PACE of PLAY

[tom haynal]

We all can complain about the courses all we want but the reality is our flights all play the same courses and deal with the same conditions. The pace of play really needs to be sped up. Two of our rounds were well over 6 hours and the courses told us the World Am staff does not allow them to “push the golfers”. I certainly do not expect a 4 hour round but anything over 6 is extreme. Either the courses need to go down to hosting a single flight or the size of the flights need reduced so there is no back up when the groups make the turn. Even going back to 0730 or 0800 shotgun starts is a more viable option in my opinion. Many of you probably agree with these statements and many probably disagree and that is your opinion. This has been my only real complaint the last few years and hopefully the staff decides to do something to change it. Until next year everyone take care.

• This topic was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by tom haynal.

[James McLea]

I agree, especially having to stand around waiting for the group in front to make a shot and it is hovering around 95-100 degrees and 95% humidity.

[John Decatur]

6 hour rounds in the heat was not fun. Spending most of the day at the golf course when you have family with you wasn’t ideal either.

[Mike StClair]

please world am read what the majority is complaining about, 6 hour+ rounds are just too much in the heat we had this year, I can’t rmember a round of 6 hours with shotgun start, 8:00 shotgun start would be perfect. Just sayin

[Tom Doughan]

Mike,

Consider yourself extremely lucky if you don’t remember or had to suffer any 6+ hour World Am rounds prior to this year. Beginning with my first World Am back in 1988 and another 30 or 31 of these after that I remember when 6 – 6 1/2 marathons were routine. The tourney was shotgunning 120+ golfers by putting A and B groups off nearly every tee box. On at least 3 rounds I nearly WD’d with heat exhaustion along with too many to count where heat symptoms were coming on. Learned a lot from those times. Now I bring a small dry towel to wipe the sweat out of my eyes, keep nutritional sandwiches and snacks with me and a good supply of Powerade Zero and ice (love those Yeti’s!). Even though I know it’s a debatable issue and there are individual inconveniences involved, overall the logistics work out far better for the host course and players implementing tee times. That “greater good” theory. Traffic flow for starters and cart returns, driving range & practice green access, restrooms (trying to get 40 or more into lines for those 3 stalls!), parking lots, etc. Neither method helps me bring a usable wedge game to town. Oh well. Like we Vikings and Twins fans are used to saying…”There’s always next year!”

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Tom Doughan.

[Rick Kimbrell]

Guess I was lucky this year. The courses where I played had 10 minute tee intervals and it made a world of difference. I never had a round over 5 hours. I still hate tee times instead of shotgun starts. I too remember 6 to 7 hours World Am rounds years back. I think the fastest we ever played was shotgun start and only 3somes.

[Frank Pinto]

Had the same good fortune as Rick. I’d prefer shotgun starts, but none of my rounds exceeded 5 hours. It’s to be expected in this type of tournament.

[Mark Hancock]

Tom: Moving to Tee Times from Shotgun Starts with A&B made a huge difference a few years ago. I feel the average round went from 5 1/2 hours to 4 1/2 hours with the change. I didn’t play this year (shoulder replacement) so I didn’t get the 6+ hour rounds, but that is unbelievable to hear.

As Tom said, reducing the size of each flight or having one flight per course would certainly help.

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