[mulligan]

It would make things better for everyone if the Good Golf School was mandatory.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by casita37

After following this thread for the last couple of days, I was a bit concerned about my beginner status on Pimlico this afternoon. I found I was trying to rush through every hole, as my husband was relaxed and playing as the game should be played. We had to wait for the group in front of us at every hole, but I still felt like I should not be so slow. Kind of felt like the folks behind us should see us waiting, so they would know it wasn't us holding things up....Shot my worst EVER score, even worse than the first time I was ever on a course. So, not so serious next time.....enjoy!!

Keep this in mind. When you started the round, you were waiting on the first tee for the group in front to clear the green. If you are waiting for them to clear on the second hole, and third, etc., you are maintaining a normal pace. The group in front should be doing the same thing. Things happen during a round that may cause a group to fall a bit behind, and it behooves them to catch up. That doesn't mean they have to rush, but they should emphasize ready golf to close the gap. There are things you can do like putt while a player rakes the trap after a sand shot, or rake the trap for the player if he/she is still away and/or not on the green. Things like that help close the gap without having to rush a shot. Park your cart toward the back of the green to facilitate clearing the way for the group behind. Pick up the flag while the last person putts out of their view, of course. Gather clubs left from chipping while others finish putting. Mark your scores at the next tee so you clear the way sooner.

There may be times when the group in front just takes off. For example, I have played behind a series of groups that were playing a scramble, these seem to take less time per hole than four people all playing their own ball into the hole. As a result, we felt like we were falling behind, but a quick look behind us revealed the group in back was not getting to the tee before we were almost ready to leave the green.

Last, check the time you finish. If you are finishing around the time par for that course, you have done your job to keep the flow of groups on time.

[bandsdavis]

Originally Posted by mikeod

Keep this in mind. When you started the round, you were waiting on the first tee for the group in front to clear the green. If you are waiting for them to clear on the second hole, and third, etc., you are maintaining a normal pace. The group in front should be doing the same thing. Things happen during a round that may cause a group to fall a bit behind, and it behooves them to catch up. That doesn't mean they have to rush, but they should emphasize ready golf to close the gap. There are things you can do like putt while a player rakes the trap after a sand shot, or rake the trap for the player if he/she is still away and/or not on the green. Things like that help close the gap without having to rush a shot. Park your cart toward the back of the green to facilitate clearing the way for the group behind. Pick up the flag while the last person putts out of their view, of course. Gather clubs left from chipping while others finish putting. Mark your scores at the next tee so you clear the way sooner.

There may be times when the group in front just takes off. For example, I have played behind a series of groups that were playing a scramble, these seem to take less time per hole than four people all playing their own ball into the hole. As a result, we felt like we were falling behind, but a quick look behind us revealed the group in back was not getting to the tee before we were almost ready to leave the green.

Last, check the time you finish. If you are finishing around the time par for that course, you have done your job to keep the flow of groups on time.

This has been a very interesting thread, and a few posts (not the most recent ones, but some others) appear to not think pace of play is that important. I think it was Arnold Palmer who once described the game of golf as needing both pure concentration and pure relaxation. I have found this to be true for every golfer I've played with to perform at the best level that your experience and skill allow. When you are waiting a lot during a round, your concentration suffers; when you feel pushed by the group behind you, your relaxation suffers. And I do believe everyone would agree that when you are playing well (for you, whatever that is!), the game is a lot more enjoyable! So pace of play is about much more than simply recognizing etiquette and being conscientious of others. It's about every golfer having the opportunity to play his or her best. Now, after that, we all have to find other excuses for why we don't.

[clekr]

For the first time in four years I actually saw an ambassador do his job. At the turn the group in front of us was 25 minutes behind (Bonifay). The starter told us he said something to them. After two holes it was obvious it had no effect. As we were on the 12th tee we noticed they had at least three holes open in front of them so we called the pro shop. An ambassador showed up and spoke to them then came back to talk to us. Again it was obvious it had no effect. At this point he said they had four holes open. He approached them again and told them to skip the next hole which of course they did not do. After the 14th hole we had had enough and went around them.

My suggestion to golf administration would be:
If a group finishes more then 25 minutes after the group in front of them, or
in more than 4:35 minutes
everyone in the group should receive warning letter. If it happens again within a month their golf privileges should be suspended for a period.

[Fourpar]

Originally Posted by clekr

For the first time in four years I actually saw an ambassador do his job. At the turn the group in front of us was 25 minutes behind (Bonifay). The starter told us he said something to them. After two holes it was obvious it had no effect. As we were on the 12th tee we noticed they had at least three holes open in front of them so we called the pro shop. An ambassador showed up and spoke to them then came back to talk to us. Again it was obvious it had no effect. At this point he said they had four holes open. He approached them again and told them to skip the next hole which of course they did not do. After the 14th hole we had had enough and went around them.

My suggestion to golf administration would be:
If a group finishes more then 25 minutes after the group in front of them, or
in more than 4:35 minutes
everyone in the group should receive warning letter. If it happens again within a month their golf privileges should be suspended for a period.

[doccrocker]

One thing that has been alluded to, but not truly addressed is the courtesy of waving to the following group and having them play through when the "slow players" see that the holes are opening up in front. It really shouldn't be up to Marshalls to "enforce" play rules, but reality is that manners have deteriorated ( or maybe that's just my misperception), and that's why we have Marshalls.

[Fourpar]

In my 4+ years here, I have never seen a group invited to play through....And I have been behind some real slow playing groups.
Yesterday my buddy & I played Bonifay. Beautiful day to play golf. At the starter shack we were paired with a couple of guys. Great...so far.
On the first tee one of the guys "waggled" excessively. We looked at each other and grinned, hoping it was just 1st tee jitters. But no, it was his thing! We counted: no less than 13 - 18 waggles per stroke, all the way 'round the course!
We wound up well behind the group in front of us, for 16 holes. And it truly affected the rest of us as we tried to make up for the time this clown took over each stroke! And this was not a beginner. He'd been playing for 40+ years (he bragged a bit too).
It aint always beginners, or less skilled players that slow the course down. This guy played pretty much bogy golf.
Another testimony to the fact that it isn't skill level that slows things down.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Fourpar

In my 4+ years here, I have never seen a group invited to play through....And I have been behind some real slow playing groups.
Yesterday my buddy & I played Bonifay. Beautiful day to play golf. At the starter shack we were paired with a couple of guys. Great...so far.
On the first tee one of the guys "waggled" excessively. We looked at each other and grinned, hoping it was just 1st tee jitters. But no, it was his thing! We counted: no less than 13 - 18 waggles per stroke, all the way 'round the course!
We wound up well behind the group in front of us, for 16 holes. And it truly affected the rest of us as we tried to make up for the time this clown took over each stroke! And this was not a beginner. He'd been playing for 40+ years (he bragged a bit too).
It aint always beginners, or less skilled players that slow the course down. This guy played pretty much bogy golf.
Another testimony to the fact that it isn't skill level that slows things down.

YOU are so right about veteran golfers taking a lot of time to access putts and also taking a lot of time at set up.

And waggling, which I think you mean, you know I am not sure what you mean by waggling. Since I have been playing a long time and don't know, perhaps others aren't familiar with the term either. Please explain.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

waggling - present participle of wag·gle (Verb)

Verb

1. Move or cause to move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down.
2. Swing (a golf club) loosely to and fro over the ball before playing a shot.

Bill

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

waggling - present participle of wag·gle (Verb)

Verb

1. Move or cause to move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down.
2. Swing (a golf club) loosely to and fro over the ball before playing a shot.

Bill

OH! I thought that might be what he meant but appreciate it Bill.

[ugotme]

OR - Waggle -

What my dog does when I come home. As in - "My dog waggles her tail when I enter the house."

OH GEEZ - I'M SORRY !!!!

[richhor]

The biggest problem I see is that the ambassadors do not have any power to move the slower players along. I work at Harbor Hills as a ranger and we time every group when they start and make the turn. I have spoken to many ambassadors on executive courses and they will be the first one to tell you that they are not allowed to ask golfers to pick up and move to the next hole. On championship courses they have some authority to get the course moving but not on the executive ones.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by richhor

The biggest problem I see is that the ambassadors do not have any power to move the slower players along. I work at Harbor Hills as a ranger and we time every group when they start and make the turn. I have spoken to many ambassadors on executive courses and they will be the first one to tell you that they are not allowed to ask golfers to pick up and move to the next hole. On championship courses they have some authority to get the course moving but not on the executive ones.

Executive Course Ambassadors have told me that they will be fired if golfers complain about them. So it's no wonder that they don't want to ask golfers to pick up their pace.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Executive Course Ambassadors have told me that they will be fired if golfers complain about them. So it's no wonder that they don't want to ask golfers to pick up their pace.

I asked them too last week(Executive course Ambassador) and they said that if there is a real problem and a lot of defiance and a large space ahead they can call "management" but sometimes "management" can't get there quickly enough to remedy the situation. I think he meant if folks were openly and verbally abusive to others, but I don't know that for sure.

Now that I have scared all new golfers, confused people who don't golf and convinced everyone that I used to be a Marine Sargent......

I throw myself on your mercy and know in my heart, that once you become a veteran golfer you will understand this thread better and the meaning behind it. It is so that everyone can enjoy this maddening game at the pace it was meant to be played. NO one wants you to rush around but do keep in the back of your mind that most executive courses are set up to be played about ten minutes a hole.

[robertj1954]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If you are new to golf, please take an orientation class at one of the regional rec centers that will tell you to pick up after double par, don't take long to look for balls, park your golf cart near the back of the green and exit quickly from the green after you have putted out, write your score on the next hole. Don't hit a second shot to make up for a bad one.

Many people new to golf don't realize that part and parcel of the game is moving along at a steady pace. I think on a par three you are supposed to play a hole in ten minutes. Keeping the pace of play identifies you as a good golfer. An executive course is engineered to be played in about an hour and a half.

If you play slow people are going to be waiting behind you ALL DAY.

When golfing on Championship courses look for the parking beacon at the greens. They are moved daily closest to the pin location. The Ambassadors move them daily to provide the quickest and safest access to the green. Also, if you have a RAT please allow 15 ft from the greens and do not park your cart between the green and the bunkers. Most important, have fun!