Golfers agree on very few things. Equipment preferences vary wildly. Opinions on course conditions can change from one group to the next. Even something as simple as golf fashion can create spirited debate.
Pace of play, though? Surely we can find some common ground there.
Nearly every golfer agrees that slow play is a problem, but we have seen the disagreement begin when we ask how much it should impact the experience.
That question serves as the foundation for Episode 2 of Splitting Fairways, the THP podcast where Ryan “Hawk” and Jeremy “Lord Tox” explore the conversations golfers are already having every day. Rather than trying to determine who is right and who is wrong, the show examines both sides of golf’s most divisive topics and the perspectives that shape them.
This week, the discussion shifts from golf fashion to one of the most common complaints in the game.
Are golfers too obsessed with pace of play?
The topic originated from a discussion on the THP Forum that challenged a common assumption. The original post wasn’t defending slow play. Instead, it questioned whether golfers sometimes allow pace of play to affect their enjoyment of the game more than it should.
Predictably, the responses were divided.
One side argued that pace matters because golf is a shared experience. Slow groups impact everyone behind them, disrupt rhythm, and demonstrate a lack of awareness for other players on the course.
The opposing view suggested that golfers have become conditioned to treat every delay as a crisis. Waiting occasionally is not the same thing as slow play, and in an era of increased participation and crowded tee sheets, some delays are simply part of the experience.
As the episode unfolds, the conversation moves well beyond pace of play itself.
Topics such as golf’s continued growth, public versus private course expectations, respect for fellow golfers, and modern expectations of convenience all become part of the discussion. Along the way, several memorable comments from THP Forum members help illustrate just how passionate golfers can become when discussing pace.
Whether you believe slow play is one of the game’s biggest issues or think golfers sometimes allow it to overshadow an otherwise enjoyable round, Episode 2 explores both perspectives.
After listening, we want to hear from you.
Is slow play ruining golf, or are golfers letting it ruin golf?
Let us know where you stand in the comments below.
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