Please play "Ready Golf".
 

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.

For the people that have been playing awhile,please relax and let the newbie learn as they go.New and old should be able to play a relaxing game.

Yes, the new golfers should learn as they go, and for starters they should go to a free "good golf " orientation. For a fee there is a New To Golf series of lessons at The Villages Golf School next to Palmer CC. The very slow golfers think all is well as they never have to wait as the next hole is always empty. However, there are many golfers behind them waiting at every hole.

:agree: :agree:

I am guessing you don't play golf.

All should keep in mind that there are two pars on every hole. Shot par, and time par. Playing time is tracked by the ambassadors. Play ready golf.

I have played a lot of golf and the best way to ruin a round is to have people not abide by the pace of play rules..Once you are looking at a score of 3 over par for that hole pick up.. If they hole in front of you is open, your group needs to pick up the pace..No reason why 18 holes should take longer than 3 1/2 hours..:eclipsee_gold_cup:

Pace of play
 

I, too, have played a lot of golf, and consider 3 1/2 hours for 18 holes unattainable on a regular basis. Sure, sometimes you can do it, but to expect it regularly is probably unrealistic. As an example, the score card for Evans Prairie under the etiquette section of the card states: "Expected pace of play is 4 hours, 16 minutes". I do agree with everyone that Ready Golf is the solution to most slow play issues, as well as recognizing when it's time to "fold 'em" and move to the next hole. But we'll always be plagued by folks, newbees and oldies alike, who don't understand this part of golf etiquette.

I have never been accused of slow play. In fact it is my nature to be efficient and not waste time. However it is irriating when a group behind you pushes . It feels like someone is tailgating you. Usually this occurs because the group contains better players,or they are playing from front tees or perhaps it is a twosome or threesome.

When I first arrived I mentioned to someone that it bothered me to look back and see players waiting. His advice "don't look back."

What bothers me is to see people talking at the tee one tees off then another when finally the third or fourth player decides to pull their driver out and approach the tee. Or perhaps being just too social.

what i am trying to say is that it is one thing for a player trying to play well or learn the game to take a little time vis a vis those out for only the social aspect of it. it is the latter group where I only lose my patience. for the newer players cut them some slack

I used to play golf but can't now due to many limitations. That being said my other half plays A LOT of golf and is considered quite good. Every so often he'll come home and mention that the folks he was put with were waaayyyy too slow. Not long ago it took him (them) 3 hours to play 9 holes!! Way too long folks!! I know everyone has to begin somewhere but that's a bit much. :gc:

Gracie, could not agree MORE
 

I can't understand why clubs or carts are left in front of green, so much easier on yourself and others if you plan ahead (to the next hole)..

I don't think slow play is gender specific either....Men have their $2 nassau that is on the line... and women are more social (big decision of the day, where to have lunch!...Right?!

Catholic League Champion, State Amateur ,runner-up. Years ago. Only play on occasion,elbow and all.

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.

:shrug: :shrug:

You also don't have to take multiple practice swings on EVERY shot. Some, yes. All, no. In then end, it's just a game. No one (including yourself) is going to remember your score on any given day... 3 days later.

I apologize.

Gracie is right at 90 minutes.
We play in a neighborhood mens, womens and couples golf every week and 9 holes is 1.5 hours.
Then off to breakfast at Bonifay or dinner at Bonifay depending on tee off and finish time.
the quicker you are done the sooner you eat and drink.

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.

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.

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

Beginner and already addicted
 

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.

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

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.

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.

Good Advice
 

....

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!!!
:gc:

This is all I have to say about slow play.

:cus:

:swear:

:sigh:

Just poured my second cup of coffee and had a second thought.

Although slow play is annoying, fast play i.e. being hit into or pushing from behind is even more annoying to me. The rules of timing per hole or per round are there for a good reason. Please follow the rules and everyone, STRIKE THAT, most everyone will be happy.

For some unknown reason, God gave us a few folks that without something to complain about they seem to slide into a deep clinical depression.

Having played golf for over 30 years let me say that being relaxed, playing ready golf and not being hurried are not mutlually exclusive. But beginners should adhere to common conventions that will make the game enjoyable for them and the folks behind them.
Three weeks ago my wife and I (and another couple) played Sandhill at 9:40; my favorite executive course. I believe the target time for this course is 1:45 minutes. I knew we were in trouble right away when I saw the group in front of us tee off. It took them 30 minutes to clear the first hole. After just three holes there were three open holes in front of them. As they walked off the third green the ambasador came by and just waved. He took a wade circle around us, stayed out of ear shod. As we cleared the four tee the groups was still on the fifth tee. I could see that the group in front of them was on the 9th tee. So they had four holes open. When we cleared the fifth green, a par 4, they were still on the sixth tee. The time of play to this point for us was 1:45 minutes so they we that plus the 30 minutes on the first hole. We drive off the course but stopped at the starter shack. After I told him the situation he said that they would not do anything as they no longer track the pace of play. I said "they have four holes open and are still on the sixth tee." He just shrugged.

This group was on a pace of over three hours. Absent an open tee time(s) that means no one in the groups behind them will play in less than their time. As a wakled away a gentleman was approaching the starter shack. I just said "good luck".

I am not sure that they (the ambassadors) can do anything to enforce the rules but they are NOT supposed to anger anyone and THAT is a tough situation.

For new golfers or those who have not golfed anywhere but here in The Villages, in other places they are called Marshalls and they will tell you to pick up your ball and move on or let the people behind you play through (Which means to wave them on and get out of their shot line so they can hit and play the hole and get in front of you) if you are really holding up people and there are holes vacant ahead of you.

I know that some of you think this is very harsh but it is an accepted norm. I have played golf with many beginners and I am FAR from a rules person anymore on the golf course, I don't even write my scores. The truth is that in the beginning for ALL of us, and we all began on a course where Marshalls were watching you as to time, we had to keep the pace of play.

Now kindly I will tell you that you will soon feel more comfortable on the course and even those playing for a LONG time may sometimes just pick up because we are just doing everything wrong.

I read the post about people playing too fast, but it is an absolute MORTAL SIN and anything else you can say is disgraceful to hit into the range of the folks in front of you. NO person with any kind of self respect, manners, any knowledge of the game would EVER hit into you. If someone hits into you, they are looked down on by all people who play golf.

Many times we do play faster than the group ahead of us, and we just wait patiently. The main thing is to keep up with the group ahead of you.

I am NOT trying to be mean or share a philosophy of life, it is simply HOW THE GAME OF GOLF IS PLAYED. It is very important to keep the pace of play and even beginners can do it.

Soon you will be relaxed and cussing at yourself just like the rest of us. ;)

I just read what I wrote to Sweetie the patient and kind and he said to add that one group can hold up the entire course for the entire day. Be your own Marshall and keep the pace of play.

I am never rushed and I never say anything to people who I play with and I am not good anymore, never was really good, but I love golf as many do who live here. You will find that long time golfers are relaxed and kind and accepting and gentlemen and gentlewomen. We want for YOU to love the game like we do.

Which means you watch where your ball goes and the ball of any person you are playing with and be ready to move to your ball and hit it. It takes awhile for all of this to become habit and second nature and then you will be relaxed.

Now everyone thinks I am Attilla the Hun.. :(

Evil Alan.....
 

I could never have survived that round. I would have jumped ahead and played 7 holes or just gone home. Before that I would give this a try....

While waiting on the tee (knowing the group on the green is 3 holes out of position) I would have yelled loud enough for the folks on the green to hear: IT IS NOT US, IT IS THE GROUP IN FRONT OF US pretending to be talking to the folks behind you..... sometimes that works :evil6:

PS. I do not believe slow play has anything to do with the skill level of the golfer. Any new golfer out there should not be intimidated by a thread like this for a second. Learn simple golf etiquette and you will do great. Golfers at any level will enjoy playing in your group.

If I may add - and I don't know if this was mentioned - Play the correct tees for your ability !!!!

It always amazes me that people will play the #2 tees and only hit the ball 125 - 150 yards. This can't be fun - the game is frustrating enough. Yes you have the right, but you just made that par 5 a par 7 !

Ready golf means just that - no need to rush. If your ball is near your partner, don't wait for them to hit then go get your club. Determine what you need, go to your ball and ponder your shot while they are making theirs. After they hit you will be ready to go!

I am not a golfer, yet. It does look like fun though, or at least it did. Gracie, I believe you answered a question that I had. I was wondering if you could go ahead of the group in front of you if they are going more slowly than you. It sounds like you can do that. That makes logical sense. It also makes logical sense to play on the right course. Isn't golf supposed to be fun and relaxing? I do not need more stress in my life for sure.

Good summary aj.

If I find myself really playing badly (just started back since moving here) I pick up my ball and drop it closer or too many missed putts I pick it up and move on.

Tomorrow is another day; I don't keep score and I am not looking for a Nike endorsement.

Its just nice being out and moving along is part of the game.

Not sure if this was mentioned
 

I've noticed that "giummies" on execs are rare!...I'm sure you all know that you cannot post scores from execs....Many like the sound that the ball makes when it goes in the hole, for me, I could care less....If I want to work on 2 foot putts for tournaments, I go to the practice putting green...Life is short, don't sweat the "short" stuff....One of the great things about playing as a "single", there is this sweet little voice that always tells me, "That's good"!!!:a20::a20:

This (pace of play) was discussed at our Thursday meeting with representatives from golf administration. My interpretation of their response is that the time spent on an executive course is short, so they ordinarily do not track pace of play like they do on a championship course. The reason is that most of the time by the time a group is significantly off pace the round is close to finished and there is little benefit to the rest of the players to intervene. However, something as egregious as what you describe should have been addressed on the course in my opinion. I'm sure golf administration would be interested in the specifics of day, time, etc. of your experience.