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I suppose that outright refusal to obey an ambassador's instruction could be reported to the management, and one could be refused a tee time. Your position on the course, and Village ID are in the system, so identifying you for future disciplinary action would be rather easy. I have no idea if they do this, but it would be easily done.

As a former Ambassador(and Starter), I can attest that they don't instruct you to direct a group to allow another group(or person) to pass thru. So, I wouldn't tell or ask, but if someone did it, I would thank them for it. And yes, some simpleton Ambassadors who can't comprehend swapping cart colors and times, will state that it's not allowed. My job was to do my best to allow everyone as good of a time as possible. Hence, 'Ambassador' vs Marshall or Ranger!
As for pace of play, MOST of the golfers in TV are 'recreational', not pros! They are expected to keep the pace listed on their card. NOT keep up with the group in front of you. If you have a smaller, or more skilled, group in front of you(or behind), you're not expected to play at their pace, but the pace listed on your card! Sorry, Doc.
As for me as a player, if there is 'a place to put them'(i.e. open space), I'll let a single or twosome thru. But, if we're pretty stacked up, I'm not going to let a single or double zip thru, just to push us all backwards(so he/they can get to a cold beer quicker)?!
That's where the "TV pose" comes into play. They thought they were going to whiz thru their round, everyone else be damned? Sorry.
As for the Starter, I too, experience a Starter trying to push people thru. That is certainly a nicety, when it's needed, but NOT a requirement! We showed up with a linked group(couples), and the Starter told us that someone needed to get up on the Tee box(about 15mins early). I politely reminded him what our times were, and we were a linked group, and will be playing TOGETHER! As a former Starter, if the pace is moving along, I will ASK if the next group wants to play up, but I will NOT demand it! Especially if the rest of your foursome is not here. Some times, it's 2 twosomes not linked, and I'll ask if they want to wait, or play up. NOTE: I/they should only allow a group to move up if there's enough time between now and the next tee time. Hence, if it's only 5mins early, and I send a partial group up, and then they're on the tee box or fairway, during the next start time, you just caused a back up. Cheers!

Well said! But just FYI, I was referring to those that were not keeping up with the card time

I have been playing golf since 1958 and I have never heard of a "linked group".

The are foursomes, threesomes, and twosomes, but what is a "linked group"?

Whatever group you signed up for, you should have all been there 20 minutes before your posted tee time. If the Starter asked you to tee off 15 minutes before your posted tee time, you should have done it.

In this particular case the single had a non playing guest and asked to play through rather than join us.