I forgot to add, when the group(s) in front of us are slow(er) we won't play ready golf, we'll play honors off the box. I've found that in the Bay Area people are not as considerate as other states I've been to and played unless we're at a semi-private or private club so we normally go out first light or no later than 9 AM as it seems after 9 slower people tend to go out. I'd rather pay normal rack but no later than 9 AM and play a faster round than play after 9 at normal rack, pay afternoon or twilight rates and take an hour or two longer.

I'm sure many of you have played at a number of courses which have a GPS set-up on the cart that can monitor your groups (and everyone else's) whereabouts on the course at all times, relative to all other groups, in addition to giving you the necessary golf information you need for each hole. Eventually, these systems will be found at more and more courses. They can do the "dirty work" of a ranger, by warning each group of their slow time and requiring them to pick up the pace when they fall more than a shot or two behind the group in front on a packed golf course.

Hopefully, in the near future, these gps/cart systems will also be able to dole out some sort of penalty for not keeping up with the group in front. Maybe the carts are programmed to give a couple warnings before automatically shutting off once there is enough time lost behind the group in front, allowing for, and directing, the group behind to play through. These systems are pretty sophisticated, but I believe they will become even more so in the coming years, with designs that specifically target slow play.

Of course, this does not work on courses which allow walking. But for higher-end daily fee, resort and semi-private/private courses, where carts are often mandatory, this will help.

The bottom line though, if everyone just tried to have consideration for others, slow play would not be an issue. But all it takes is one slow player with an attitude. One who thinks he is more important than everyone else because he paid to play a round of golf and could care less that he is the cause of people waiting behind him. He's the same guy who will take extra practice putts after holing out before slowly walking off the green, while there are 4 guys with hands on hips waiting to hit approach shots into that green. And unfortunately, we all know there is more than just one of those types out there. They're on every course. What makes them think they are so special? I don't get it.

This what happens when you build more golf courses and encourage more people to play, but do not encourage them to develop the skills and have an understanding of the etiquette of the game. And in places like South Carolina, where I live, if you set the prices right, they will come to the public courses. I play at the only muni in Charleston and we go early in the day, so we avoid the grind. We have a lot of public courses to because of the tourists coming to Charleston. Number one tourist destination. It is a two headed monster. It is all driven by money. And those of use who do understand the game do suffer. Want to play long rounds, go up the road to the number one golf destination, Myrtle Beach. Golf junket city. Have not played there in years and it only takes 1.5 hours to drive there.

Unfortunately this seems to be a frequent occurrence. My friends and I always comment that playing through seems to be a thing of the past. Rangers never seem to be of much help. I agree with the earlier mention that many courses seem to be weary of angering a guest, therefore normally nothing is done. As many have suggested, try to play the course at slower times of the day/week.

Yeah, this does come up every now and then. I think it is a problem of the management of the course. Most courses want faster play. I have higher regards for a course with good starters and on-course rangers who are also players. In my experience northern courses are slower plays than the courses in the south. I won't play courses where there is an established reputation for slow play.