Hoobie Goobies of The Pines at Elizabeth City  

 

 

 

The Solution to Slow Play with the Hoobies

 

Some of the team captains and players on the Hoobies place more of a premium on how quickly the round finishes than on the scores shot by players.  It seems as if some of us are planning on dinner with the Pope or President immediately following the round.  For those of us who do not have a life after the round of golf, score may be more important than finishing in less than 3 or 3.5 hours (good scores??? boy is that is a different and faulty concept).  However, in an effort to compromise, I have developed a solution that should satisfy even the most avid quick player.   A committee would be formed to designate those of us who are deemed to be slow players.  This committee can only be comprised of "Fast Players" as identified by 2 or 3 of the fastest Hoobie players.  We "Slow Players" would be required to follow certain procedures as given below.  The committee would develop a "Slow Player Card" that must be presented to the Team Captain prior to beginning play.  If the Team Captain is designated as a Slow Player, then the Team Captain must display his card to the team prior to beginning play.  Once all of the Slow Players have been identified, the procedures given below would apply to them (and only them).  If someone is designated a "Slow Player" by the committee, the only appeal would be to the Rules Committee (Chaired by Terry Waterfield).  All play by said player would be under the rules given below until the Rules Committee reversed the decision of the Slow Play Committee.  Anyone designated as a "Slow Player" would automatically be removed after six (6) months unless the "Slow Play Committee" re-designated the player following the 6 month period.

I have tried to break down the necessary steps because omitting a step may actually create additional problems:

1.    Check with the members of your team to determine if fast play is more important that good play (we all understand that good play is a relative term and varies with most of us day to day (or even hole to hole).  With "Good Play" the round may vary in length from 3.5 to 4 hours and with "Fast Play" the round must be less than 3.5 hours (preferably closer to 3.0 hours).

2.    If the answer to the question in Number 1 is "Good Play", check your watch and go to the first tee.  Enjoy your round.  If the answer in Number 1 is "Fast Play" proceed to Step 3.  Be aware that there is not a compromise between "Fast Play" and "Good Play".  For myself, the two often are not compatible and therefore, an either/or choice must be made.  Should the answer from the team captain be non responsive, choose for yourself whether you want "Fast Play" or "Good Play" for this round.  You will have the option of changing this answer as the round progresses.

3.    Notify your team which mode of play was selected and by whom.  Should the team wish a vote, this would be appropriate.

4.    If the team response is "Good Play", check your watch and go to the first tee.  Enjoy your round.  If the team response is "Fast Play", proceed with Step 5.

5.    Place the minimum bet allowed under Hoobie rules.

6.    After the first two holes of play, check to confirm that you have completed play, check your time to confirm you are still on schedule to complete the round in less than 3.5 hours.  If you are more than 20 minutes from the time the first player on your team hit his ball on the first hole (10 minutes per hole X 18 holes = 180 minutes & 180 minutes = 3.0 hours), consider the length of the holes you have completed.  Should you have played a par 5 (longer hole), you have the option of giving yourself some additional time (but never more than 4.2 to 4.5 minutes per hole).  If you are still within the acceptable time of play, proceed to the next hole.  This process will continue through out the round until the round is complete or should (heavens forbid) one finds himself or herself behind schedule.  When this happens, proceed to Step 7.

7.    Once you arrive at this step, you are behind schedule and must make up the time immediately.  At this point, notify your team that you have determined that you are behind schedule to complete what is deemed a "Fast Play" round and you will meet them on the next tee.  Under Hoobie rules, you must take record a score of 3 over par (the maximum allowed).  When you arrive at the next tee you have the option of teeing off with the group ahead (if they do not object) and waiting by your ball in the fairway while your team tries to catch you.  This procedure may be repeated several times during the round so you can complete a "Fast Play" round.  (Strategy - One word of advice, try not to do this during the Press since this will tend to anger some of your team mates.) - ENJOY YOURSELF AND ABOVE ALL - HAVE A FAST, FUN FILLED ROUND.