With the excitment growing amongst me and my buddies before the 2nd Annual Dartmouth Open 2010 a hypothetical question arose and I wondered what thoughts you guys had on it.

So here's the question: Would a group of 5 get around the course quicker than a group of 3 followed by a group of 2?

I'm sure the answer must be that the two groups would be quicker, but am I right?

I have played plenty of five balls in my time, but a recent one springs to mind with David Marshall, Danny Brant, Paul Mason and myself and I think the fifth one was James Marshall. It was at Silvermere and we started off as a three and a two but were being held up, so we joined up to make a five ball yet still managed to keep our place behind the three ball infront and did not inconvenience the husband and wife 2 ball behind.

As to your question, David it would all depend on the players really. A fast five ball would certainly be quicker than two slow groups.

In the early sixties at my club in Chingford we used to play up to a 10 ball on a friday evening swindle. Of for those wonderful days again.

Played in a 5 ball on Sunday as there was very few other idiots on the course. There is no doubt it is slower but it made a nice change and was good fun. Wouldn't like to do it every week though.

I also think playing in a 5-ball doesn't help your actual golf. Longer to wait between shots, more banter going on etc. At least that's what I found, but maybe I was having a bad day! I agree with John, all comes down to the golfers, good fun from time to time though...

Tim
Visual Golf
www.visual-golf.com

So gentlemen, are you saying that a 5 ball is legal??

I thought that a group sould only have a maximum of 4 players? Is there a rule for the maximum number of a group - or is it a local rule that golf clubs employ to prevent slow play?

There is no rule of golf that prohibits groups of more than 4 players. It is generally acceptaed in casual play and competition play that groups are limited to 4 players.However, if there are not many people on the course and you are not interfering with anyone elses game then there is no problem in playing more than 4. Our club does not have a club rule which prohibits more than 4.

On the discussion of five balls , we recently played at my club one saturday where the winter comps are over 14 holes and the other 4 holes were open to casual players as they were in a way where they could be played as a loop. There were a group of four ladies in front and there were seven of us. We started as a 4 and a 3 but even after the first tee shot we were being held up by them. We when we got to the second hole in the loop the 3 ball in front had not teed off so we joined them and made a 7 ball. We played at normal pace and were still being held up by the ladies even as a 7 ball. This has also happened behind a group of 4 men also.

Neither of the slow 4 balls had the necessary common sense or golfing etiquette to allow quicker players through.

Nice story Martin. Classic example of common sense taking over on a course rather than standard rules / formats. Shame the group in front of you didn't understand how golf works though!

Tim
Visual Golf
www.visual-golf.com

Thanks Martin!

I'd always thought that 4 was the maximum - we'll try it at Dartmouth!