Playing partners are too slow... do I say something?
 

Hi guys.
So I took the subway down to Dyker Beach in Brooklyn to get a quick 18 on Monday. I went stag and was paired up with one single and a twosome.

The pair were great guys and pretty good golfers. However, they both had a habit of taking a superfluous amount of practice swings and putts.
For each iron shot, i think there were at least 6-7.
For each putt or chip, I am sure i counted an average of 8.

These were not quick practice swings. They were the type Sergio takes, where he swings 4-5 times, addresses the ball, and then steps back and takes a few more.

With the putts, one of the guys would get off address and practice his putting when the hole was a good 50 feet away.
I hate (which means LOVE) making excuse for my horrible golf game, but I really believe that their actions threw off my rhythm. At a number of points, I found myself swinging and putting without being ready because I a) felt bad for holding up the groups behind me and b) because I was so tired of standing in the sun that I just wanted to get moving. I felt my already-ugly swing getting faster, allowing me to shank the ball even more.

My question is, in a friendly pairing, is a there any polite way to tell my partners to HURRY UP? I play golf to relax. However, by the end of the round, I was more wound up then when I had begun.

Was there any chance you and the other single could have separated yourself from the pair? Was it open ahead of you? If there was, I would have hurried up and got going ahead of them.

I was in a round a few weeks ago where I came out swing really good. The 2 guys I was with were friends. They played the back tee's I played the forward middle. They took honors to who teed off first. They left me out of that. They were good guys but for some reason they would always tee off and leave me for last. Don't have a problem with that but...sometimes they would tongue waggle at the box when fairway was clear in front. I would just stand there and wait for them to shoot. For me the tee shot tells me if I even have a chance in hail of having a good hole. It made me antsy. And here's the thing...on the front 9 I out shot them on 4 holes. Never let me go first. Is there some unwritten rule or logic for making the guy that shoots from a forward tee wait until last? You see, I don't have to go first...ever but if you're not gonna swing then let me! It fell apart on the back and I feel that had a lot to do with it. I didn't say anything to them about it. How do you deal with something like that?

When we play we always let people playing from the furthest tees hit first. A lot of times it's a safety issue.

If it's in the same area, which sometimes it can be on the exact same tee box, just at opposite ends, then if you happen to have the honor, and you are playing the tees up from them, I'd go ahead and take it. Oftentimes though, it's a 20 to 50 yard or more difference.

Dealt with just about that exact scenario today, I didn't say anything although I should have. The rangers were watching the groups & pulled the troublesome 3some aside twice & told them to hurry the heck up. The 2nd time he told them they were acting as if they were in the Masters with the title on the line. I laughed at that one. I broke off immediately when the ranger told me it was clear sailing ahead & I should get away from that group.

If you can break off and get through, I say go for it. Just politely say that you came out for a quick round and have to finish up. When playing as a single and I am going to be paired, I usually tell the ranger or starter that I play extremely fast and to pair accordingly. They usually thank me and get me with an appropriate group if there is one.

Thanks for the tips.
There was no way that i could jump into the group in front of us. It was a packed house.
Telling someone you just met to stop taking so many practice swings is a topic I can't get myself to broach. What if they had taken real offense? I would have been stuck for another 3 hours in an uncomfortable situation.
If this ever happens again, I will just go back to the clubhouse and grab an early beer.

Thanks.

I like your thinking.

In addition to all that has already been posted, what about the scenario of slow folks who are on their own turf, versus visiting faster players. Should a home course player have the advantage over speed of play?

There have been times when I have been playing, (I play pretty fast ready golf), and been paired up with the Roadrunner, Speedy Gonzales, and Taz all rolled into one player. Playing too fast can wreck a person's rhythm, tempo, and timing too. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...s/computer.gif

I prefer to play fast and have no problem telling whoever I'm playing with to speed up. It doesn't always work but I'll keep telling them to move along. It screws me up to play with extremely slow players and if I'm going to be uncomfortable because they are dragging it out they can deal with being uncomfortable because I'm telling them to speed up.

I can so see that!

Haha, last week at golf league some of the knuckleheads were fascinated by a bobcat walking down the cart path, I'm up on the green reading my putt yelling "Let's play some golf, f--- that bobcat". I went ahead and pulled the pin so I could putt out while they were trying to get on the green.http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo.../confused2.gif

That is hysterical MO

I have putted out one one side of a green while a Bobcat rested, panting, on the opposite side... I did keep the corner of my eye on him because some guys were attacked by one a couple of years ago...

That putt better have been important.

I'm surprised you weren't there hoping the bobcat would rip one of your 4-some to shreds while you watched. Was Smallie the knucklehead?

Haha, if you had to play golf with those guys every week you would be hoping for the same thing.


Spoiler It wasn't Smalls though

Good to know - I like him.