Time For Change?

My November essay on the two most significant issues facing the game--time and golf's environmental image--is now posted at Golfdom.com.

Also up is part one of Larry Aylward's three-parter on superintendents who are watering less.

Comments

[Joel Stewart]

Good article. Sadly since money is so tight, golf courses can't afford to install solar or wind systems, new irrigation or drainage and other such eco friendly features. About the only thing they can do is cut expenses namely labor and that results in deferred projects in terms of conditioning.

[Jordan]

Geoff,

You are absolutely right that slow play represents the number one problem in golf. But even reducing the stigma attached to nine-hole rounds won't help if people: (1) play the wrong tees; (2) spend an eternity searching for balls that disappear in rough and trees, which superintendents should mow and cut down; (3) look at putts from every angle; and (4) generally don't play ready golf. Under those condictions, wven nine-hole rounds can take too long.

Indeed, we have a nine-hole course only five minutes from my office. I played it only once; because that once, a Thursday, around 2:00 p.m., required three hourse to play the first 7 holes, which made me walk off. (ITo this day, I've never seen holes 8 and 9.) All stemming from the reasons I described. It felt like torture.

[dan]

I've recently played some wonderful golf in october and early november - because our course hasn't been watered in 60 days it is playing firm and fast with very thin rough that can be played.

I wish couses could water less just for the playability....

As for time, i agree that lost balls are the #1 culprit, with ready golf being the #2. There is plenty of time to scout a putt to your hearts content while your partners are playing theirs, but this idea of all four of your forsome looking for one players lost ball will be the end of me....

[Jordan]

Dan,

Absolutely right. If I hit a bad shot, then I don't spend a lot of time looking for my ball. Instead, I got to where I think it should have landed and if I don't see it, then I drop and take a penalty. Yes, technically I should go back to where I hit the previous shot. But I'm not playing for the U.S. Open--I'm playing to have fun. And my playing partners have never called that rule on me. (Of course, I don't play new Pro V-1s, so I don't have a big investment in each ball that I hit. I tend to play with "experienced" balls. Some of which, ironically, are Pro V-1s.)

[frank D]

playing devils advocate for the sake of discussion i wish the problems cited would be supported by actual examples on specific courses

for example, here is the miami area, i can practically guarantee ALL of those sins will occur at DORAL (blue monster) primarily due to tourists visiting a difficult course playing from the wrong tees

at the same time not to disparage tourists the BILTMORE (coral gables) provides a pleasenter experience whereby FEW of those deadly sins occur

why ?

my casual unscientific observation notes "the locals" at the biltmore who have an intimate connection to the place like myself will shepard the visitors who for the most part are willing to conform to the pleasantness while on the other hand the visitors at doral are usually still drunk from a night on south beach and with the remaining liquid courage attempt to subdue the course with big drives (you can guess the consequences)

this reminds me of my roots where i played siwanoy and sprain lake and "the locals" at both places sheparded visitors like myself at first and i conformed to the program - and these places still remain intimate and respected

certainly you have heard of the locals at BETHPAGE who continually brave early morning tee time lotteries and onslaughts of visitors and foreigners but also do not let things get beyond a point of being unpleasant

i would like to know the mix of golfers between visitors and locals at these courses which have these issues because i would suspect the root causes to be similar but i don't know

frankD

[frank D]

geoff

FYI in my discussion with ron whitten on slow play his suggestion back then was to promote more MATCH PLAY golf but that was a while ago and i dont remember the specifics other than the idea to systematically reduce the time to play a meaningful round with an eventual outcome

frankD

[Jordan]

frank D,

All the courses I play now are low-cost, public courses in southeastern Michigan. The problems I describe occur at all of them. (As they did at the courses I played growing up in Southern CA.) The nine-hole that I referenced is Evergreen Hills in Southfield. I also play regularly at Rackham in Huntington Woods, where you can avoid slow play if you are the first one off the tee at dawn. Otherwise, you have a good change of getting behind a group that has these issues, even early in the morning. The problem is endemic.

[frankD]

jordan,

let me ask - on the par 3's - does the group on the green about to putt out allow the group on the tee to hit BEFORE the group on the green putts out ?
on ALL play do the members of the same group help follow the ball of the player hitting and does each player know at ALL times where the others are ?if a player in the sand hits does the other partner rake ? do ALL players have at the ready enough ball markers to mark any other players ball to expedite putting and do all have ball mark repair tools ? we did these things because we would otherwise feel obligated to let a continually stalled group behind us play through - why ? those days lagging play got you asked off the course

otherwise does that course book tee times at least ten minutes apart ?

as for losing a ball in the rough - the standing rule in our game was another player in the group had to provide the player who lost the ball with a replacement - you'd be surprised how intent and quick the other three players are in finding that lost ball for you under those conditions - and the loser got to pick from your reserves so you couldn't donate a "smiley"

when the group as a whole is mindful and the course overall is exacting in its penalty well lets say that will promote avoiding slow play

anyway be well

frankD

[Jordan]

frankD,

I'm only 32, but I remember that when I first started playing, groups frequesntly waived up the next group on par 3s. That rarely happens nowadays. I don't know the answer about how much time between tee times at the courses I play. Sure doesn't feel like 10 minutes. And certainly, I've never ever, ever, ever, seen a marshall ask a group to leave for slow play. Nor have I seen a marshall move a group forward when the group falls behind and a gap opens up. Usually, marshalls come up to me and say, "Sure is slow today isn't it."

I like your rule on balls lost in the rough. That would definitely help. I follow your other suggestions, except for raking for my partners. That never occurred to me, and I like it and will do it. Thanks.

JMS

[frankD]

JMS,

not only were you asked to leave, it would be suggested you not come back !

anyway be well

frankD