Slow Play

[jefffann]

For some reason every time I play on a day when it is incredibly slow, I cannot score. My body tightens up and it is all but over. Can anyone give me some pointers or ideas to stay loose and focused during the slow days?

I feel your pain.Same thing happenes to me. I don't know the cure. Wish I could be insightful and give you the majic answer.
Only thing that works for me is to play days that the weather sucks so the course is relatively empty.

 

[907golfer12]

I don't mind slow play. I pride my game on being mentally tough. Now if I could just get the swing going...

 

[ClairefromClare]

What bugs me is the multiple variations of rangers assuming that woman in group = slow play.

If we're held up because of a slow group in front of us, the ranger invariable shows up and tells us to pick up the pace. If we're not held up and keeping up with the group in front (and no one behind us is breathing down our necks), the ranger circles, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

I'll admit I don't react well to that.

 

[HardcoreLooper]

provisional has it right. I try to keep from even thinking about my next shot while I'm waiting. I don't even look at my ball.

The first time I had a chance to break par for 9 holes, we had caught up to the group ahead of us on the last tee. A simple little 9-iron par three. It was an island green, but I'd never put one in the water on that hole before. We had to wait about 10 minutes to hit our tee shots, and I was a complete wreck. That 9-iron got about 9 inches off the ground, right into the drink. Luckily, I got up-and-down for a bogey and still shot -2.

To all those who say that carts speed up play; you have to know how to play out of a cart. Too many people sit in the cart and watch when they could be getting into position to play their next shot.

 

[Craig Mac]

What bugs me is the multiple variations of rangers assuming that woman in group = slow play.

If we're held up because of a slow group in front of us, the ranger invariable shows up and tells us to pick up the pace. If we're not held up and keeping up with the group in front (and no one behind us is breathing down our necks), the ranger circles, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

I'll admit I don't react well to that.

It's not just women they do that to, we were being watched like a hawk one time recently. There was a threesome in front of us and a threesome behind us. We were keeping the pace and waiting occasionally, but the fact was we were a foursome in the middle of two threesomes on a busy day. I kept seeing the ranger talking to the guys behind us then he would drive ahead wait for us to play through then talk to the other group behind again. He did this for 3 or 4 straight holes and would pull up to watch us on the greens. Finally after the fourth hole one of the guys was tired of it and asked "Is there a problem?? You keep coming up here every hole and watching us". At this point the ranger said we were a "little" behind pace. But we couldn't play any faster than the group(s) in front of us!!! It just seemed that the pace of play for the day wasn't fast enough for the group behind us, so we let them go through(which was pointless), and they waited every shot on the group in front of them the rest of the way in, but it let us enjoy playing without some impatient a-holes behind us....

 

[Harry Longshanks]

It's not just women they do that to, we were being watched like a hawk one time recently. There was a threesome in front of us and a threesome behind us. We were keeping the pace and waiting occasionally, but the fact was we were a foursome in the middle of two threesomes on a busy day. I kept seeing the ranger talking to the guys behind us then he would drive ahead wait for us to play through then talk to the other group behind again. He did this for 3 or 4 straight holes and would pull up to watch us on the greens. Finally after the fourth hole one of the guys was tired of it and asked "Is there a problem?? You keep coming up here every hole and watching us". At this point the ranger said we were a "little" behind pace. But we couldn't play any faster than the group(s) in front of us!!! It just seemed that the pace of play for the day wasn't fast enough for the group behind us, so we let them go through(which was pointless), and they waited every shot on the group in front of them the rest of the way in, but it let us enjoy playing without some impatient a-holes behind us....

I've run into that exact same problem CM. Ranger scolded us on the tee (where the group behind us was also waiting) and we pointed to the group in front of us that was still in the fairway (it wasn't their fault either, it was the group in front of them). Ranger continued to scold us anyway, telling us that we would have skip the hole if we didn't get moving. We asked "and go where?!?! The course is backed up!" He just said we needed to get moving, and we asked him if he wanted us to hit into the group in front of us. He kept ignoring what we were saying (the group behind us was backing up what we were saying) and instead kept telling us we had to move faster. WTF?

 

[MO_Hacker]

I've run into that exact same problem CM. Ranger scolded us on the tee (where the group behind us was also waiting) and we pointed to the group in front of us that was still in the fairway (it wasn't their fault either, it was the group in front of them). Ranger continued to scold us anyway, telling us that we would have skip the hole if we didn't get moving. We asked "and go where?!?! The course is backed up!" He just said we needed to get moving, and we asked him if he wanted us to hit into the group in front of us. He kept ignoring what we were saying (the group behind us was backing up what we were saying) and instead kept telling us we had to move faster. WTF?

I would have probably been escorted off the course at that point, there is only so much of that crap I would take before telling him to STFU and leave me alone.

 

[HardcoreLooper]

What bugs me is the multiple variations of rangers assuming that woman in group = slow play.

If we're held up because of a slow group in front of us, the ranger invariable shows up and tells us to pick up the pace. If we're not held up and keeping up with the group in front (and no one behind us is breathing down our necks), the ranger circles, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

I'll admit I don't react well to that.

I've never understood this. Tuesday was Ladies' day at the club I caddied at, and we all loved it. They played in twosomes, they played in three hours or less, and they were easy to caddy for. You'd have a few bucks in your pocket and be on the beach by noon.

 

[julie_m]

I've never understood this. Tuesday was Ladies' day at the club I caddied at, and we all loved it. They played in twosomes, they played in three hours or less, and they were easy to caddy for. You'd have a few bucks in your pocket and be on the beach by noon.

Very cool to hear! I know I'm always really, really self conscious about seeming slow, I feel like I'm always being watched. I've picked up my ball and walked away from a hole I've been doing badly on before...I wish I could relax and play well but I get anxious when guys are watching me and getting irritated (I can guess).

 

[907golfer12]

I would have probably been escorted off the course at that point, there is only so much of that crap I would take before telling him to STFU and leave me alone.

I'm with MO. I have chewed out rangers before. Now I'm not a big guy at all, but the rangers always leave me alone after that. Granted the rangers at my home course are nice now and don't give me any crap, but I have gotten furious at rangers before.

 

[jefffann]

walk...I tend to play better while walking as opposed to carting. I'm guessing the walking helps keep me warmed up.

same... nothing sucks more than having to tack another 18 bucks or so onto already overpiced green fees

I felt the same way 25 years ago

 

[Smallville]

Me too Jeff. As soon as I could afford the cart it became SOP. Except at Smiley's, where they don't have carts!

 

[jefffann]

Me too Jeff. As soon as I could afford the cart it became SOP. Except at Smiley's, where they don't have carts!

Yeah
Now I'm bummin when it's cart path only LOL

 

[jefffann]

That is my goal MO. I like teeing on during the week at like 7am. I can finish a round in a twosome in a little over 2 hours. Its great

That's better than great that's my dream during the spring.
Only way to do that in the summer on a lot of them I play is if it's raining.On nice days everybody and his brother is out.
Beware of a foursome of over 20 handicappers who beleive they're all under 10 handicap who play from the tips.Now that's slow play when you get behind them.I'd rather be behind a guy teaching his girlfriend the game.

 

[provisional]

I was on a course in Texas , (Willow Springs) and had a course ranger eyeballing our group. No one was behind us, and no one was in front of us. It was a cooler, windy day with few golfers on the course. Time was not a factor. After a couple of holes under his watchful eyes, I finally went over to ask him if something was wrong. He said he thought we had brought our own food, and drinks onto the course. I told we had not, but since he had mentioned it, and he was here for our benefit, if he wouldn't mind running up to the club house and bringing us back a few beers. I was even handing him the money while asking. He got mad, left, and we never saw him again. :banana:

 

[China Cat>Rider]

I was on a course in Texas , (Willow Springs) and had a course ranger eyeballing our group. No one was behind us, and no one was in front of us. It was a cooler, windy day with few golfers on the course. Time was not a factor. After a couple of holes under his watchful eyes, I finally went over to ask him if something was wrong. He said he thought we had brought our own food, and drinks onto the course. I told we had not, but since he had mentioned it, and he was here for our benefit, if he wouldn't mind running up to the club house and bringing us back a few beers. I was even handing him the money while asking. He got mad, left, and we never saw him again. :banana:

damn...we always bring our own food and "beverages"

 

[Craig Mac]

I was on a course in Texas , (Willow Springs) and had a course ranger eyeballing our group. No one was behind us, and no one was in front of us. It was a cooler, windy day with few golfers on the course. Time was not a factor. After a couple of holes under his watchful eyes, I finally went over to ask him if something was wrong. He said he thought we had brought our own food, and drinks onto the course. I told we had not, but since he had mentioned it, and he was here for our benefit, if he wouldn't mind running up to the club house and bringing us back a few beers. I was even handing him the money while asking. He got mad, left, and we never saw him again. :banana:

That's awesome!!! Next time an annoying marshall is following us I am going to do that.