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Shotgun Starts: Yay or Nay

OITW

OITW

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Most golfers have played in that charity tournament or a scramble tournament or, yes had to play in one when the frost delays start cropping up.

What are your thoughts on them?

Necessary evil to get everyone out there, avoid it as pace of play is brutal, enjoy it as it is a different way to kick off a round?
 
I say Nay as someone who likes to go and play fast and the shotguns definitely bog down a course.

However, I understand the need and reasons behind it so I do put up with them even if I don’t like them
 
I don’t mind them too much, although I despise starting on a par 3.
 
When you have to start on a hole that is on the opposite side of an unfamiliar course it can be a real pita! This happened to me and it took a good 20 mins to find, while some groups were finishing their first hole. Usually they have assistants escorting groups to their hole, but not then.
 
My thought is that this is a continuation of the frost delay thread.
 
Don't like it but it is a necessary evil for big scramble tournaments.
 
I like the shotgun starts. It's the best way to run a tourney if you are trying to get everyone together for a lunch or gathering after the round. I don't see it hindering pace of play at all.
 
Hard Nay.
Pace of play is always sooo bad, and very few courses can actually execute the start properly.
 
I'm with @tommyhaka . I get the need, and pace is gonna suck either way, I just don't want to start on the long par 3.
 
All in for shotgun starts. Our Thursday game is a shotgun 9 holes at 5pm. Allowed everyone to finish before dark. Great set up our course does for our Thursday games, helps with shorter days or gets everyone done at same time.
 
blueonblack said:
My thought is that this is a continuation of the frost delay thread.
Click to expand...

Interesting, when I did a scramble tournament in Aug and we started on a Par 3 and it took 5 hours there was no sign of frost 🤔
 
OITW said:
Interesting, when I did a scramble tournament in Aug and we started on a Par 3 and it took 5 hours there was no sign of frost 🤔
Click to expand...
How many scrambles have you played in during your lifetime?
And you were expecting different results? ;)
 
Doesn’t bother me at all.
 
blueonblack said:
How many scrambles have you played in during your lifetime?
And you were expecting different results? ;)
Click to expand...


Not going to change the pace of play but I don’t always start on a par 3

thanks for the meaningful contribution though
 
Not my favorite, mostly just because I enjoy starting on hole #1 and playing the course as it was designed, but I understand why it's used in certain situations and it's no big deal to me. In a charity scramble I already know we're in for a 5+ hour round no matter what, so whatever. Those kind of tournaments are more about having fun than serious golf to me.

Our annual guys' trip tournament switched to a shotgun start a couple years ago - it works better for getting everybody in at the same time so we can socialize, eat, etc. The only thing I really miss about the old way was everybody sitting around the 18th green on the last day watching the final pairing come in and cheering them on.
 
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OITW said:
Not going to change the pace of play but I don’t always start on a par 3

thanks for the meaningful contribution though
Click to expand...
My point stands. You play a scramble and expect it to be in four hours, call it the "Smails Open." Not happening.

The par 3 thing is interesting. The people who are "outsiders" in the tournament get to start on the par 3's. Ever notice that?
I don't think I have EVER NOT started on the par 3. Doesn't bother me a bit. :love::love::LOL:

Oh, but what does little old me know about ANYTHING. :LOL:;)
 
I love shot gun starts in tournaments, but the course should also schedule non tournament tee times accordingly.

The course needs to wait till the tournament players are pretty much done.

Still, SG starts are a good thing no matter what goes on with other tee times. The idea of not having to wait around to start your tournament is always a good thing.
 
Not my preference but I'm pretty used to them by now. Just finished up my 3rd season in our Regional Senior Golf Association. Travel to 16 courses each season, six courses rotate out every year. Often playing courses I've never seen before, and all are shotgun start out of necessity. I usually don't find out which hole I'm starting on until I get there and have yet to start on #1. Learned to just embrace whatever the first shot/hole presents because we all have to play all eighteen regardless.
 
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I don’t mind them in certain circumstances like charity events or when necessary because of a frost delay. I just hope I don’t start on a long par 3.
 
Lions81 said:
I don’t mind them too much, although I despise starting on a par 3.
Click to expand...

We play a money game every Sunday and at 3 of the 4 courses we rotate we always end up starting on a Par 3, I with you and don't like it so much with the added pressure to hit the 1st green you look at.
 
Big fat no. I understand it has to happen for charity scrambles, but that is the only time I’ll participate.

My son has played in a few large junior tournaments with shotgun starts and it often makes for no range time because the range is over crowded and makes for miserably long rounds because you are stuck at the pace of the lowest common denominator.
 
Charity event shotgun starts are fine. It's for charity.

Trying to get everyone a early tee time during the summer, annoying but gets more people playing. If it bothers me, play a different course.
 
I'm good with them, I think it is probably a more efficient way to run a big tourney.
 
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