As we move
into our prolific playing time, please be reminded that the more upscale courses especially Palm Springs area have and
enforce dress codes that prohibit some/all of the following: denim of any kind (even pleated dress slacks
or skirts), collarless shirts,
short shorts, tank tops, golf sandals etc. Two of our members were almost denied playing privileges at Aliso Viejo for daring to wear the dreaded denim!
You don't have
to buy everything from Nordstrom's or the Pro Shops but be aware we have had
GFS members refused from playing a course unless they changed into what the
course's management considered "proper" attire!
Also, many
courses are aggressive regarding banning outside food/drink brought to the course.
Part of the job
of administrating this group is the responsibility to point out when we deviate
from some of the basic guide-lines that assist in making our week-end day in
the sun a more pleasurable experience. Each individual has their own idiosyncrasies
and method of getting from the 1st tee to the 19th hole. We have low
scoring players that are WAY TOO SLOW
and 30+ indexers that never fall behind and we all can improve our SPEED OF PLAY and still have a good
time!
Everyone wants to get to the 19th hole and/or the after game parties
scheduled as soon as they finish so it's also time to remind everyone about the
frustrations brought about by SLOW PLAY! Foursome captains are selected
in each foursome partially to remind the other 3 to expedite their play if they
fall more than half a hole behind the group in front of them. Everyone in
the group should respect their captain's request and co-operate when- ever approached by them. We have
had outings recently where individual foursomes have fallen 1, 2 and even 3
holes behind the group in front of them (and they were often some of our better
players)!
We rarely play faster than 5 to 5.5 hours! That is unacceptable to both the courses and the majority of the
member's of GFS. Pairings are done by ability levels, approximate similar
carbon dating and special request (early/late) considerations. I periodically
receive complaints and requests to not be paired with certain member's that are
slow, rule anal retentive or excessively
verbose! Unless you want to play in the later groups every week
(or the ultimate downer-playing with me!), re-evaluate your golf persona so as
to be welcomed by everyone! If you want to request to play with someone
in particular, contact that individual first prior to making your request to
me. Pairings are done the weekend prior to the events so special requests
must be made by Friday, one week in advance.
Following are
some guidelines that
accumulatively speed-up plays:
1)
Whenever possible, have the forward tee players hit
first. On the fairways, if the longer hitters THINK they must wait to
hit, within reason, the others in the foursome should go ahead and hit!
Be realistic, just because you CAN hit 180+ on the driving range doesn't
mean you should wait to hit from that distance when the green is surrounded by
bunkers, its totally uphill and/or surrounded by the wet stuff. Take a
shorter distanced club; lay up to a distance where you can realistically get
the ball close!
2)
On par 3's waive-up IF
the next tee is occupied. Don't record scores, clean or put away your
clubs until you arrive at the NEXT TEE. If you have fallen
behind the group in front of you, as soon as you putt out-GO TO THE NEXT TEE.
3)
Limit your practice swings,
pre-shot routine and green "analyzation" (this is a social golf group-not the PGA/LPGA
Tour!). Remember: plumb-bobbing never tells you
how hard to hit the ball!
4)
Park you carts between partner's balls and BOTH walk to your respective balls with a couple
of clubs in hand.
5)
As far as I know, none of us playing
with gold-plated balls, but you would think so when you observe how much time is spent
looking for lost balls! If balls are lost-limit the time you search for them
and do not return to the tee or place last hit. Instead, "bite the bullet", drop a ball
where it most likely exited the fairway or should have been found, take a two-stroke penalty
and
6)
Whether after tee, fairway or green shots-DON'T CLEAN AND PUT
YOUR CLUBS AWAY
UNTIL YOU REACH THE NEXT SHOT OR TEE BOX!
7)
On the green, once you start putting-FINISH unless you are in someone else's line!
8)
On the green, tee and whenever others are hitting BE QUIET and hold still!
9)
Reduce time searching for errant balls-EVERYONE
IN THE FOURSOME SHOULD MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO WATCH
THE OTHER 3'S SHOTS.
10)
If you achieve double par prior to reaching a green-PICK UP and record a 6x, 8x or 10x on the score card and disqualify
yourself from all bets. If on a "team hole", ask me how to calculate your team score.
11)
On fairways only, whether winter or summer,
you are authorized to move your ball
out of an un-repaired divot.
12)
CAPTAINS: total your front
nine scores/putts as soon as you finish #9. Total up back nine scores/putts/net/team
scores as soon as you finish 18-NOT AFTER
STOPPING AT THE BATHROOM, GOING TO THE PARKING
LOT, POSTING YOUR SCORE, ORDERING YOUR BEVERAGES AND SHARING
YOUR
BEST/WORST HOLE STORIES!!! IT’S NOT FAIR TO MAKE THE ENTIRE GROUP WAIT WHILE YOU ATTEMP TO
DECIFER THE ILLIGIBLE SCORE CARDS IN THE DIMLY LIT BAR
AREA!!!
13)
SIGN & ATTEST (this means you
have actually compared with the 2nd cart scorecard) the official scorecard.
Captains are to make certain the scores, nets, and putts are correctly entered into the
correct columns of both the score cards and
the betting folder.
14)
Foursome CAPTAINS are often placed in the awkward position of
questioning an individual's
score on a hole. Be patient, it's not a personal affront, and review your shots.
The only review the rest of the group has is your fellow golfer. We all make honest mistakes
trying to reconstruct our scores and it is easy to forget a shot or two.
FINALLY: IF YOU VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE,
CONSIDER THE ABOVE GUIDELINES TO BE TOO STRINGENT, ARE TOO SET IN YOUR WAYS TO CHANGE
OR FEEL THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AND ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO IMPROVE
THE GROUP'S SPEED- OF-PLAY, I FULLY UNDERSTAND AND WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU A
SHORT LIST OF THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES THAT ARE ANXIOUS AND MORE THAN WILLING TO HAVE
YOU COME PLAY WITH THEM!
PARTIAL/FULL MEMBERSHIP REFUNDS ARE ALSO AN OPTION (BASED ON THE TIME
Your comments, suggestions
& constructive criticisms are welcome & encouraged!