The Speed Freak
by golfbookie on Feb 20, 2011 11:44 AM EST
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The Speed Freak……every golf group has at least one. You know him. He’s the guy that freaks out if your group gets a half-a-hole behind. He’s constantly monitoring the group’s position relative to the group in front…..he pays more attention to that group than the guys he’s playing with.
If the Speed Freak gets really pissed, he’ll forget about “honors”, jump on the tee, tee off, then grab his bag and stalk off down the side of the fairway before the rest of the group tees off.
Everyone has trouble on the course sometime during a round. A lost ball or an especially tricky shot can result in a delay; it’s part of the game. The Speed freak has no patience for this……unless it’s him that’s in trouble. Not a peep about fast play then!
My group plays public golf, usually at Brookside in Pasadena, CA. No matter where we play, the rounds are always 4-5 hours long…..golf is not a fast game, as games go. So why does the Speed Freak feel so compelled to finish in a hurry?
And why does he always remind you that you’re playing too slow just before you’re about to hit an important shot or putt?
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Hmmm – which is worse – the “speed freak” as you call him – or the group that slows down the entire golf course behind them ? Yes, the speed guy an be a little annoying from time to time – but it’s good to have someone who understands that playing ready golf can help you get back into position if you fall behind.
If you keep up – the speed freak doesn’t have anything to worry about.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
No excuse for 5 hour rounds.
If your group takes that long, you would be letting too many groups through here. If every player is ready to play his shot, there is plenty of time to chat along the fairway. The speed freak has a point , but he shouldn’t play out of order.
that works better when everybody walks. over here it’s mostly cart golf, so you have 2 people to get to their ball and it’s not uncommon for one person to get to their ball while the other person has to go back or is in a situation where they will need more time to figure out their shot. The “shouldn’t play out of order” is sometimes easier said than done. If you get out of position, you should do what it takes to catch up, so if hitting your ball first because you got to it first helps make up time – you do it.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
one of my biggest memories of my trip over there was playing golf for 6 days and seeing a total of two carts being used by players.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
definitely – but I have to say that it’s a lot easier walking a links course than it is most of the courses in Atlanta. We have a lot of big hills that will just wear you out.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
I played St Mellion
A Nicklaus design that hosted the Benson and Hedges tournament back in the ’90’s. Cart paths everywhere, and hilly. The pros didn’t like it and I admit, it was a killer walking ( I carried ) But that’s down to the designer. I would hate to play a course that rewquired you to use a cart all the time.
It’s not up to the designer very often over here since the 80’s. Most modern courses here have been attached to housing complexes, and the houses get first priority. The golf course gets the leftover land the designer has to make do with what they give him. But even classic, core courses in Atlanta can be a tough walk. East Lake has some big hills, and there are only 2 flat holes on the back side (11 and 17)
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Leeds is 22 miles from York where I live
and they have some great courses. many are hilly, it’s tough up, but easy down too.
Easy.....we play ready golf. (no honors)
Some people are just slower than others. Staying up with the group in front is NOT a bad thing, but is a rule at most courses and is an offense that can be penalized on the tour. Bookie sounds like he is part of that group we all hate……the guys that pay their fees and now the course belongs to them for the next 5 hours, totally oblivious to the fact that they are holding up everyone behind them…..and they never let anyone play through. Totally rude and in most cases ignorant about golf etiquette. Our rounds run about 3.5 hours unless Bookie and his buddies are in front of us.
Maybe a better article would be about SLOW PLAY not “speed freaks”.
The Saints were the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS for a year...hope I don't have to wait another 44 years for #2....WHO DAT!......:)
I like the way you play Em
We play ready golf at times, but we all play at a good pace. Regular 4 balla can do this. One of our lads off 20 plays as fast as anyone. Spot on about etiquette.
Obviously wouldn't play out of order
in a competition, but if you have someone who is a real slowcoach in a friendly it can be irresistable, especially if they are ruining my pace of play. Sure, a lost ball or a difficult shot can slow everything down, but there are some players who are NEVER ready to hit their shot. Why can’t they have the club, ball & tee in their hand when they get to the next tee? (I mean on a course they know well). I’m afraid I do monitor our position to the group in front and have been known to ask someone to speed up (though not just before they play). I don’t stalk off down the fairway, however, & dislike people doing that in my eyeline – also a bit dangerous as we all know.
I'm with you there Wendy
I tend to walk past to the side..out of my partners sight. As you say, on a course one knows well, they should have a good idea what club to hit when they get to the ball. too often, they copy pros on TV and throw up gass every shot :)
our foursome on the Scotland trip had one guy who was so slow, we ended up playing ready golf and just walking up the fairways after hitting our balls. there were times when we were 50-100 yards up the fairway before our pokey guy would take his shot.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
oh no – we got a lot of dirty looks from the locals. this guy came over with us…and we swore we’d never take him anywhere again.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
more like just plain oblivious – he just didn’t care.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Well...
Simple solution would be for the speedy guy not to play with slower players. It’s obvious he knows in advance the capabilities of his fellow players.
I’l take a speedy player over an ass dragger anyday.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
In this case, he didn’t. This was an annual trip for him. He had one regular friend and they invited other friends – they just didn’t realize he was as slow as he turned out to be. They thought he was slow because of the old ladies he usually played with. Needless to say, he was left off of the invitation list from there on out.
Listening to Katrek make excuses for the slow play at Riviera this weekend – saying that it’s because the course is so difficult. Nonsense.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
The girls got around in Thailand
in under four hours.
by chip n'putt on Feb 21, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
The guys usually get around in about that time – and the girls don’t always get around in 4 hours.
That course in Thailand looked like a fairly flat walk – but they had to walk around a number of lakes and streams. Nice looking course. Looked like a lot of fun to play.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
The guys get around in less than four hours?
In which lifetime was that?
by chip n'putt on Feb 21, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
I think the guys slow down
Because they are walking with caution trying to avoid all the Loogies tiger is leaving around. hahahaha j/k Just had to go there. :o)
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
I said around 4 hours
bwaaahahahaa – oh wait – you weren’t joking ? Check most weekend tee times. The last group usually finishes before 6 and tee’s off ater 1:30 – closer to 2.
Aside from the Women’s US Open, the women don’t have the crowds the men have (ok – the old Dinah Shore where you had to break up the lesbians makeout sessions to move along) :-) – and the women’s US Open rounds are 5 hours just like the men. And aside from the Evian, you don’t have any course the women play that is tougher than most of what the men play. Little things add up.
That said – PICK IT UP GUYS !! Get the officials involved – find the group that is slowing the play down and move them along. (here’s a hint – it’s not the LAST group of the day – the caboose doesn’t make the train go faster) Get the Tour involved – start adding penalty shots. Fines don’t work. Ban sports psychologists who teach these three minute prayer sessions before pulling a club. Get the caddies out from behind the players.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Oh Boy, now you've done it...
gone and put the Sports Psychologists out of business…And here they went and spent so much on their education, just so they could hold those prayer sessions…You is one tough Sum Bi**h…they got to eat and pay rent too ya knows….LOL…STUB
STUB
LOL !
Great line from “Lovesick” with Dudley Moore. He was a psychiatrist who had “conversations” with Sigmund Freud throughout the movie. Close to the end, Freud is packing his bag to go to South America (leaving Moore’s imagination) and he says “psychology was an interesting experiment – but I never intended for it to become an industry”
(plus it had Elizabeth McGovern in it – yum !) :-D
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
Lots of great lines in...
“What About Bob” also. One of my favorite movies of all times.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
And as fate would have it...
I have a summer beach home in New Hampshire about an hour south of Lake Winnipesaukee, where part of the movie was filmed. I’ve actualy been to that little bait shop that doubled as a bus stop for Bob Wiley in the movie. Crazy Chit.
I’m Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaailing
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
This information and comment from Rich Lerner of TGC
Ben Crane’s releasing his third video spoof soon; this one believe it or not on slow play. In the realm of positive changes in the public perception of an athlete, it may not equal George Foreman’s transformation from surly ring monster to lovable grill pitchman, but Crane going from slowest player on the planet to “Saturday Night Live”-style comic actor is impressive.
I’m not a fan of Lerner at all, but I did like this pticular tidbit
"pain is only weakness leaving the body" jumpn
How would putting out a few very funny videos change the perception that somoene is a human rain delay on the golf course ? If Crane were still as slow around the course as he was a few years ago – he would be seen as an annoyingly slow player with a sense of humor. The only thing that changed the fact that he was incredibly slow was him picking up his pace. The videos are a bonus. Crane has always been a funny guy – the videos are the first time people got to see some of that side of him.
Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove that they have health insurance, but people don't have to prove they are citizens.
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