Gary Sams

Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for avoiding
slow play, which can be given to offenders.

Tha background is a big hold up in last Saturday's competition caused by the
group of three. We were in the clubhouse and noticed a big gap on the 18th
after the previous group finished. Around 15 minutes afterwards this group
appeared on the tee. The group behind them were also on the tee before they
had finished teeing off.

Player one hit his tee shot through the back of the green and out of bounds.
After walking up he was told this by the group on the first tee. He then
went back to the tee and played another ball. By this time there were 2
groups waiting on the tee. They finished the hole at 4 hours 32 minutes
after they teed off. They teed off 3 groups after us and we took just over 4
hours - disapppointing enough in itself.

When Player 1 came in I told him he must have a good card to go back to the
18th tee. He said no, but he had a pound on the game!

A number of other players complained they had been held up by the group
earlier in the round. Every

As I am on the comps committee I propose to send them each a letter
reminding them about etiquette to avoid slow play, and the penalty for slow
play. Also a warning that if they transgress again, the penalty will be
enforced,

Gary

Stewart

Our club includes under its rules a section on "Courtesy on the course";
basically we are told that we are not entitled to search 5 minutes for a
ball if it is obvious that it is lost and, relevant to your situation "If a
match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than one clear
hole on the players in front, it must allow the following match to pass, if
it is requested".
Those held up should have requested to be let through.


"Gary Sams" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for
> avoiding slow play, which can be given to offenders.
>
> Tha background is a big hold up in last Saturday's competition caused by
> the group of three. We were in the clubhouse and noticed a big gap on the
> 18th after the previous group finished. Around 15 minutes afterwards this
> group appeared on the tee. The group behind them were also on the tee
> before they had finished teeing off.
>
> Player one hit his tee shot through the back of the green and out of
> bounds. After walking up he was told this by the group on the first tee.
> He then went back to the tee and played another ball. By this time there
> were 2 groups waiting on the tee. They finished the hole at 4 hours 32
> minutes after they teed off. They teed off 3 groups after us and we took
> just over 4 hours - disapppointing enough in itself.
>
> When Player 1 came in I told him he must have a good card to go back to
> the 18th tee. He said no, but he had a pound on the game!
>
> A number of other players complained they had been held up by the group
> earlier in the round. Every
>
> As I am on the comps committee I propose to send them each a letter
> reminding them about etiquette to avoid slow play, and the penalty for
> slow play. Also a warning that if they transgress again, the penalty will
> be enforced,
>
> Gary
>

John van der Pflum

On Wed, 28 May 2008 19:35:39 +0100, "Gary Sams"
<> wrote:

>Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for avoiding
>slow play, which can be given to offenders.
>
>Tha background is a big hold up in last Saturday's competition caused by the
>group of three. We were in the clubhouse and noticed a big gap on the 18th
>after the previous group finished. Around 15 minutes afterwards this group
>appeared on the tee. The group behind them were also on the tee before they
>had finished teeing off.
>
>Player one hit his tee shot through the back of the green and out of bounds.
>After walking up he was told this by the group on the first tee. He then
>went back to the tee and played another ball. By this time there were 2
>groups waiting on the tee. They finished the hole at 4 hours 32 minutes
>after they teed off. They teed off 3 groups after us and we took just over 4
>hours - disapppointing enough in itself.
>
>When Player 1 came in I told him he must have a good card to go back to the
>18th tee. He said no, but he had a pound on the game!
>
>A number of other players complained they had been held up by the group
>earlier in the round. Every
>
>As I am on the comps committee I propose to send them each a letter
>reminding them about etiquette to avoid slow play, and the penalty for slow
>play. Also a warning that if they transgress again, the penalty will be
>enforced,
>
>Gary
>

You might find a couple of good ideas here:

http://www.usga.org/playing/etiquett...nimations.html

Personally, I find that a lot of players take up too much time with
their pre-shot routine. Not only do a lot of these routines take a
while to complete but they are not even begun until their FC's ball is
completely stopped. 1. Start your pre-shot routine while the ball is
still in flight. 2. One practice swing at the most! Better yet --
no practice swing.

Colin Wilson

Gary Sams wrote:

> Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for avoiding
> slow play, which can be given to offenders.

I produced the following in flier form for our committee and left it on
all the tables in the clubhouse last weekend, as well as on the
starter's table.

(Heading) SPEEDING UP PLAY (Club logo)

There have been a number of recent complaints to the Committee about
slow play. With the darkest winter months approaching, every player is
entitled to finish their round in reasonable light, and the presentation
needs to finish early enough so everyone can get home.

The Committee prefers that players learn how to speed up play rather
than penalise slow play under Rule 6-7. However, if groups lose a clear
hole ahead, the Committee will have to consider penalties.

(Big, bold letters) Speeding up play does not mean rushing. It means
being ready to play, not playing when you are ready!

(Subheading) Speeding up your pre-shot routine

• Remove excessive time from your pre-shot routine. Don’t take a dozen
practice swings or half a dozen waggles. An excessive routine is also
counter-productive, as it introduces anxiety.

(Subheading) Speeding up on the tee

• If you have the honour, hit your shot before marking your card. Mark
your card while the others in your group are teeing off.
• The player with the honour should also be ready to hit first. If they
aren’t ready, then someone else should hit first if they are able to.
Don’t stand around insisting on following the honour if someone is not
ready.

(Subheading) Speeding up on the fairway

• Walk at a pace that is comfortable but don’t dawdle.
• Providing it is safe, go to your ball as soon as possible and get
ready to play your shot. Don’t be a ‘caravan’ going down the fairway
from ball to ball. The only time players should stop in a group and wait
for a player to hit is if it is unsafe to go further forward.
• While waiting to hit, think about your shot, select your club, take it
from your bag, and stand at your ball ready to play.
Speeding up around the green
• Always leave buggies at the back or side of the green, closest to the
next tee.
• If someone is in a bunker and hits it furthest from the hole, don’t
stand around watching while they rake the bunker and get to their ball.
Someone else should putt until the player is ready.
• Get ready to putt before it is your turn. Provided you are not
disturbing another player, line up your putt while others are putting.
• If you are not interfering with another player’s line, putt out. If
you are, mark your ball, but when it is your turn again, be ready!

(Subheading) Speeding up lost balls
• Make use of provisional balls. Nothing wastes time more than a player
trudging back to the pin.
• Everyone should help find a lost ball in order to keep play moving.
But the player who is closest to the pin should be the first to help the
player whose ball is lost, while the players who are further away from
the pin should play their shots if they can. When the players furthest
away have played their shots, they resume looking, while the players who
are closest get ready to play their shots. In this way, slow play is not
compounded because of a lost ball.

(BIG, BOLD LETTERS) It is your task as a ready golfer to keep up with
the group ahead.

Gary Sams

Thanks - just what we I was looking for. My comps chairman is very keen on a
'play when ready' approach, as opposed to strictly playing in order. I might
stress that a bit more, although there is a danger of being accused of
encouraging players to ignore the rules of golf. I personally am not too
bothered about how long players take over the shot - while it can be
annoying, and is the most obvious example of slow play, it is the time
between shots which is the main cause of delays,

Gary


"Colin Wilson" <> wrote in message
news:r_k%j.5604$...
> Gary Sams wrote:
>
>> Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for
>> avoiding slow play, which can be given to offenders.
>
> I produced the following in flier form for our committee and left it on
> all the tables in the clubhouse last weekend, as well as on the starter's
> table.
>
> (Heading) SPEEDING UP PLAY (Club logo)
>
> There have been a number of recent complaints to the Committee about slow
> play. With the darkest winter months approaching, every player is entitled
> to finish their round in reasonable light, and the presentation needs to
> finish early enough so everyone can get home.
>
> The Committee prefers that players learn how to speed up play rather than
> penalise slow play under Rule 6-7. However, if groups lose a clear hole
> ahead, the Committee will have to consider penalties.
>
> (Big, bold letters) Speeding up play does not mean rushing. It means being
> ready to play, not playing when you are ready!
>
> (Subheading) Speeding up your pre-shot routine
>
> • Remove excessive time from your pre-shot routine. Don’t take a dozen
> practice swings or half a dozen waggles. An excessive routine is also
> counter-productive, as it introduces anxiety.
>
> (Subheading) Speeding up on the tee
>
> • If you have the honour, hit your shot before marking your card. Mark
> your card while the others in your group are teeing off.
> • The player with the honour should also be ready to hit first. If they
> aren’t ready, then someone else should hit first if they are able to. Don’t
> stand around insisting on following the honour if someone is not ready.
>
> (Subheading) Speeding up on the fairway
>
> • Walk at a pace that is comfortable but don’t dawdle.
> • Providing it is safe, go to your ball as soon as possible and get ready
> to play your shot. Don’t be a ‘caravan’ going down the fairway from ball
> to ball. The only time players should stop in a group and wait for a
> player to hit is if it is unsafe to go further forward.
> • While waiting to hit, think about your shot, select your club, take it
> from your bag, and stand at your ball ready to play.
> Speeding up around the green
> • Always leave buggies at the back or side of the green, closest to the
> next tee.
> • If someone is in a bunker and hits it furthest from the hole, don’t
> stand around watching while they rake the bunker and get to their ball.
> Someone else should putt until the player is ready.
> • Get ready to putt before it is your turn. Provided you are not
> disturbing another player, line up your putt while others are putting.
> • If you are not interfering with another player’s line, putt out. If you
> are, mark your ball, but when it is your turn again, be ready!
>
> (Subheading) Speeding up lost balls
> • Make use of provisional balls. Nothing wastes time more than a player
> trudging back to the pin.
> • Everyone should help find a lost ball in order to keep play moving. But
> the player who is closest to the pin should be the first to help the
> player whose ball is lost, while the players who are further away from the
> pin should play their shots if they can. When the players furthest away
> have played their shots, they resume looking, while the players who are
> closest get ready to play their shots. In this way, slow play is not
> compounded because of a lost ball.
>
> (BIG, BOLD LETTERS) It is your task as a ready golfer to keep up with the
> group ahead.
>
> --
> Cheers
> Colin Wilson
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
> Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

Denis Cary

"Gary Sams" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Can anybody point me in the direction of a list of suggestions for
> avoiding slow play, which can be given to offenders.
>
> Tha background is a big hold up in last Saturday's competition caused by
> the group of three. We were in the clubhouse and noticed a big gap on the
> 18th after the previous group finished. Around 15 minutes afterwards this
> group appeared on the tee. The group behind them were also on the tee
> before they had finished teeing off.
>
> Player one hit his tee shot through the back of the green and out of
> bounds. After walking up he was told this by the group on the first tee.
> He then went back to the tee and played another ball. By this time there
> were 2 groups waiting on the tee. They finished the hole at 4 hours 32
> minutes after they teed off. They teed off 3 groups after us and we took
> just over 4 hours - disapppointing enough in itself.
>
> When Player 1 came in I told him he must have a good card to go back to
> the 18th tee. He said no, but he had a pound on the game!
>
> A number of other players complained they had been held up by the group
> earlier in the round. Every
>
> As I am on the comps committee I propose to send them each a letter
> reminding them about etiquette to avoid slow play, and the penalty for
> slow play. Also a warning that if they transgress again, the penalty will
> be enforced,
>
> Gary
>I played in an away match and immediately following a par 3 hole we found
>they pervious group had not started. This is what happened:

There were no players in front of this previous group that could have caused
a hold-up
A local player walked to the the tee with no club in his hand I assumed it
was his honor)
He surveyed to course
He walked back to his bag and removed a club
He walked again to to tee
He re-surveyed to course
He took two practice swings
He eventually hit the ball.

This was for a par five hole with a wide open fairway on his home course.
We all know the club (Within one or two) we will take on each of our home
holes and we can finally decide whilst considering the wind etc whilst
walking from the previous green.
The player I referred to was 'A Poser' - Not a good player but one who
thought he was and liked to display the fact that he was considering what to
do although he obviously knew before he commenced his displays.

We all have some of these types at our courses and these are also the cause
of delays and causing hold-ups. Imaging playing in a group including two or
three like this.

Denis