played driffield today on the tee box in front of us 2 3 balls ( ladies) 
then us a 4 ball and a two ball, the 2 ball informed us after we had all 
played our balls we should let the play through? Was this correct.

"Thomopac"  wrote in message news:-K2dnWJOILtIkU7bnZ2dnUVZ8tWnnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> played driffield today on the tee box in front of us 2 3 balls ( ladies) 
> then us a 4 ball and a two ball, the 2 ball informed us after we had all 
> played our balls we should let the play through? Was this correct. 
> 

Whoa I guess there will be lots of views here so I'll put the ball in play.......

Is there a rule? Not really but....

"Priority on the Course - Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group's pace of play."
However, what "every golfer knows" is that 2-ball matches, tending to be faster, should be called through by 3- and 4-ball matches. Which sounds fine until the 4-ball match points out that (a) since it's better ball they are whizzing along and (b) they are hard on the heels of the match in front, and therefore not much inclined to call people through.

So my answer is that the 2-ball match had no right to play through, but that should Thomo and his 3 chums fall even slightly behind or think they may have lost a ball they should invite them to do so.

Psychman

"Thomopac"  wrote in message 
news:-K2dnWJOILtIkU7bnZ2dnUVZ8tWnnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> played driffield today on the tee box in front of us 2 3 balls ( ladies) 
> then us a 4 ball and a two ball, the 2 ball informed us after we had all 
> played our balls we should let the play through? Was this correct.
>

My view is no way should have the right of way ( 2 or 3 ball) UNLESS you are 
losing ground on the holed in front.
If you thinkj about it using Thomos example..........if you turned up at 8am 
on the tee for a 4 ball game of golf and everyone who subsequently arrived 
was a 2 ball you would never be able to tee off

"Thomopac"  wrote in message 
news:-K2dnWJOILtIkU7bnZ2dnUVZ8tWnnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> played driffield today on the tee box in front of us 2 3 balls ( ladies) 
> then us a 4 ball and a two ball, the 2 ball informed us after we had all 
> played our balls we should let the play through? Was this correct.
>

In our club, there is a notice posted to the effect that groups of two have 
no right to expect to play through, especially on weekends.  If there is an 
open hole in front, most of our members will let the group behind pass 
through, but occasionally this leads to even slower play.

Liz

psychman in <41IAi.38899$S91.36873@newsfe7-win.ntli.net>:

>> played driffield today on the tee box in front of us 2 3 balls ( ladies) 
>> then us a 4 ball and a two ball, the 2 ball informed us after we had all 
>> played our balls we should let the play through? Was this correct. 
>> 
>
>Whoa I guess there will be lots of views here so I'll put the ball in play.......
>
>Is there a rule? Not really but....
>
>"Priority on the Course - Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group's pace of play."

I can't speak about the UK, but over here on many courses there are 
local regulations in force citing the old rules: On weekends 4-ball before
3-ball before 2-ball, on weekdays vica versa. Very often, much to my
regret, single players officially have no standing on the course.
But - luckily - players insisting on that are very rare.

Apart of that you are right: Priority is determined by the pace of play,
not by numbers.

Alas, answering the OP, it might be sensible to let a presumably faster
group play through regardless of their "rights" - they will stay on your
heels otherways and hopefully the groups in front will act equally polite
and open the passing lane for them. This may work in astonishing ways: I've
experienced to pass as much as three groups in a row without a minute of
waiting as a single player.

OTOH, they don't act too polite when they demand your politeness...

Ciao,

Paul

> If you thinkj about it using Thomos example..........if you turned up at 
> 8am on the tee for a 4 ball game of golf and everyone who subsequently 
> arrived was a 2 ball you would never be able to tee off

any 'priority' enjoyed by 2-balls over 3-balls has only ever been enjoyed 
out on the course, never off the first tee, which would indeed lead to the 
situation described above.

Psychman

Perhaps the following sentence taken directly from the Rules of Golf
Etiquette section will explain...

"Priority on the course

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course
is determined by a group's pace of play. Any group playing a whole
round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round."

So unless the committee of that particular club "Driffield" have
posted a local rule stating their idea of priority on the course
should be different from that of the R&A then providing a group (any
number including a single player)  keeps up with the group in front
there is no obligation or need to let any other group through.

Seems sensible.

JPW