From: john@sequent.com (John Vander Borght)
Subject: Re: Divots.....
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: sqnt
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 21:00:41 GMT

spillane@ctron.com (Jim Spillane) writes:


>>In article <1992Aug27.173315.6199@mmm.serc.3m.com>, us267384@mmm.serc.3m.com (St
>>even M. Anastasi) writes:
>>|> ... much deleted ...
>>|> I take a swish at the ground with long irons and my woods.  About an 1/8
>>|> swing.  Why?  Habit.  Addressing the ball.  Getting the feel for the
>>|> club.  It doesn't consume much time.  I don't get why people take
>>|> practice swings after the first hole.  And if they do take practice
>>|> swings  ONE IS ENOUGH!
>>|>          ^^^^^^^^^^^^

>>
>>      AMEN !!!!

>I disagree!  I happen to take a few practice swings at each hole.
>I like to, and it makes me feel more confident.  Anyone playing in
>a group behind me who tries to rush me just may end up eating
>one of their own clubs (I wouldn't treat mine so badly).
>I mean it, too, so let someone try.  I pay my greens fees every
>weekend just like everyone else, and have the right to play at `
>my own pace.  If that includes practice swings on each hole, or even
>if I decided to mentally adjust myself for a few minutes with silent
>contemplation, that's my own choice.  Interfere with that at your
>own risk.

Fine, take as long as you like, but either don't fall one hole behind the
group in front of you or else let the faster players play through and no
one should have any reason to complain.  If you want to play slower than
that and be rude enough not to let others play through, buy your own golf
course.

I also pay green fees and have a right to play at my pace also.  What makes
you think you have the right to slow me down, but I don't have to right to
ask you to speed up?

Just be courteous to the other people out there and they won't have a
problem with you.  You are welcome to play slow, as long as you let the
faster players behind you through if there is room.  I play by myself a lot
in the evenings and most people offer to let me play through as soon as I
catch up.  Usually I take them up on it (or join them if they don't have a
foursome), but if there are a couple of groups ahead of them, I'll just
wait, becuase they are playing as fast as they can.  BUT, I will get a
little ticked at the group at the front if it is obvious that they are
holding people up and won't get out of the way.  Also, occasionally, their
will be groups that won't even acknowledge my presence behind them.  I've
had some of the slowest players I've ever seen just walk off the front of a
tee as I walked up to the back of it and ignore me even though it would
only take me 2 minutes to play through and there is no one in front of
them.  They are ones I mention to the pro or the marshall on the course.

The thing that bothers me the most is when I'm waiting to play and someone
in front of me drops another ball because they didn't like the way they
chipped one, or retakes a putt.  That is the rudest thing I've seen.  I'll
replay shots when I'm alone and no one is behind me, but if anyone is
waiting, I'm off the green as soon as I pick the ball out of the hole.

By the way, read the interview with Lanny Wadkins in the newest Golf
Digest.  He says, "The slow players on tour are genarally selfish.  They
play at their speed without regard to anyone else.  They don't care if
they're holding up anyone, they play at their pace come hell or high
water."

He names:  Chip Beck, Larry Mize, David Frost, Billy Mayfair, Bob Estes,
Curtis Strange, Bernhard Langer and Tom Purtzer as the chief offenders.

He also goes after Freddy Couples for his slow play in particular at the
Masters.

He then goes on to blame the tour for not enforcing the slow play rules.
-- 
"Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty!"
John Vander Borght
john@sequent.com