Ready Golf v. Etiquette ( | USHandicap Classic

RandallTex Professional Champion
Go to Last Reply 140 Views 7 Replies 1 Like
I played today with two slow players. They were riding, and I was walking. They "said" they played ready golf on the first tee, but it was clear their idea was different than mine. Our threesome took 4:20, and we ended with a gap of at least 2 holes in front of us. It was a fun round actually and they were an interesting pair, but geez they were slow, even though we talked about speeding up. Nice older Asian gentlemen who had money on each hole for the winner. I guess the $ were more important to them than the speed of play. First time in a while I've been part of a group where the ranger SHOULD have pushed us along faster. Today, I often walked ahead along the tree line quite a bit ahead of them during their endless practice swings. It started out slowly, but my steps added up as I couldn't believe how long they were taking. By the back 9, I would just not worry about it. On a par 5 once, I had to be 150 yards ahead as they slowly chunked their way down the hole. They didn't seem to mind, but it made me wonder what is considered proper? Is it poor etiquette to walk ahead too far? Do most of you stay relatively close to the player furthest from the green, or is it common to be even 100 yards further down the fairway at times, if that helps speed play and is not distracting? I could see on a par 5 that approach shots might be anywhere from 50 - 250, so everyone could get to their balls while waiting for the group ahead to putt out. Once they are off the green, everyone is in position- or at least closer than if we'd all waited for the guy to try to reach in two from 250!
cogolfer1 LowIndex
# 1 6/6/2013 8:33:57 PM
If they really aren't that good, I'll walk a good ways up but make sure to stay out of the way. If they're actually good players, then I'll keep even, especially since my ball probably won't be a long ways away. (Apparently I just called myself a good player, that's not going to please the golf Gods.) I don't think you can do a whole lot wrong on this unless you're playing with a pro and walk up to the green before they hit their 2nd shot.
Mark Simmons Legend
# 2 6/6/2013 11:32:48 PM
First of all, I can see you are one that takes responsibility for your pace of play and that is to be commended. First rule is be safe. There actually isn't a rule of thumb for number of yards. Just keep yourself out of harms way. Sometimes (like when the opposing player is in the trees) you can be in more danger hanging out by them then 100 yards down the fairway on the opposite side. When you are walking and the rest are riding, it's pretty common for the walker to be ahead of the riders in order to keep a good pace of play. Just make sure you are out of their way, so they aren't even thinking about you. Use your good sense. For example, if they are one the left, walk down the other side (unless of course they plan to head your way to cut the dogleg).
Dandy Professional Champion
# 3 6/6/2013 11:58:48 PM
If they really aren't that good, I'll walk a good ways up but make sure to stay out of the way. If they're actually good players, then I'll keep even, especially since my ball probably won't be a long ways away. (Apparently I just called myself a good player, that's not going to please the golf Gods.) I don't think you can do a whole lot wrong on this unless you're playing with a pro and walk up to the green before they hit their 2nd shot. If the golf Gods get mad at you, they're gonna hit me with lightning lol! I'm a bomber. Not always straight, and for God sakes I'm no pro, but I hit the ball one hell of a long way off the tee. Generally I'm the last one to hit the approach into the green. I've been 200 yards or more ahead before. I just pick the side I ended up on OR the side that's least dangerous and keep walking, trying to stay out of the way. The cart will cover that 200 yards + in a real hurry, so I'm just trying to be ready. But I'll NEVER hang back and wait for guys in a cart to hit. You're going to slow up the group. I'll help a guy look for a lost ball, but for the most part, get out ahead and keep up the pace of play.
Geno929 Professional Champion
# 4 6/7/2013 5:51:28 AM
Hey! 4:20 is fast play in Asia! When I was in LA last year, a round would typically take 5 - 6 hours! Ugh! And that was walking with the other players riding. They were very fearful of being hit by any balls, and would not even go 1 inch past their playing partners! I would be 150 - 200 yards down the fairway before they would hit their tee shots. I would just keep walking and meet them on the green. They had no idea of what it means to play "ready golf"! Sad, very, very sad.
JayPet Legend
# 5 6/7/2013 1:35:27 PM
Randall, I'm a bomber guy like Dandy. I can get ahead a bit too but my feeling is that Ready Golf IS good etiquette. You did nothing wrong. Keep it moving and when you get a bit ahead it should send a message to the others to move it along. Good etiquette is staying on pace.
bmoody16 Professional Champion
# 6 6/8/2013 4:35:09 PM
I usually just play ahead. Unless I feel like it would be inappropriate to do so. They typically don't care. If there aren't groups up ahead I just move on. Obviously if there are groups up ahead you can't do this, but I'm not that interested in watching a couple of hackers taking forever because they are gambling. Just personal opinion. If there were two holes open ahead. I would say, "hey, enjoyed playing together, but I'm going to go on ahead, I want to finish up so I can get home" or whatever other excuse you have. Like I said, I have never felt like anyone cared if I did that. But I also don't try that if I think they are going to have to be waiting on me again in a few holes.
N C P Professional Champion
# 7 6/9/2013 10:43:48 AM
I usually just play ahead. Unless I feel like it would be inappropriate to do so. They typically don't care. If there aren't groups up ahead I just move on. Obviously if there are groups up ahead you can't do this, but I'm not that interested in watching a couple of hackers taking forever because they are gambling. Just personal opinion. If there were two holes open ahead. I would say, "hey, enjoyed playing together, but I'm going to go on ahead, I want to finish up so I can get home" or whatever other excuse you have. Like I said, I have never felt like anyone cared if I did that. But I also don't try that if I think they are going to have to be waiting on me again in a few holes. This is definitely what I do... Although there really isn't any excuse for being that slow. I am definitely a beginner an I don't have any trouble finishing in foursomes in 4 hours.

Professional Champion

140 Views 7 Replies 1 Like

I played today with two slow players. They were riding, and I was walking. They "said" they played ready golf on the first tee, but it was clear their idea was different than mine. Our threesome took 4:20, and we ended with a gap of at least 2 holes in front of us. It was a fun round actually and they were an interesting pair, but geez they were slow, even though we talked about speeding up. Nice older Asian gentlemen who had money on each hole for the winner. I guess the $ were more important to them than the speed of play. First time in a while I've been part of a group where the ranger SHOULD have pushed us along faster.

Today, I often walked ahead along the tree line quite a bit ahead of them during their endless practice swings. It started out slowly, but my steps added up as I couldn't believe how long they were taking. By the back 9, I would just not worry about it. On a par 5 once, I had to be 150 yards ahead as they slowly chunked their way down the hole. They didn't seem to mind, but it made me wonder what is considered proper?

Is it poor etiquette to walk ahead too far? Do most of you stay relatively close to the player furthest from the green, or is it common to be even 100 yards further down the fairway at times, if that helps speed play and is not distracting?

I could see on a par 5 that approach shots might be anywhere from 50 - 250, so everyone could get to their balls while waiting for the group ahead to putt out. Once they are off the green, everyone is in position- or at least closer than if we'd all waited for the guy to try to reach in two from 250!

cogolfer1

LowIndex

# 1 6/6/2013 8:33:57 PM

If they really aren't that good, I'll walk a good ways up but make sure to stay out of the way. If they're actually good players, then I'll keep even, especially since my ball probably won't be a long ways away. (Apparently I just called myself a good player, that's not going to please the golf Gods.) I don't think you can do a whole lot wrong on this unless you're playing with a pro and walk up to the green before they hit their 2nd shot.

Mark Simmons

Legend

# 2 6/6/2013 11:32:48 PM

First of all, I can see you are one that takes responsibility for your pace of play and that is to be commended.

First rule is be safe. There actually isn't a rule of thumb for number of yards. Just keep yourself out of harms way. Sometimes (like when the opposing player is in the trees) you can be in more danger hanging out by them then 100 yards down the fairway on the opposite side.

When you are walking and the rest are riding, it's pretty common for the walker to be ahead of the riders in order to keep a good pace of play. Just make sure you are out of their way, so they aren't even thinking about you. Use your good sense. For example, if they are one the left, walk down the other side (unless of course they plan to head your way to cut the dogleg).

Dandy

Professional Champion

# 3 6/6/2013 11:58:48 PM

If they really aren't that good, I'll walk a good ways up but make sure to stay out of the way. If they're actually good players, then I'll keep even, especially since my ball probably won't be a long ways away. (Apparently I just called myself a good player, that's not going to please the golf Gods.) I don't think you can do a whole lot wrong on this unless you're playing with a pro and walk up to the green before they hit their 2nd shot.

If the golf Gods get mad at you, they're gonna hit me with lightning lol!

I'm a bomber. Not always straight, and for God sakes I'm no pro, but I hit the ball one hell of a long way off the tee. Generally I'm the last one to hit the approach into the green. I've been 200 yards or more ahead before. I just pick the side I ended up on OR the side that's least dangerous and keep walking, trying to stay out of the way. The cart will cover that 200 yards + in a real hurry, so I'm just trying to be ready. But I'll NEVER hang back and wait for guys in a cart to hit. You're going to slow up the group. I'll help a guy look for a lost ball, but for the most part, get out ahead and keep up the pace of play.

Geno929

Professional Champion

# 4 6/7/2013 5:51:28 AM

Hey! 4:20 is fast play in Asia! When I was in LA last year, a round would typically take 5 - 6 hours! Ugh! And that was walking with the other players riding. They were very fearful of being hit by any balls, and would not even go 1 inch past their playing partners! I would be 150 - 200 yards down the fairway before they would hit their tee shots. I would just keep walking and meet them on the green. They had no idea of what it means to play "ready golf"! Sad, very, very sad.

JayPet

Legend

# 5 6/7/2013 1:35:27 PM

Randall, I'm a bomber guy like Dandy. I can get ahead a bit too but my feeling is that Ready Golf IS good etiquette. You did nothing wrong. Keep it moving and when you get a bit ahead it should send a message to the others to move it along. Good etiquette is staying on pace.

bmoody16

Professional Champion

# 6 6/8/2013 4:35:09 PM

I usually just play ahead. Unless I feel like it would be inappropriate to do so. They typically don't care. If there aren't groups up ahead I just move on. Obviously if there are groups up ahead you can't do this, but I'm not that interested in watching a couple of hackers taking forever because they are gambling. Just personal opinion. If there were two holes open ahead. I would say, "hey, enjoyed playing together, but I'm going to go on ahead, I want to finish up so I can get home" or whatever other excuse you have. Like I said, I have never felt like anyone cared if I did that. But I also don't try that if I think they are going to have to be waiting on me again in a few holes.

N C P

Professional Champion

# 7 6/9/2013 10:43:48 AM

I usually just play ahead. Unless I feel like it would be inappropriate to do so. They typically don't care. If there aren't groups up ahead I just move on. Obviously if there are groups up ahead you can't do this, but I'm not that interested in watching a couple of hackers taking forever because they are gambling. Just personal opinion. If there were two holes open ahead. I would say, "hey, enjoyed playing together, but I'm going to go on ahead, I want to finish up so I can get home" or whatever other excuse you have. Like I said, I have never felt like anyone cared if I did that. But I also don't try that if I think they are going to have to be waiting on me again in a few holes.

This is definitely what I do... Although there really isn't any excuse for being that slow. I am definitely a beginner an I don't have any trouble finishing in foursomes in 4 hours.

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