Snail's pace

GOLF: PAUL GALLAGHERon the scourge of slow play: the Royal and Ancient (RA) and the Golfing Union of Ireland suggest it's best dealt with at a localised level

“Hit it, go find it, and hit it again.”

– Arnold Palmer

SLOW PLAY; it may not be a scourge spreading across the lands of pristine parklands or seaside links, but it continues to be a hot topic of debate around the 19th, with rounds of golf at club level taking longer than ever before.

The days of breezing round 18 holes in three hours or less appear long gone.

At one time the simple art of amateur club golf meant choosing a club, hitting your ball, finding it, hitting it again, couple of swings of the blade then marking your card and moving on. These days there so many other distractions to factor in and before you know it sub four-hour rounds are a considerable achievement.

Might as well throw the cards on the table early on this one, for slow play is a bugbear of this particular hacker. The issue of our fourball’s pace of play was recently brought into question in a monthly medal as we were lambasted by fellow golfers at the bar afterwards.

It only takes one slow player in the group to drag the rest down and for them be tarred with the same brush.

Granted, it’s tricky territory and no one size fits all for this timing problem.

Having touched base with the powers that be at the Royal and Ancient (RA) and closer to home, the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI), both bodies recognised slow play as an issue, but suggested it’s a matter to be dealt with at a localised level.

In any case, for their respective championships the RA and GUI have guidelines and officials in place to help ensure the issue of pace of play does not surface.

“If anyone has the magic bullet to help solve the issue of slow play, then there’s a lot of people who would like to know about it,” says Kenny Barker, assistant director of Rules at the RA. “On the flip side it may not be as big a problem as some people make out. In any case it always makes for good banter at the bar afterwards, especially if you’ve been held up.”

Several years ago the RA addressed the issue by holding a pace of play symposium at St Andrews, while the sport’s governing body also has a dedicated section on their website with guidelines on how to avoid slow play.

“It’s not rocket science,” adds Barker and “ultimately the responsibility comes down to the individual.”

“Clubs, public courses, resorts and competition organisers have differing views on what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable pace of play, but the fact is that slow play detracts from the enjoyment of the game for many players,” reads a section from the RA website (www.randa.org).

“There is a responsibility, therefore, on all players and administrators to ensure that golf is played at a good pace, and a pace appropriate to the course being played. In addition it is necessary to make some distinction between golf played as a leisure pursuit and elite golf where allowances have to me made for players trying to earn a living. As a general rule, try to keep up with the group in front.”

So what are the telltale signs of the fairway slowcoach, for the symptoms can be many and varied?

Reduce the number of practice swings is an obvious starting point – one is more than sufficient. Be ready to play your shot by checking yardage, putting on your glove and making club selection/lining up putts as others play, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the person playing their shot.

Simpler things such as placing your bag at the correct side of the green on way to the next tee, while moving off the green and marking cards on the way to next tee will also help. So too will playing a provisional ball, while having an awareness of your group’s position on the course. If your group is losing ground, either strive to catch up or do the decent thing and call through the group behind. All basic suggestions endorsed by the RA and not, as Barker says, rocket science.

Albert Lee, GUI honorary secretary, believes they have a measure on pace of play in their championships but for club golfers there may be a tendency to mimic the professionals they watch on television.

“There’s no doubt about it, what many club golfers see on TV definitely doesn’t help slow play. Amateurs will always mimic the professional players and what they do, particularly the younger amateurs,” says Lee, noting you cannot compare like for like.

“Some of the round times for professionals can be ridiculous. However, the courses are much more difficult, especially in Majors like the British Open. These guys are playing for their livelihoods and it would be unfair to say amateurs are slow because the pros are – I wouldn’t give them that excuse. At tournaments there are so many other distractions like big crowds, TV cameramen, photographers and so on.

“Take someone like Rory McIlroy, he is a naturally fast player but professionals, and amateurs, can only go as quickly as the group in front and their playing partners.”

Different situations will determine the speed of a round. Courses are definitely longer these days and often the walk between green and tee is greater than, say, traditional layouts. More often signs can be seen around parts of a course telling groups they should have reached a certain point in x amount of time, serving as a reminder of their pace.

“Everyone has a different pace; say, if in a hurry to get a round in after work compared to a leisurely round of golf on holidays,” adds Barker. “There are many factors but ultimately the responsibility is down to the individual and those setting up the course.

“Club administrators along with their greenkeepers can assist by choosing suitable pin positions or posting realistic timesheets with enough gaps in between slots.”

Both Barker and Lee are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to co-ordinating championships and feel their set of guidelines helps in the matter. The other difference compared to club competitions is they also have officials who can monitor play on the course and act accordingly if necessary.

“We have pace of play guidelines and set times in which players must complete holes and from that build up a schedule. If out of position they are likely to be timed (put on the clock). A quiet word can be used before a penalty stroke becomes the last line. We always try to pre-empt and avoid penalty,” says Barker, before highlighting timing guidelines.

“The first to play at a par three and first to putt is 50 seconds plus 10 seconds allowance. For all other shots it’s 40 seconds plus 10 seconds allowance. Mind you this can only be achieved when you have enough officials like at a championship. It’s not possible at club level.”

In addition Lee explains guidelines for playing a round depend on the difficulty of course and the conditions. “A typical two-ball time would be in the region of 3-3½ hours and a three-ball 3½-4 hours on a difficult course. Sometimes this slides and common sense has to prevail in the end. It’s also important not to overload the timesheet” says Lee, adding that he has “never had to penalise a player, thankfully”.

“No one ever says they’re slow, I’ve yet to hear a single person admitting that,” concludes Barker.

When recently playing one of the busy public courses in Troon, Scotland, a sign on the first tee simply read: “Remember folks, your place on the golf course is immediately behind the game in front, not immediately in front of the game behind!”

Says it all, really.

SPOT THE FAIRWAY SLOWCOACH . . . .

Model Pro:This one has watched too much golf on TV and, while trying to replicate fairway idols is admirable, no amount of practice swings – not to mention holding the pose – is going to get the job done any better. It's part of the methodical approach best saved for those who make a living out of the game.

Firing blanks: Appears normal at first, takes address, couple of waggles or practice putts, then, for some unknown reason, time stands still and said individual is unable to pull the trigger. "Just hit the damn thing," scream his playing partners. You know it's happening when other members of the group are staring at each other and ready to giggle like school kids or the highly-strung one is about to blow a gasket.

Gadget Man:At first it was yardage posts on the tee. Then came the strokesaver followed by yardages from sprinkler heads and fairway distance posts. Today yardages are beamed in from satellite – quite a leap. A hacker with a Sky Caddie in his paw is arguably the worst offender. An unnamed pal has played our home course for over 20 years. Now loaded with Sat Nav technology – and strokesaver – his striding about before shots is nothing short of infuriating. Looking for perfect yardage? Come on, since when did you have the ability to justify an exact yardage – you're only a hacker like the rest of us.

Trigger:Have to feel sorry for this one, has a disposition not dissimilar to Trigger from Only Fools and Horses. When the golf bag is continually left at opposite side of green from next tee, best thing to do is throw an arm around and gently herd individual back to the fold and remind them of where they are, not mention what they're doing.

The Talker: This one has no concept of time and space and often spouts inane yarns or ones of self-importance. Problem is they lay into one tirade after another when it's time for others to play their shots. Chatterboxes can't help themselves; there's plenty of time to chinwag walking the fairway and between shots. "Sorry, do you want me to be quiet while you ramble on?" should be the players' required response.

The Dom Joly:This one has the mobile permanently stuck to one ear. Without this aid the world around simply falls apart. Mobile off or risk said device being placed where the sun don't shine. A golf course is no place for the phone, full stop. Just ask Colin Montgomerie, he knows.

The Rambler:Refuses to give up the ghost and scours the lands as if eternal life depends on finding the white dimpled mass, whatever the cost. Will be seen traversing the terrain and ferreting around gorse bushes long after the allotted five minutes, so much so, playing partners have already putted out and are waiting on the next tee.

The Shuffler:Often seen struggling for alignment and by the time individual stops shuffling feet around at address the procession is more akin to something from Riverdance. Highly amusing for onlookers but can only imagine the trepidation felt for said player simply hoping to put bat on ball. This ailment is particular problematic on first tee.

– Paul Gallagher

R&A guidelines

. . . on how to combat slow play

Administrators

Don’t overload course by short starting intervals (two-ball minimum eight minutes, 3/4-balls minimum 10 minutes)

Encourage golfers to play off tees which suit their ability

Consider reducing severity of rough, especially on high-volume competition days

Don’t make pin positions too severe

Advise groups at start the time it should take and to keep pace with group in front

Call groups behind through if held up (eg, lost ball)

Players

Be aware of position with regard to group in front and keep up

If losing ground, tell others in group and try to catch up

If a clear hole is lost and you are delaying group behind, call them through

Be ready to play your shot, begin preparations but don’t interfere with person playing their shot

Place bag at correct side of green on way to next tee and mark cards on way to tee

Play a provisional ball if thought to be lost or out of bounds