What's the rush?
Why it's great to play at your own pace
Posted: 29 February 2008
by David Connor
|
Supermarket speed
|
THERE ARE some things in life that should be done at pace. Take the weekly food shopping for example. The hours spent negotiating cramped aisles, battling with super-strength pensioners at bargain corner and deliberating over whether to have chicken or fish five days from now are fraught with stress and anxiety.
It is a chore undertaken out of necessity rather than enjoyment and one that should be dispatched with the minimum of fuss and time expended. To this list I would also add Christmas shopping – actually, any form of shopping – visits to the dentist and Sunday lunch with the in-laws.
Golf, however, is not one of these things. It is an experience to be enjoyed, maximised and savoured – much like a Werther’s original. The longer you keep it on your tongue the more fulfilling and soothing the experience. Crunch and swallow it after a few seconds and you’re left feeling as if you have somehow missed out.
At this stage, I should point out that in no way is this defending the ludicrously long five-hour plus rounds of golf on busy courses. The tortoise can be just as frustrating and inconsiderate as the hare at times. A leisurely and enjoyable round of golf should take around four hours – after all, a deliciously creamy toffee can only last so long before it has to be swallowed.
|
Don't get frustrated by a slow fourball in front...
|
Yet, an alarming number of golfers do seem intent on crunching their way round a golf course in record time caring not on whose toes they tread or which fledgling players they fluster.
These people hurtle round as though they are awarded extra points for finishing in allotted time. Last time I checked, that wasn’t the case. Or perhaps swapping tales of round times with their mates is akin to comparing biceps – or worse - in the locker room?
“I did it in two hours and 34 minutes today and over took three groups” said Speedy Gonzalez.
“That’s nothing. I managed it in two hours 29 minutes and played through five groups. You should have seen one of the duffers. He must have played four shots in one bunker before I just played through” replied Road Runner.
Are these people’s lives not frantic enough without adding to it on the golf course? To me, golf is not a race. It's a way of escaping from the pressure and strain of everyday life and I find it nigh on impossible to do so when the group behind are intent on hurrying me off the course, into my car and back home before I have had the chance to fully appreciate how lucky I am to be out there in the first place.
|
...enjoy the walk and the company
|
And I wonder if these people ever stop to think that perhaps a reason for someone playing four shots from a bunker is the pressure and intimidation from behind.
I have played with a number of beginner golfers who have seen a potentially decent and confidence building round fall to pieces because they have felt under undue pressure or not been allowed a couple of minutes grace to look for a ball. It’s a wonder that beginners actually stick with the game under these circumstances.
I am sympathetic to the plight of evening and weekend golfers who try to fit a round in where they can between work and family life. My five-month-old son ensures that I regularly have to deal with similar time constraints.
But when I know that I don’t have four hours to spare I will head off to the driving range or maybe just fit nine holes in rather than trying to tear round 18 holes regardless of who is in my way.
This compromise will satisfy my golfing fix; it means no-one is pressurised by my lack of time and ensures that when I next have time for a full 18 holes I truly savour the experience.
Anyone still intent on racing a trolley round at a rate of knots can just meet me down at Tesco’s where I will gladly hand over my shopping list.
|
David Connor
|
David Connor is a freelance sports journalist who contributes to a range of national and specialist titles – as well as writing on his blog Fore! Four Two.
A 12 handicapper, based in Scotland, he is privileged to have the world’s best golf courses on his doorstep. He says his favourite experience in golf is catching a driver or a long iron out of the meat of the club, knowing not even Tiger could have hit it any sweeter. That one shot, out of the 80 or so others, keeps him coming back for more.
|
Discuss this story
don't agree with the article. A twoball, with no hold-ups, can play round in 2 hours 30 minutes without rushing at all. A fourball ought to be able to do the same in 3 hours. Fours hours is becoming the norm. No way should it be.
Posted: 29/02/2008 12:27
That's it, it's middle lane hogging on the golf course. Sometimes I like having more time to think over a shot and that is more likely to happen when I'm being held up by a slower group infront, slow down and take your time, it is a hobby / pastime after all.
Posted: 29/02/2008 14:27
Shoot anyone that takes more than 3 hours to get round a golf course in a 2-ball. Shoot twice anyone that admits they are slow but lets people play through, cos they dont. Shoot three times anyone that says its not a rush and one should take ones time. Problem solved.
Posted: 29/02/2008 17:05
Creo Thats exactly it though, it isnt a rush, IMHO the games hard enough without rushing your shots. If somebody is up your backside so to speak, let them through, and the next group after that if needs be.
Posted: 29/02/2008 17:15
I think there is a direct *inverse* correlation between getting round the course and age. I've been out with guys in their 50's, 60's and 70's and whilst not rushing we've gone round comfortably in 18 hole medal 3 balls in 3hrs 15mins, and 18 hole pairs strokeplay comps in 3hrs 30mins. My course is very hilly too so kudos to the old guys! However when out with some of the (considerably better and more talented than me) juniors the rounds always seem to take well over 4hrs and usually 4.5hrs. The reason isn't because they've got a JB "75 practice swings" Holmes pre-shot routine - they generally walk up to the ball & pull off yet another great shot, it's because between shots they mope around like crippled escargot!!! There's less action than a dose of salts between 'em!
Posted: 29/02/2008 18:05
I think the main problem is how busy the course is and also if there is a par 3 near the start. Busy courses are just going to be slower, simply a numbers thing. Any course that has a par 3 within the first 3 holes can get snarled up quite quickly too. I'm very lucky that my club has more than one course and each day one of the courses is purely for 2 balls or foursomes so a 3 hour round, or less, is the norm. Having said that, a friend and I got stuck behind a couple of seniors last week and we felt it was going to be a long round as generally the men don't let ladies play through. On the 4th hole we both had really nice drives and the 2 old guys could see this and pulled the buggy to one side and waved us through. I was quite shocked and hurriedly walked towards my ball whilst thanking them for their etiquette. I was delighted to be complimented on our drives by none less than Sir Roger Bannister! Now, if the fastest man in the world on 2 legs (in 1954) can take his time, then so can I!
Posted: 29/02/2008 18:56
Tell you what 1 over, if you can get a tee time at my course betweem 8am and 1pm of a Sunday give me a bell cos I'd like to join you! Durham City (not my course) is probably the most over subscribed course in the area and it gets horrifically busy at times but that said, 4ball rounds seldom take more than 3hrs 30mins because if they do penalties are applied (certainly in comps) to the offending groups. And I know this to be true because I have been in a group where we were put "under the clock" on the 12th hole and if we had not "made up the time" by the 15th both pairs would be DQ'd. We had taken just over two and quarter hours to get to that point and we were not holding any group up. We did make up the time & came in in just under 3hrs 30mins. That said, I do believe the job's-worth course warden was basing our "tardiness" on the fact that we hadn't quite tee'd off on the 12th as the group in front left the 12th's green. This was fact but I don't reckon he'd considered the fact that the group in front was a 3ball (one pair member did not show up) and by the 12th, with the best will in the world, they were going to have gained some yardage on us over the preceding holes! My course however has no such constraints but we still managed to get round - unhurried - but in a respectable amount of time. That's probably more to do with the fact that we just get on with the job rather than checking to see if our hair looks Poulter-esque enough before each shot like you Southern ponces!
Posted: 29/02/2008 19:16
Can't you get a game on your own course on a sunday then? Durham city? is that a muni course? It would be busy on a weekend if it is! I never have problems getting a tee time at my place on a weekend, no matter how busy it gets! (not what you know but who you know ). Southern ponce eh? Is that your whippet barking to be let out in the yard for a wazz? Better get a reply in before the leccy gets turned off for the night!
Posted: 29/02/2008 19:34
As Ghandi said, "There's more to life than making it go more quickly." Maybe you would have shot him too, Creo?
Posted: 29/02/2008 20:02
People play the game for different reasons and under different pressures. Me? I'm out there to get away from it all and don't want to come back, so I'm happy to troll around. If the group in front are playing slow and won't let me through, i just play two balls and have more fun. However for many people the few hours they are let out for (away from the wife and kids, and dinner getting slung in the bin/dog/etc if they aren't back by a certain time) is reality. There is a pressure to get it done quick or get it in the neck from the trouble and strife.
Posted: 29/02/2008 20:43
The only frustrating thing is when the group in front are obviously playing slowly and have lost their position behind the group in front but refuse o let you play through even on a par 3. I'm all for trying to get round quickly but nt at the detriment of the round i'm playing. If I'm playing slowly I'd rather let the group behind play through. I thought the whole idea of getting away from it for a few hours was what it was all about (and hitting a few good shots) not trying to fit it into my busy schedule as though i've ticked the golf box for the week. Play at a reasonable pace for your skill level but don' forget your manners on the course and let those that want to play at a faster pace through.
Posted: 29/02/2008 21:32
I can be the hare or the tortoise I suppose. In a 3 or 4 ball I will happily go at others pace. Particularly in a comp it doesn't bother me too much if it is slow. If I go out with some friends in the week we can be quite brisk and wizz around in no time. However when I go out on my own I can be quite slow. This is usually midweek when I have nothing to do and nowhere to be all day. I will happliy spend all day at the golf course, playing 27 to 36 holes. Often going out on my own and joining up with others at some point. My course is often very quiet in the week so taking a 3 1/2 hours on my own isn't a problem, I have even let others play through when I have been on my own. I just don't see the point in rushing something I enjoy so much. I like to hit a couple of balls, rehit missed putts etc. The only thing that bothers me is when a group is playing slow, holding others up but won't stand aside to allow others play through. In my experience the people who are worst for this are the vetsl, I know Boa will get nowty about this comment but it seems to me the older they get the more unwilling they are to allow others to play through.
Posted: 29/02/2008 22:02
Chris , Surely by now you have learned to pity these Southerners , Its not their fault that they actually believe all this Guff about us Northerners , Its fed to them in a drip from birth and inbreeding hasn't helped , they do provide a useful Service acting as a buffer between us God's own People and the Bloody French. As to Bob's Question , My course is heavily used by Societies and to be honest some of them think they have bought the course for the day , for a Discounted Price at that , not all Societies are like that so they all can't be tarred with the same brush , My last round my playing partner and I were let through by two four balls with no hold ups and we let two balls through and were in turn let through with no problem if they were looking for a ball , our round took 3 hours , I have had rounds last 5 hours due to four balls being intransigent in not letting anyone through , must have been Southerners on a day trip ooop Norf. I suppose its a lottery on the day , either you get thoughtful people aware of others being held up or you get the ignorant Barstewards that couldn't give a toss. Unfortunately I have experienced the days when hold ups destroy any Rhythm and Tempo I may have had and my game nose dives in to the realms of abysmal , well thats my excuse anyway.
Posted: 01/03/2008 08:50
Why do you want to run around a golf course? What else would you rather be doing that you have to get round in less than 3 hours? Smell the flowers!
Posted: 02/03/2008 05:07
I'm happy to go along with the speed that the people Im playing with are going at, letting people through if we need to etc. Although when Im on my own I play really fast, probably too fast, coz Im worried about holding people up lol. Although where I play, some of the men, particualrly the older ones dont like letting the women play through which is just plain stupid tbh.
Posted: 02/03/2008 16:53
Dearest darling Chris, I have a great sense of humour, I must have, I married a northerner (well manc), I find some of your comments hilarious, Take a chill-pill and relax. ps~ sorry about da whippet hope rotweiler did'nt get indigestion!
Posted: 02/03/2008 20:57
Nope, he got the sh!ts! No need forra chill-pill me old mucka - it was another handwritten attempt at humour. Is there a smiley for being sarchy? I could really do with that bugger!
Posted: 03/03/2008 08:06
My course introduced a start and finish time on the scorecard last year. They have also stated that 9 holes should take no longer than 2 hours. This has been good as it has speeded up play to a certain extent as anyone taking more than 4 hours for a round (as marked on their card) will get a warning. One issue that I do have with this, is that we can normally see a 4 ball, 3 or 4 groups ahead slowing the rest down and they have "lost a hole" on the group ahead. Their argument is normally that they have finished the round in the four hours! The only reason that they manage to complete in 4 hours is because they have either started running for the last two holes or buggered up their medal scores and so speed up. BTW, I am not in a rush but want a reasonable pace of play.
Posted: 03/03/2008 09:39
I am in no rush myself, I am not the quickest player but also not the slowest. I just ensure that I keep up with the group in front, this will mean the occasional wait on my course but it is never very long. I did a handover meeting for work on the golf course and this only took us just over 3 hours to get round, believe it or not we were actually doing the handover and talking about work.
Posted: 03/03/2008 09:45
I think to penalise for slow play and set 'times' you should complete you round in would prevent slow groups letting anyone through. If you're in a fourball that always takes 4hrs to get round and know you're on track, would you then let 2 2balls through if you knew it was going to slow your time down by 15-20mins and incurr a warning? And this ' keep up with the group in front rule' is useless IMO - how does a fourball ever keep up with a 2ball even if playing at a good pace? As Mindthepond wrote, must the fourball let every two ball through even though they're not playing slowly? I do not think of myself as a slow player and took 3.5hrs to complete yesterdays medal, but not being a low handicap player, I will naturally take more shots = extra time. If you want a quick round tee off early morning or late afternoon. I would never go to play on a Saturday mid-morning and expect to take much less than 3.5 to 4hrs and as I only on average get to play once a week, especially at this time of year, I enjoy the fact it does take this time. I would only be back home decorating anyway. What frustrates me more is slow methodical players. On average, once I have decided my shot, I will take 8-10seconds to hit the ball from starting my approach from behind the ball. My mate takes over a minute and I often think I need to give him a shake to see if he's still alive. I know it's bad etiquite but I've found myself 150yds in front of him by the time he hits his ball as I can't stand to wait any longer! Not as bad as JB though. He definitely needs a warning.
Posted: 03/03/2008 14:07
Well been a beginner like it says and been put under pressure from groups behind is only more off putting and causes you to make more mistakes and take longer. They getting annoyed and i certainly am so it makes everyone be on their toes which aint good. I certainly dont mind been behind a group of 4 ball even if im by my self i just enjoy the walk around. Yeah i dont have tie downs like kids but i do work full time and got a girl friend living 120 miles away. Why would you not want to take time and walk around the course there is no point in rushing an enjoyable sport and if people keep pushing new players they will just quit due to lack of respect for newer players. I know i certainly wont quit cause I generally dont care about anyone else and just get on with my own game. But I certainly dont want members bugging me in my ears again telling me what to do and telling me the rules.
Posted: 05/03/2008 09:09
I agree with Kieron. We were all beginners once. If you rush your shots as a beginner you'll never improve. I see 'rushers' every weekend where i play and i'm 100% sure that if they slowed down a bit their games would improve tenfold. What's the objective ? To play well, and have an enjoyable game or to play fast and get back in the clubhouse/home as quickly as possible ?
Posted: 06/03/2008 10:14
hey Mr curry, I played 29 holes today tee'd off at 10:00 and played 11 on me todd, and just as I was walking to 12th tee past the clubhouse was invited to join up and make a fourball, Then played an 18 hole pairs matchplay (we won 2-1 ) back home by 3:10pm ~ Is that fast enough for you? ~
Posted: 06/03/2008 15:42
Sorry Chris, I mean't Creo in the "fast enough" jibe in above post, HUMBLEST  apologies!!
Posted: 06/03/2008 16:37
Eh?
What was that?
Summat about golf?
Playing some holes?
Matchplay is it?
I haven't got a clue what you're on about. I used to play golf, now I just hear about it.
Maybe I'll get out on Sunday & start to play half-decent by the 17th again. Followed by another 3wk sabatical. Then another "what are you supposed to do again... until the 17th" round, again, etc., etc., etc.
You see golf is not important but:
- visiting sister (while I look after kids).
- visiting hairdressers (while I look after kids)*
- visiting good friends (while I look after kids)**
- going to bingo (while I look after kids)
- anything else you can think of (while I look after kids)
Are far more important than that "silly" game I used to enjoy playing once a week (hey, I 'm not greedy), that I "should've got fed up of by now" but haven't.
So spare a thought before recounting the very greedy 29 holes in one day please. Why, that's almost 1.5 month's worth for me.
* Golf is a "waste of time", however is usually concluded across 18 holes quicker than the average visit to the hair salon!
** If they're such "good friends" then why don't they ever visit us (thus allowing me to go out)? 
Posted: 06/03/2008 20:34
See more comments...
|
|
