HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-06-24, Page 1414 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 24, 1998
The number one complaint on course
and the bane of golf...slow play
The longest day of the
year! Ah, yes, but you don't
want to spend all of it on the
golf course! That's why I
have decided to address the
bane of golf, slow play. It is
the most frustrating aspect
of golf, the number one turn
off in the game. 'and the
number one complaint faced
by most golf course
operators. It is also one of
thc most misunderstood
parts of the game. Hopefully
this -week we'll clear up
some of the misconceptions
regarding slow play on the
-golf course. •
People want to play golf
and that is why they visit a
course. As long as they are
playing m.ost people are
perfectly happy on the golf
course. What they don't like
is •waiting to play golf,
whether the wait is on the
first tee, other tees, or in the
middle of the fairways. As
long as the . round of golf is
fluid and the golfer is
movi-ng. most golfers view
it as a positive experience.
It's the waiting to begin
play, the waiting to hit
shots, and the waiting to get
to the next hole that annoys
most golfers.
Golf courses are all
different - in their length,
degree of difficulty, number
of players. type of clientele
etc. Every golf course
operator can make some
positive adjustments to help
the golfer reduce the amount
of waiting on the course and
every golfercan assist in
this endeavour.
Many golf courses send
the players 'out in groups
every six or seven minutes
with the idea that you can
get more golfers out on the
.course each hour of the day
and therefore make more
money. The problem is that
the groups end up 'so close
together that as soon as one
group gets into the least bit
of difficulty such as losing a'
hall or having. trouble.
putting, the whole course
gets hacked up. Sometimes
thc course ends up so
backed up that the tee times
arc completely useless
because the first tee is just a
huge crowd of disgruntled
golfers who haven't even hit
a bad shot yet. The hest way
to alleviate this problem is
to. lengthen the time
hetwecn groups. Nine or ten
s+l,
' VThe Tartan
Chameleon
Golf Notesh
by C.A. Doig
minutes between tee -times
results in far fewer hold ups,
an easier job for. the starter,
happier golfers, and
returning customers.
Surprisingly most courses
who try this find out that
they arc not reducing the
amount of play at all.
The course should have a
starter on busy days to assist
the golfers in getting -on to
the course on time. The
starter can also be very
valuable to thc players
before they begin play by
regrouping pairs and singles
into foursomes to keep the
- pace of play consistent. The
starter can also offer
information to players new
to the course by suggesting
that the player not be long
on the first hole, or stay to
the left on the third. etc. I
remember playing a course
in New England last fall
where the starter warned
me, "On this course long is
gone." That starter saved me
a lot of shots that day as
well as possible lost balls
and helped me enjoy a
Netter score. The starter may
also suggest that the player,
if a beginner. use the
forward tees to speed up the
game and make it a more
enjoyable experience for all.
Many score cads now
suggest which tee is most
suitable to your game based
on your handicap index.
Other things that can be
done at the course level to
keep the pace of play going
include keeping the rough a
big shorter. designing the
course with varied tees
aimed,at varied skill levels,
putting thc holes in
"friendly" positions on busy
days, providing accurate
yardage markers, well
marked hazards,' informati ve
score cards highlighting
local rules and problem
areas, and simply having
good signage to the course
as well as to the proshop.
first tee. etc.
Mike and Chris Marion scored holes -in -one the same day.
HILGENDORFF PHOTO
If the course has good
signage so that you can find
the place. adequate parking
close to the clubhouse and
first tee, sets up the tee -
times a reasonable time
apart, and puts a starter on
the first tee to help organize
the groups, the job of the
player is to arrive at the first
tee in plenty of time. The
tee time actually means that
the first player in the group
should have their tee ball in
the air at the time indicated
as their starting time. If you
time is 8:52 you shouldn't
by pulling into the parking_
lot at 8:50. Now imagine
this lecture coming from
one of the notoriously late
Doigs: Do your best to get
to the tee at -least fifteen
minutes before your time.
The starter likes to have a
group on the tee and another
on deck. Who knows. if the
group before you is late,
you may be able to get out
on the course on their time.
Be honest about your skill
level. Choose the tees that
hest suit your ability. You
will enjoy the game far
more. Be ready when it's
your turn. Walk 'at a good
pace. Keep your eye on your
ball (and your playing
partner's hall) to save time
looking. Most golfershang
their head. in disgust when a
bad shot is hit, but that's the
ball you need to keep an eye
on so that you can find it in
the rough or trees. Take
some lessons. work on your
game a bit and the pace of
your play will improve.
Remember to wave faster
Mixed ladies pair off on greens
' The Scaforth Lawn
Bowling Club held a
mixed ladies pairs
tournament at the Scaforth
Greens on Saturday.
Business sponsorship
helps keep the club viable
and meet expenses.
Eleven greens were in
play and top winners were:
Lee Ryan and Carol Carter
of the home club with
3w+46+7; second went to
Marjorie Leslie and
Marilyn Lancaster of St.
Marys with 3w+42; third
was Brad Fleming and Bev
Lawn
bowling
Fritz of Chcsley with
3w+42: fourth was Kcn
Chaputand partner of
Lucknow 2w+39; fifth was
Fred and Betty Tilley of
Seaforth 2w+37; Brian
Ranger and daughter
Melissa of London
Fairmont were 6th with
w2+36+5; Jack and
Audrey McDonald of
Lucknow won 7th with
2w+36+2: consolation
prize went to Brian Fowler
and partner of London
Fairmont.
• In ladies pairs at Atwood
last week Carol Carter and•
Edna Bell placed third.
Coming up this week is
the mixed pairs at Atwood
on Tuesday; Men's Pairs in
Clinton on Wednesday and
ladies pairs in Lucknow:
ladies pairs in Stratford
Thursday with optional
singles in Goderich Friday
evening at 7:30 p.m.
GIANT WAREHOUSE
CLOTHING SALE!
ALL MERCHANDISE
(Whitt• quantities last)
-
THOUSANDS OF
BRAND NAME
ITEMS AT
INCREDIBLE PRICES!
Hundreds Of Bargain:, Like These...
SAVE SAVE 61%
Women's and
65% Men's Brooks .'
Women's Brand Shoes •
Denim
Jeans
Req 539 99 Reg
$69 99
t40W
S14.
•Brooks •Converse
•Northstar •Keds
•Wonder Bra
•Daisy Fresh
•L.A. Gear
SAVE
Men'sGoff
Shins
Reg $39 99
Hour
s9•
TELL YOUR
FRIENDS!
Open to the public 2 DAYS ONLY!!
Wednesday. June 24th and Thursday. June 25th (10 ant to 9 pm)
DON'T MISS IT!
N
ro0od«a
To
I
W,,ghem
oowriro
CANTON
"WY. Se
To Shallo„i -�
tF OH
LEOIOCUNTN
HALL
Located just minutes away at the
Legion Hall
95 Kirk Street
(between Highways 04 and 8)
com in CLINTON givi
players through especially if
you're looking for a lost ball
or are in some difficulty.
Your position should be
directly behind the group in
front of you, not directly in
front of the group behind
you. Some of these things
may help you understanding
that even though golf is a
game requiring several
hours of your time, this time
can be enjoyable and
rewarding and not the cause
of annoyance and
frustration.
Seaforth Golf Club News
of the Week: It was an
exciting finish to the US
Open on the weekend.
Results of the pool will be
posted in the clubhouse.
Men's Night was exciting
with a father and son hole in
one happening. Mike and
Chris Marion each scored a
hole in one on June 16.
There was a successful
Couple Night on Friday
with about 25 couples
taking part in a nine hole
scramble.
The match play event
continues and a reminder to
all interested to sign up for
he Couples Invitation set
for July 4.
CANADA DAY
Celebrations
FIREWORKS
—Sweatshirts-
-T-Shirts
Sweatshirts
—TShirts --Flags-
Mugs —. Keychains—
& More — OPEN JULY I
11 AM -4 PM
NIFTY KORNERS
SEAFORTH 527-1660 Qmb that*
"YOUR LOTTEr ,KET CENTRE" DEALER A.S.C.
Church
Services
You are invited to attend
these area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
9
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Rev. Robert Hiscox
482-7861
SundaJune 28th
y
Service of Holy Communion
at 9:30 a.m
- Flower Sunday -
The United Churches invite
you to meet at the Winthrop
Ball Park for a Family Fun
Days
1:00 m - Outdoor Worship
P P
(no 9:30 service at Cavan or
11 am service at Northside this week)
2:30 pm - Ball Game
5 - 7 pm - Pork Chop Barbecue
(BBO tickets available at Nifty
Comers or call 527.1307)
Everyone Welcome
First Presbyterian
Church
Goderich St. W. Seaforth
11:1 S AM
Nursery Provided
June 28
Minister.
Rev- Nicholas Vandermey
Seaforth Community
Church
Rev. Hauser - 527-2253
11 am Service June 8 July
at 146 Jarvis.St. S.
Coming( • 2nd Annual Victoria
Park Service 6:30 pm each
Sunday in July.
'Words of Hope'
a 24 hour recorded message for
you to call 527.1499-
Bethel Bible Church
Meeting at Seaforth High
7:00 p.m.
10:00 Worship Evening
Bible Study
Small Group meetings Weekly
An Associated Gospel Church
St. James
Catholic Church
Victoria St., Seaforth
Saturday - 5:15 pm
Si James Pansh.-Seatorth
Saturday - 7:15 pm
• St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton
• Sunday - 9700 am
St. Michael's Parish. Blyth
Sunday - 11:00. am
St. James Parish. Seaforth
Father Dino Salvador
ENSALL
!STRICT
0 -OPERATIVE
SHU�
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Come in and see the
staff at your
Seaforth Do -It Center
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NelffiltS VON IVO 41001tRialt.
for your total auftmotive needs,
whether it be sales or service,
we're here to serve you.
For our service department,
Please call
JOHN MUNRO
524-8347 or
..' `
1-888-344-4486
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