Play through? Forgotten Etiquette?

[Urbs_Valhalla]

When did letting people "play through" go by way of the dodo?

Played today and it was my second straight round with a 3 hour back 9.  Today, I was in a 2 player group catching a 4 player group at the tee for 8 straight holes.  No group in front of them.  I asked if we could play through and was told no.  The reason they face was, it would disrupt the flow of their round.

Am I remembering golf etiquette wrong?

Should I have just hit upon them and forced the issue?

[PMookie]

14 minutes ago, Urbs_Valhalla said:

When did letting people "play through" go by way of the dodo?

Played today and it was my second straight round with a 3 hour back 9.  Today, I was in a 2 player group catching a 4 player group at the tee for 8 straight holes.  No group in front of them.  I asked if we could play through and was told no.  The reason they face was, it would disrupt the flow of their round.

Am I remembering golf etiquette wrong?

Should I have just hit upon them and forced the issue?

I wouldn’t care and would just drive ahead of them. 17 holes instead of 18? No big deal, especially for the peace-of-mind.

[Chip Strokes]

4 minutes ago, PMookie said:

I wouldn’t care and would just drive ahead of them. 17 holes instead of 18? No big deal, especially for the peace-of-mind.

this, times 1,000. 

and since i couldn’t count the round anyway, i’d give myself a birdie on that hole just for the hassle. 

[Micah T]

When did letting people "play through" go by way of the dodo?

Played today and it was my second straight round with a 3 hour back 9.  Today, I was in a 2 player group catching a 4 player group at the tee for 8 straight holes.  No group in front of them.  I asked if we could play through and was told no.  The reason they face was, it would disrupt the flow of their round.

Am I remembering golf etiquette wrong?

Should I have just hit upon them and forced the issue?

This is what Bluetooth speakers are made for: see how AC/DC blaring from your cart on every tee box treats them...

 

 

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[HardcoreLooper]

I play about a quarter of my rounds by myself, and at the public course I'm usually playing, groups will let me through about 75% of the time.  Most of the time I'm walking, so skipping ahead isn't an option.  But if I go out by myself and I know I'm going to wait, I'll take a cart so I can skip around to open holes if I run into someone in that 25%.

People have told me that they won't let me through because they're also being held up, which is semi-legitimate.  Interrupting the "flow" of someone's round is absurd.  I hope you laughed at them for that weak sauce.

 

[tommc23]

4 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

I play about a quarter of my rounds by myself, and at the public course I'm usually playing, groups will let me through about 75% of the time.  Most of the time I'm walking, so skipping ahead isn't an option.  But if I go out by myself and I know I'm going to wait, I'll take a cart so I can skip around to open holes if I run into someone in that 25%.

People have told me that they won't let me through because they're also being held up, which is semi-legitimate.  Interrupting the "flow" of someone's round is absurd.  I hope you laughed at them for that weak sauce.

 

When walking I've been let through after the guys hit their tee shots a few times and also teed off with them a few times. I've pulled away from a few groups that let me through when walking also probably because I average 3 hour rounds while walking.

[Middler]

When the holdup is somewhere far ahead, playing through is pointless. I’d tell someone behind me no too if I can’t see an opening ahead. If you’re waiting on me, it’s because there are several groups stacked up ahead.

But if there’s an opening, they should let you through without asking. If someone didn’t let me through, I’d go around them under most circumstances (not in a tournament or round that counted for something). I’ve even skipped 2-3 holes ahead and gone back to play the skipped holes later when conditions and course layout permitted.

Sometimes its beginners who don’t know any better, and you ask nicely, they’ll oblige no problem. There are a lot of self taught players who don’t know all the rules or (traditional) etiquette. Etiquette, golf or in general, is NOT what it used to be...

[Urbs_Valhalla]

9 hours ago, PMookie said:

I wouldn’t care and would just drive ahead of them. 17 holes instead of 18? No big deal, especially for the peace-of-mind.

I agree that jumping ahead is an option but is it the right thing.  Maybe having the mindset "they can just jump ahead" is what's caused the change in etiquette?

[Urbs_Valhalla]

8 hours ago, Micah T said:

This is what Bluetooth speakers are made for: see how AC/DC blaring from your cart on every tee box treats them...

 

 

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if it wasn't for my speaker i would have lost my mind.  I played tee box games with my playing partner which also helps.

[jb0330]

As the years have went on public courses have gotten worse with this IMO. This is probably one of the main reasons I prefer to play on base and have been trying to talk my lady boss into letting me get a membership at the local public/private course. I've never hit down on someone on purpose, but I have call the club house after letting them get to the green before teeing off again and catching back up to them a hole later. I average a 4 hour round normally, don't waste time looking for a ball if it happens to go way right, and will always let groups play through if there is somewhere for them to go. I do tell them if they can't before they ask that I'd let you play though but there is a group in front of us that we are waiting on.  

[Buffly]

@Urbs_Valhalla in my area, the problem, as many have stated, is that there are no gaps. However, you explained there was so, I would first ask, then tell, and lastly call the course if they would not comply. 

Ask: "I see there's a Gap in front of you, can we play through?"

Tell: "We are playing faster than you so, golf etiquette states if there is a gap you are obliged to let us play through. We will be out of sight in no time." As I walk up to the tee and tee off.

Lastly, if there are no gaps, slow play is the only culprit, I take advantage of the extra time by playing extra approach shots, practice bunker shots, play a few extra putts, as long as I keep pace with the group in front of me.

[PMookie]

1 hour ago, Urbs_Valhalla said:

I agree that jumping ahead is an option but is it the right thing.  Maybe having the mindset "they can just jump ahead" is what's caused the change in etiquette?

No, modern rudeness caused it. I was taught golf etiquette back when I was a kid, in the 70s. I learned from my father what proper etiquette in golf was. Today, kids aren’t learning from their parent, especially if they weren’t raised playing golf. Add to this the music on course, the drunken videos destroying carts and property, etc and there is more to do with current society than someone just driving past. 

I’m not going to be held-up by a foursome. Not happening. I’ve also called the clubhouse, while standing right next to the people holding-up the course, and asked for them to come out and ask the group to let people through or get off the course.

 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

If there are open holes ahead and I'm with a group and a single or twosome pulls up, I will always let them play through. In the OP's situation I would call the pro shop and let them know about the situation. Then if they were not going to come out and address the problem, I would wait until they teed off and then drive ahead of them anyway. If they then started giving me lip as I drove past (depending on the lip I got) I would leave the flag out the hole on the next green. OOPS!  

But you know If the course is packed and there are no open holes there is nowhere to go. Just sit back and enjoy the day as best you can.  Playing as a single a lot I always catch up to people and typically they either waive me up, let me play through, or invite me to play with them. I typically play 18 in 2-1/4 hours, but that is on a private course with little play and members with etiquette.

[Urbs_Valhalla]

1 hour ago, jb0330 said:

As the years have went on public courses have gotten worse with this IMO. This is probably one of the main reasons I prefer to play on base and have been trying to talk my lady boss into letting me get a membership at the local public/private course. I've never hit down on someone on purpose, but I have call the club house after letting them get to the green before teeing off again and catching back up to them a hole later. I average a 4 hour round normally, don't waste time looking for a ball if it happens to go way right, and will always let groups play through if there is somewhere for them to go. I do tell them if they can't before they ask that I'd let you play though but there is a group in front of us that we are waiting on.  

What course have you been looking at joining?  I've been looking into Hawthorne Country Club by me.

[jb0330]

What course have you been looking at joining?  I've been looking into Hawthorne Country Club by me.

Brenton Bay


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[Urbs_Valhalla]

7 minutes ago, jb0330 said:

Brenton Bay


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Send me a text with what their membership dues look like.

[DevilDog29]

I've had this happen to me more times than not. Last weekend I had a foursome in front of me that wouldn't let me play through and there was a huge gap. I caught them on 8 and had to sit behind them for the remaining of the round. When I got up to them on 10 I politely asked to play through and got a no. I'm seeing it more with the young crowd, which is upsetting because I fall into the same category. I do think the Marshal should do more about this. 

Edited October 29, 2020 by DevilDog29

[MNUte]

3 hours ago, Middler said:

When the holdup is somewhere far ahead, playing through is pointless. I’d tell someone behind me no too if I can’t see an opening ahead. If you’re waiting on me, it’s because there are several groups stacked up ahead.

But if there’s an opening, they should let you through without asking. If someone didn’t let me through, I’d go around them under most circumstances (not in a tournament or round that counted for something). I’ve even skipped 2-3 holes ahead and gone back to play the skipped holes later when conditions and course layout permitted.

Sometimes its beginners who don’t know any better, and you ask nicely, they’ll oblige no problem. There are a lot of self taught players who don’t know all the rules or (traditional) etiquette. Etiquette, golf or in general, is NOT what it used to be...

This is what I've found. With Covid, a lot of courses have increased demand and are shortening gaps between tee times. So you have a lot of newer players AND a lot more players as a whole. Combined, you get a lot of backed up play where there's no room to play through. 

Case in point, this past weekend four groups were backed up on a single tee box because two groups of beginners were clogging up the next two holes. 

[Jackal]

I run into this a lot. We are walking, and people think we can't keep up.

We get right on the tail of a group of 2 or 4 ( in carts), with 3 empty holes in front of them.

A lot of times they just keep looking back and take their time.

The course owner doesn't care because he makes more money off of the guys with a cart.

Can't wait til the new course opens up.

They had marshals before that stopped slow play.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Jackal

[Urbs_Valhalla]

Maybe when I retire I'll volunteer to become the fun police.

[Headhammer]

Totally poor etiquette & a stupid response. As others have said, once they all hit their Tee balls I would have driven past them and started on the next hole. I would have also mentioned it at the club house on my way out.

[THEZIPR23]

I have played for 25+ years and can count on one hand the amount of people that would take 3 hours to play 9 holes. I have played many long rounds but that was due to the course being packed and not having a proper marshal.

I was playing last year at my club as a single. Single playing behind me and I could tell that he was in a hurry. I am standing on the 6th hole, waiting for the single in front of me, and single behind me picks his ball up from 5 fairway, and drives to the 6th tee. I asked if he would like to join me, he said no I want to play through. I looked at him funny and said not happening, I have been waiting on every shot. He replies I don't see anyone. To which I said well open your eyes. So he is all huffy now and I hit my drive and he drives past me on the fairway. He gets to the green and looks and there are 4 groups on the last 3 holes. He throws his hand up in the air and drives off. All the while I am laughing at him. 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

17 hours ago, Urbs_Valhalla said:

When did letting people "play through" go by way of the dodo?

Played today and it was my second straight round with a 3 hour back 9.  Today, I was in a 2 player group catching a 4 player group at the tee for 8 straight holes.  No group in front of them.  I asked if we could play through and was told no.  The reason they face was, it would disrupt the flow of their round.

Am I remembering golf etiquette wrong?

Should I have just hit upon them and forced the issue?

I would say, call the clubhouse and ask for a ranger to come by, our courses are pretty good about asking the slow groups to let people play through, specially when the flow of the group ahead is running like molasses.

Our scramble last Sunday was particularly painful as the group in front of us was very slow playing the back nine, at some point there were a total 3 groups, 12 people, us and 10 more waiting on the par 5 12th hole tee box, so they could hit into the green from 350+ yards, that was the 3rd shot for them, so I was willing to bet that none would hit the green from the rough they were sitting in.

unfortunately being a competition we could not skip a hole, but the ranger did give them a warning after a couple of holes to pick up the pace.

 

Edited October 29, 2020 by xOldBenKenobiX

[Firebird]

We play a public course and slow play can be a real issue. Mind you there would be no benefit in calling us through and you would just get stuck behind the next group.

[Alf. S]

People say that you should play at your own pace and enjoy the game but if that pace is causing other people issue you step aside and let them play thru.

Since retiring I play a lot of singles golf at the club and I realise that I will be held up so if there is no one behind me I don't push the group in front. I will finish the hole then have some practise putts or chips until I go on the tee.  If the group are aware they will wave me thru I thank them and move promptly on. The guys I usually have problems with are the older guys who still hold onto the etiquette of the 1980s "Singles have no standing on the course". Saying that at the club a 4 hour plus round is very rare.  When the course is stacked  you don't have much option but to suck it up. When this is the case then I will normally cut my round short.

My worse experience was when I played in the States in Rancho Bernardo just outside San Diego. There was a ladies 4-ball competition on and it was 3 hours for the front 9. At 10 the Marshal ended up shuttling me around the course looking for a gap for me to play. I can't remember the order I played the back 9 in but 10 and 11 were my last holes just before dusk. But I didn't expect to be let thru the Marshal seemed more concerned than me.

 

[djahubes]

Lots of assholes out there. No reason not to let a 2 ball play through. I ran into a similar situation playing as a single walking behind a 2 in carts. I just kept the pressing them and asking them what was taking so long every t box. Eventually they gave up and let me through. I would never hit up into a group but definitely will be vocal!!


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[HardcoreLooper]

6 hours ago, xOldBenKenobiX said:

I would say, call the clubhouse and ask for a ranger to come by, our courses are pretty good about asking the slow groups to let people play through, specially when the flow of the group ahead is running like molasses.

You're lucky that your local courses have rangers.  Very few courses around here bother with rangers anymore.  Not even volunteers.

 

[Alf. S]

9 hours ago, djahubes said:

Lots of assholes out there. No reason not to let a 2 ball play through. I ran into a similar situation playing as a single walking behind a 2 in carts. I just kept the pressing them and asking them what was taking so long every t box. Eventually they gave up and let me through. I would never hit up into a group but definitely will be vocal!!


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I don't understand the mentality of some people. If I'm out in a group and someone comes up behind and we are holding them up I will always look to let them thru, if there is space. I'm not a slow player (in my own head) and don't like rushing round a course. If you let them thru, you can play at your own pace and enjoy the day. 

Sometimes it is a testosterone driven thing.

One other anecdote playing with my son and flatmate, ex-marine and rugby player. On the 3rd, short downhill par 4 (320 yds) we are putting and the 3 ball behind drive ball pitches in the greenside bunker, 4th hole 470 yds par 5 on the green putting the guys behind playing their 2nd shots again ball runs on the front, I gesture to the group behind indicating that they are playing right up our backs. 5th hole 290 yd par 4, closest yet, ball pitches 1st bounce on the green.  We stop at the 6th and wait for them to let them play thru, 1st guy comes up having lost his ball. And I politely say would he like to play thru and he declines. I then point out that I want them to play thru since they have nearly hit us 3 times and he takes offence and start arguing with me. Meanwhile my sons friend is whispering in my ear "can I just hit him, we can take them, can I just hit him, please". Anyway he went back to his mates and we didn't see them again for the round. 

I pointed out to Gregg that if he hit him he would get banned and so would I so maybe not the best course of action.

 

[Chip Strokes]

1 hour ago, Alf. S said:

I don't understand the mentality of some people. If I'm out in a group and someone comes up behind and we are holding them up I will always look to let them thru, if there is space. I'm not a slow player (in my own head) and don't like rushing round a course. If you let them thru, you can play at your own pace and enjoy the day. 

 

having a group up your ass is the worst, i couldn’t agree more. 

it makes for a really stressful round, which is kind of the opposite of the point 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

9 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

You're lucky that your local courses have rangers.  Very few courses around here bother with rangers anymore.  Not even volunteers.

 

On our courses the rangers used to be a couple of part time older gentlemen, now it seems they are rotating everyone else during busy times to act as a ranger, at least most days there is someone out there trying to keep pace of play.