I HATE slow play and shitty customer service

My latest blog obserant on a special experience at Summitpointe in Milpitas

I took a 23 year hiatus from golf. 23 years ago I used to play golf after work and the courses were packed. You'd be lucky in to get in 9 holes in 3 hours. A lot of people stopped playing. Now, I get in 18 in 3 hours and have the course almost to myself. Could be the 100F heat deters players. About half the time that I play, the course worker cuts me a half price deal on the greens fees or lets me play for free.

Some of these so called "rangers" need to just mention that things are "backing up". If they have to stop and chat a second time they need to inform them that they are "on the clock". IF that does not work they gotta tell them to take a "hike".
Gofers who play really slow, spend to much time hunting down the 200 yard errant shot to the right which they will never find. It's a damn $3 golf ball and you should be using something from the "grab bin" for a $1 a ball. Just take a drop and move on damn it.

Lots of reasons golf is suffering. Cost of rounds, TIME involved to play a round. And so on and so on. Younger generation are a little to instantenous (sp) to enjoy a beautiful morning or evening on a golf course.

Ken,
I'm amazed the a fine (hand muffled "bulshit") upstanding (hand muffled "dbl bulshit") organization like ACG woudl allow such behavior. Years ago, we were playing one of their courses up and experienced what you did. After complaining to a marshall for abou 10 holes, we sat on the 13th tee waiting for the golfers on the who were playing the U.S. Open, line up and putt out for TEN minutes. The marshall was shocked at the time they took on the hole assured us he would take care of it. He proceeded to pull a u-turn and drove away in the opposite direction!

Sad truth is that it's not just AGC. There are certain courses (a majority) in our area that we don't even waste time thinking about playing. The fact that they are a majority proves your point. Unfortunately, most courses just don't care enough to enforce pace of play. Truth is that they would probably improve their business as serious golfers would flock there if they could play in 4-41/2 hours.

Let's work on something easier like peace in the middle east!

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

I agree slow players can be annoying. I just try to stay calm and ask to play thru.

Playing through can be an option, but unless you're talking a single on a somewhat open course, it's not a solution. The solution is ready golf, players being alert and courteous, and courses enforcing when necessary.

Three of us played multiple rounds this past week in sub-3:30s, on some tough courses laid and ain't remotely a scratch in the group. That time still would offend any Scots golfer but it's probably the best we can hope for in America.