Huron Expositor, 1999-05-12, Page 2424 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 12, 1999
Sports
Slow play undermines enjoyment
of golfers and profits of operators
The frustrated outburst.
"I'm taking up aennis!; isn't
necessarily.. muttered by the
golfer who just hacked his
way around the course. More
Often than not the expr ssion
is vented by the avid player
• who ,has 'just endured an" 8
hour round. that -could have
and should have. lasted half
the time. Slow play is the'
bane of modern golf.
In the March 1962 issue -of.:
Golf Magazine, an article dn
slow play requested a cure
for the creeping paralysis
infecting golf. Author of the
_article expressed • that.
"Dawdling play is'causing
traffic jams at the tee and
could threaten the popularity
and future of golf." At that
time. nearly 30 years ago. the
complaints -were directed at
the 4-5 hour. 18 -hole round.
Now a 4 1/2 hour round is
considered speedy and
today's golfers are moaning
about the 6-7 hour round. At
this rate by'the year 2010 it
will take us • 12 hours to play
golf...ifwe don't speed it up.
• Fortunately for golf, many.
people enjoy the game and
continue to play in spite of
the time it takes. In fact,
. instead of losing popularity.
as it didin the -70s. golf is
gaining in'popularity by -
leaps and
y•leaps.and bounds. However.
the problem of slow play
continues to. undermine the
'enjoyment by players and the
economic success of course
operators.
Every golfer complains
,about slow play and every,
golfer can do something.
about it. Those extra hours
on the golf course are caused
by an accumulation of time
wasting habits that when
multiplied by 4_players•in a
group and again 'by 18 holes
in a round. equals .wasted
time and frustrated players.
Course operators lose
-revenue :because fewer
players can get a round in on=
any given day. The toss is
increased as potential players
shy away from golf because
they just don't have time to
spend -6-7 hours on the golf
_course. Tournament players
lose out because the field •
must be cut •-down' to -
accommodate a 6 hour round
instead of a 4 hour round. ,
,Thereare a couple of
remedies for these problems.
First, in competitive golf the
enforcing of the two-stroke
penalty for unnecessary slow:
play will certainly give
dawdling competitors some
incentive to speed it up.
Even the big guns get
penalized. A few years ago
Nancy Lopez suffered the .
slow play penalty. Rules
personnel with stop watches ..
and "pace of play
guidelines" try to keep the
players moving. Forecaddies
on hidden and difficult holes
assist in locating errant shots
to save time lost searching.
for balls.. Assessing
penalties, timing players. and
assigning forecaddies. are all
methods that assist in
speeding up play in
competition. but assessing
slow 'play penalties in a
friendly weekend game is
impossible.
Course operators can do
several things -to speed up
play. Course maintenance
can make a great deal of
difference. Keeping rough
cut at a reasonable length can -
reduce time spent searching
for balls. indeed some
courses cut everything to
fairway height, especially if
there are 'numerous other
hazards such asbunkers,
ponds. rivers, or a multitude
of trees. Marking hazards
and boundaries with stakes,
installing 150 yard markers,
providing good tee signs, and
distributing a scorecard with
illustrations of the holes. all
assist the player in making
faster decisions, resulting in
faster play. A starter at the
first tee who keeps the
groups .moving, doesn't
allow mulligans, and joins up
players into 4's can be a busy
course's best public relations
man. A ranger on a power
cart who drives around
occasionally to check on the
pacc and keep slow groups
moving, is well worth his
By Corolonne Doig
pay if it allows more players
on the course: •
Rules officials and course
operators can only do so.
much to combat slow play:
Ultimately the final cure
rests with the golfer. Every
little bit helps. Here's how
you can. .
InUividually: 1. Walk
briskly, 2.. Take - no
mulligans or practice putts:
3: Watch all balls hit and line
them up with a tree or mark
so they can be quickly found.
4. Bc ready to play, when it's'
your turn. Be near your hall
-(keeping safety first) and
havean idea which club
you'll use. -.5. Put your clubs
and cart between the green
and next tee so you can leave
the hole quickly and those
behind won't have to wait
while you retrieve. your
equipment.• 6: Carry -a spare
• ball. 7. Be realistic when
waiting to hit, Safety is a;
priority but you don't have to
wait until those ahead are,
300 yards out. if you've
never hit -it- more than •180 On
your best day. 8: Mark scores
as you walk to the next tee.
Groups: 1. Hit when ready
and don't worry about th-c
honour. Shorter -hitters hit
first off the tee as soon as the
group ahead is out of range.•
2. Putt when ready and putt
out when possible instead of
marking all._ the time. 3:
Wave the group behind
through as soon as possible if
you lose pace with the group
ahead. 4: Only one man look..
fora lost ball and limit it to 2
minutes in a friendly game.
5. Arrange your match and-
hets ahead of time. 6.. Report
to the starter at the first tee
15 minutes before your tee
time. .
Golf Cart Riders: I. Player
first to hit should choose his
club and then take 2 more
'clubs, one longer., •one
shorter. While he gets'read�
to hit the other rides to the
hall. Don't wait for -each
other: 2. Park cart in direct
line from green to next tee. 3.
'At green. driver should bring
:other player's.putter. •
• Many_clubs place pact of
play signs about the course.
Slow Play posters are in
:every- locker room..Course,
all over develop innovative
ideas -1«_speed : up play. One
cotirsc has a "Go -Golf"
program which times players
and gives a tree round of golf
to 4 -hours. Slow players lose.
primetime tee privileges at
some courses. in Taiwan.
players punch a clock when
they •tee .off and must pay
extra cash if they take longer
thanii specified time.
Golfers• play hest when
they play fast. That 2 foot
putt isn't fer -the green
jackpot at the masters• so
why line it Up from 4 angles?
That lost ball had a smile. in
. it so why not suhstitute-
another and move along?
Seaforth Golf Course
Happenings: -The winner of
Mens Night was Harold
Turnbull. The. Ladies Night
was rained out. There will be
a Couples Scramble: on
Friday night beginning at -
6:15 p.m: tollowed by alight
supper. Thc draw for Match
Play events will be on Friday
"so don't.forgct to sign up this
week. - The Senior.
-Invitational is filling up fast
so get your entry in early.
PIANO TI'NING
• REPAIRS • REBUILDING
• KEYS RECOVERED
• DAMPP CHASERS
• REGULATING
•BENCHES
BRUCE
PULSIFER
301.9223 %tnl lift
FARM & MUNICIPAL
DRAINAGE
Specializing in:
• Clay 8 Plastic Tile Installations
• Backhoe & Dozer Service
• Septic System Installations
For Quality, Experience,
& Service call:
Wayne Cook
(519) 236-7390
R.R. 2 Zurich, Ont.
.' NOM 2TO •
www.hay.net/-drainage
PARKER
«PARKER
L 1 ITE ,
die WE'RE C"
MOVING
effective May 13, 1991)
Community Care Access
Centre for Huron
is moving to
163 -Princess Street, East. P.t ). lit» 4 )t)
Clinton, Ontario NOM t 1.(1
(the west wing of Central Huron Secondary School).
Our phone numbers will remain the same:
telephone... (519)482 ..41 l
toll free..: l -800-2674)5i; -
The move will take place on Thursday. Alas' 1 tth .tnd
Friday, May 14th. we can be contacted Hun ); re},'ula►
• .office hours (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) these days. Regular
operations will resume on Mo►lrlay. Alay 17th at 8:10 .un.
However; please continue to call if you require:
• Information about community resources,
• Health or support services in the home, or.
• Assistance withplacement in a Long -Term Care facility.
THANK YOU!!
...we appreciate your patience...
E.H. GOETZ
404 ERIE STREET
STRATFORD
within pool 1-800-479-2419 273-0976
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