Mark Wahlberg loves to play fast. By fast we mean Netflix Cup fast. The Hollywood star will tee off at the 10th edition of The Match as one of the top celebrities this week. Wahlberg, who gets up at 3:30 AM most days for an early morning workout and hits the range by 6, previously revealed he plays 18 holes in less than 90 minutes. 

He doesn’t expect everyone to play that fast (or that early), but a 4-hour round is a no-go. “Average 2 hours 2 1⁄2 hours is perfect. Anything 3, 4 [hours] I am distracted. The phones [are] ringing, people are calling, you know more important things that pay my bills and support my golf habit… So I have to attend to those things.”

Well, the Hollywood A-lister who once boasted a home with a backyard golf layout is a busy man. He also hits the green when barely anyone is there other than his playing mates. That gives him a tad bit of an advantage – he doesn’t have to wait for the group in front to move out. But most recreational golfers do. This is why his comments didn’t sit well with some golfers.

Wahlberg also shared one useful tip for beginners. Start your way back. Learn putting, then chipping, then approaches, and finally drives. No one told this to Wahlberg, but he believes it could’ve saved him from ‘ten years of misery’. Well, the Hollywood A-lister’s advice didn’t register with recreational golfers. And they didn’t hide their displeasure with speed golf. 

Mark Wahlberg is detached from the reality, claims golf fans

Slow play is definitely a problem in golf. Even both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour have faced backlash from fans for letting players take unreasonable time. From Charley Hull to Brooks Koepka, even players have spoken up. Both tours are reluctant to fine golfers for slow play and they have been averse to implementing stroke penalties for slow play.

Nevertheless, speed golf like the Netflix Cup was an eyesore for traditional golf fans. Clearly, while no one is charmed with the idea of a six-hour round, there are few takers for a two-hour round as well. “When you’re out of touch with the rest of the galaxy,” commented one user. 

Most recreational golfers wanted to remind Mark Wahlberg that his idea of golf doesn’t exceed beyond the gates of a private course. On average, golfers take around 4 to 4:30 hours to complete an 18-hole round. 

But for most recreational golfers, the main problem is slow golfers blocking their way ahead. Referring to that, one fan wrote, “He plays on a course with no one in front of him. Lol.” It should also be noted that the rising cost of course maintenance has forced public courses to shoehorn too many groups in the same session. So, it’s not uncommon for an 18-hole round to go up to six hours. “Well, Marks (sic!) [has] never played a public course on a Saturday afternoon,” one user joked. 

Interestingly, Wahlberg was also asked about the pre-round routine. The Transformer star said, “I don’t try to do much.” Just a few routine stretches and exercises, then ten wedges, a couple of shots with irons (6, 7, and 9), hitting a couple of 3-woods, 5-woods, six-seven drives, and practicing some putts. 

Noting that he almost hits a full round before actually teeing off, one user wrote, “Haha. I love how he says he “doesn’t like to do too much” before the round to warm up, then proceeds to name 10 clubs in his bag that he hits on the range.” Another user seconded. “‘I don’t do much pre round” proceeds to describe a full warmup routine.”

Given the fan sentiment against the Ted actor, The Match: Superstar will be a litmus test of fast play (or slow play). Mark Wahlberg will join Bill Murray, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, and Michael Phelps. Moreover, a host of other celebrities and athletes for the $1M winner’s paycheck.