It would appear some things that are considered normal to maintain pace of play are considered rushing by others. Dropping off your cart partner at his/her ball and driving to your ball then picking them up after both have hit to some is normal, to others is rushing. Lining up your putt while someone else is putting is considered rushing by some, normal by others. Parking the cart to facilitate leaving the hole when finished and marking scores at the next tee are also normal to some, unnecessary to others.

And I agree with the post above that this is not confined to the championship courses. I played Yankee Clipper in a foursome behind a group of four men who appeared to be competent players. After four holes, they were two holes behind. Ridiculous. They even retried chips and putts while we were waiting on the tee. The ambassador told us he asked them to pick up the pace, but they were two holes behind the rest of the round.

But I still believe golf here is a cooperative effort of all players on the course to maximize enjoyment for all.

Pace of play
 

Since no one has answered your question. You can call a course and make arrangements to tee off before the start of the tee time of morning wave. I think you can only play 9 holes doing that. Unfortunately this time of year, the sunrise is at about 7:20 AM...doesn't give the courses much time to schedule early birds. However in the summer it is easy to do. This also helps to explain why Russ-Boston indicated he almost never sees cigarette butts on the course, he is the first group out.

[QUOTE=mikeod;298783]It is not a "rule" of golf, but is accepted etiquette. Your position on the course is behind the group in front of you rather than in front of the group behind you. If the ambassador tells you your group is 5 minutes ahead of pace, do you sit in the cart for 5 minutes? The stated pace of play is not a minimum, but should be a maximum.

Play on any golf course is a cooperative effort of all players to maximize enjoyment of all. Groups that fall well behind reduce the enjoyment of all who play immediately behind them and for the rest of the day. Groups who push others, hit into them in their haste, also adversely affect the golf experience of others. Nobody is asking anyone to rush their game, just play at a pace that keeps the groups in contact with each other and minimizes delays."Quote=mikeod

I agree with you. That is how I was taught. If there is an open hole ahead of you, speed up. Etiquette is simply consideration for others.

[quote=graciegirl;298985]The only way that this is proper etiquette is if the group ahead is playing at a normal pace and you are playing too slow. If the group ahead is faster than the norm, there is absolutely no reason for your group to rush ahead if it is already playing at the suggested pace. Filling that gap changes nothing. If the starter is getting everybody off at their appointed tee times, it does not matter if somebody finishes ahead of schedule. It only matters if slower than prescribed play causes a backup.

What adds to the groups backing up is when the starter sends a group off before their scheduled starting time. This has happened to me on several occassions. Sooner or later you are going to come to a standstill.

Sorry, I was working all day (still am - don't tell my nurse supervisor!).

9 holes only. I do prefer to get out early if possible. I've played 9 holes and been finished well before 9AM. they can usually shove out 3-4 foursomes before the wave - depending on daylight.

[quote=Indydealmaker;299000]I was sure that I was right, because Sweetie always says, "we need to keep up", but when I asked him just now about this situation, he agrees with you. So you are right and I am wrong. I apologize.

[quote=graciegirl;299012]No apology is needed. Open discourse is what this forum is all about. We all learn from each other. I have always been wrong before I was right. . . for the last 60 years at least.

Pace of play...update
 

I played Hacienda this morning (8:13 tee time). We played 18 in 3 hours and 45 minutes!!!! Definitely worth noting.since I started the slow pace of play thread a week ago. Nancy

I use to play golf 3 or 4 times a week before I moved to The Villages. Our groups played on a difficult Pete Dye course and we usually played in 3:45 minutes. I've basically given up playing golf in TV, way too slow. It is no fun to wait on every hole. Too many golfers don't play "ready golf". You don't have to rush to play a round in under 4 hours.

So if I understand things correctly; top flight players can play TV country club courses in 3:45. Slow players are the ones playing 4:15 which is generally the prescribed "acceptable" playing time per the score cards. This means that these "acceptable" but "slow" players are causing the top flight players to wait an average of 1.6 minutes per hole. Wow!

:sigh: So, because the time increment is only 1.6 minutes per hole, it's OK to make everyone behind you wait for you to complete your round at the "prescribed" pace. They are rushing, you are not. So if there are two, three, four holes open in front of you, it's the "pros" in front of you creating the gap, not you. I would suggest you attend the Good Golf School at Colony and ask how they feel about that. Call 750-4558. It's held Thursday mornings, 9-11.

We played today, by chance there was a group behind us that we know. I have played with them and they are not slow players. Also by chance, we had an exceptional round, birdies and pars and fast play. They were two holes behind us when we finished, but ahead of the "prescribed" pace. If I read you right they should pick up the pace just because we were playing faster than normal? (By coincidence there was no one in front of us but usually if we are playing and the group all gets pars or birdies I expect to wait at the next tee.)

Simple answer, Yes. They should try to close the gap, but not by rushing. Playing ready golf, being prepared to play when it's their turn, etc. If they are still two holes behind at the end and they have tried to close the gap and the groups behind them are not backed up, I don't have a problem.

Look, we can all point to exceptional instances where a gap will occur, but they are not frequent. All I am promoting is that people on the golf courses understand that their pace of play affects all those behind them and they consider their fellow golfers when they play.

Being at your ball when it's your turn to hit, or dropping your partner at his/her ball (as long as you're not getting in front of another golfer) are integral to ready golf. Same with parking to facilitate leaving the hole. Failing to do these things is failing to play ready golf.

For anyone who considers these actions rushing... well, let's just say, I know what part of "ready golf" they don't understand. :(