"We are retired; take a chill pill" - is an attitude of privilege and entitlement. This isn't a retirement community. It's a 55+ community. MANY people living in The Villages still work for a living. That means their day off, is probably only one of two or three days off they have available all week. That means this one golf game might possibly be the only one they get to play all week, or all month. If you're not in a rush, then schedule yourself for the last tee time available. You're retired afterall, you don't have to get to bed early to work in the morning right?

An actual solution that I haven't read yet, is for the party immediately behind the slow group to simply ask if they can play through. And for the slow party to say "you know what, we're slow today, go ahead."

If enough people continuously ask the slower people if they can play through, maybe the slower people will get the hint that they're going TOO slow, and either speed up, or stop scheduling their tee time so early in the day when so many other people are lining up behind them.

I totally agree that slow play ruins golf.
The executive courses are more "social" in nature but we pay significantly to play the Championship Courses.
As a former ranger up north it seems ridiculous that the ambassadors can't enforce pace of play. When I see a player sitting in a cart waiting for his partner to play and his/her ball is within walking distance to the cart and they don't have enough sense to go to their ball on get ready to hit it slows play significantly . Simply being aware of strategies to speed play and allowing ambassadors to "mentor" players could help speed up play greatly.

I have had some experience on the execs with starters forcing us out " on time" when there is an obvious back up. THen we just wait out on the course. Makes no sense. I'd rather wait at the beginning and play a smooth round. Some starters get it and some don't.

Being retired so expect slow play is an excuse, not a reason. We are ALL retired !! and the majority of us can keep up because we play ready golf, bring more than one club when chipping on (putter so we dont have to return to the cart) and dont hover around balls like a flock of quail. I enjoy my time conversing too.... but I do it in the cart on the way to the next hole. One slow group can and does cause a lot of consternation behind them. "Learn how to golf prior to learning how to play golf"

Ambassador Communication
 

I think part of the problem is ambassador communication. The ambassador should come up with a way to address the slow play that (a) starts with the statement that the players have fallen behind because they may be unaware and (b) suggests a solution.

"Would you like to let them through?"
"Would you like to skip a hole?"
"Would you like to pick up your ball?"

One ambassador told me to stand next to my ball to move it along ... and my ball was in front of the other three golfers .. what a joke!

Communication is the key - give the ambassadors the communication tools and they will do a better job suggesting a solution.

Removing many of the sand traps on Executives, would certainly speed up play,
Removing them all would not be out of the equation either.
Some are way beyond the skill level of many, and as stated earlier, some are more in tune with the North Face of the Eiger, as far as some of us older farts are concerned!

My personal view is that it shouldn't take more than 3 1/2 hours to play , the thought of 4 and 15 minutes is way longer than required but always hear they're on time and if there's open holes ahead imho they're behind , if you want take all day play in the late afternoon

First of all most ambassadors only have the "job" because they want 1/2 price golf. Years ago the developer's policy was not to enforce pace of play. Very few ambassadors even bother to try.

There are those idiotic signs at starter shacks that say "think ready golf." They should say "play ready golf." Would probably still be a waste of paper.

So many players do not play ready golf. Years ago I played at an area offsite course with pace of play rules posted. #1 was: at the first notice of slow play, you will be asked to pick up the pace. #2 was: at the second notice of slow play you will be asked to move to the 150 yd. marker, or next tee box, whichever is closer. #3 was: at the third notice you will be asked to leave the course.

In TV slow players manage the courses. If fast/normal speed players don't like it they can leave. Of course it should be the other way around.

Each nine holes on championship holes is timed separately. You can be 1/2 hour behind on the first 9, and right on time on the second.

I've been in groups behind slow players with open holes and have had the ambassador tell us that there are no open holes, or we are right on pace. Essentially calling us liars. I try to avoid interacting with ambassadors at all.

Yes, I am retired. But being on the course for 4 1/2 to 5 hours for a round of golf is not my idea of fun. I don't play as well as I did 20 years ago, but I still play well. Slow play is not my idea of fun.

Sad that this will never change.

Old Retired People = Slow Play.




Next!!!

Playing the championship courses isn’t inexpensive and nothing is worse than waiting on every hole
Maybe they could spread the tee times to 9 minutes apart

People - we are retired! Yes, I get annoyed with slow play too but if you’re playing an exec course, expect slow play. A lot of these players are beginners and they have the right to learn the game. I’d rather see them on an exec course than a championship course. Maybe a suggestion: spread out the tee times a couple of minutes. Or require a golf 101 course before playing ( providing people with golf etiquette)

Most of the fast food places put three (3) pickles on :) :)

You're playing a GAME...not undertaking a military foray. Chill out and have fun. Or, if that doesn't appeal, join an golf club with a lot of young members and have to hustle your butt. This is a RETIREMENT community and in Florida, where everything is a lot slower than 'up north'.

Do you all know you are retired and should be enjoying the great outdoors. I play the executive courses regularly and they are always backed up unless you are first on. Just relax and catch up on what is going on with your friends, no one has to get back to the office.

Why can’t the slower group let the faster group play through? Why can’t a group of 4 let a single or a pair play through?

It seems that inviting someone to play through would satisfy both groups. Why isn’t this concept part of “Good Golf”?

Keith

Steve is correct, people play less golf because of slow play, some even quite. But the real problem here, as we can see from the responses, is that, there are competing views. Some people enjoy a leisurely round, some come to socialize, the course has their own agenda. For those that want to play golf without the social interaction, the traditional 4 some at 4+ hours is not fun. A single golfer with a cart and get around a championship course, without speeding in about 2 1/2 hours. A twosome with their own cart and get around in about 3 hours. A foursome will take, even in the best of time 3 3/4 to four hours. Its clear having more than 2 people, is not conducive to prompt golf. Why cant both types of players have their way. Start with twosome Tuesdays. Tee times are only for single and 2 players, each with their own cart. I think on those days we would be talking around 3 hour rounds, without rushing. A golfers golfer wants to play golf, but not at a hurried pace. If the demand was increasing the course could go to every other day having 1 or 2 golfer tee times, I would think you could go to 5 minute tee times, which would increase the income of the golf course. People that want to continue to play 4+ hour rounds could book on those designated days. Everybody wins.

Then why bother having ambassadors. There is a polite way to tell someone to pick up the pace. Also find out what group is causing the delay.

Slow play can be aggravating on any course, especially when you see golfers taking ten minutes to find a ball that is obviously determined not to be found. A lot of players also do not understand ready golf. If you're on time, you're on time. No problem there. However, if you are unnecessarily holding up other players, it's not a matter of being retired, it's a matter of being cognizant of others around you.

Played in 1hr5min the other day as a foursome and after the 2nd hole never saw the threesome in front of us or the foursome behind us. Remember there are a lot of first time golfers down here and alot play from the wrong tees.

Having a schedule of that kind is just not realistic. It amounts to rationing golf. I think the bulk of us realize and accept that if you're a twosome behind a foursome, you are obviously not going to take as long to play, and there may be some wait time. As far as leisure and socializing goes, my own experience tells me it is possible to keep up the pace and still interact with others in the group.

Speed of play
 

There’s enough courses to have designated slow play and fast play courses. Each to own need. I for one am retired but don’t enjoy 5 hour rounds. I love 3.5 hour rounds and would seek out courses promoting faster play and avoid slow play courses.

That would never work.....and you know that. In addition to the uprising that would create that would also be a form of segregation. The priority system would either be in shambles or impossible to manage and how the heck would you determine who plays well. Train in and give the ambassadors authority to regulate play would help. If you love 3.5 rounds, I suspect you are in the minority but there are plenty of off site courses that can accommodate you. Why try and adjust everyone else's game to fit yours?

New to golf
 

We played a round of golf when we did the Stay & Play. I've only played golf one other time in Arizona. The couple we played with in TV were amazing and patient with me and gave lots of tips. We weren't holding anyone up behind us. We haven't retired yet, but I certainly hope to relax more than some of the people on these threads. Isn't being retired supposed to be about relaxing? I've had enough stress working and sure don't want to move across the country to be stressed out over golf, golf cart traffic, crowded restaurants, etc. We've been to TV several times and everyone seems to be enjoying their time there, but then I start reading the threads. Mixed messages to say the least.

As a newbie wearing a green shirt, let me chime in here. First, I only read the first few, and last few, pages of this thread, but many of you are correct. Ambassadors will enforce play, although mainly on the Champ courses. For the main reasons stated here. There's really no place to put people, and with 9 holes, the damage is already done(and play finished), by the time we try to intervene. For the Champs, same as some answers here. It's the clock. They're timed to the minute(of Tee-off). And they will be spoken to, multiple times, if necessary, before we call out a Mgr. But, just because a group behind them is playing faster, does not mean they have to play as fast. Lots of amateur/novice golfers in TV. As for letting them thru(like up north), with the wave system, it's hard to do. Bottom line, if you're thinking you're going to "jump on as a single or two-some, and scream thru", you'll want to find a less crowded time(s). Cheers! Drink the Kool-Aid, and perhaps something else in it, and enjoy! :)

Cold No More, while I agree with you on everything I do believe that it is more of a board meeting watching everyone’s shot. Lol:a040:

You already upset the 30 people behind the slow player

slow play
 

I have never understood this rule on the golf courses.
I have played many courses and there is always a timing factor.
It is fine for beginners to play too, but they should be told that after 4 or 5 over par, they should pick up their ball and move on so they don't hold up the entire golf course. I realize everyone can't shoot par, but let's pick up and think about all the golfers behind us.
Maybe the beginners should consider taking a few golf lessons and especially read about golf etiquette; we need to learn to share our golf courses a little better and learn the rules of golf.

One of the more impatient guys I regularly play with in a large group, refers to them as..."union meetings." :D


Conversely, this same person has no problem taking 10 minutes to look for his own $1.00 ball...even after being told it's DEEP in the swamp. :oops:

A couple years ago we had one of those also so when he wanted to stay and search for his obviously lost ball the rest of his group moved on. If he was driving the guy with him grabbed a couple clubs and walked to his ball, if he was riding the driver drove away and it was up to him to catch up. That happened maybe three times and he got the message.

This is "VILLAGES" Golf. People who have NEVER played golf play here because they already have a golf cart, live a few blocks from the course and feel it is somewhat free. It is the main attraction. They are TERRIBLE Golfers. 10-15 strokes per hole. (5 strokes just putting greens, etc.) So of course it is going to be slow. Also this is a retirement community. People walk very slow. It takes a long time to retrieve a ball from the cup. Got the idea. Villages Golf. Ambassadors for Executive Courses are instructed to just keep everyone happy.

Championship is a little more like the Outside World. But you will still get very slow players imitating pro players, waiting till green clears to hit their shank out of bounds, etc. But this is a Retirement Community. You generally know what to expect.

Of course the bottom line is to move more people through a course. Designate some courses for beginners and pace them 15 minutes apart instead of 8 minutes. This way everyone enjoys the game.

:bigbow:

Takes a lot of cheese for all the whine. Relax and enjoy the time. lots of new players and should be told at starter shack to pick up after 6 as the rule is

I don't mind slow play due to people with disabilities, old people who move slow, or newbies. What I don't like is when people think it is ok to hit 3 or 4 balls until they find one they like (probably not much better than the first 3).

Actually, that's not really a "rule"...even an unofficial one.

One 'unofficial rule' I've heard, is the one that suggests you should pick up...after "double par."

Which is still better than those having a blowup hole and refusing to put the ball in their pocket...regardless of how many strokes they've already taken. :oops:

Even if a person doesn't keep a GHIN index, I personally would just be happy to see them estimate what their course handicap would be...and then follow the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) guidelines. :shrug:


Equitable Stroke Control (Click Here)

Since getting a GHIN number isn't all that expensive (+-$30 a year?), I suggest everyone should get one so that they can see how their game is progressing...or in my case, regressing. :oops:

get use to it .... nothing going to change

Be patient. Some are learning. Most are retired here. What is your hurry? The game is not to be rushed! It is to be enjoyed! Relax and enjoy yourself.

There is no way slow play is as big a deal in TV as is being portrayed here. Proof - Tee times are usually between 8 - 9 minutes apart. That equates to less than 3 hours for 18 holes. The courses are booked solid during high season. If slow play is really happening then the tee times during the day would back up. Rarely do any of us tee off late from our assigned tee times. Patience grasshoppers.

Amazing what logic adds to a thread.