72 replies to this topic

[spitfisher]

In Golf Digest a few years back they had a short article about the use of rangers at clubs, some use them some due to economic times have stopped. One take away from the article dealt with slow play and the use of rangers and it said if your club uses rangers and /or allows for a round greater than 4:15 on a June saturday it simply means they don't give a crap about pace of play. Thats the truth.

When I read that I was in agreement, but couldn't understand why a club or general manager wouldn't prefer to get another 20-25% more rounds in per day-think of the revenue loss.

[TJCDAS]

Woods is one of the reasons for the snails pace.  Snail was Jack's nickname on tour, everyone hated playing behind his group.

[TML]

yeah - I don't know why people think Woods is fast.  The guy pulls the trigger fast, but spends many mins before he is ever ready to address the ball, and takes forever reading his putt.

[Dead Solid Perfect]

joeshmo, on 02 February 2013 - 08:37 PM, said:

Quote from a news source.
"We played nine holes in just over three hours, and three of them are par threes," Woods said of his increasing frustration over the closing stretch. "I started losing my patience a little bit, and that's when I made a few mistakes."
USGA executive director Mike Davis echoed Woods' thoughts.
"Six-hour rounds are just not good for the players, our championships or the game," Davis said.

  Doesn't sound like they are in any hurry to solve a problem that's been around
for a long time. An initiative to address. I thought there were already solutions on the books.

The USGA is just now doing this? They must have had more pressing issues do deal with like................. Oh yea the anti Christ belly putter that is going to kill the game.  Way more important than 6 hour rounds.

[minitour]

Have mandatory attendance meetings every Tuesday or Wednesday of tournament week.  In the meeting, you do a clinic on speeding up play.  Things like starting your rourtine before it's your turn so that you're ready when you're up, how to read your putt when your fellow competitor is getting ready to play.

This is all stuff that these guys should know/remember from junior golf.  The NCAA has GOT to address pace of play for their golfers.  I've played a few rounds with some D1 golfers and slow play is absolutely bred at the college level.  Then those guys get on TOUR and keep it up, the old dudes see it on TV and mimic the behavior on your local muni.

Nip it in the bud.  Strict pace guidelines, have a mandatory attendance clinic every week until the problem finally goes away, enforce the penalty strokes for those golfers behind/out of position, let the masses see it on TV = Problem solved.  It's not going to be quickly solved, but it can be done.

[SurfDuffer]

Last night on Golf Central they were showing Brant Snedeker's pre-shot routine.  Every shot is precisely 13 seconds.....even when he is putting.  Nice and quick, committed to the shot and lets it go.  As I'm watching this I couldn't help but think of the clowning antics of a Keegan Bradly pre-shot routine.

[monkeynaut]

TJCDAS, on 04 February 2013 - 04:22 PM, said:

Woods is one of the reasons for the snails pace.  Snail was Jack's nickname on tour, everyone hated playing behind his group.

Remembered reading this years ago.

'TICKLING YE UP'

Nicklaus, Crenshaw and two friends -- actor Sean Connery and singer Glen Campbell -- were playing a practice round at the Old Course of St. Andrews in preparation for a three-part BBC TV special to benefit a Scottish charity headed by Connery.

The Old Course was busy, but the illustrious foursome was in no hurry. At the fourth hole, a golf ball rolled past them as they walked to their approach shots, and a couple of more balls rolled past as they ambled toward their drives on No. 5.

This time the four stopped and stared back. As they did, a man on a moped rode up with the word "RANGER" across the front of his cap. Stopping, he offered a pleasant "Good day to ye, gentlemen." One could assume he recognized at least two of the four, but, if so, he showed no sign of it.

Campbell was the first to address him.

"Hi, there, Mr. Ranger," Glen said. "Listen, we're glad you showed up, because those guys behind us are hitting into us. Happened three times now. Would you mind asking them to quit?"

"Sorry, sir," the ranger said, "but I daresun't do that. Ye see, they're just tickling ye up because ye're playing too slowly. Speed up and they'll stop, and ye'll be just foine."

To which the ranger politely tipped his cap, said with a grin, "Aye, just tickling ye up, ye see," restarted his moped and drove away, leaving Connery -- an understanding native -- chuckling and the other three stunned.

I didn't have the nerve to ask Nicklaus if it was the first time he'd ever been "tickled up," but I'd have bet a fair sum that it was.

Read More http://www.golfdiges...p#ixzz2K29skfzL

[kevcarter]

Thanks for sharing that monkeynaut. I don't expect my grin to go away for quite awhile... :-)

[mikpga]

The USGA should not be involved in slow play.  This is the responsibility of PGA Professionals, Course owners, and Course managers.

[ptjn1201]

I think it's fine that the USGA sets guidelines for pace of play, but outside of its championships, they really have no clout on the issue.  It takes somebody to convince course managers that maybe they wouldn't have to start their twilight times so early in the afternoon if pace of play improved and people could tee off at 2PM and still get home in time to catch the news.  They could sell a lot more afternoon tee times if players could expect no worse than a 4:00-4:15 pace

[rlynham]

mr smith, on 03 February 2013 - 12:20 AM, said:

There is no doubt tjat slow play is tje biggest problem in the game, at club and pro level. The most fristrating thing about slow play is that is a very small minority who are culpible but the entire fields suffers because of them. Slow players should absolutely be penalised, starting with puttimg tjem at the nack of tje field in club comps, and at the pro level they should be fined or have shot penalties imposed. It isnt hard to pinpoint who tje culprits are, just send an official to follow slow groups and within a couple of holes you will know who is slowing up the group. It is frustrating right now as it seems the only guys being penalised for slow play are the ones who play fast, the culprits are being let off scott free. IMO if you are incapable of playing a shot within a reasonable time limit you have no business being on a profeasional tour.

I think this is the most typos i have ever seen in one post. Well done!

[finalist]

monkeynaut, on 05 February 2013 - 09:11 AM, said:

'TICKLING YE UP'

HAHAHAHAHA!

I have a new phrase for the course, "I'm just gonna tickle this group a little."
POW!

[rustyputterguy]

mikpga, on 05 February 2013 - 09:15 AM, said:

The USGA should not be involved in slow play.  This is the responsibility of PGA Professionals, Course owners, and Course managers.

Exactly, most of what people are complaining about is a PGA tour issue or local course issue.