pretty pissed if we could not have gotten out anywhere. The group in front of us never created any distance, and that was all I was concerned with as the course was crowded.

If the fivesome was keeping up with the groups ahead of them than I see no problem with it. I would hope that the course you played at doesn't put out fivesomes as a matter of practice but if its only under special circumstances than its okay.

BTW - were you playing at Bensalem Twp. Country Club? I played there once, never again. I bet fivesomes are typical at that dog track.

Yes, a 5some isn't really going to be much slower than a 4some - I think the most we ever played (obviously the course was empty) was a 9some a bit like the red arrows at times but good fun.

The problem with a five-some is on the greens. Not often can you putt out because you'll be standing on someone's line.

What happens is that you end up with this queuing problem like when you're in traffic jam on the freeway and the traffic suddenly picks up to 45mph, then comes to a screeching halt. Then you sit for 60 seconds, then back up to 45 mph. For the 5-some it doesn't matter. They spend longer (more than 5/4 of the time of a foursome, IMO) on the greens, then have an open tee shot because of this.

In the mean time, the group behind has to wait that extra time for their approach shot, the group behind them has to wait for them to clear, etc. While the overall time might not be greater, it's not an even pace of play.

If I ran a course I wouldn't allow it if the course is busy.

For a public course tee times, threes and fours max before 2 PM on Saturdays and Holidays.

For Private, at least a foursome until 10 am plus tee time. After 10 am is open play. Again Saturdays and Holidays only.

That's how my favorite public course in the area and my private club runs things.