Many of the local courses in Memphis have started to crack down on slow play. That basically means some marshal harassing your foursome to be finished in 4 hours and 15 minutes. Instead of "cracking down," I think courses should award foursomes for fast play. If I ran a course, I would put my money where my mouth was and provide incentives to groups that played in 4 hours or less. Maybe give some money back to the faster foursomes or provide a pro shop credit. I think this would get more groups policing themselves and could be a real positive for courses. If I knew of a course providing incentives for fast play, I would play there. And faster rounds = more rounds for courses. It's good business and good marketing for golf.
They should crack down. People that plum bob greens, stay on the cell phone or look for extra golf ball in the water,
most of whom cannot break an egg.
Write the starting time on your score card and keep it to 15 minutes a hole or pick up. This gives ample time at the turn for snakes.
If there are enough marshalls, let folks know that after 4:45 minutes, they are finished for the day. Be it hole 13 or 14 or 18. Also assuming that they are not behind the group in front. Or hold them for 30 minutes for groups to pass at the turn-aound as a first or second warning. In some cases, there may need to be days/times when they can exceed the time. I'm in decent shape for 61 and can play single in close to 3:30 walking, but in deference to some retirees supporting the USGA initiative to walk for the exercise, they need some way to be able to move at a slower rate. Not to mention letting others pass as a courtesy at the next tee which almost never seems to happen.
frank jwhat to do about the slower foursomes in front? the reward system has been kicked around for a while and no one has come up with an acceptable method to implement it.
If the marshals are doing their job, then they'll know which foursomes are holding up play. If they are over 4 hours and 15 minutes pace, then charge them more fees. Really slow play = higher greens fees. Really fast play = cheaper greens fees. If your foursome has to wait on every tee box, then you get a discounted rate, no matter your time - since you had to wait on the foursome in front of you. Time is money in most businesses...why not for greens fees?
It's an idea. I've heard that some of the Golf AM Tours are playing longer than 5 hours. In Wisconsin, you can a 2 shot penalty for being over 2:10 over 9. After kicking into the prize pot, I sure wouldn't want to take myself out of contention. I might even have to consider "going postal" if a playing partner cost me a penalty while plumb bobbing a third putt from over 6 feet.
Mike L They should crack down. People that plum bob greens, stay on the cell phone or look for extra golf ball in the water, most of whom cannot break an egg. Write the starting time on your score card and keep it to 15 minutes a hole or pick up. This gives ample time at the turn for snakes.
I need at least 20 minutes to round up all my Snakes:) Oh wait you meant Snacks.
I like your idea they should have to pick up and move on if they can.
Slow play frustrates the heck out of me. I played this past Sunday and the course was crowded, but let's be realistic. I don't care how bad you are, I was always told when I was learning the game that you can play bad..........fast. I don't know what the solution is, but I like the incentive idea. Then again, I wouldn't want someone going crazy because they didn't get done in 3 hours and missed their "incentive money". I just wish people would be considerate and let others play through.
People who are slow and inconsiderate on the course are probably that way off the course as well.
I think Marshall's are the only way to go and they need to be forceful and make people pick up if they need to.
Brent WPeople who are slow and inconsiderate on the course are probably that way off the course as well. I think Marshall's are the only way to go and they need to be forceful and make people pick up if they need to.
My favorite is always the player who hasn't hit a drive over 220 all day long but they'll wait on a par 5 from 275 because they'll get it there if they catch one. It's terrible around me. Some of the public courses on a crowded day, the round is taking 5.5 hours. That's just not enjoyable.
I don't think there's anything that can be done to fix the problem.
Marshals just wear themselves out yelling at guys who ignore them. There will always be the hacks who are out there just to drink beer with their buddies and are in no hurry to go home to a nagging wife. There will always be the kid on his high school golf team who thinks every 4 footer on his Saturday afternoon muni needs to be viewed from 6 angles. There will always be the guy who slowly strolls from his cart to his ball to the sprinkler back to the cart back to the ball etc. etc. etc. because he already had a "put me down for 8" on the last hole and has given up playing the game with any focus. There will always be the guy playing for a $4 beer he doesn't want to buy his wife's brother so he focuses on his 2 minute pre-shot routine like there's a green jacket on the line.
I usually bring a magazine to read while waiting between shots on those 5 hour rounds. But if the front nine goes 3 hours, I go in and get a rain-check, complain, and head to grill some juicy steaks and hope that next week is better.
i too play in memphis and recently i got behind a group of older gentlemen playing as a fivesome. It took them at least 25-30 min to play hole number one. after they finished and i teed off and by the time i finished the hole they were just leaving number 2 tee box. I picked up and walked in and decided it would be a "practice" day. slow play is absolutely obnoxious.
John HMy favorite is always the player who hasn't hit a drive over 220 all day long but they'll wait on a par 5 from 275 because they'll get it there if they catch one. It's terrible around me. Some of the public courses on a crowded day, the round is taking 5.5 hours. That's just not enjoyable.
Regardless of age, ability, or talent, golfers ought to focus upon being ready to play when it is his or her turn. Shot prep is best exercised by the player who surveys and considers the shot as he approaches it--It's a simple thing to examine the green while others are putting, etc.