Question about playing with beginners.

[BamBooBender]

Is it wrong to have them pick up on a hole vs. just topping ball after ball when the course is pretty full?
I’m talking about people who were playing with me because they wanted to take up the game now. Not people I may have been paired up that were obviously new to the game because I would never suggest that to them.

 

[PhillyV]

As long as pace isnt an issue i would say let them play their game. But if its slowing your group down to the point where you fall behind pace i would just mention something to them politely that your group has to keep moving

 

[JGirard27]

I don't think it's unreasonable to play rules similar to league... you make 8 you move on... You can spin it however you want, but i think it's just rude if people are stockpiling up behind you... Also, not to be rude, but you might want to mention it's probably better for them (and everyone else) to 'take up the game' when the course is less than fully booked....

 

[LordByron]

I think the better way to get someone into the game and keep them interested is to have them tee form 150 yrds or depending on their ability, even closer in. Less frustration this way, a 400yd par 4 is insanity when you cant get the ball off the ground. Just my opinion.

 

[musicmaster6921]

I think its perfectly fine if the course is busy, you have to try and keep pace. Now if the course is dead, let them hit 92 times.

 

[BamBooBender]

As long as pace isnt an issue i would say let them play their game. But if its slowing your group down to the point where you fall behind pace i would just mention something to them politely that your group has to keep moving

That is what usually I do.

 

[RNG]

I think they will appreciate it as most beginners are quite self conscious about how much time they take!!

 

[Chief]

I don't think it's unreasonable to play rules similar to league... you make 8 you move on... You can spin it however you want, but i think it's just rude if people are stockpiling up behind you... Also, not to be rude, but you might want to mention it's probably better for them (and everyone else) to 'take up the game' when the course is less than fully booked....

This has a bad confrontation written all over it

 

[fupresti]

I always try to make sure they understand picking up is acceptable and nothing to be ashamed of. Anything more then double par to me anyway is just excessive.

 

[JGirard27]

This has a bad confrontation written all over it

That's fine. Hopefully we never play a round that approaches 5.5 hours.... Let's just say I get cranky


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[golfinnut]

My wife picks up all the time, especially when it's crowded.

 

[fupresti]

I don't think it's unreasonable to play rules similar to league... you make 8 you move on... You can spin it however you want, but i think it's just rude if people are stockpiling up behind you... Also, not to be rude, but you might want to mention it's probably better for them (and everyone else) to 'take up the game' when the course is less than fully booked....

This is pretty demoralizing and I dont think anyone should feel like they are somehow a second class citizen. We were all at that point during our career.

 

[BamBooBender]

I don't think it's unreasonable to play rules similar to league... you make 8 you move on... You can spin it however you want, but i think it's just rude if people are stockpiling up behind you... Also, not to be rude, but you might want to mention it's probably better for them (and everyone else) to 'take up the game' when the course is less than fully booked....

That is why I often later in the afternoon, despite the wind, when my gf want's to play. Setting a stroke cap like that is good idea.

I think the better way to get someone into the game and keep them interested is to have them tee form 150 yrds or depending on their ability, even closer in. Less frustration this way, a 400yd par 4 is insanity when you cant get the ball off the ground. Just my opinion.

That's what I do with my gf since is a rank beginner. Male beginners (like my son) don't always respond to well to having to pick up, in my experience.

 

[JGirard27]

That is why I often later in the afternoon, despite the wind, when my gf want's to play. Setting a stroke cap like that is good idea.



That's what I do with my gf since is a rank beginner. Male beginners (like my son) don't always respond to well to having to pick up, in my experience.

I've done the same thing with my wife... When she first started, we stuck to late afternoons during the week (courses that don't have leagues) and late saturday/sunday afternoon, after when all the people that would be annoyed by this would be long gone. We also did a fair share of 'c'mon and play through' although that doesn't work for you if it's a complete stranger...

Teeing it even further up is a great idea... I saw a post regarding a golf course that set itself up like this (can't remember the thread) but they had almost 10 tee boxes... Newer golfers wouldn't even bother driving, and it was basically an approach in. Excellent idea more courses need to do..

 

[JGirard27]

This is pretty demoralizing and I dont think anyone should feel like they are somehow a second class citizen. We were all at that point during our career.

When you were a brand new golfer you decided to go out and play a round when the entire course was full?? I'm being honest here, but that sounds less than smart in my opinion... Kinda like giving it a shot off the high dive the first time you saw a swimming pool... Off the top of my head, another analogy would be learning how to drive in an empty parking lot (walmart or similar) seems way smarter than giving it a go in rush hour traffic...

 

[BamBooBender]

I think they will appreciate it as most beginners are quite self conscious about how much time they take!!

Some people are conscientious like that, and some aren't ime.

 

[fupresti]

When you were a brand new golfer you decided to go out and play a round when the entire course was full?? I'm being honest here, but that sounds less than smart in my opinion... Kinda like giving it a shot off the high dive the first time you saw a swimming pool... Off the top of my head, another analogy would be learning how to drive in an empty parking lot (walmart or similar) seems way smarter than giving it a go in rush hour traffic...

Yes, because when I started to play I stuck to munis and executives and because of their value they were always full.

 

[LordByron]

I've done the same thing with my wife... When she first started, we stuck to late afternoons during the week (courses that don't have leagues) and late saturday/sunday afternoon, after when all the people that would be annoyed by this would be long gone. We also did a fair share of 'c'mon and play through' although that doesn't work for you if it's a complete stranger...

Teeing it even further up is a great idea... I saw a post regarding a golf course that set itself up like this (can't remember the thread) but they had almost 10 tee boxes... Newer golfers wouldn't even bother driving, and it was basically an approach in. Excellent idea more courses need to do..

US Kids us pushing this and there was a thread. A lot of courses in the Chicagoland area have "family tees" really great idea imo.

 

[MPlefty]

great topic.

a buddy of mine is a new player and struggles to break 120 and has no issue with pace because before taking him to the course I talked to him about pace of play and how to play faster without rushing his shots.

one thing I found helped a lot for his pace and morale was when we started playing a shamble-ish game. if he hit a bad drive, he takes a penalty and come drop a ball near mine and play from there.

be forward about it, tell your friend that you will be commenting for him to learn how to play at a respectable pace. be polite and nice and explain why he should do what you tell him.

 

[JGirard27]

Great ideas ... i talked to my wife about this because she was a bit worried.. She usually just keeps an eye behind us for anyone getting close.. I have to reminder her they should be about a shot behind us and that's 'normal'

great topic.

a buddy of mine is a new player and struggles to break 120 and has no issue with pace because before taking him to the course I talked to him about pace of play and how to play faster without rushing his shots.

one thing I found helped a lot for his pace and morale was when we started playing a shamble-ish game. if he hit a bad drive, he takes a penalty and come drop a ball near mine and play from there.

be forward about it, tell your friend that you will be commenting for him to learn how to play at a respectable pace. be polite and nice and explain why he should do what you tell him.

 

[BamBooBender]

Yes, because when I started to play I stuck to munis and executives and because of their value they were always full.

I suppose in some areas of the country it's not possible to find a non crowded course.

 

[fupresti]

I suppose in some areas of the country it's not possible to find a non crowded course.

If you want an empty course in the Phoenix area then I suggest June-August after 12:00 or once the temp exceeds 105*.

 

[McLovin]

Is it wrong to have them pick up on a hole vs. just topping ball after ball when the course is pretty full?
I’m talking about people who were playing with me because they wanted to take up the game now. Not people I may have been paired up that were obviously new to the game because I would never suggest that to them.

no, i don't think it's wrong to have them pick up. i will suggest it, and if they're not interested and want to play out every shot then i say let them.

to your other situation where you get paired up with somebody, i had this exact thing happen to me recently. paired up with two guys, one with titleist 690 combo cb/mb irons and the other with 714 ap2. both say they always play the tips. both shot over 120 when counting penalty strokes. and the course was slammed. i would have said something to them if we had somewhere to go, but we were always waiting on the group in front. there was a twosome behind us who kept catching us and watching these guys take at least 2 off every tee, and hack it all over the course. i approached the twosome at the end of the round and apologized for the guys i got paired up with. in hindsight i probably should have said something as they were both relatively new to the game and didn't seem to have a good grasp on etiquette. it's just a fine line.

 

[Reframmellator]

I think it's common sense and common courtesy that a golfer who is likely to be slower, for whatever reason, would try to play when the course is least crowded and therefore less likely to be affected by slower play. Even then, I would expect anyone slowing down the course either to pick up or let groups play through. I understand, as fupresti, said, that some courses are always crowded, but a noob playing at the end of the day is likely to have less impact on overall congestion if (s)he wants to play without picking up.

I am really conscious of pace of play, at times to my own detriment, according to my playing partners, and I tend to shoot around the century mark.

 

[BamBooBender]

great topic.

a buddy of mine is a new player and struggles to break 120 and has no issue with pace because before taking him to the course I talked to him about pace of play and how to play faster without rushing his shots.

one thing I found helped a lot for his pace and morale was when we started playing a shamble-ish game. if he hit a bad drive, he takes a penalty and come drop a ball near mine and play from there.

be forward about it, tell your friend that you will be commenting for him to learn how to play at a respectable pace. be polite and nice and explain why he should do what you tell him.

That is a good idea. I did something similar with a coworker a few years ago who was just taking up the game, and would get really upset about picking up.