The five mile

It’s been a long time since I had a good moan about slow play, but that doesn’t mean that the problem has gone away.
Since the top pros now appear regularly on TV, often taking five hours or more, there now seems to be a general acceptance that this must be the norm. Yet a couple of weeks ago, three 4-balls playing in our competition at Sta. Clara got round in well under four hours and not one of us felt as though we had been rushed. Thinking back, I recall that in my particular four-ball, everyone was ready to play his shot when due, scores were recorded without delaying the next tee shot, enough clubs were taken across the fairway to ensure the right one was available and 2 foot putts were tapped in without the need to circle the green twice (no gimmes in our competitions!).

Playing golf in tropical heat can be difficult enough, without having to spend five hours or more under a blazing sun. The pros get away with it because their livelihoods depend on good results, although not all of them condone the actions of some of their peers, who might have trouble winning a snail race.  Avoiding slow play doesn’t mean having to rush. A little forethought and awareness of others playing behind is all that’s needed.

Tags: Santa Clara