Using the Tee Time Schedule to Reduce Golfing Delays

No one enjoys "traffic jams." We don't like them on the road, and they are just as frustrating on the golf course.

At Hastings Elks Golf Course, congestion on the course is something we've always tried to avoid. For example, many golf courses schedule tee times at 5-7 minute intervals. We use 10 minute intervals to create better separation between groups. However, even with longer tee time intervals, there were many times last summer that we saw significant congestion on busy days.

There are many reasons for this. 

One is the nature of our golfers. While many of our recreational golfers are excellent players, some of us (yeah, me) are still carding 10s on a regular basis. A group of par golfers behind a group of Duane-level golfers is likely to catch us -- even with a 10-minute head-start. That's an unavoidable consequence of being a recreational course. It's expected. And, frankly, it's unavoidable.

There are other causes of congestion, too, and some of them can be fixed. Here's one of the major causes of "traffic jams" at the Hastings Elks -- mixing group sizes. 

We often see this on our Tee Time Schedule: A foursome, followed 10 minutes later by a two-some, with another two-some right behind. 

What often happens in this situation is that Golfers 5-6 will catch 1-4 on the third, fourth or fifth hole. Even if the 5:00 and 5:10 groups are at a similar skill level, the two-some is playing twice as fast as the foursome. 

When the twosome catches up to the group ahead, the twosome is slowed as they wait to tee off on the hole. That allows the 5:20 twosome to close the gap on the 5:10 group. Now, there are three groups playing right on each other's heels.

Usually, the foursome will stop to allow the 5:10 group to play through. During that delay, the 5:20 twosome plays up on the foursome within a hole or two. Before long, there are several groups clumped up on the mid-round long holes (4, 6, 7 and 8 are the usual locations for these traffic jams). This can affect play for rest of the day, because the tee time gaps close up  as soon as new groups start.

This winter, the Golf Committee and Trustees have discussed some of these "pace of play" problems, looking for a solution. The easiest way to fix it is to keep group sizes the same. 

So, when we talk about putting twosomes together, that's what we mean. In a situation like the one described above, we would ask the 5:10 twosome to join the 5:20 twosome (as shown at left.)

Grouping the 5:10 and 5:20 twosomes accomplishes two things -- and both of them benefit the Club and the players. First of all, it maintains separation between golfing groups, allowing everyone to play without the stress of waiting on the group ahead or worrying about the group behind. Secondly, it opens a tee time for walk-ons or last minute reservations.

It's NOT a "ban" on twosomes. Far from it. Many of us play in twosomes all the time, and this isn't the end of that practice. However, on peak days, with a full schedule, we think it's important to maintain a reasonable flow of play on the course -- and we'll be instructing our Starter to do exactly what you see illustrated above.

If conditions and the numbers of golfers don't require grouping twosomes, we won't do it. And, if there is a 20 minute gap between a foursome and twosome (illustrated at left), we won't hesitate to send the twosome out either.

It's about accommodating the most golfers we can on a busy day. It's about giving everyone the best experience possible. 

Obviously, the idea situation is for each group of golfers to leave the green, drive to the next tee box and begin teeing off immediately. That's the experience everyone is after, and our goal in asking the twosomes to play together under certain circumstances.

The Golf Committee and Trustees will continue to look for ways to keep play flowing on the course, and to avoid frustrating "traffic jams." We appreciate you...we appreciate your business...and we want you to know that you are ALWAYS welcome at the Elks!