Fast Play

[Wedgie]

We had nice weather yesterday here in RI yesterday so I headed out to play 18 at my club. It isn’t officially open so you just show up and go. There were 3 singles in a row with me being the last. Pace of play was fine and the second of the 3 singles dropped out after 9.

 

On the back 9 I quickly catch the single in front of me but no big deal as he was fairly quick. I did find myself waiting on a lot of shots even after taking a few extra putts on my last hole, maybe hitting 2 off the tee and basically farting around.

 

I get to 16 and tee off right away. I get to my tee shot and the guy in front of me is in the right rough looking for his ball about 150 yards in front of me and waves me thru. I hit and while passing him he says, “I’m out here to have a nice relaxing day and you have been up my ass”. It really caught me off guard but I said “I’m just trying to keep pace”. He told me that I was trying to rush him and play my round in under 3 hours like it was a race. I told him I was playing at my normal pace when in fact I slowed it way down to stay back.

 

I never hit into the guy, never made gestures like speed it up dude and frankly never considered what I was doing to be an issue. Is there some unwritten rule that a single playing behind a single should stay way back? There was nobody behind us so I guess I could have hung back but again, did I do something wrong I’m not aware of?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[CarlH]

Why didn't any or all of the singles group up?  No, I don't think you did anything wrong if you weren't hitting into him or otherwise showing impatience/annoyance while waiting.  Sounds like it was more of HIS problem, not yours.  He could have let you play through if he was bothered having you behind him.  On another note...any single playing should have zero issues playing in under 3 hours unless hitting multiple balls and even then I believe 3 hours would be slow.  JMO

[GB13]

Nope, as long as you didn't hit into him, he's just being a jerk. If he wanted a relaxing day, he could have let you play through earlier, there is nothing wrong with playing at your speed. 

[tony@CIC]

It was his problem not yours.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Wedgie]

We didn’t group up because we started at different times and never got close enough to even speak to one another. And I can play in a hair over 2 hours walking when nobody is in front of me at that course.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Shankster]

I would have told him to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

Could have easily waited on a tee and let you go through.

Another one of my issues with golf. People.

[Rickp]

Not your problem, he’s got the problem.
Forget it move on, don’t carry his “baggage”.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Tap In]

I see no issues with the way you handled it. The only other thing you could’ve done was to say, “Keeping it in the fairway makes for faster play...”
(The rhyming was unintentional but that could be framed on a pro shop wall )


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[sp0rtsfan86]

The guy is in the wrong. There's nothing wrong with playing quick and still letting someone play through. I've done it before where someone keeps on your tail and you realize they are just better and faster than you are.

[russtopherb]

Agreed with all the others - HE is responsible for his pace of play. You are responsible for yours. If he felt like you were on top of him all day, he should have waved you through way earlier in the round. You're in the clear here.

[Drumdog]

If he was that upset, then he knew he was taking too long and was trying to deflect....

[THEZIPR23]

He was mad because all his life he has assumed he was a fast player. You proved him wrong and his life came crumbling down. You handled it well, better than I would have. 

[gchester33]

Ya as others have stated seems like his issue. If you're not hitting into him then it's really all in his head and at that point he should either let you come up and join or play through. Some people cant be helped i guess.

[TR1PTIK]

17 hours ago, Wedgie said:

 

We had nice weather yesterday here in RI yesterday so I headed out to play 18 at my club. It isn’t officially open so you just show up and go. There were 3 singles in a row with me being the last. Pace of play was fine and the second of the 3 singles dropped out after 9.

 

On the back 9 I quickly catch the single in front of me but no big deal as he was fairly quick. I did find myself waiting on a lot of shots even after taking a few extra putts on my last hole, maybe hitting 2 off the tee and basically farting around.

 

I get to 16 and tee off right away. I get to my tee shot and the guy in front of me is in the right rough looking for his ball about 150 yards in front of me and waves me thru. I hit and while passing him he says, “I’m out here to have a nice relaxing day and you have been up my ass”. It really caught me off guard but I said “I’m just trying to keep pace”. He told me that I was trying to rush him and play my round in under 3 hours like it was a race. I told him I was playing at my normal pace when in fact I slowed it way down to stay back.

 

I never hit into the guy, never made gestures like speed it up dude and frankly never considered what I was doing to be an issue. Is there some unwritten rule that a single playing behind a single should stay way back? There was nobody behind us so I guess I could have hung back but again, did I do something wrong I’m not aware of?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

 

If a single is accusing you of playing "too fast because you want to get around in 3 hours" they are the problem. I don't think you did anything wrong. It is not difficult for a single player to play 18 in under 3 hours whether they are riding or walking. If he wanted to take more time he should have let you play through sooner. 

[Reesedw]

@Wedgie, If you were not hitting into him then No harm no foul. Clearly he had an issue, whether his game sucked, his wife hates him or something else.. I have said this more than once, play your game enjoy it how YOU want and if your not hurting someone else in the process so be it.. If that was really a concern of his then he should have waved you through.. Do not worry about it, if you see him again make pleasantries and call it a day.. don't let one guy worry you.. Now if it was everyone thought that then I might be concerned.. LOL  

[palvord]

Since you have a string of replies letting you know that you were not in the wrong here, I'm going to try and concoct something that resembles a logical thinking from the perspective of the guy that made a stink about you playing too fast.

Let's see...yea....it's a big no from me on being able to find a logical reason why someone would be upset at you for playing too fast.

I have always been told that proper etiquette when a faster player is behind me is to let them play through when safe to do so.  It is the responsibility of the slower player to allow the faster player to move ahead of them.

[Wedgie]

I ran into the guy yesterday, he flagged me down when I was headed to #10 and he just finished 18. He apologized, said he had just hit a bad shot and seeing me waiting in the fairway set him off for some reason. He asked me to join him as part of his Saturday morning group. I accepted the apology but I’m all set as far as playing with the dude.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[edingc]

Glad to hear he at least apologized. Agree with the others, he was 100 percent in the wrong.

[StrokerAce]

I would have asked if he wanted to meet in the parking lot later and settle the issue....but it's RI...and...mafia...so uhhh...maybe that's not such a good idea.

[revkev]

It was his problem not yours.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

This plain and simple - you’ve already explained that there was no way for people to be paired up. If he felt rushed he could have either asked you to join him or let you play through, his choice. Failing to do that claiming that you were rushing him was a cheap shot IMO.

Perhaps something in his life was bothering him


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Rickp]

I ran into the guy yesterday, he flagged me down when I was headed to #10 and he just finished 18. He apologized, said he had just hit a bad shot and seeing me waiting in the fairway set him off for some reason. He asked me to join him as part of his Saturday morning group. I accepted the apology but I’m all set as far as playing with the dude.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Excellent!! Life’s too short. At least when you see him around the course there’s no animosity.
Out alone, maybe playing a few holes to forget home and/or work problems.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[SteddyGolf]

I know the life guard already blew his whistle but I’ll jump in the deep end any way.

 

Pace of play responsibilities apply to both the fast and slow. At 54 I can still hump a bag on my back for 18 in under 3 hours on an empty course. If I come upon someone not moving like an Olympic sprinter it’s my responsibility to slow down.

 

When I first read your post I thought the guy was probably just having a bad and as I turned out he was and in the end sounds like someone worth getting to know. Still I think it’s note worthy to remind all the jack rabbits (myself included) the journey is more important than the destination.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

 

[ZJBogey2]

I had a somewhat similar experience my last round out. There was a twosome in front of me and I was out alone. I tee'd off probably 20 minutes after the twosome. I caught them after 3 or 4 holes and I purposely slowed down to try and make sure they didnt think I was rushing them. No one was behind me, so I hit a couple extra puts and chips each hole to practice since I wasnt in a hurry. They never gave me an opportunity to play through but I didnt care since the pace wasnt that bad.

Eventually they caught a foursome in front of them on a par 3 and I ended up joining them on the par 3 and for the last couple of holes. Great guys.

[wipierce]

I do not believe you did anything incorrectly. Some people just don't want others around them. In those instance just finish your round with a clear conscience and don't let it bother you.

Sent using the MyGolfSpy mobile app

[viking]

On 3/31/2019 at 8:02 PM, CarlH said:

Why didn't any or all of the singles group up?  No, I don't think you did anything wrong if you weren't hitting into him or otherwise showing impatience/annoyance while waiting.  Sounds like it was more of HIS problem, not yours.  He could have let you play through if he was bothered having you behind him.  On another note...any single playing should have zero issues playing in under 3 hours unless hitting multiple balls and even then I believe 3 hours would be slow.  JMO

Right on Carl.

[viking]

On 4/4/2019 at 5:47 AM, SteddyGolf said:

Pace of play responsibilities apply to both the fast and slow. At 54 I can still hump a bag on my back for 18 in under 3 hours on an empty course. If I come upon someone not moving like an Olympic sprinter it’s my responsibility to slow down.

Right on SteddyGolf. I play 2 balls in a cart in 2-2.5 hours for 18 holes, thus actually playing 36.

[viking]

On 3/31/2019 at 8:07 PM, Wedgie said:

We didn’t group up because we started at different times and never got close enough to even speak to one another. And I can play in a hair over 2 hours walking when nobody is in front of me at that course.


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

Same here. Bravo Wedgie.

[viking]

On 4/1/2019 at 12:59 PM, TR1PTIK said:

If a single is accusing you of playing "too fast because you want to get around in 3 hours" they are the problem. I don't think you did anything wrong. It is not difficult for a single player to play 18 in under 3 hours whether they are riding or walking. If he wanted to take more time he should have let you play through sooner. 

Perfect response Triptik.

[viking]

On 4/3/2019 at 9:48 AM, palvord said:

I have always been told that proper etiquette when a faster player is behind me is to let them play through when safe to do so.  It is the responsibility of the slower player to allow the faster player to move ahead of them.

Yes palord.