I've noticed that when it comes to teeing off, there are distinctly two types of people. (Talking about a recreational non-competitive round of course). Those who like to hit first-- they get to the next tee, pull a club and head straight for the tee markers, and those who never want to be the first to hit. They tend to arrive at the next tee and dawdle and look around for someone else to take the initiative and hit. Also they seem to always be deferring: "No, after you."

I feel these people mistake politeness for courtesy. As a muni golfer I am always mindful of slow play, and over 18 holes the moments of indifference on each tee seem to accumulate into a considerable chunk of needless wasted time. Where someone thinks he is offering courtesy to his own group, he is most likely just adding to the misery of every player behind him on the course.

So my message to all you dawdlers: Stop looking around to see if anyone else is ready to hit. Grab your club and step up to the tee. If by chance someone else steps up at the same time, then defer if you'd like. But there's lots of people on this course besides us, so let's keep pushing the round forward.

Good observation. I like to be polite. I tend, however, to not wait on others on the tee or elsewhere. Determining who is away or has the "honor" on the tee is a big time waster during a non-competitive round. Unless you risk hurting someone or interfere with another's play, just hit the darn ball and move.

I always pull my club and am ready to hit, however I will always mention to whoever may have honors from the last hole that they are up, prior to sticking my peg in the ground.

My prefered method is to play ready golf, except for birdie or better. But I am usually paired up with people I do not know, so I let them dictate the honor system.

Unless we are playing for money, I do not care the order of play.

Period.

I am ready to roll. Nothing irritates me more than waiting for someone to put his glove on, dig for a tee or check yardage and then go get a club. If I have honors I'll hit before everyone gets out of the cart. If not I will meander my way to the box thus allowing someone else to hit. But I won't wait long.

In our regular Sunday group its generally ready golf, sometimes we'll defer if somebody has played their previous hole well, also we'll send up the shortest hitter if the group ahead is still in the questionable range ahead. But mostly it's first guy there is up.

Wow, good responses here. Glad to know that there are civilized people here at oob. I didn't know this subforum was this active. Think I'll make a little series out of this--Thoughts on Ready Golf, cuz I got more.

CeeBee wrote:

...waiting for someone to put his glove on, dig for a tee or check yardage and then go get a club.

This is kind of a point I was trying to make. Certain people seem almost reflexive in their stalling. You can see the subconscious mind working. They may arrive at the tee before everyone else, but then there is always something to be found to occupy the attention. Rummage around, tidy up the old golf bag, study the scorecard, check the phone, check the skycaddy, toss some grass in the air, wipe down a ball, a club, etc. Anything except tee it up of course.

I always let people hit first, because if there is someone in the fairway, thats the only time I hit long and straight

Otherwise, I'm a 2 hour golfer, I hate this 5-7 hour round stuff. I could play 3 rounds in that time.
I dont care how cool you are, I dont want to stand around talking to some DUDE for 5-7 hours.

Hit the ball already

I agree, however, there's ALWAYS gonna be someone that slows up play, particularly at a MUNI, and particularly at Twilight (when I tend to play most because I'm a cheap bastard). I'm always cognizant to not slow up play myself, but know that if I rush, will get stuck behind slower players ahead. @gpickin - that's badass if you can finish a full 18 hole round in 2 hours.

As a friend once said- "We play 'Ready Golf', if you are ready, GOLF!"

I don't think a 2 hour round is unreasonable. I once walked a 9-hole course in Arizona in 45 minutes.

I don't mind ready golfing if it's not a tournament or there's more than $100 on the line. usually if i'm playing with someone i don't know as a ready golfer, i'll say "hey anybody mind if i hit?" or "ready golf?" and normally it's all ok. a half second worth of words beats waiting and bumbling about on the tee any day.

Duke of Hazards wrote:

@gpickin - that's badass if you can finish a full 18 hole round in 2 hours.

If I'm walking, and I dont hit traffic, it is possible. Hell, even 2 walkers can get it done, but not too often will you find open fairways all the way around.

I liked to zap around after work in the twilight last spring / summer here in california, good fitness too, and for $14 bucks, you can't beat it.

I think it helped my game when I could really relax and take my time on shots, compared to rushing out of breath.

I still like to walk in tournaments etc, because the walking keeps you limber, and you have a lot of time to enjoy the walk when you have 10 groups in front of you.

yeah, I prefer walking myself and do it whenever I play solo and get grouped with other singles or pairs, although none of my golfing buddies ever walk. i think the fastest i've finished is 3 hours 15 min, riding with a buddy on an empty course. 2 hours is hustling.

Tournament play and league play is understandable. By all means honors up. The course and tee time slots are set for those golfers. Play will be deliberate. As it should be.

We are talking about the twi-lighters and every day guys (that's me and most others here), who want to get our fix before dark or on saturday, sunday afternoons when the rates drop. We play when it's 35 or 105. My motto is the most golf for the least price. CHEAP.

I'm gonna turn it up now. Ever hook up on #1 with some guys you don't know and the first thing one guy says is "I haven't swung a club in 2 years" and when he swings you know he ain't lyin.

Ever play with guys who don't watch the flight of their ball? Or get behind the same. The're all over the place out there.

How about when the carts in the group ahead dissapear out of site, you tee up and as soon as you make contact here one or both come scootin back toward you. How about the ass-hole in the fairway on the phone? Or the phone rings from your group (the same ones you just met 2 holes ago).

And don't forget the husband-wife foursome. The gals sit in seperate carts and watch the men swing and then they all ride up to the red tees. Put the gloves on, rummage thru the bag for a ball. Tees? Oh yeah.

Ever try to hussle off 9 and go to 10 before the group that was on 9 leaves the snackbar with all their crap and can't quite pull it off?

How about the macho group playing the tips and at least 2 of em can't make the fairway?

How about the group on the green marking every putt and walking around till his turn to line it up? If your ball not in his line keep it down and be ready to send rock home.

I can go on but what the hell. I like to move and move quick. Hit when ready, putt when your turn and pick up the stick.

These are some memories I've seen over the years. They don't happen every day. Yes I've looked for balls but don't waste much time. If the group behind is on the tee and the group in front is off the green I'm droppin. To me 5 min rule only applies when not holding anybody up. Take the penalty and go. I've played many rounds over 5 hours and been pretty cool with it because the course is packed but pace is decent. But let it be 50-55* in January on a weekend around D.C. LOOK OUT!

Hit and Go baby.