Your unpopular golf opinions?

[Bicco]

I think so much of slow play could be eliminated by improved awareness.
Let the shortest hitters tee off 1st. The player with 'the honour' is often the best player, meaning they're likely waiting until the group in front is 250m+ from the tee. Usually there's at least x2 guys in the group that could've gone 1st.
While the shortest hitter is playing their 2nd shot, everyone else keep walking up the side of the fairway until they get parallel to their own ball. While the practice swings are happening, walk over to your ball and get a distance to the flag. As soon as it's your turn, you're basically ready to go.
Hit your own ball before looking for others.
Ready golf on the greens.

 

[Livonski]

I think so much of slow play could be eliminated by improved awareness.
Let the shortest hitters tee off 1st. The player with 'the honour' is often the best player, meaning they're likely waiting until the group in front is 250m+ from the tee. Usually there's at least x2 guys in the group that could've gone 1st.
While the shortest hitter is playing their 2nd shot, everyone else keep walking up the side of the fairway until they get parallel to their own ball. While the practice swings are happening, walk over to your ball and get a distance to the flag. As soon as it's your turn, you're basically ready to go.
Hit your own ball before looking for others.
Ready golf on the greens.

Spot on.
Would make a huge difference.

 

[Lebbo73]

I think so much of slow play could be eliminated by improved awareness.
Let the shortest hitters tee off 1st. The player with 'the honour' is often the best player, meaning they're likely waiting until the group in front is 250m+ from the tee. Usually there's at least x2 guys in the group that could've gone 1st.
While the shortest hitter is playing their 2nd shot, everyone else keep walking up the side of the fairway until they get parallel to their own ball. While the practice swings are happening, walk over to your ball and get a distance to the flag. As soon as it's your turn, you're basically ready to go.
Hit your own ball before looking for others.
Ready golf on the greens.

Another thing our usual group of four does when we play on a Saturday/Sunday is wait for #1 to tee off first. Lowest handicapper gets bragging rights on the first tee!

 

[peternorth]

I think so much of slow play could be eliminated by improved awareness.
Let the shortest hitters tee off 1st. The player with 'the honour' is often the best player, meaning they're likely waiting until the group in front is 250m+ from the tee. Usually there's at least x2 guys in the group that could've gone 1st.
While the shortest hitter is playing their 2nd shot, everyone else keep walking up the side of the fairway until they get parallel to their own ball. While the practice swings are happening, walk over to your ball and get a distance to the flag. As soon as it's your turn, you're basically ready to go.
Hit your own ball before looking for others.
Ready golf on the greens.

Couldve stopped there. Awareness.

But alas.
I dont think there needs to be a hard and fast (or partially hard and medium pace) rule on who hits first in terms of ability or length. What if the player hits the furthest but is also off the highest handicap? If that's the case then there MUST be rule 1.1 to determine order pending such an event.

THen if after 1.1 finds no solution, 1.2 with an added criteria. and so on.

While the shortest hitter is playing their 2nd shot, everyone else keep walking up the side of the fairway until they get parallel to their own ball. While the practice swings are happening, walk over to your ball and get a distance to the flag. As soon as it's your turn, you're basically ready to go.
Hit your own ball before looking for others.
Ready golf on the greens.

But this is this and THIS! Everyone move to their ball. Just go. Stuff this oh its polite to all go to the first together, and move to the second together etc.

Oh and, everyone dont need to help look for a ball.

And when player X is looking for said ball and you're the closest with ball, hit first then look.

 

[Pres]

There is no point trying to solve slow play issues at clubs. It has been an issue for 100+ years and is an unsolvable problem.

 

[toxic]

There is no point trying to solve slow play issues at clubs. It has been an issue for 100+ years and is an unsolvable problem.

Not unsolvable

The National have rules and penalties i believe around repeat slow play offenders

Peternorth might be able to add some context

 

[peternorth]

Does anyone know if paul gowie gow drive his MG car down to melbourne when he films his show getting a round in

 

[sideswipe]

There is no point trying to solve slow play issues at clubs. It has been an issue for 100+ years and is an unsolvable problem.

Completely disagree. Speed of play always needs to be a focus. But it shouldn't be about solving slow play, the idea should be to focus on playing at an acceptable pace.

Awareness is a big thing, ie. awareness that pace of play is a priority and players should always be aware of where they sit in relation to the group ahead. If you fall behind(it can happen through nobody's fault), one should know when and how to speed up a group. Something as simple as whoever putts out first should go straight to the next tee.

Whilst Miscore gives you your round time, I'd like to see it tell you your time compared to the group ahead.

The funny thing is I'd bet we can all point at people we know at our respective club who we think is a slow player(I played with a couple on Saturday), but no one ever thinks they are slow.

 

[sideswipe]

Not unsolvable

The National have rules and penalties i believe around repeat slow play offenders

Peternorth might be able to add some context

We have a marshall on course every Wednesday and Saturday, but he doesn't have any weapons. I'd love it if he was able to hand out a penalty or two.

Although am not sure the members would cop it!

 

[Lebbo73]

Completely disagree. Speed of play always needs to be a focus. But it shouldn't be about solving slow play, the idea should be to focus on playing at an acceptable pace.

Awareness is a big thing, ie. awareness that pace of play is a priority and players should always be aware of where they sit in relation to the group ahead. If you fall behind(it can happen through nobody's fault), one should know when and how to speed up a group. Something as simple as whoever putts out first should go straight to the next tee.

Whilst Miscore gives you your round time, I'd like to see it tell you your time compared to the group ahead.

The funny thing is I'd bet we can all point at people we know at our respective club who we think is a slow player(I played with a couple on Saturday), but no one ever thinks they are slow.

Our usual group of four will get around a course in 3.5 hours max. There’s no way we’re going to the next tee when we putt out just because the group in front of us might get around the course in 3 hours. Not that that is going to happen anyway.

 

[sideswipe]

Our usual group of four will get around a course in 3.5 hours max. There’s no way we’re going to the next tee when we putt out just because the group in front of us might get around the course in 3 hours. Not that that is going to happen anyway.

Was just suggesting that as a tactic(one of many) to catch back up to the field when your group gets out of position. Awareness.

 

[peternorth]

Not unsolvable

The National have rules and penalties i believe around repeat slow play offenders

Peternorth might be able to add some context

Correct. Once or twice, you can reason with it, ask qs of the playing partners etc. But recidivous players, are up for discipline at the clubs discretion.

 

[sideswipe]

Correct. Once or twice, you can reason with it, ask qs of the playing partners etc. But recidivous players, are up for discipline at the clubs discretion.

Good. Reckon that players need to “care” about speed as well.

Our ranger is a toothless tiger. Not sure the good old boy has ever had words with anyone.

 

[Livonski]

Our usual group of four will get around a course in 3.5 hours max. There’s no way we’re going to the next tee when we putt out just because the group in front of us might get around the course in 3 hours. Not that that is going to happen anyway.

3.5hrs is racing, you’re not holding anyone up. You’d be banging into the group in front and lapping the group behind

 

[Lebbo73]

3.5hrs is racing, you’re not holding anyone up. You’d be banging into the group in front and lapping the group behind

It only happens when you have a clear run obviously. That’s virtually never and we play in carts!

 

[sideswipe]

It only happens when you have a clear run obviously. That’s virtually never and we play in carts!

Won’t be a clear run tomorrow. Last group out in the monthly medal.

 

[peternorth]

Our usual group of four will get around a course in 3.5 hours max. There’s no way we’re going to the next tee when we putt out just because the group in front of us might get around the course in 3 hours. Not that that is going to happen anyway.

in your situation you are keeping up with GIF, so no need to push. awareness.

 

[peternorth]

It only happens when you have a clear run obviously. That’s virtually never and we play in carts!

get out and walk u lazy sod

 

[Lebbo73]

Won’t be a clear run tomorrow. Last group out in the monthly medal.

Definitely not

 

[Lebbo73]

get out and walk u lazy sod

I walked on Thursday at Ashgrove Golf Course. I should’ve taken the hiking boots.

 

[ITCHY EYEBALLS]

Couldve stopped there. Awareness.

But alas.
I dont think there needs to be a hard and fast (or partially hard and medium pace) rule on who hits first in terms of ability or length. What if the player hits the furthest but is also off the highest handicap? If that's the case then there MUST be rule 1.1 to determine order pending such an event.

THen if after 1.1 finds no solution, 1.2 with an added criteria. and so on.




But this is this and THIS! Everyone move to their ball. Just go. Stuff this oh its polite to all go to the first together, and move to the second together etc.

Oh and, everyone dont need to help look for a ball.

And when player X is looking for said ball and you're the closest with ball, hit first then look.

100%
Hit a ball into the rough at my place, especially during the warmer months, you go look for it yourself...i ain't risking a snake bite.
That being said, everyone should help me look for my ball.