towncryer

Just my opinion...but when I reflect on slow play ruining my momentum, I usually find that I let it ruin my momentum. If I'm waiting on a group, I try really hard not to focus all my attention on the fact that I'm waiting. I bust out the ol' smartphone and scan Instagram. I walk around a little, I talk to another person in my group, I watch another group on another hole hit tee shots...but sitting in a cart or standing by my bag and staring at the group ahead of me usually hurts how I'm playing more than the fact that they're slow.

I think this topic is worn out (no offense to the author/creator of the survey). Slow play is here to stay for a number of reasons.... 1. Most people think slow play applies only to the people ahead of them...nobody wants to reflect on how they could play faster themselves. I'm certainly guilty of this at times, because (see reason 2) 2. People who get out on the golf course and hold up everyone behind them are probably not watching a lot of golf coverage and hearing people talk about slow play...they're not on MGS reading a poll about slow play...they're not reading opinions in publications about slow play...they do not see the initiatives to increase pace (USGA ads, signs in the pro shops, etc...). The people who are the biggest problem have very little idea that they are the problem. 3. The only way to address slow play with people who are causing it is to confront them while they are doing it...and I don't know a way to do that without making the offending party embarrassed and a little resentful. I think golf courses are in a tough spot...they either go full-out and force groups to skip holes and ruffle some feathers, potentially losing return business, a bad review on a website, etc... OR they can be lenient and gentle in encouraging ready golf and have 5+ hour rounds. 4. Golf courses are culpable (I think) for how they schedule times and how then enforce starting times. I don't have the data, but I'm sure there's an optimal number for any given first hole on how long it should be between golfer 4 from group A's tee shot to golfer 1 from group B's tee shot. If golf courses do 20 minute intervals between foursomes, are you okay paying more so the course can make up lost revenue from having fewer groups? Also, if my group is an 11:55 start, and we're all ready to go at 11:47 so we tee off, who do we blame for catching the group ahead of us and having to wait? If a starter would have held us from starting early, we'd likely be more "on schedule" and not on the next group's heels right away. 5. I do agree that 2-person carts are used poorly. Sitting in the cart and watching someone else hit seems ridiculous. I love walking ahead to my ball with a rangefinder an a handful of clubs because stretching the old legs and walking a little feels good. But...if all groups aren't doing this, you're going to have traffic jams anyway. It's a HUGELY complicated issue that goes beyond any one solution. I think if you have the right mind set, slow play doesn't have to be infuriating and ruin your round. If I get to spend 5 hours with my friends instead of 4, how is that a bad thing?

- Ben - Nebraska (USA) - iBlade / Dynamic Gold S400 / 3-PW - 170

First name Ben Home State/Province/Country Nebraska ​Do you use performance tracking? Yes Do you use a GPS watch? No Which ones? N/A

Ben / Nebraska Vokey SM7 52.08F/56.10S/60.08M Overall strong short game...good in bunkers, bump and run, straight-forward shots. Struggle a little off very tight lies. Current handicap - 6.1