COMMUNITY

Heartotexas, Beginners need to play, They need to play the big 72 par course, Yes you let people by, thank you for that, some times letting some one by will slow things down even more. Yes weekends are the only time some can play. As for the members these are the guys that are there all the time and everyone knows. I was playing one day with my wife and son, The group behind us started as two groups and after a few holes made a group of 7. The starter was called about this group. He was telling them to break it up because they holding things up. I told the starter who I see 3 days or more a week that it was not them holding things up. They were keeping up with us all the way. These guys had 2 beginners in the group. How did they keep up? If anyone hit a bad shot they hit the next shot from the 100 yard, lost balls were not looked for. Playing ready golf also helps. Lines on the putting green are walked on. Think about the group in front of you just walked on it 2 to 5 minutes ago any way. Some times you need to pick up a ball and move on to keep up with beginners. They should not be playing for a score any way. It's about fun, fun for all, be kind and put your self in the shoes of the group behind you. Would you be upset if that was you back there??? Many times when my wife first played, I would pick up my ball. That would make her play faster then any thing I could say to her.

I AGREE! with cneville101.and I,AGREE! with heartotexas.play & have fun.enjoy the day.

Heart - I think that common sense does need to prevail on when to play golf at a busy public or private club. For a beginner, perhaps the driving range and par 3 courses are the appropriate venue for a person to hone their skills... as opposed to a busy course on a weekend morning. That really should be common sense.

I don't bring my 6 year old or my 15 year old to the course on Sat or Sun morning for a 7:30 tee time, because it simply is not appropriate. They do not have the skills or ability to play fast enough and they are just learning the game. Although I am a single digit handicap, when I choose to bring them to the course, I do so during periods of low play - which are exactly when no one else wants to play or I bring them to a course where beginners are expected, like The First Tee. That is etiquette.

Even at those time, I make the kids pick up when they take more than 4-6 shots to reach the green or I make them pick up after every shot and just play from my ball... even if there is no one behind us. It gets them in the habit of being conscious of their speed of play.

Gosh, all you guys seem to think beginners can just play anytime of the week, without regard to their jobs. Again, I know, we were playing slower than most, which is why we let so many groups play through, which is WHY it took 3 hours for the front nine. (Duh!!) Again, my point was the attitude displayed by the marshall and the pro shop that we should let the "members" (meaning the Mon-Fri regular crowd of must be retired guys) play through...WHICH WE WERE DOING!
Seems to me that some of the attitudes I have read on here is that if you have a high handicap (ie beginner) you just shouldn't be allowed to play except when no one else wants to. By the way, the two beginners, both women, one 69yrs old and the other mid 40's with a bum knee after knee replacement surgery were playing best ball and my wife and I were shagging the errant shots.

I agree with duckhunter. Two beginners on a busy weekend is a poor idea. I still consider myself a beginner and I hate a busy course. I much rather playing during the week, a luxury my job affords me, not so busy at all!

If it takes you 3 hours to play front nine, you should probably stop at the turn.

I understand that you let plenty of groups play through, but 3 hours is just ridiculous. If you let three or four groups play through because they were faster, that should be the first signal you are taking entirely too long.

I disagree with your premise... golf shouldn't take 5 or 6 hours on a Saturday morning or any time of any day. It only takes that long because of poor players, who either don't know what etiquette is or choose to believe that since "they paid the same membership dues" or "I paid my greeens fee", they feel entitled to own the course and take as much time as they see fit to find every one of the $1 balls that they sprayed into the woods. Slow players ruin the game for everyone who follows them... they are the scourge of the sport.

You may not be the problem, but your sentiment is echoed by slow players across the country. It is the slow player who has no right making a tee time on a weekend morning. He will ruin the day for groups hours behind him. I would also say that two beginners should not be on the course at 7AM on a Saturday. Saturday morning is not the time to be learning the game. A beginner should limit their play to the hours of low usage on the golf course, otherwise they will always be the bottleneck on a course (unless they are extremely conscious and pick up if they haven't hit the green after 5 or 6 shots).

A decent golfer who hits fairways and greens, can probably afford a couple of extra seconds to read and line up his/her putts. A golfer who has already lost a ball or two, taken 6 shots to hit the green and are well into 3 putt land... should just putt the ball as quickly as possible and not prolong the pain for everyone else.

As long as you are keeping up with the group in front of you then they should not be asking to pass you. If you are not keeping up, you should let them play through or maybe you guys break up you 4 some into 2 2somes and you will play faster. Taking 2 beginners out at the same time on a weekend not sure is the best move to make. When it's hot people have a hard time watching some one hit 5 times to get to the 150 yard pole. No way do they have the right to hit into your group