[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by 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!

Good information.
Thanks for he post.

[tmbromley]

Originally Posted by Walter123

Your life will be much better if you learn to accept the executive courses for what they are.

I accept that executive golf courses are for those that are learning the game and it is a good place for that but it is not a substitute for the practice tee. There are rules of play so that everyone enjoys the game on the executive courses as they are no one persons private practice range.

People that take up the great game of golf should follow rules of etiquette and play:

If you are learning pick up after 7 shots on a par 3 and go to the green with the other members and practice a putt if you like but you should not continue to hit shot after shot after 7 shots. That is completely inconsiderate of others and the game of golf has rules of etiquette.

If you have never played the game it is totally inappropriate to go to an executive course and start by playing. That is also a sure fire way to build in wrong swing thoughts and actions. The golf swing is not natural. You should get lessons first and practice those lessons before subjecting the course or other golfers playing behind you to an untried swing.

Learn how to fix ball marks and rake sand traps - priority golf membership does not entitle one to forget those things - the ambassador is not anyone's personal caddie! They are not responsible to rake your traps for you or fix your ball marks either.

When fixing ball marks learn how to do that correctly by folding the grass back in place by pushing the ground around the mark down and towards the center of the mark and while you're at it fix a few more like all good golfers do. Do the same in the bunkers.

The game of golf is a great fun game and is made a whole lot more fun by following rules of etiquette and learning the golf swing off the course before playing. It is a game of a lifetime but it shouldn't take a lifetime to play a round. Be considerate and learn the game correctly and you will have a whole lot more fun! I know I have been playing for 35 years and I started incorrectly. I didn't take a lesson for 2 years and after my first lesson it took me 20 years to stop making the mistakes I had ingrained in my swing from those first 2 years. It was a terrible mistake. But if one takes the time to learn the game correctly you can be playing good golf so much sooner and enjoying it so much more and those that play with you and behind you will surely appreciate that a whole lot!

I hope this is helpful as it is intended to be. It is not intended to be directed at any one person it is intended to be a post for all of us that love the game of golf.

Thank you for reading

[tmbromley]

Originally Posted by Walter123

Nothing will ever change no matter how much one complains. The championship courses are a different animal. We pay for those so they keep the pace of play at a more acceptable level. So I say again......


Your life will be much better if you learn to accept the executive courses for what they are.

or........you can let it upset you and have a bad game.

Please tell us what the executive courses are for? They are for having fun are they not - slow play is and always has been the nemesis of golf. We all have a lot more fun when the course moves along nicely.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Grill Meister

.....in the 5 years I worked the executive courses, I had only once incidence for slow play.

We live in unusual place. The retired minimum wage earners here were successful before and overqualified. It's like when I was a teacher. Period 3 the AP teacher with a PHD in literature gives an amazing lesson and Period 4 she has cafeteria duty.

I'm not sure why there cant' be more water stations on the course. Golfers should be responsible enough to fill up a water bottle, and refill it on any tee. My guess is that most of their time is spent handing out water. You said that ambassadors are supposed to check each group 3 times in 9 holes. I like that.

I think their job should be ask each group if everything is OK and move on, not hand out water. If the ambassador gets a sense that this will be a slow group then it's OK at the first visit to remind them or instruct them to keep up with the group up ahead and I'll see you in a little while. On the second visit if there is a back-up ask them to move up to the Red Stake and put a temporary Red stake in the ground where they should be. People may not like it if they are golfers and beginners may like it because it's instructive.

Try this out and see what happens.

I'd like to hear about the "slow play incident". I lasted 1 day as an ambassador on a local public course. I was 23. I'd tell people twice my age who just spent a considerable amount of money on green fees, teed off late to pick up the pace and they yelled at me. My pay was free golf and it wasn't worth the aggravation.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thank you!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by 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.

And come on here and call them "glorified waterboys"....................

[Brownwood Bob]

Well said!!!

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by tomwed

When is the last time anyone did not tee off on time?
This will tell you whether or not the system works with slow golfers.

That's not the problem. I often tee off on time and then run into 3 foursomes wating at the fourth hole.

[DonH57]

There have been a few times when our foursome checked in 25 minutes early and were told you are next to tee off, hole is open. We go out and one foursome is on the green and another is waiting to tee off. LOL. Somebody's not looking out the window. I think the best ran courses are by the starters standing out with the clipboards verifying who is teeing off and when.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by sadie44

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.

Originally Posted by carolmaidstone

Playing a local course today, one of the ambassadors stopped to offer water and I noted that he had taken this thread to heart. Obviously becoming more proactive- in his cart he was carrying an exceptionally large hammer.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Don't even THINK about hitting two balls.

How I wish people would just play their first ball.

[Shadow8IA]

Don't forget to allow more wait time if you're a twosome following a foursome!

[queasy27]

I don't golf here, so forgive me, but aren't faster groups allowed to play through when needed?

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by queasy27

I don't golf here, so forgive me, but aren't faster groups allowed to play through when needed?

Only if there is an open hole in front of the slower group.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Only if there is an open hole in front of the slower group.

And then rotsa ruck unless that group knows the correct etiquette. But if they did, they probably would not be 1+ holes behind. I sit on my lanai and watch the most amazing performances by some golfers. Why would someone who can't hit it more than 120 yds off the tee struggle for 2 min with club selection for their next 220 yd shot? Then take 5 practice swings and change clubs again? In all likelihood it's going to take them 3 more shots to get on the green anyway, then they'll 3 putt for their snowman. At that skill level, why not just enjoy the time out in the sunny Florida weather, hit the ball in a timely fashion, and leave the scorecard at the starter's shack? Face the facts---you're never going to be wearing a green jacket or strolling up the 18th at St. Andrews to a thunderous ovation as you win the Open by 5 shots. When your average hole starts getting better than triple bogey, you can trot out the scorecard and start thinking about your "strategery". Sorry if anyone takes offense, but shooting 124 really isn't any better than 127.

[tomwed]

I don't recall playing through anybody on an exec. Maybe when it was hot and sonny and the course is mostly empty.

We don't need people to hand out water when it's readily available.

We need someone to make sure no one is having a health issue [ie overheating, chest pains]. As the Ambassador drives by give a thumbs up and you'll get one in return or stop and help. I would rather think of an Ambassador as a Life Guard not a water boy. Although they should have water bottles, something for diabetics, and maybe a defibrillator in their cart.

We need a Local Rules Committee to set local course rules that addresses Slow Play. Many people down here like to have rules.

Taken from the Rules of Golf
Effective January 1, 2012
as approved by
The United States Golf Association
and R&A Rules Limited

Rule 6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play
The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace
of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of
a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly
delay play.

The Local Rules Committee could establish moving up to the Red Flag carries no penalty but it is 1 stoke and play continues. There are local rules for ground under repair, drop zones, environmental area free lifts,,,,why not a slow play local rule?

Finally we need the ambassadors to stick a Red Flag in the ground where he wants the group to move. The Starter has the authority to tell the group when to start and nobody questions it. The Ambassador has the authority on the course to tell the group where to be.