Slow Play Leads To Beating
From Utah comes a news report about a 61 year old who has been arrested for beating up a fellow golfer over slow play.
From the story:
A man was arrested after police say he beat up another golfer at the Hill Air Force Base Golf Course after accusing another player of playing too slowly.
David Robles, 61, was booked on charges related to aggravated assault and disorderly conduct on October 8.
The victim accused Robles of repeatedly hitting him near the head, neck, and shoulder, according to a probable cause statement, related to taking too much time on the golf course and golf balls. He claimed Robles kicked him in the face and throat while he was on the ground.
Kayla Winn, KUTV
I understand the impulse (while condemning the action). On a recent round, I was stuck behind two groups: a threesome who played reasonably quickly, and a foursome that was a complete clown show of slow play. The threesome was on most holes was able to tee off and putt out before the foursome got off the tee box.
I see that too often for my tastes. For my money, the biggest choke point for slow play on a golf course is on the tee box.
In situations where I am stuck behind a group, I usually just play a couple of balls. I can always use the practice. On that day, however, there were three groups backed up behind me, so I felt guilty doing so.
It baffles me that a group does not notice that there is no one in front of them, while there are multiple groups piled up to the rear. A less self-absorbed group would have noticed, and let the faster players through.
Instead, they obliviously turned everyone else’s round into a five hour slog.
I gave up after sixteen. It wasn’t worth the frustration.
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Many times the offenders are a foursome of experienced players. They see themselves as “being on pace” and are unwilling to allow groups playing faster through. The fact is that they may very well be on pace to finish in 4 hours. The problem is other groups mght finish in 3 hours or 3:30 hours if they could get round the blocking group.
I run into this fairly often. My regular Tuesday group of four can typically play a round in 3 hours (all in carts). We mostly finish in 4 to 4:30 hours because a group in front refuses to yield to faster groups. Many of the courses we play are “Pace Rated” at 4:15 or 4:30. Unfortunately some of our more stubborn brethern consider that like a speed limit. In a way, they are like the drivers who travel at 70 mph in the left lane. Yes, they are traveling at the speed limit and anyone passing them is a speeder. There would be a lot less acrimony, however, if they would just pull over to the right lane and let the faster ones go on their way.