Slow Play on the Course: When to Yield

To play through or not to play through – that is the question:

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous ready play,

Or to take arms against that fivesome of senior ladies,

And, by opposing, drive byest them in thou cart.

Today we look at one of the biggest frustrations faced by many on the course.  The source of which is not contributable to the plaintiff, but can be one of the biggest factors influencing your game attitude and execution.  Today we talk about slow play, and how to deal with it.

First and foremost, golf is a sport that should be enjoyable.  The pace that you play is entirely up to you, dependent on multiple factors.  We can all sympathize with the myriad of reasons that might cause your round to be slower than the norm.  Injuries, lost balls, shots shorter than average, age, skill level, weather, course conditions, insect swarms, sunburn from yesterday, or whatever might cause you to play your pace.  There’s a million reasons why you or someone else is slower than another.  But there’s only one reason why you don’t offer to let the group behind you through, and that’s because you’re an asshole.

There is no rule written by the USGA for when to let others play through.  The USGA only has concern for competition and the delegation of authority to the individual courses and clubs to establish a pace of play time limit (see Rule 6-7).  What I’m referencing is the unwritten golfer’s code of not being a giant, red-assed douche-nozzle.  

My interpretation of this great law is simple:

Unwritten Rule 1.(a) Is there a group behind you that has caught up to you and you are causing delay?  Yes?  Don’t be a purveyor of Tom-Fuckery, let them play through at the next hole.

Plain and simple.  Don’t be a jerk by holding up the group behind you.  Unless they drove into your group unprovoked, don’t reciprocate – let them play through.  Hell, I’ve had times where I let someone play through and it’s netted me a drink at the clubhouse in return (who doesn’t love free booze?).  The gesture of allowing those who play a quicker pace than you to go ahead is always well appreciated.

Now, let’s say the shoe is on the other foot.  You’re solo, or in a group that is delayed on more than one consecutive hole due to slow play of the group in front of you.  My interpretation of this situation is in accordance with another generally accepted rule:

Unwritten Rule 6.(f) If your group, regardless of size, has been hindered in the play of your shots on two or more consecutive holes, and the offer to play through has not been made by the slow playing party, you or the representative from your group with the most tact may approach the group and ask to play through at the next hole.

Generally speaking, people know that they are holding up everyone behind them, and by nature, are not clowns conducive to causing distress to those behind them with as a result of their own poor time management.  They just need a quick and polite reminder that they are slowing others down, and they will almost always oblige with a smile and wave of the hand to signal permission for your group to play through.  Life is generally rose gardens and hand jobs.  But sometimes, it can be a bitch with calloused hands and rhythmic ignorance.  Sometimes it doesn’t go as it should.  Sometimes, you’ve take to take things into your own hands.

Occasionally, you’ll need to be a bit more assertive to the group ahead of you and let them know that they’re holding you and everyone else behind up.  Let them know that you would like to play through, and do so with the utmost respect.  Obscenities and yelling are not warranted at this point (or EVER).  Don’t be an ass. Don’t provoke a fight.

A video posted by Golf Gods (@golf_gods) on Aug 2, 2016 at 3:30am PDT

If they do not return the same courtesy, be prepared to stand your ground and let them know that you paid the same greens fees that they did.  You’re all out there to enjoy yourselves and improve your respective games, and you’d like to do so in a timely manner.  Should the group decline your request to play through, politely acknowledge their stance and prepare for the expeditious assault of the next tee box.  Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, proceed by snapping your A-wedge over your knee and threatening to shank a bitch.  Assault charges are not worth it.  On a side note, do you know how hard it is to clean blood off of synthetic leather uppers? It sucks. 

The way I handle this situation is pretty straightforward.  Wait for the party to start the next hole, and then haul ass to the next tee box.  A friendly wave is most definitely expected, and any obscene gestures extended your way should be returned (e.g. “the finger”).  If there are multiple groups on multiple holes, proceed to the next open tee box and resume play.  I have yet to run into a marshal who has chided me for playing around assholes, and have always had permission to go back to the skipped holes and replay them when they are open.

In summary, you should always play to the speed of play set by the course, always yield to groups playing faster than you, and always extend the utmost sportsmanship and tact to other groups playing.  When this does not yield the desired results, skip ahead and come back.  Be polite, but don’t be afraid to let others know your time is just as important as theirs.

Cover Photo via Flickr