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First, I'd like to start off by saying that I am, by no means, a slow golfer. I don't have a long pre-shot routine. I don't fuss over the ball on the green, lining up and relining my putts. I don't freeze over the ball for a long time before I am finally able to pull the trigger. I walk the course the majority of the time and I am not a slow walker. But I am basically a bogey golfer – a 16 handicap. My best round ever is an 82, but I can be up in the high 90's as well. So by definition it will take me longer to play a round than a scratch golfer. Not only more shots, but also the occasional hunting for a ball in the trees.
OK that being said I'd like to relate my recent Scotland golf trip. I went alone and was therefore paired up with two or three other golfers on most (all but two) of the rounds I played. The first round was at the Old Course at St Andrews. An awesome experience! I was actually paired with a member (who took his well-behaved dog on the round with him) and two of his guests who happened to be from the Boston area. I had tons of fun and thoroughly enjoyed myself in every way (other than not shooting as good of a score as I would have liked). My next round was at Balcombie Golf Links where I was paired with a man and a woman from Australia. Again great golfing companions and fun round of golf. I next played the Old Course again – which is the main point of this post – and I will get back to shortly. Next I played two rounds at the Carnoustie Championship Course. The first round with a couple from Philly and a man from Pittsburg (living in Germany). Great fun, great golfing companions. The second round was with three men from Northern Ireland. Keeping with the pattern – tons of fun and great guys. Finally I played at North Berwick with another couple from Philly and another Australian. You got the pattern – tons of fun – great companions. Each of these rounds (with the exception of the second round at The Old Course) took about four hours 15 minutes – give or take. Not fast, not slow. But it gave us time to play our game, help each other look for lost balls in the deep grass, and just enjoy the experience – with minimal or no waiting around.
Now back to my second round at The Old Course. This time I was paired with three guys from Hawaii (although I doubt they were originally from there). And these guys basically just about ruined my experience. They were not friendly in the slightest. There was no camaraderie at all. They hardly ever said, "Nice shot" or anything like that as is normal on the golf course. They were so hung up on playing fast that they forgot golf is a social game. Whenever I was hitting off the tee I felt their presence and felt as if the thoughts were, "Let's go hit the ball – let's be on our way". They didn't help look for lost balls at all. On one hole – somewhere on the front nine – I was search for my errant tee shot and eventually found it. I tried to hack out of the deep grass and advanced the ball only slightly and still needed another punch out to the fairway. Meanwhile these guys are already on the green – still another 90 yards away for me. Also, they walked so fast that by the eight hole I was exhausted trying to run to keep up/catch up. By the thirtieth hole I was just wanting it to be done. Fine experience for the "Home of Golf". Glad I had such a great time my first round there. Oh – we finished in about three hours 35 minutes.
Finally on the 18th green I said something to one of them. I basically said that I was exhausted and they played too fast. To this he replied that I must be slow as normally at home his foursome finishes in two and a half hours. (Thinking about this later I call b.s.). Anyway I said to him, what I say to you all – "What is the rush? What am I gonna do if I rush around the golf course – go home and mow the bleeping lawn? I'd rather have an enjoyable round of golf."
No one likes to be waiting on every shot. But my story just illustrates that people who want to play fast no matter what have forgotten the social aspects of the game and the etiquette of the game as well. Slow down just a little bit end enjoy the golf – enjoy your companions - enjoy the day.
OK that being said I'd like to relate my recent Scotland golf trip. I went alone and was therefore paired up with two or three other golfers on most (all but two) of the rounds I played. The first round was at the Old Course at St Andrews. An awesome experience! I was actually paired with a member (who took his well-behaved dog on the round with him) and two of his guests who happened to be from the Boston area. I had tons of fun and thoroughly enjoyed myself in every way (other than not shooting as good of a score as I would have liked). My next round was at Balcombie Golf Links where I was paired with a man and a woman from Australia. Again great golfing companions and fun round of golf. I next played the Old Course again – which is the main point of this post – and I will get back to shortly. Next I played two rounds at the Carnoustie Championship Course. The first round with a couple from Philly and a man from Pittsburg (living in Germany). Great fun, great golfing companions. The second round was with three men from Northern Ireland. Keeping with the pattern – tons of fun and great guys. Finally I played at North Berwick with another couple from Philly and another Australian. You got the pattern – tons of fun – great companions. Each of these rounds (with the exception of the second round at The Old Course) took about four hours 15 minutes – give or take. Not fast, not slow. But it gave us time to play our game, help each other look for lost balls in the deep grass, and just enjoy the experience – with minimal or no waiting around.
Now back to my second round at The Old Course. This time I was paired with three guys from Hawaii (although I doubt they were originally from there). And these guys basically just about ruined my experience. They were not friendly in the slightest. There was no camaraderie at all. They hardly ever said, "Nice shot" or anything like that as is normal on the golf course. They were so hung up on playing fast that they forgot golf is a social game. Whenever I was hitting off the tee I felt their presence and felt as if the thoughts were, "Let's go hit the ball – let's be on our way". They didn't help look for lost balls at all. On one hole – somewhere on the front nine – I was search for my errant tee shot and eventually found it. I tried to hack out of the deep grass and advanced the ball only slightly and still needed another punch out to the fairway. Meanwhile these guys are already on the green – still another 90 yards away for me. Also, they walked so fast that by the eight hole I was exhausted trying to run to keep up/catch up. By the thirtieth hole I was just wanting it to be done. Fine experience for the "Home of Golf". Glad I had such a great time my first round there. Oh – we finished in about three hours 35 minutes.
Finally on the 18th green I said something to one of them. I basically said that I was exhausted and they played too fast. To this he replied that I must be slow as normally at home his foursome finishes in two and a half hours. (Thinking about this later I call b.s.). Anyway I said to him, what I say to you all – "What is the rush? What am I gonna do if I rush around the golf course – go home and mow the bleeping lawn? I'd rather have an enjoyable round of golf."
No one likes to be waiting on every shot. But my story just illustrates that people who want to play fast no matter what have forgotten the social aspects of the game and the etiquette of the game as well. Slow down just a little bit end enjoy the golf – enjoy your companions - enjoy the day.
