Then there were two – on the 10th tee at the Castle Course in St Andrews, to be precise. It was a mid-afternoon tee time and there was an element that we might be racing the mid-March sunset.
The opening nine had taken two hours and 20 minutes. It was a busy day at this outpost on the Home of Golf. But we had nowhere to be – outside of an evening pint at The Jigger.
I love nearly everything about St Andrews and I’m never in a hurry. Up ahead were a trio of fourballs and the first of those had just given us a wave from the middle of the fairway.
I have mixed feelings about playing through. I tend to believe if you’re in a big rush to get off the course you probably shouldn’t be teeing it up in the first place.
Yes, slow play and all that. But this is also a game that takes time. More of us should probably factor that in.
Once I’ve had the signal, though, I feel obliged to pass go and collect £200 and, often, my game completely disintegrates.
We ploughed through the first quartet, got onto the tee at the 11th and it was déjà vu. Keep on moving.
When this happened on the short 12th, it was beginning to feel like Groundhog Day. By the time we’d got level with the last triumvirate, I was sweating like I’d done a 5k, hadn’t sunk a putt for three holes and, after topping one about five yards off the tee in a total fluster, I was feeling a little short-changed in my experience on a prestige course.
Golf etiquette playing through: Should I just decline the offer?
Now, before facebook starts unloading on me, the three groups that let us through were absolute gents in every respect. They were motivated by best intentions and doing what the rulebook, and what etiquette, said they should: letting the ‘faster’ group through.
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Many of you will be thinking, ‘if only more fourballs were like them’, and I wouldn’t disagree. This is something that has been on the decline since Covid.
No, this is about me. Quelle surprise, there. Each time we got the nod, I felt obliged to get on my bike. And more than that, I also felt obliged to complete the hole as quickly as possible.
I was suddenly very aware – especially when I had the nightmare of barely getting one shot ahead of the markers – that we were now the ones holding them up.
My mate is arrow focused when it comes to hitting a golf ball. A hurricane couldn’t get him out of his stance. I’m a bit of a wallflower and just want to get it all over with ASAP.
I wonder whether I should have just rebuffed their advances. Is it fine to say, ‘no’? Do you then run the risk of ruining their day if they’re feeling under pressure with you sticking behind? They waved us through because they wanted us to do so.
And once you’ve got through one group, do you have to go through all of them if the opportunity presents itself? Or can you just take a breath?
Maybe I just think too much. So I’m asking you. What’s the correct etiquette here? Can I just rebuff and stay at my post, or is rude to turn down a well-meaning invitation?
Now have your say
What do you reckon about this golf etiquette playing through debate? You can be judge and jury. I will live by whatever you decide and we’ll talk about what you think on an episode of The NCG Golf Podcast. Let me know at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or drop us a comment on X.
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