I just got back from a week of golf at Hilton Head with my wife. . The place we stayed was beautiful, the courses were beautiful, the food was great, but have little interest in ever going back, at least to play golf. Most of the rounds we played was not golf, it was some aberration. Sit and wait, sit and wait.
We had several rounds that were well over 5 hours and many that were over 4 1/2. One morning we were with a couple that had not played in seven years, the timeshare they stayed comped them the round so they said why not. Another round, I was paired with a decent player, but his brother in law never played. Another round, a father was teaching his son while we were playing. The kid had no idea of basic etiquette or rules, he had no idea what clubs to use, and he dug up the fairways. For two rounds, our partners disappeared at the turn, taking forever to get nourishments. We also had a round where we were paired up with a couple and the lady would take 3 practice swings, go away from the ball, and then do 3 more, and then freeze over the ball and finally hit, the cycle took two minutes each time. This simply is not fun, it is nerve wracking. I consider myself very patient and understanding, but after a while it just becomes too much. Every day it was extremely hot and humid, when I am moving it is barley noticeable, but when you are sitting and sitting and waiting and waiting, , it gets very uncomfortable.
Eric:
You seem to be saying that golf would be tolerable if everyone who wasn't as good as you would just quit the game. No wonder beginners feel intimidated!
Your post struck a nerve because my first exposure to golf [other than trips to the driving range] was playing with my family on a vacation to Hilton Head. I'd guess we probably held up somebody, too, but in 1970 they didn't have an internet discussion board to complain about it, the poor people.
I am sorry my post struck a nerve, boo hoo hoo and where did I say the game would be tolerable if everyone who wasn't as good as me would just quit the game. Where have I ever said I am "good" anyway, I am but a humble 18 hcp but I know consideration and respect for others, the golf course is a community, and I do my best to respect the playing field and I feel no shame in picking up when I have to if I am holding others up, because it is not about me. Read the post again please, because your interpretation is incredibly off the wall. Are you having a bad day or something?
First, I mentioned a father teaching his son the game. That is great. But is a championship length course with water and sand everywhere is not the the place to do it, and with a 9am tee time, which is peak time. How about that father going to one of the executive courses in the area, there is a great one in nearby Okatie, or if he feels compelled to do a championship length course, how about later in the day or when the tee time was made, asking the office when a good time for a newbie to go out.
Secondly, I talked about another player taking endless practice swings. Does that make any sense and is that fair to the rest of the foursome or to those playing behind.
Third, I talked about taking long breaks at the turn to get sandwiches, drinks, whatever. How is that considerate to those who do not need to take long breaks, and how is that considerate to the group behind that does not want to take a break and now has a potentially long wait when they were moving before.
Forth, we had a few rounds that were well over 5 hours. Is that acceptable under any circumstances, especially for a casual game? Is this conducive for players to want to return to that venue or to the game at all if they are on the fence?
It comes down to consideration of others and one of the reason people are leaving the game is because of slow play. It you sit at each tee box for 5 minutes, that is 90 minutes of doing nothing. If you wait for each shot for another 2 minutes, that is 36 minutes of doing nothing. That is two hours of wasted time. And then we add stops for the beverage cart and incessant texts and phone calls by some, and people taking seemingly forever to line up their putts, and you begin to wonder have we all gone crazy and why am I even out there. The issue then becomes is this a good return on investment time wise, when there are so many other things you could be doing for leisure and entertainment , and that is why people are leaving the game.