「嫌われるゴルファー」というのをネットで調べると、
多くのサイトで「プレーの遅いゴルファー」
という指摘があります。
 
「態度が悪い」とか「口が悪い」
というのも同じように指摘を受けがちですが、
 
それだけ嫌う人が多いのに、なぜ多くのゴルフ場では
ラウンド進行が遅くなりがちなのか？
という理由を書いてみます。
 
『プレーの遅い人は極めて少数なのに、
　その影響力がとてつもなく強い』
 
来場者200人で、アウトのトップスタートの組が
3時間半かかったとします。
 
その場合、アウトの後続の組は徐々に
スタート時間が遅れ始め、
予定スタート時間から3時間半以内で回ることは
物理的に不可能となります。
 
当然、2時間15分等で回れるわけがありません。
 
順調だったインスタートの組もアウトに入った瞬間に
上記の影響を受け、休憩時間が非常に長くなるか、
各ホールでの待ち待ちに遭遇することとなります。
 
結果、1組4人が原因で残りの196人は
スロープレーを強いられることになります。
 
もう少し言うと、そのトップスタートの組の4人が
揃いも揃ってプレーが遅いということはまずありません。
その中の1人か2人だけです。
 
つまり、上記のケースではたった1人か2人が原因で
残りの199人ですとか198人がスロープレーを
強いられるということになります。
 
「だったら、ゴルフ場側でその1人か2人を特定して、
　何とかしろよ。」
 
というのは正論で、ゴルフ場側が本当に
気を付けなければいけない部分です。
 
しかしながら、その原因となる人を探し出すのは
末尾の吹き出し漫画のような例もあり至難の業です。
 
「前が遅いのに、なんでたまたま空いた時を狙って
　『前が空いています。急いでください。』
　って言われにゃならんだ？」
 
ということもあります。
 
願わくば、自分の組が原因とならないよう、
お互いに声を掛け合ってスムーズなラウンド
進行をというのがコース側の切なる願いです。
 
勝手なゴルフ場側の言い分と指摘を受けても
仕方がないですし、ほとんどの方は遅れの原因
にはなっていないのですが、
なにとぞよろしくお願いいたします。
 

 
まさか、ラウンド進行の遅れとは無縁に思える
速い方々が、実はその原因になることもあるとは
誰も思わないでしょう。
 
確かに「どうせ詰まるからゆっくりしていこう。」
という気持ちも十分にわかるんですが。
 
2017.10.2
 
 
Why rounds tend to progress slowly
If you search the internet for “disliked golfers,” many sites will say “golfers who play slowly.”
 
Words like “bad attitude” and “foul mouth” are also often criticized, but even though there are so many people who dislike slow play, why do rounds tend to progress slowly at many golf courses? I would like to explain the reasons why.
 
“Although slow players are a very small minority, their influence is enormous.”
 
Let’s say there are 200 visitors and the top starting group on the outside took 3.5 hours.
 
In that case, the start times of the following groups on the outfield will gradually begin to be delayed, making it physically impossible to complete a half round in less than three and a half hours.
 
Naturally, it is impossible to complete nine holes in the target time of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
 
Groups that started well on the inside will also be affected by the above after the half.
They will either have to take very long breaks or have to wait on each hole.
 
As a result, the remaining 196 players are forced to play slowly because of one group of four.
 
To put it more simply, it is unlikely that all four players in that top starting group are slow players.
Only one or two of them will be slow players.
 
In other words, in the above case, just one or two people are to blame, forcing the remaining 199 or 198 players to play slowly.
 
“If that’s the case, the golf course should identify that one or two people and do something about it.”
 
This point is absolutely correct, and it is something that golf courses really need to be careful about.
 
However, identifying the person causing the problem can be extremely difficult, with examples like the speech bubble cartoon at the end of this article.
 
“You are behind the group in front of you. Please hurry up.” The group in front of us was already slow, so why did they have to tell us this at the same time that we happened to be separated from them?
 
This is also possible.
 
The course officials sincerely hope that players will communicate with each other and ensure that the round proceeds smoothly, without causing delays to their own groups.
 
I cannot help but think that these are just the golf course’s arbitrary claims.
 
Also, most people are not the cause of slow play.
 
However, I hope you will take my story into consideration.
 

 
We’ll catch up soon anyway, so let’s relax at the tea shop.
 
We took a bit too long of a break.
Ok, let’s hurry.
 
They were a really fast playing group and caught up with the group in front of them within a few holes.
 
They were relaxing at the tea shop for a long time, but they were going too fast for us to catch up.
No good, we were falling further and further behind.
 
This is the kind of thing that gets people saying we’re slow.
 
That’s not true though.
 
Some people can complete a half round in under two hours, but not everyone can do it.
Thank you for your continued support.
 
Those who progress quickly through the rounds seem to have no problem with delays in the rounds.
No one would think that they could be the cause of delays in the rounds.
 
I certainly understand the feeling of “It’s going to be crowded ahead anyway, so let’s take it easy.” But…
 
2017.10.2