[gomoho]

Originally Posted by clod

There may be some others, but I am not aware of any sport in TV that allows unlimited play without some sort of vetting. Soft ball, pool, paddle ball, even square dancing require some level of skill to play. Why not require some sort of minimal introduction to golf so all are on the same page? Some out there have literally never been exposed to any level of golf before.

Well 'cause everyone was new at one time, and we are entitled to "free golf" just like those that play well, and where would you suggest we go? Easy now.

[Rbgold]

I am a beginner golfer (playing about two years now), and from the very beginning my instructor has taught and stressed the importance of "ready golf" and understanding pace of play. I know when I should pick up and move on and have no problem doing so.

[pqrstar]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Well 'cause everyone was new at one time, and we are entitled to "free golf" just like those that play well, and where would you suggest we go? Easy now.

Well, for starters, you could go to the driving range or the "abundant" practice putting greens.

[Happinow]

Today was mine and my husbands first day on a golf course. I didn't sleep all night hoping that I would do ok today. We play 9 holes with our very patient neighbors. They can hold their own on a golf course but are not super players. I felt myself looking behind me a lot of the time to make sure we weren't holding people up. It seemed to me that we weren't. I didn't want to be rushed while trying to make my shot and I'm not one to take practice shots so I think I moved along well. Hubby, on the other hand, felt like he had to rush all of his shots and didnt do so well. frankly, i didnt either but i tried. I don't think golf would be much fun it you had to feel constantly under pressure to get out of the way. Next time we play golf, I think he will slow down a bit and relax. Try to remember that new golfers have a lot on their minds.......we are thinking about our golf swing, our form, which club to use, not to forget the clubs on the ground, are we too slow, how many people are waiting, marking our ball.....the list goes on. So until we get a few games under our belt......please remember.....you were once there.

[karostay]

Enjoy the day.... Enjoy your friends Be thank full your 2 feet are still above ground
If your in that much of a hurry stay home

[wendyquat]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Today was mine and my husbands first day on a golf course. I didn't sleep all night hoping that I would do ok today. We play 9 holes with our very patient neighbors. They can hold their own on a golf course but are not super players. I felt myself looking behind me a lot of the time to make sure we weren't holding people up. It seemed to me that we weren't. I didn't want to be rushed while trying to make my shot and I'm not one to take practice shots so I think I moved along well. Hubby, on the other hand, felt like he had to rush all of his shots and didnt do so well. frankly, i didnt either but i tried. I don't think golf would be much fun it you had to feel constantly under pressure to get out of the way. Next time we play golf, I think he will slow down a bit and relax. Try to remember that new golfers have a lot on their minds.......we are thinking about our golf swing, our form, which club to use, not to forget the clubs on the ground, are we too slow, how many people are waiting, marking our ball.....the list goes on. So until we get a few games under our belt......please remember.....you were once there.

I agree! We took lessons and spent a lot of time at driving ranges before daring to try our hand on a course! I don't feel I am doing well by rushing but I do want to be considerate of others also. My answer is to stay on a level one course (turtle mound). I feel like the better golfers should play a higher level and those who play a level one should be more patient with newer or just slower golfers. As with golf cart traffic and other traffic, WHAT IS YOUR HURRY?

[justjim]

Originally Posted by wendyquat

I agree! We took lessons and spent a lot of time at driving ranges before daring to try our hand on a course! I don't feel I am doing well by rushing but I do want to be considerate of others also. My answer is to stay on a level one course (turtle mound). I feel like the better golfers should play a higher level and those who play a level one should be more patient with newer or just slower golfers. As with golf cart traffic and other traffic, WHAT IS YOUR HURRY?

Wendy you may be on to something------if those just starting to play golf would play the level 1 courses for the first few months and until their skills and confidence increases it would benefit them and all TV golfers. It's not a perfect solution but a REASONABLE idea. Golf and Golf Digest have written many many articles on slow play. One that I saw not long ago went on to say that slow play was the biggest problem that golf currently has to solve. Now they were talking about "working people" whose time is critical and many times means money----not necessarily Retirees. Ready golf-----let it happen.

[Gerald]

Personally most of you should slow down. Enjoy the game, relax you will live longer
It is a game not a life ending struggle. It is playing for fun, this is a retirement village not a village of pro's on T.V.

[KeepingItReal]

....

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Today was mine and my husbands first day on a golf course. I didn't sleep all night hoping that I would do ok today. We play 9 holes with our very patient neighbors. They can hold their own on a golf course but are not super players. I felt myself looking behind me a lot of the time to make sure we weren't holding people up. It seemed to me that we weren't. I didn't want to be rushed while trying to make my shot and I'm not one to take practice shots so I think I moved along well. Hubby, on the other hand, felt like he had to rush all of his shots and didnt do so well. frankly, i didnt either but i tried. I don't think golf would be much fun it you had to feel constantly under pressure to get out of the way. Next time we play golf, I think he will slow down a bit and relax. Try to remember that new golfers have a lot on their minds.......we are thinking about our golf swing, our form, which club to use, not to forget the clubs on the ground, are we too slow, how many people are waiting, marking our ball.....the list goes on. So until we get a few games under our belt......please remember.....you were once there.

You're right, beginners do have a lot on their minds. But, playing "ready golf" does not have to be a cumbersome load of other complex thoughts.

It amounts to being ready to step up to take your shot and then DO it.....and once you have taken 5-6 shots on a par 3, pick up the ball and move on.

There are a couple of other helpful things we women did as beginners (long before we came here). First, play in the late afternoon and evenings when far fewer people are on the courses. Also, rank beginners sometimes form a 6-hole beginners' league to get started, for a few months or a year.

From what I've seen, beginners often don't realize that waiting at every tee for 10-15 minutes (because of slow people ahead) makes the waiting players have nothing to do but engage in conversations about other "stuff".....and your mind goes off the game and onto other topics and aggravations (like the slow, oblivious players ahead). Once you get aggravated at having to wait and wait and wait at every tee, the mind is off the game, causing a good player to get worse and worse and worse.

[Barefoot]

Being a new golfer doesn't mean that you can't relax and have fun. I think it is possible to be a new golfer and also play ready golf and be considerate of others behind you. As a new golfer, I only play Level One courses. If I'm a couple over par, I pick up my ball and move on. I don't feel stressed or rushed. I enjoy the fresh air and socialiation. After all, it's just a game.

[jimmemac]

Some simple thoughts: Every one of us has the right to play and enjoy golf.
If you are new to golf or just a slower player you should probably be playing on the easier courses and not at the busiest times out of respect for others and it goes that if you are a really good player that you would not be playing the easiest courses unless you are there to just have fun with a friend-the key word being having fun!
Nobody likes to wait; I get that, and yes it is a social event for some but in the end why are we in such a hurry? What is so important that it can't wait???
Seems like a little common sense would go a long way to making lots of people happy!

[Indydealmaker]

Beginning players should not be conned into thinking that Ready Golf has anything to do with open tees ahead of you because in reality it does not. If you are playing within the recommended playing time for that course, an open hole ahead of you is not a strike against you. It only means that the group ahead is playing faster than the norm.

You don't have to ruin your day just because you are sandwiched in between two fast play groups.

Originally Posted by Happinow

Today was mine and my husbands first day on a golf course. I didn't sleep all night hoping that I would do ok today. We play 9 holes with our very patient neighbors. They can hold their own on a golf course but are not super players. I felt myself looking behind me a lot of the time to make sure we weren't holding people up. It seemed to me that we weren't. I didn't want to be rushed while trying to make my shot and I'm not one to take practice shots so I think I moved along well. Hubby, on the other hand, felt like he had to rush all of his shots and didnt do so well. frankly, i didnt either but i tried. I don't think golf would be much fun it you had to feel constantly under pressure to get out of the way. Next time we play golf, I think he will slow down a bit and relax. Try to remember that new golfers have a lot on their minds.......we are thinking about our golf swing, our form, which club to use, not to forget the clubs on the ground, are we too slow, how many people are waiting, marking our ball.....the list goes on. So until we get a few games under our belt......please remember.....you were once there.

Welcome to the wonderful game of golf.I hope you enjoyed yourselves & will continue playing.All of the things you mentioned are very understandable but these are not the things that slow the pace of play. Things people should know are things like parking your cart on the backside of the greens , take your putter & any other club you had with you in the cart with you and put them away at the next tee box.I can tell you how many times I watch folks come off the greens ,put heir clubs in their bag ,sit in the cart & write down their scores then proceed to drive to the next tee box while others are waiting.If you think of all the little things you can do like walking a little faster off the greens, being ready to hit your shot when it's your turn etc.. then the actual part when your swinging the club shouldn't have to be rushed because most likely if you're doing the little things you're not holding anyone up. Fore!!!

[Golfingnut]

This is all I have to say about slow play.