The "Play Through" Hole

[Joe Leenheer]

So I hate playing through.  It slows down an already slow group as they have to discontinue play to allow me and my group to "play through".

Has it ever crossed anyones mind to build a "play through hole" that would run parallel to another hole (maybe the 4th or 5th hole and the 12th or 13th).  You'd be able to jump over to the "play through hole", speed by the slow group without interrupting either groups round, and be on the next tee before they are even on the green. 

Obviously some logistics would need to be worked out….but I'll let you all chew on those.

[Nigel Islam]

I hate playing through too. Particularly when the group in front eschews the par 3 and waits until the hardest tee shot on the course. Suggestion the. Play through hole should be a par 3.

[Nigel Islam]

Maybe something 8 at Oakmont

[Bill_Yates]

I had the opportunity to consult with a course that had parallel (with the same playing distance) par 3s early on the first nine. It was designed specifically to improve the pace of play.

What this design actually did was make the pace of play worse - much worse!

Through all of my research, I have found that the single biggest factor that impacts the pace and flow of play, is overcrowding the golf course i.e. putting too many playing groups in too little real estate. Encouraging two groups to play alongside one another on parallel holes, totally erases any separation these groups ever had with one another, and as this course did, creates delays on the following holes along with a wait of three or four groups on the tee of the next par 3 hole.

This is just another example of how many of the so-called remedies for slow play are wrong, and why most of the cures for slow play are counterintuitive.

[Mark Chaplin]

At Easter we had a 4 hour round for two balls, the reason? A full field and rather that extending times past the knockout final match everyone was wedged into 6 minute gaps. We waited on every shot, Bill you are perfectly, correct too many people on the links.

[Jon Wiggett]

Too many people, to much strokeplay and a loss of the concept that a faster group has the right of way.

Jon

[Paul Gray]

Too many people, to much strokeplay and a loss of the concept that a faster group has the right of way.

Jon

+1

Bill,

You mention your research. Apologies if you've covered this before but I'm very interested in the subject. Could you perhaps expand on what works and what doesn't?

[Adam Lawrence]

Paul - here's an article I wrote several years ago that drew heavily on Bill's input and work.

Adam

http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/How-to-beat-slow-play/1430/Default.aspx

[Paul Gray]

Adam,

Many thanks for that. As ever, an excellent article.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Here's an article I wrote in 2009 referencing Bill Yates:


http://myphillygolf.com/detail.asp?id=2392&pid=11

[Josh Bills]

Joe,

I think I have put this on here before but Raymond Memorial in Columbus has this in place, though in my experience on that course I have never seen it work. (Not sure when the 4 1/2 stars were granted either)

Josh

Raymond Memorial Golf Course
"4 1/2 Stars" - Golf Digest
Located inside I-270 in northwest Columbus, this Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed golf course is a rare find - built over 50 years ago. Mr. Jones thought outside the box in designing this delightful facility which includes twin par 3 holes. Each par 3 hole is actually two parallel holes complete with tees, fairways and greens.
http://www.columbuscitygolfcourses.com/raymond-memorial.html