Tee times or Shotgun starts…??

[Louie Phipps]

To the World Am staff… there have been several posts here asking for a return to Shotgun starts for the various World Am events. In reading these posts, it’s difficult to tell what the majority of the players would like to have happen. Personally I am in total favor of a return to shotgun starts because 1) I have always enjoyed seeing all of the players in my flight, not just those that are close to my tee time. 2) We all receive our rules instructions as a group and they are explained by ONE PERSON, usually the club pro. We have had numerous problems the past couple of years where the front 9 and back 9 starters at a course have different rule sheets, one allowing lift, clean and place and the other saying to play the ball down. 3) Skins games are much easier to run with shotgun starts. 4) You can have 2 or 3 guys playing different courses car-pooling because you are all teeing off and finishing about the same time.

I think the World Am staff needs to know what the majority of the players would like to see because I have read several posts where players are saying they will not return if they continue to utilize tee times. I have a suggestion for the WA staff. Pick one of the days at next month’s Q-School and attach a survey card to each scorecard (or maybe even print this on the scorecard itself). The only question the survey would ask would be…”ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF RETURNING TO SHOTGUN STARTS AT ALL WORLD AM EVENTS… YES NO (Please circle your answer)”. You have 448 participants playing next month and I think this survey would give you a pretty clear idea as to what the majority would like to see you do.

[Scott T. – World Am]

Louie – no need for a survey. It was done at World Am last year. It was 100%… inconclusive! Almost completely split 50/50 with over 1,500 responses. That said, we intend to go back to shotgun starts at 8:30am.

[John Decatur]

Thank goodness. Much appreciated

[Louie Phipps]

Scott, thank you very, very, very, very much…!! Will Q-School next month be tee times or shotgun..?

[Bruce Friend]

Very much in support especially moving it up to 8:30. Going to be plenty complaining but weighing all the pros and cons, it is best.

[Rick Kimbrell]

Thank you Scott. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Ken Delaney]

Hi Scott,
I am glad to hear that we will all be starting the same time again. My question to the staff is, will the courses that are furthest from MBCC be 9:30? Like in the past?

Thanks,

[Scott T. – World Am]

TBD but I can say some of our furthest north end courses are not presently hosting.

[Mark Hancock]

Scott: I am disappointed. The Shotgun starts had rounds closing in on six hours and I never had a round under five. With 48 to 51 players on 9 holes that means that each nine will have 6 or 7 “B” teams. It just doesn’t work.

[Scott T. – World Am]

Hi Mark – At 100 players you’d have 7 “B” groups on the entire course or 3.5 per 9 holes. Last time we had shotguns was 2019 we averaged just 94 players per course.

Shotgun starts won’t please everyone but it is best for the tournament moving forward. Logistics of friends traveling together, uniform playing conditions, scores arrive at HQ earlier as a whole (and though we don’t have an interest in the skins operator, we know many do).

Pace we don’t believe will be affected dramatically in either direction. I would argue it’s better to avoid the heat starting at 8:30 rather than a good amount of people finishing at 3:30 or later. In a shotgun, everyone is at the same pace as opposed to tee times where an earlier group will likely finish quicker than the last group. Uniformity is best for fairness at the end of the day.

Lots to consider and we did not take a major decision like this lightly. Hope this helps.

[Rick Kimbrell]

Once again Scott…thank you for the shotgun start decision. While it may not be popular with some, there are lots of us who welcome back shotgun starts. Thank you

[Bill Hambrick]

With tee times, if you have bad weather some or almost all of the group may finish, but you have to through the round out. Also some groups may have bad weather where as the early tee times may have fairly good weather. With shotgun start everyone will have the same weather.

[greg messer]

Last year with tee times in the 9HAndicap mid Sr group we had several people in the middle of the tee times complain of 6+ hour rounds. One slow group can slow down half or the whole course. I played in 4 1/2 to almost five 1/2 hours. I teed off first twice, 2 hours or less on front almost 3 or more on back. Better policing by rangers on slow groups is the only solution with penalty to slow player. Easy to spot them, they stand around till it’s their turn them measure or select club. C’mon, we know how to combat slow play, just do it already. Do shotguns, best option, and enforce pace of play…period. All the other comments on benefits of shotguns are applicable too. Weather, car pooling, getting half the day back. But, if you don’t enforce pace of play, it’s a horrible experience.

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