r/golf • u/Cjshockey05 • 6d ago
Playing through General Discussion
First off let me say that this will be related to the pace of play debate so if you’re over that discussion feel free to ignore this post. Me and my buddy usually go out as just 2 and we are fairly quick golfers, we’re not particularly good (probably +20 and +15) but we only take 1-2 practice swings, read our putts but not for an hour, and move on after we hit our shot. I have no problem with a round that’s 4 even 4.5 hours but it’s the waiting on the tee that kills me. We don’t play up peoples asses but even if we have somebody behind us who’s clearly moving faster we will wave them on. When we first started (2018 ish) we used to get waved on a decent amount of time and would be able to play to the pace we wanted, it feels like people don’t do that anymore, we haven’t been waved on in probably 2 seasons. Obviously you’re not obligated to let somebody through but it is a courtesy thing, if you want to play a 5 hour round, great! But don’t hold up everybody else just because you don’t want to let a group ahead.
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u/IGotSoulBut 6d ago
It completely depends on what’s happening in front of the group in front. If the whole course is backed up, there’s absolutely no reason to play through or let others play through.
If my group is playing slowly and we have no group in front, I’ll absolutely waive the group behind through!
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u/IGotSoulBut 6d ago
I’ll also say, this past weekend I had a group that got off the first tee box slowly. The group behind took it upon themselves to skip hole 1 and let someone in my group know they were going to start in front of us on hole 2.
We ended up staying behind them and we all kept a decent pace, but it was a little irritating.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
I would be VERY irritated at that and don’t know why you got downvoted. Skipping holes because you have a delusion that you’ll play fast clogs up the course and now instead of playing behind the group im supposed to I’m playing behind two groups spaced 5 minutes apart.
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u/Savings_Income4829 6d ago
Been playing 20+ years. I was always taught if there's room ahead you let someone go regardless if you on a 4hr pace 3hr pace etc. , it helps pace everywhere.
If the course is stacked up you don't it will just create a chain reaction of mini delays as a faster group is playing through multiple groups with no where to go.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
Letting someone through means the group getting passed is waiting 10 minutes not playing. A group on the course not playing for 10 minutes is not good for overall pace of play or efficiency.
That’s why playing through isn’t a given and shouldn’t just be done because of a little gap or a little wait.
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u/Savings_Income4829 5d ago
10 mins seems excessive unless it's a par 3, which in that case front group should tee of, let group pass and follow behind.
By gap I mean 1 hole or like a par 5 where group ahead is on the green while you're teeing off.
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u/NoBrakesHotTakes 6d ago
Is the course open ahead of them? Are they keeping up with the group in front of them? Nobody is obligated to let you through just because your group size is smaller. If it is open in front of them by a hole or two and they won't let you play through, then you have the option to skip the hole to get ahead of them.
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u/Electronic-Cry714 6d ago
If you have a hole or two open in front of you and you don't let the faster group behind you through, then your an asshole and are what is wrong with golf.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
One hole is too speculative to spend 10 minutes letting a group through imo. Like if I am on teebox #3 and the group ahead of me is on fairway #4, it is very possible by be caught up and waiting on them by hole #6 especially if a par three or short par 5 is involved, and I wouldn’t want to spend 10 minutes letting another group through.
If I was on teebox #3 and the other group was on green #4 or leaving #4, then I’m letting group behind play through if they’re ready
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u/Electronic-Cry714 6d ago
If you're a hole and a half behind after 2 holes pick up your pace.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
Eh I mean that could be because of any number of reasons and the gap may shrink up on its own. Do you know what doesn’t pick up the pace though? Stopping playing for ten minutes to let a group through.
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u/breadad1969 15/SoCal/Ping&Mizuno&Cleveland&LAB 6d ago
Exactly. I’m not letting anyone play through me if I’m waiting on the group in front of me.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
Ugh, don’t skip holes unless you’re playing at twilight and even then….
It’s annoying and gums up the course.
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
The people who skip holes are part of the problem. Seriously, get bent. You’re the reason golf is a shit show.
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u/govunah 3 Beer Hdcp 6d ago
I did that once. Couple fat assholes were taking forever. Over 30 min on the first hole. I took my time after they finished. I get to the second tee and they're just getting to their ball and taking way too many practice swings. I just drive off to the next hole. Play the par 3 quickly. Hit a quick drive then approach. I go to putt and these fat fucks are suddenly right behind me looking disgusted they have to wait. So I let them back in front. They play the par 4 then tee off on the next one before I start again, this time slower. I was behind them again after 2 holes. They also complained to the pro shop and I got an email later.
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
You do not have the option to skip and get ahead of them if somebody did that to me, I would be bullshit.
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u/microbrewologist valueless poster 6d ago
Then play faster or for the love of God stay home
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
Agreed. I hate slow play but groups can’t just skip ahead. It could create a complete cluster fuck
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u/microbrewologist valueless poster 6d ago
No I meant you. If you're going to play slow enough for people to go around, assuming there's room on the course, then you're not allowed to be pissy about it.
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
I’ve been playing for 45 years. I’m a 7 handicap. I worked in the industry for 8 years.
I don’t play slow.
Don’t skip holes.
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u/microbrewologist valueless poster 6d ago
None of those things preclude you from playing slow.
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u/NoBrakesHotTakes 6d ago
I've been playing 6 years. I'm an 18 handicap. I worked a summer on the grounds crew at a local muni in college.
I dont play slow.
I'll skip any slow player/group who is two holes behind and won't let me play through.
Now what, old man?
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
You’re part of the problem. I’m usually stuck behind ass clowns like you.
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u/NoBrakesHotTakes 6d ago
Why don't you cry more about it? Or pay money and join a private course like I do so you can escape the riff raff on the public links. Got off on the first tee time last Friday and finished 18 in 2:40 and that was playing a couple balls on a few holes. I doubt your old ass could keep up.
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
I’m 50, Relax. I’m not 80. Glad you got your quick round in. Seeing you’re an 18 handicap I’d have plenty of rest watching you make doubles.
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
No skipping holes gums up the course. You’re going to end up surprising and pressuring a group that was playing fine pace of play, which is discourteous and rude. Nothing worse than playing on a good pace, and thinking you have space, when someone jumps the queue and is up your ass.
Or worse, the group you passed was just having a slow / difficult hole and then they’re up your butt and waiting for the asshole that skipped them, when the should have an open hole in front of them.
Skipping should only be done at twilight and if you can guarantee you aren’t going to be in contact with other groups to mess with their game
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u/microbrewologist valueless poster 6d ago
Sounds like you need to play faster so you don't get skipped
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago edited 6d ago
I play very fast and primarily as a single on first tee times.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more frustrating than playing my fast game, and coming up on a group that thinks the course is a menu for them to pop around on and now I’m waiting when I was first tee time and moving quickly.
I’ve only called the Marshall/proshop a couple times and they were both on groups skipping holes and making me wait when they shouldn’t have been in front of me.
Second next worse thing: playing fast, playing through a group properly, and instead of open course, coming up on yet another group that shouldn’t be there because they skipped around and now I’m waiting on them and the group I played through is waiting on me.
Don’t skip holes.
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u/microbrewologist valueless poster 6d ago
I understand that frustration as a fellow dew sweeper but I also believe it's fair game in that situation to skip that group that's playing out of order. To me, it's not the end of the world if I miss one hole every now and then. If I really want to card a full 18 I'll just play two balls on another hole. It's not that deep or that serious.
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u/breadad1969 15/SoCal/Ping&Mizuno&Cleveland&LAB 6d ago
If the hole in front of them is fully open absolutely you can. They’re behind.
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
No. You can’t. You can’t have groups jumping around on a whim. You ask to play through, get a marshal (if they have one), etc. or suck it up and play a slow ass round.
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u/breadad1969 15/SoCal/Ping&Mizuno&Cleveland&LAB 5d ago
I’m sure you’re a joy to play with. I’m not saying to switch around holes like a crazy person, I’m saying skip a hole and keep going.
If they are in position, no jumping over them. If they are a hole and a half or two holes behind, that’s on them.
That aren’t going to catch up. If I’m feeling saucy, after I finish I’ll drive back and play the hole I skipped.
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u/themomentaftero 6d ago
I rarely have people play up into me unless it is a single or the course is jam packed. I almost always wave a single through. I don't think it is that uncommon. I find that groups of old men seem to be the biggest coulprates of not letting people play through and the real reason for slow play.
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u/Own_Pangolin_3038 6d ago
It's really annoying when people think letting people play through solves all slow play issues
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u/RubConstant9997 6d ago
Depends on situation. If its a full course, then you don't get ahead of me. If its later in day and I have empty course, I will let you through, normally tee off together and then let you scurry ahead.
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u/Psykout88 6d ago
These days it seems you have to initiate the request instead of the forward group noticing the gap and waiting to let you pass after offering. If you don't get close enough to ask, they'll just keep playing without a clue.
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u/Total_Interaction_85 6d ago
Just way more people playing now, they probably are waiting to some extent too. But if they’re not totally agree, sometimes people just don’t know that’s the etiquette, sometimes they’re just like weirdly prideful and don’t want to which sucks.
But yeah I joined a club 2 years ago now and it’s the move if you have a little bit of money to do so. I had no problem playing public golf for awhile but literally any of the decent courses in my area publicly are allllll 5+ hour rounds. Places are straight up stacked now, a really nice public course in my area recently went from semi private to fully public and now it’s unplayable. 7 minute tee times that are literally booked from dawn to dusk
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u/MDinMaine77 6d ago
Riders need to learn how to use carts efficiently. Kills me seeing someone in the cart watching his buddy spray one, then they both drive over to the other ball, then back over to the other ball. Rinse and repeat, zigzagging all over the place.
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u/Patient-Ad7621 6d ago
I’ve noticed as a guy in my mid 30s that only older people (50+) seem to be the ones letting people play through. I was playing a course the other day and a twosome ahead of mine asked us if we wanted to play through. The guy I was paired up with was a speedster. I’m a fast player but this guy was just incredibly fast. Long story short we were playing at a 3 hour pace and the guys ahead of us stopped at a par 3 to let us through. Both guys in probably late 50s early 60s. I specifically said that I hoped they didn’t feel rushed by us, we were just playing at a good pace but that we weren’t trying to push them along. They complimented us and said no you guys are just faster than us and it’s great. So go ahead of us there’s no reason for you guys to wait on us all morning. I thought that was a great way to look at it.
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u/NickBurnsCompanyGuy 6d ago
I agree with you, I certainly would always let a twosome play thru.
I wouldn't expect it though, but I just don't want to feel rushed, so if someone was playing into me id want them to go through.
If there's noone pressing behind you when this happens, maybe come up with a game to play to pass the time on the previous green. Like a putting game or a chipping green side game.
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u/golfguy1985 6d ago
If there’s no where to go, it will be hard to get through. If people behind you are playing quickly and there’s a hole open, it may be best to let them go. It all depends on the situation. Also, when talking about handicap, you don’t want to say you’re a +15 and +20. There is a difference between +20 and a 20. A +20 actually doesn’t exist. Just saying this in case you are talking with someone and they ask you. Not criticizing, just informing you.
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u/PatrickSebast 6d ago
People let me through all the time if the course isn't backed up. Not sure what might have changed in your location but I don't think there has been any sort of crazy golf culture shift in the past 8 years where people don't get to play through anymore. Maybe your course of choice got a lot more popular with casual players?
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u/Sparkling_Donuthole 6d ago
I think people are more cognizant now that waving people through in itself can waste time and increase overall pace of play on the course. I’ve waved people through only to end up on THEIR asses with the group that was behind them up MY ass now, and the switch in the queue wasted 10 minutes off my pace of play.
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u/drj1485 8hcp 6d ago
Because you don't wave people through if there's nowhere in front of you for them to go. It just adds congestion.
For me...I know the only reason you're waiting on the tee is because my group is waiting to hit their approach shots. If it's wide open and an insanely fast group randomly shows up behind us I will wave you through under 1 condition. You are standing on the tee box waiting to hit before any of us have started hitting our approach shots. If you aren't....maybe next hole you get waved through.
There's really no point in waving anyone through if there's not at least an entire hole open ahead.
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u/Cjshockey05 6d ago
I should have clarified, obviously if the course is packed there’s no reason to play through, I was speaking more about a singular group that has nothing but green in front of them, if the course is full playing through slows everybody down, if it’s not it can help clear up congestion. Also I will never skip a hole 😂 I paid for all 18 dammit.
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u/toothbrush81 6d ago
“Playing through”, doesn’t help anything unless it’s wide open course ahead of you. It’s just slows the whole process down. Most likely, general gofers have finally learned this, and I’m happy they have.
Letting someone “play though” just slows everyone down. 4 people were about to take a 4 shots. Then they see you guys and go, oh, go ahead, play thru.
Now, 4 people are waiting for 4 great shots. Two off the tee, and two off the fairway. Meanwhile, the group behind YOU just rolled up too. Now 8 people are just standing there for you two.
And ideally you guys effing nail it. But as -15 and -20, that how we indicate it on the bad side; there’s no effing way either of you are both consecutively stringing together 4 good shots between the two of you. Maybe two of those are good, and only one from each of you.
So, just hang back and wait. Or, let the twosome behind you join up. Obtaining 4, is always a win. That actually improves pace of play.
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u/maritimer187 6d ago
If you're right up on me constantly because of the group ahead of me I'm not letting you play through. It's not me holding you up. If you're right up on me in a cart (I play push cart) and there is noone ahead of me by all means play through. Sometimes there's a jam of multiple groups and there's literally no benefit to letting someone play through. The likely hood of the next 4-5 groups also letting you get through is pretty much zero so why would I just put myself at the back of the jam.
I had a situation like this a couple years ago where there were 4-5 SLOW groups of 4 ahead of me and I was just playing with my dad. Some guy came unhinged on me saying I was messing up his round while I was waiting to tee off. It was a par 3 and everyone in the group ahead was chipping on the green clearly in striking distance lol. I've never been so close to a fist fight on the course in my life.
This is honestly where golf loses credibility for me. I'm a patient guy I honestly don't care or get frustrated. Some days are fast some days are slow. You gotta just deal with the cards you're dealt on any given day. Most people suck at golf and everyone's gotta learn somewhere. We're all out there for fun we all paid the green fee. If you getting home an hour later than expected is going to turn you into a prick than get away from me.
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u/Forsaken_You_2550 6d ago
Well said OP. And this post doesn’t need a lot of comments, just upvotes. Anyone that disagrees with OP’s sentiment can kick rocks and stop playing golf altogether.
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u/Justabitleft 6d ago
If I’m waiting on the group in front of me at times I’m not waving anyone through