Tim McDonald - Latest Comments on Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Mike [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Mike [Visitor] — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:53:29 +0000

Everybody wants to play:
1.Early on Saturday morning, so they can get home in time to do the Honey-do list, or,
2. Play after work weekdays because they have to work to afford everything else.

Try playing on weekend afternoons. I can walk a three and a half hour 18 because nobody's on the course. Green's are a little rough, but the way I putt, who cares?!

David [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

David [Visitor] — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:39:44 +0000

Exactly. Thanks, Mark.

David [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

David [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:11:41 +0000

The Scots, especially members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Carnoustie, and The R&A, do not tolerate slow play. Some of the more traditional clubs in England, e.g. Royal Liverpool and Royal St. George's, are the same.

The Americans are not governed by The R&A (who have been with golf from almost the beginning), rather the USGA. In recent years the USGA have made an absolute hash of the U.S. Open, and have made a fool of themselves. Yes, Americans ARE at the heart of the slow play crisis. Watering greens between groups - what a joke! Ever see anything like that happen at The Open? (It's 'The Open,' NOT the 'British Open.') Do you reckon that slowed play down a little? Just a bit.

Let's face it, Americans generally do take longer to play than the British. The USGA are not as serious about slow play as The R&A; four hours is a fast American round, but quite slow as far as The R&A are concerned.

Golf carts ARE a big factor in slowness of play. They also take the fun out of the game, and cause many deaths every year just because some lazy bastard couldn't be assed walking around the course.

A big part of the enjoyment of golf is walking the course, studying it, getting some fresh air, and SPEEDING UP THE GAME.

Jaypee [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Jaypee [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:21:58 +0000

Slow play.

It is a generally accepted fact that 90% of golfers don't break 100. If I play 75, it is normal to think that somebody playing 100 or more will take 33% more time to play a round.

This takes into account setting up for a shot, choosing strategy, lining up, pratice swings, difficulties around the green and lining up putts. Its mathematical.

When the course is not crowded, we usually play in 4 hour or less. Even then, we do not rush, we tell jokes, walk at a reasonable pace, line up putts and enjoy the day. So, if you add 33%, you will play that round in somewhere around 5 hours.

That is why there is yet no real permanent solution to slow play on most courses, unless you force people to think only in terms of keeping up with the preceeding group and "picking up" too often to enjoy the game.

At St-Andrews the policy is: "we will warn you once and then we will take you off the course". It works, but you won't do that everywhere.

Bob Ackerman [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Bob Ackerman [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 17:27:10 +0000

100% agree with Bill Yates!!!!

Bill Yates [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Bill Yates [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:43:54 +0000

Obviously Mr. Laing did not know that a Yank consulted with the R&A to improve the pace of play at the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield. The results were that not one round (including those played in heavy rain and wind) took five hours or more. "It was the best Open we've had in years," said David Rickman of the R&A.

The same American exported to golf administrators from Great Britain and Europe, a comprehensive understanding of the causes and solutions for improving the pace of play through a two-day seminar hosted by the R&A in St Andrews in February of 2003.

So, don't tell me that Americans are at fault for the slow play crisis, and don't tell me that the players are the main culprits either. I know better. I'm the American who has helped over 100 courses in the U.S. and abroad and who the international governing body of the game called on for insight and assistance at Muirfield.

Bill Yates

Bob [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

Bob [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:09:50 +0000

Slow play is the result of overcrowding the course. Slow play is the result of golf courses with too many forced carries off the tee and into the green. Slow play is the result of long distances between greens and the next tee. Slow play is the result of the cart girl serving sandwiches and beverages during the play of the round. Golf has been overtaken by real estate developers and food and beverage experts. They've taken the fun out of the game. I agree with David about walking. Make everyone walk, give them a course where they can roll the ball down the fairway and onto the green, and give them 4 hours and 10 minutes to complete 18 holes (2 hours for the front, 10 minutes between nines to make a call, use the bathroom, or get a bite to eat, and 2 hours to play the back,) and they'll be able to take their time and enjoy the competition and camaradarie of the game. Golf is not a race, low score wins. The cart jockeys who ride up the backs of the groups in front of them are just as rude as the golfers who take too much time to play.

David [Visitor] in response to: Slow play in golf: Should Tiger Woods speak out?

David [Visitor] — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:01:41 +0000

Anyway, good post, Tim. This entry does in fact cover a topic which is VERY significant to the game of golf.