[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by sadie44

Overall, the golf ambassadors do a nice job being "Village Ambassadors" which are no more than being glorified waterboys. There is no one on the courses making sure that the pace of play is adequate, people aren't dragging their spikes on the greens, raking traps etc. Today, we had to quit after 4 holes took 1hr 15 min. That means it would have taken us almost 3 hours to finish when we should be done in half that.

The foursome in front of us were playing off the gold tees and really needed to be playing the green tees, especially the 2 women in the group. They were not playing ready golf, taking up to 10 strokes on a hole and looking for their balls in the water instead of picking up. By the third hole, there were already 2 holes open in front of them. When I casually mentioned to the ambassador that the pace was too slow, he said it's slow all over and it's a nice day anyway.

Tee times are spaced 9 minutes apart and pace of play needs to be around 9 minutes or everyone behind a slow group suffers. I really like the ambassadors but they need to be given authority to tell people to pick up the pace, rake a trap or follow whatever rules the wonderful game of golf follows.

By the way, we're pretty decent golfers and were playing the golds because of the wind!!

I agree, but the Ambassadors I'm sure are instructed to not ruffle any feathers. The Villages are here only to sell homes & make everybody happy & to have the ambassadors tell a golfer they're playing to slow might make some people mad (so what) & The Villages can't have that. You're are exactly right though but I really don't think these glorified water boys are going to be instructed to say anything to the golfers.

[OhioBuckeye]

The Villages are in business to sell homes not to make anybody mad because they're playing to slow on the Executive golf. I'm sure the ambassadors are doing their jobs on how they were instructed. I don't blame them as much as I do The Villages Board. There's no way if we had some pro's playing here, even if it was for fun that they would have slow play, in fact they would have any body on the course. I'm just happy it only cost me $140. a yr. for a trail pass & FREE for the golf. It is pretty sad that these golfers don't have any ETIQETTE or were instructed better at the start of their round!

[Ithreeputtoo]

I agree that play on the Executive courses is slow a lot of the times I play. Not sure how much good it might do but I think EVERYONE should be required to take the Good Golf School. They could do this for each new resident card issued. Then maybe the new to golfers would have some idea about pace of play, play Ready Golf, play the right tees for your level of play, rake the sand traps and pick up and move on after 6 shots of par 3's. This would be good for ALL golfers. I also agree that the executive ambassadors have no authority to do anything to correct any of the issues which is unfortunate for all.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Ithreeputtoo

I agree that play on the Executive courses is slow a lot of the times I play. Not sure how much good it might do but I think EVERYONE should be required to take the Good Golf School. They could do this for each new resident card issued. Then maybe the new to golfers would have some idea about pace of play, play Ready Golf, play the right tees for your level of play, rake the sand traps and pick up and move on after 6 shots of par 3's. This would be good for ALL golfers. I also agree that the executive ambassadors have no authority to do anything to correct any of the issues which is unfortunate for all.

Everyone is a broad category. If Phil Mickelson or Jordan Spieth moves here, you would REQUIRE them to attend good golf school? There are many players here that have played for a long time and at high levels who probably know as much about etiquette and the rules as those teaching the course.

Originally Posted by jgreen12

My complaint is with the champ courses such as Bel Glade, etc. The ambassadors need to speak to the players that are holding up play and leave the players that are waiting on the tee box and in the field alone. Aggravating the players that are keeping up only increases bad play. I agree that the better players should play the more difficult courses, or play from the black tees. Also, consider playing earlier in the morning. New players usually play later in the day. Remember....we were ALL NEW at one time.

I think the ambassadors are reluctant to do this in general---they'll get nothing but grief, and I'm not sure they always are aware of where the problem is. I'll relate this story from last year---and this is the ONE and ONLY time and is not reflective of the ambassadors in general. I was in a foursome playing EP Osprey to Egret and as we approached our 16th green the ambassador came specifically to me and said it was OK to pick up if I was taking too many strokes. I found this quite strange for the following reasons:
1) I was looking at a 12 foot birdie putt
2) I was 2 over par thru 15
3) The group in front was on the 17th tee and the group behind was 1 1/2 holes behind
4) From tee off to the time I was driving out of the parking lot was 3 hrs, 54 minutes---recommended PLAY time 4 hrs, 18 minutes. So the group ahead played in the same time.
I had no idea what to make of this, so I smiled and thanked him for his suggestion---maybe a bad day or lost track of which group he wanted to speak to, but this was an isolated incident.

[justjim]

We play the executive courses about twice a week. Over the last 10 years we have seen "it all" on the executive courses. Very slow play seems to happen about 10% of the time and slow play another 15-of the time. So you do the math. i know it may seem more to a lot of golfers. We have learned to play the level 3 & 4 courses and stay away from late in the evening play unless we are just killing time" and don't care about slow play.

I agree nothing is going to change because of what others have already posted. Fore!

[DonH57]

There have been very, very few times my group have had to wait to tee off. In fact 7 of ten times we've been pushed out 15 to 20 minutes early and it would be fine except on most of these cases by the time we are at the 4th or 5th hole here comes the traffic jam.

[The Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012;1139***

If you're that bothered by the group in front going that slow talk to them directly, they may not be aware.

Rather than leave play ahead of them it's wide open

.

If they're on the 4th fairway, just go to the 5th tee and continue on your way. Does it really matter that you skipped the 4th hole? When you play daily, one hole isn't the end-all and be-all of your life.

Many on the executive courses have never played golf till they retired. Sure, the pace can destroy your game. But you're in the sunshine, you don't have to go to the office and you're among friends.

Life doesn't get much better than that.

[Villag]

As an Ambassador I take personal offense at being called a "glorified waterboy". Our mission is to ensure that EVERYONE can enjoy their round of golf. To say that we have no authority is very wrong. We can report individuals to our Managers and to GMS who will always follow up, and will call the person(s) that have given the Ambassadors a bad time. There have been many cases where golfers lose their golfing privileges for periods up to one year for not following the Ambassadors instructions or causing possible harm to others.

When approaching a group that is seriously out of position to suggest that they pick up their pace of play, most people comply. The arrogant players verbally attack the Ambassador for doing his job and always say that it's the group in front of them that's causing the slow play - (never mind that there are two holes open in front of them). Most Ambassadors work very hard to ensure that the course is well maintained, that people have enough water and sand, and that play is moving along. We are responsible for the management of the course.

When I see a person hitting multiple balls when there are groups directly behind them, I'll "politely" ask that they only play one ball so that others can enjoy their round. Some people seem to think that the executive courses are designed for practicing. THEY ARE NOT! They're there to be PLAYED! So, when you're putting for your 10th stroke on a par three, or looking for golf balls by the water, or giving instructions to another golfer, we ask that you be cognizant of your fellow golfers that are patiently waiting behind you.

The Ambassadors are there to support you so that you can enjoy your round of golf. We ask that you Respect the Game and have consideration for others behind you.

[golfing eagles]

Very well said!!! Keep up the good work.

[pearlsam]

AMEN! I have said the same thing for 9 years. Please start acting like ambassadors and do all of us a favor. There is nothing unreasonable about good golf practices.

[mdticket]

Originally Posted by Jimigolf

Absolutely not! They won't say boo about speed of play for fear of losing their jobs. The give out sand and water and don't do squat about speed of play on any of the Championship Courses. They hire wimps and demand that they act as such.

Your statement couldn't be further from the truth!!!

[golfing eagles]

I think there is a very simple way of looking at this. If you are keeping pace and not doing anything stupid, the most you'll hear from an ambassador is an offer for a drink of water or more sand in your bottle. However, if you are 2 holes behind, hitting 2 balls, not repairing divots or ball marks, not raking sand, yacking 5 minutes on each tee, giving constant lessons to your group, or hacking through protected wetland, YOU ARE EXACTLY the person(s) that the rest of us want the ambassador to address. If you didn't know any better, you should have, and now you do. If you knew and chose to ignore these simple rules, there should be some sort of action taken. Unfortunately, these are the very golfers that give the ambassadors a hard time. They probably also curse the police for doing their job as well. I'm glad 99% of the people here are NOT like that.

[mdticket]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If the tee times are all booked, how does the pace of play effect the $$$$?

At this time of year slow play even by the first group of the morning can mean folks in the afternoon could end up in the dark. This can also lead to people getting rain checks especially those in twosomes or threesomes. Even when play is ahead of pace play will seem slow for such groups. It is always better to play in a foursome if a slower pace effects your play or attitude.

[Grill Meister]

I am an ex-ambassador, having been fired and have joined a very exclusive and fast growing number of ex-golf course employees...without explanation. That being said, the ambassadors are not glorified water-boys. They normally do a fantastic job...sometimes in the face of abuse from players who think they are glorified water-boys!

The executive courses are totally different from the championship courses. Usually players move along with no delay and no one gets upset.....in the 5 years I worked the executive courses, I had only once incidence for slow play.

Now.....on the championship courses, it's way different.

What you experienced is way out of line and you should have brought this to the attention of the club pro or the "outside manager" who is responsible for seeing that the ambassadors are making sure the "pace of play" is maintained. Each ambassador is given a list of players and their starting times for the nine holes that the ambassador is responsible for. On that list (starting sheet) are times that indicate the time, on the clock, that each group should be at each of the nine holes. If a group starts to fall behind, the ambassador should approach the group, greet them and...."I need you to do me a favor, your group is behind XXXX minutes, and I will appreciate your picking up the pace of play so that others and not being held up. The ambassador marks this event on his starting sheet. The ambassador should "touch" each group at least 3 times during the nine holes. If the tardy group is behind after the ambassador asks them politely to speed up pace of play, the ambassador should then tell the group to move immediately to the appropriate position on the course. If they refuse or do not get into the proper position on the course, the outside manager is called to the course for appropriate action. All of this is thoroughly documents on the ambassador's starting sheet.

Next time, let the pro know!

[arickis]

You need the right frame of mind to play the exec's. I have tried playing the harder courses to no avail...still beginners with no clue, playing from the blacks. If you play for the excersise and some practice, it will be less stressfull....otherwise....it will eat you alive!