This weekend I played in the club championship. The 1st day leaders were in the final group, and I was in the 2nd to final group. On the 6th hole, one of our group could not find his nice drive. This is a narrow, downhill 320 yd par 4. We tried to help him find his ball (which is discussed in a previous topic here) and finally continued to finish the hole ourselves. He continued looking, then dropped a ball and finished. By this time, a Marshall had come to warn us to speed up play. He had just gone to the 6th tee box to move the tee markers up for normal play following our tournament. Because the final group had not hit, and he couldn't move the markers yet, they suggested he complain to and warn our group.

In order to speed up play, after finishing the hole, me and another player went to tee on the 7th hole, while the other guys finished hole 6. They had urged us to do this. By the time we all finished the 7th, the final group was just arriving to the tee. We were back on pace. However, another Marshall arrived with the tournament director. He observed we were back on pace, but informed us we had been a hole behind. He told us to pick up the pace, and then returned to the clubhouse.

After finishing our round, and while we were waiting for the scores to be posted; I heard a rumor that the final group was calling for a pace-of-play penalty on our "group." And it was to be a 2-stroke penalty on each player! I asked one of the officials, and he said yes, but they're group would have to all agree to call for this. I began to wonder why were they pushing so hard for this? Come to find out the primary complaint was from an individual that was only 1-stroke behind me at the finish. If our group was penalized 2-strokes per player; he would be the "new" 3rd place winner! Hmmm, how about that?

I spoke with him and other members of his group, as well as the tournament director. Finally we ALL sat down for a pow-wow. They said that since we were a hole behind at one point (during which they had to wait) that we should be penalized. I asked, "What happens if the group ahead of you catches fire, and start making birdies, while your group plows along at bogey-pace? Does this mean the *slower* group deserve a penalty? Or, if I believe my group is far too slow, should I leave them and play ahead?" Granted, I know we held up play briefly, but it was because of one individual in our group; not the group. Also, I was unaware that a penalty could even be assessed to a whole group, as such.

The Marshall who had warned us, was also present. No one had mentioned a penalty on the group, AND the group had only been warned to pick up the pace. However, we had NOT been placed on the clock. Therefore, any claims as to exact violations of pace would be erroneous. I managed to keep a cool head (as opposed to another member of our group...) and was able to lobby for a warning. All finally agreed that this would be acceptable, and I made sure we shook hands on it. All's well that ends well? At least now I know, and if and when during a competition, a member of my group puts our group at risk of such a penalty, I can inform them and suggest we all move ahead, or they can stay behind.

I hate these situations. I guess it's my general nature of "why can't we all just get along" but when we get a warning from the marshall to pick it up, my game goes in the toilet because I begin to do everything to speed up play. Had this happen recently and sure, it's not the whole group, usually 1 or 2 people in the group. You usually here course marshall telling you to keep the group in front of you insight, but as you say, that's not always practical. if you're playing bogey golf and they're a 3some or a group playing par, no way you'll stay up on them. I try to also keep our total pace of play on the radar. If we're heading for a 4 hr round of golf, even 4:15, I say we're good. If it's 4;30-5:00 and it's our own fault, yeah we need to pick it up.

But I have split off from a group before to tee off on the next hole and make up time. That usually helps. And I stress to people to play ready golf. One or two holes of those things usually gets you back on track.

That sucks that the reason they pushed for the penalty was because of what the penalty would do. But you're right, unless your group got formally put on the clock, penalties aren't appropriate.

The last couple times I've tried to say to myself that it's not me, and I just need to keep my pace and tempo normal and not let it bother me. Next time I'll tell the marshall to tell the other players to pick it up.