If you want to find one of the root causes of slow play, you need look no further than the venerable United States Golf Association.
The final match of the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship on Sunday at Pinehurst was a study in “take your time, we’ve got nothing else to do today.”
Granted, when you get to the finals of the amateur, it’s just two guys out there. No groups, no way to judge position. And yes, the stakes are high for those finalists.
But its a scenario where Bryson DeChambeau would feel right at home.
The Andy Ogletree-John Augenstein match was a grinder. Those guys took their time of day before they hit shots and took plenty of time on their putts. They often were looking at the two-minute mark to hit shots.
Of course, the U.S.G.A. is right there, admiring its work.
We all know the U.S. Open is the home of the five-hour-plus rounds.
As of late, a lot of PGA Tour members have had enough and hopefully something will be done there.
But the U.S.G.A. continues to be the mother of slow play.
Things are slow around The Dog House so obviously, U.S.G.A. rules apply.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
Again I told you the story of my girls playing a 4 ball usga qualifier. First group out we were clocked all day. The two older girls were so slow but even after watching us all day, the officials penalized the little girls because they were shorter hitters. I could not believe it. I felt like they were getting what happened to that Chinese boy at the masters. Officials don’t have the guts to penalize most players, the most deserving ones, but have no trouble picking on little kids even when the kids are focusing on pace more than anything.
I have not really wanted this but golf really needs that 45 second time to go from recommended or whatever it is to demanded. I’m ok with players taking up to a minute but anymore than that, for whatever reason, is just not good for the game.
Tom Edrington
USGA: United Slowplay Ground Advocate