Have you played with slow golfers?

[jebartle]

Like Kevin Na.....Sure feel sorry for Matt Kucher today....I'm not sure what the solution would be!....I know it is just as frustrating for Kevin Na....Wonder if they could let him play by himself, so it doesn't distract other players until he gets this worked out....Golf Channel analyst suggest he needs an exorcism...What are your experiences with slow players?

[Taltarzac725]

Kevin Na slow-plays way to Players Championship lead - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7919629/kevin-na-slow-plays-way-players-championship-lead)

[graciegirl]

Like Kevin Na.....Sure feel sorry for Matt Kucher today....I'm noit sure what the solution would be!....I know it is just as frustrating for Kevin Na....Wonder if they could let him play by himself, so it doesn't distract other players until he gets this worked out....Golf Channel analyist suggest he needs an exorcism...What are your experiences with slow players?

Those that I have known well always insist they have a RIGHT to take their time, they paid their fee and want to do it the right way. That is before I sock them, (just kidding) The first thing that Henry taught me some 40 years ago is that even if you play badly, you do not have to play slow and hold anyone up. If you play slowly, you slow down the golf course for the whole day for others behind you.

Slow play is hugely campaigned against by the entire world golf community. And rightly so in my opinon.

So if you are a new golfer and reading this, please keep up the pace because even very patient and truly kind veteran golfers will beome annoyed with you.

[rubicon]

Kevin Na is extreme and I have had the occassion to play with players as slow and/or with distracting waggles, dances etc. I play with one guy who stands over the ball for so long I beginning to think he is narcoleptic. I do however work hard at ignoring such distraction and will have to admit it took some work for me to learn to suffer in silence when experiencing a bad round; which I am certain was distracting to others. All in all I enjoy golf and hence enjoy playing golf with anyone who also enjoys the game dispite their distractions:gc:

[graciegirl]

Those that I have known well always insist they have a RIGHT to take their time, they paid their fee and want to do it the right way. That is before I sock them, (just kidding) The first thing that Henry taught me some 40 years ago is that even if you play badly, you do not have to play slowly and hold anyone up. If you play slowly, you slow down the golf course for the whole day for others behind you.

Slow play is hugely campaigned against by the entire world golf community. And rightly so in my opinon.

So if you are a new golfer and reading this, please keep up the pace because even very patient and truly kind veteran golfers will beome annoyed with you. Pick up your ball after six attempts on any hole and continue on.

[asianthree]

I would rather play with slow players that maybe are new or just unsure of their game. The couple that shows up and tells you that the are so good that they hate playing with people who don't finish a hole or don't hit the ball perfect every time. Yep that's what they said on the first tee. Sad part is neither was that great. So slow players I don't mind.

[skyguy79]

Those that I have known well always insist they have a RIGHT to take their time, they paid their fee and want to do it the right way. That is before I sock them, (just kidding) The first thing that Henry taught me some 40 years ago is that even if you play badly, you do not have to play slow and hold anyone up. If you play slowly, you slow down the golf course for the whole day for others behind you.

Slow play is hugely campaigned against by the entire world golf community. And rightly so in my opinon.

So if you are a new golfer and reading this, please keep up the pace because even very patient and truly kind veteran golfers will beome annoyed with you.I wonder if this is the real origin of the term... "Tee's Off!" :p

[Jhooman]

Slow players exist and it's so painful to watch. Back home in our Ladies golf club, we had had a female version of Na. 99% of the ladies refused to play with her, they gave her the cold shoulder, shunned her. The ladies never told this woman what the issue was -her slow play.

So my Brit friend and I played with her one day, it was the longest day of our lives. We looked at each other and made the decision to let her know the effect she has on us and the essence of the golf game.

The female Na was so apologetic about her effects on our game, her game and the clubs game, the following week she apologized to our ladies club. Now did she change her habits immediately? No. But when Female Na got slow, we were able to say to her your getting slow again, without shunning her..

Honesty with kindness goes a long way.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

I guess I'm the exception to the rule. I could and still can't understand why so many retired people are always in a hurry. I think this is the time in your life to slow down, enjoy life and not allow other people to ruin your good time. People on this forum are frequently griping about waiting in line or slow service, whatever. Why stress yourself? Having said that, I am a rather fast golfer. I would never hold someone up on a golf course. I would let them play through if I had someone in my group slowing things down or if I didn't want to rush to stay ahead. In my seniors league in Ohio we had a retiree who every week complained about the speed of play. BORING! One time we were playing in a group with two seniors over 70 who were pulling a cart for 18 holes on a 6900 yard golf course. The impatient one started yelling at our group when we were not off the next tee before he got there. How much fun is that? He was such a bore and I resented him for adding stress to my day while I'm out to have fun and relax. I told him if he wanted to play fast he should look for a 20+ league, not a 55+ league. People, this is retirement, not work. Why stress out? Enjoy.:shrug:

[Mikeod]

I have a hard and fast rule. No one affects my golf game except me. I once played with a man who would yell at the group in front if he thought they were slow. "You're wasting my time!!!" I stopped playing with him. At other times I have played with slow players. With them, I just adjust my own timing to avoid feeling like I have to rush to make up time. If our group is out of place on the course, I will sometimes go to the next tee while others are finishing the previous hole.That way I can use my normal routine without feeling rushed. It also sends a subtle message to the others that we need to pick up the pace. If that doesn't help, I will tell them directly that we need to pick up the pace.

Having said that, there is a difference between slow play because of poor play and slow play because of excessive shot routines, either pre-shot or post-shot. In my experience, I have found the slowest players were the ones who considered themselves good players, emulating what they see on TV. Several practice swings, followed by a shot, followed by several post-shot encores. Yikes.

Yes, we are retired and don't have our lives regimented as before, but on the golf course, we are not alone. It only takes one group or person to slow play on the course to a level that everyone else cannot enjoy the round. It doesn't take "rushing" around the course. All it takes is to maintain contact with the group in front and be ready to play when it's your turn.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Well said, Mike. But, it's hard to stay in contact with the group in front when your playing partner is constantly hitting his/her ball in the weeds or trees and then trying to find it. Even if you hold them to a minute or two, it adds up by the end of the round. :grumpy:

I just refuse to be stressed. I had enough of that in my job. This is the time for me to chill and enjoy what God has in store for me. I have my health and a wonderful spouse and family. I live in the best place in the world, for me. I'm not going to let a slow golfer or a bad waiter or slow service or poop in the park or people from Stonecrest driving their carts on the multi-modal trails upset me. Chill and enjoy the remainder of your life. These are the good (golden?) days/years. Don't ruin them for me or you. Not that you would. Just saying in general. :D

In other words BE HAPPY-DON'T WORRY.

:thumbup:

[jgbama]

Well said, Mike. But, it's hard to stay in contact with the group in front when your playing partner is constantly hitting his/her ball in the weeds or trees and then trying to find it. Even if you hold them to a minute or two, it adds up by the end of the round. :grumpy:

I just refuse to be stressed. I had enough of that in my job. This is the time for me to chill and enjoy what God has in store for me. I have my health and a wonderful spouse and family. I live in the best place in the world, for me. I'm not going to let a slow golfer or a bad waiter or slow service or poop in the park or people from Stonecrest driving their carts on the multi-modal trails upset me. Chill and enjoy the remainder of your life. These are the good (golden?) days/years. Don't ruin them for me or you. Not that you would. Just saying in general. :D

In other words BE HAPPY-DON'T WORRY.

:thumbup:

Couldn't agree more. Guess we've been fortunate during our annual, weekly visits over the past 6 years. We have been paired with some really nice folks and haven't been with any excessively slow players. But, on one occasion, while playing Lopez, the Ambassador asked us to pick up play. Do they not do that any longer?

[rp001]

I read somewhere, can't remember exactly, that an amateur golfer should take 27 seconds to hit a shot. That is the time from their arrival at the tee to actual impact...Pros take even longer..I've timed it and it seems like a long period to me, but maybe I'm in a hurry..But even at this slow pace you can easily clear a par 4 in 12 minutes I think, and that would be faster than what is "allowed"...

[Dayzee]

I am a 'ready' golfer and like to play with people who are the same. Unless you sign up as a foursome you don't know who your partners will be. Sometimes they are experienced and sometimes beginners - in any case, I always enjoy meeting and playing with new people. I prefer to play at a faster pace and tend to play better if I'm not worried about holding up the other players on the course. So, when we are paired with slower players I tend to feel rushed to make up the difference in time.

[graciegirl]

I am a 'ready' golfer and like to play with people who are the same. Unless you sign up as a foursome you don't know who your partners will be. Sometimes they are experienced and sometimes beginners - in any case, I always enjoy meeting and playing with new people. I prefer to play at a faster pace and tend to play better if I'm not worried about holding up the other players on the course. So, when we are paired with slower players I tend to feel rushed to make up the difference in time.

That is just how I feel!

[PJOHNS2654]

I am a 'ready' golfer and like to play with people who are the same. Unless you sign up as a foursome you don't know who your partners will be. Sometimes they are experienced and sometimes beginners - in any case, I always enjoy meeting and playing with new people. I prefer to play at a faster pace and tend to play better if I'm not worried about holding up the other players on the course. So, when we are paired with slower players I tend to feel rushed to make up the difference in time.

:agree: and this can ruin a good round.

[iandwk]

Just finished a round on one of the easier executive courses (Santiago). There were three in our group and we were the second ones on the course that morning. We were behind a threesome. By the third hole, a foursome had caught up with us because of the slow play of the three in front of us. There was no one in front of them to slow them down, but what they did was frustrating to watch. They would all three squat down and try to get a read on the green, walking around and around viewing it from various angles. When they putted, they all missed their putts, so they weren't actually improving their putts by all the posturing. When they would finally finish with their putting, they walked to their carts and sat there each time for at least a minute, probably writing down and comparing scores. On the ninth hole, there were two groups waiting to tee off, but they didn't seem to care. They went to their carts, removed their gloves, emptied their pockets, shook hands all around and stood and talked for (no exxageration) 5 minutes. One of our group finally yelled "Fore" and teed off (I personally would not hit a ball with someone near the green, no matter how big an idiot they are, but the man that was with us had no qualms about it. His tee shot came nowhere near them, thankfully). They must have noticed because they finally took the hint and left. And of course the ambassador never said a word to them the entire round.

There is slow and then there is rudeness. This threesome was both. I feel sorry for whoever has to follow them on any course.