There is a downside to faster play. Once you get used to it, your opportunities to play golf at your preferred pace are greatly reduced. I don't play on weekends unless first off or very late in the day. For example, a friend asked me to play yesterday, a Saturday, at 2 PM. At our course we encourage families to play later on weekends as the mornings are fully booked by regulars and more avid golfers who usually play at an acceptable pace around four hours or less. Two guys couldn't make the tee time, so we went off as twosome, a bad idea on a weekend, but joined up with a twosome behind us on the fourth tee as we waited for the groups ahead. Still we waited forever on every shot and it seemed to take forever. The two groups in front of us were playing with wives and kids, only three golfers in each group, but also three spectators enjoying a very nice day. All were riding and paying for the outing. They offered to let us through, although there was no place to go. The course was full. I started losing focus, became bored, and quit after nine holes. When I looked at my watch, we had played the front nine in 2:15 which seemed glacial to me.
Obviously, it was my problem. I wasn't upset or angry. The golfers ahead of us seemed to be having a good time on fine day. They were paying customers enjoying golf with family and friends. Yeah, their socializing probably contributed their slow play, but they weren't out of position on a full course. Just public golf on the first really fine day we've seen in weeks. If I enjoy golf at a brisk pace, I have to be more judicious about when I choose to play. I had only agreed to play because I was working on my game, hitting extra balls while we waited, not keeping score, not playing a match, etc. I had plenty of time to observe course conditions and watch other golfers dealing with them. I enjoyed it. It was rather like my attitude about playing tournaments. When asked why I don't play them anymore, I always say "if I want to spend 5 hours playing golf, I'll play 36." David Owen's comments are all good and accurate, but he also has to apply them when and where he can. He's a smart guy. I'm sure he's figured it out.