[C-Tech]

I think I have broached this before, but am not sure, so here goes again.

When I was a member at a retirement community that had 9 courses and 35,000 retirees, their courses stayed full. They very seldom had an untaken tee time. They also had 2 marshalls per side who circulated regularly. Each of these marshalls had a sheet that showed, based on your tee time, where you should be on the course at any given time. It you were not keeping up with the group in front of you and you were behind time, you were asked politely the first time to pick up the pace and keep up with the group in front of you.

The second time he came around, if you were still out of position and behind time, you were asked to pick it up and go to the next tee, or pick it up and go home. No exceptions....you did not get a refund, you did not get a reprieve. Once these guidelines were established over several years, there was just never a problem. Everyone knew that the rules applied to everyone equally and knew the reason for them. I never once saw a group that was asked to pick up the pace then have to be asked to go to the next tee box or leave. People will learn to live within the rules if they understand the consequences.

A laxity on behalf of the course management breeds slow play. I applaud your Course Pro for taking a proactive stand on this. He may cost your course some customers, but I will be willing to bet they will be replaced by people who appreciate a course that keeps groups moving. I know in my case if I go to a course that has excessively slow pace, I will complain twice....after that, I take that course off my rotation.