Golf is a very self-centered game. Other players will not judge how you hit the ball and they will be very supportive, we all started sometime. What is important to other players though is that they do expect us to be aware of the course and our ability to keep the pace. Having said this the offenders of keeping the pace are not those new to the game, in fact each and everyone of us is a slow poke at times. Most slow players are oblivious to their own bad behavior and how it annoys who they are playing with. Nobody wants to be the girl that no one wants to play with. Slow play is one of the most frustrating issues we face, it affects your playing partners, the groups following you, the golf course and Golfaround’s reputation and ability to have tee times for you. While the golf course plays an important role in implementing pace of play, the onus to maintain the proper pace of play lies primarily on golfers themselves. When 9 or 18 holes can be played in a timely manner, everybody wins. Maintaining the proper pace of play isn’t accomplished by rushing through each hole, but by simply not wasting time on the golf course. Golf isn’t meant to be a fast sport, it’s supposed to be strategic, but keeping a good pace is crucial for everybody’s enjoyment. Four hour rounds are much more enjoyable than six hour rounds.
Here are some tips for speeding up slow play:
Move promptly proceed quickly to your ball and be ready when it is your turn to hit.
- Keep the conversations to the golf cart ride or walk between holes or to your next shot.
- Don’t start a conversation on the tee if the fairway is open.
- Spend the time getting to your ball to think about yardage and the correct club.
- Do not travel as a pack each person should walk to their own ball being aware of the location of the person who is hitting, be safe
Play promptly be ready to step right up and hit the ball, golfers should still hit their actual shots one at a time. But everything else—calculating yardage, lining up a putt, even taking a practice swing if you’re a sufficient distance removed from the action— can be done while someone else is playing.
- Don’t take too much time taking practice swings, waggling and perhaps over thinking
- Shorter hitters go first when safe to do so
- Keep your pre shot routine short and sweet, no more than two practice swings and 40 seconds
Be cart smart Drop your partner off and proceed to your ball or if they are about the same distance park the cart in between. Take three clubs to choose from not just one
- Park the cart in a position where you can walk off the green and it’s on the way to the next tee. If you’re walking, this also applies to where you leave your golf bag and any green-side clubs used on the hole.
Be quicker on the greens Read it – Hit it – Tap it in
- Line up while someone else is putting
- Don’t walk on someone’s line
- Be aware of your shadow and move if it interferes with your partners putt
Treat the rules with discretion
- Take a quick look for lost balls
- If the ball goes into a water hazard take a quick look don’t go fishing and drop close to where it entered
- Mark your score at the next tee box not on the green
Be prepared start the round with a ball, tees, divot tool and a ball marker in your pocket.
Be a good teammate know your playing partners strengths and weaknesses
- Watch their ball flight if possible
- Help them when convenient, move on when it is not
- Do not teach on the course
- Have you cell phone on vibrate and do not use unless in an emergency
- Refrain from chatting when someone is hitting
- Assist with driving the cart if the driver is alone and share the responsibility when appropriate
Playing the game keep track of the number of times you hit and pick up on double par
- A mulligan is counted as a stroke
Accept responsibility be mindful of where you are on the course and the groups ahead and behind you, and do your best to keep pace with the group ahead of you.
- Recognize that slow play isn’t just the other persons fault
Having said all of that we will soon be hitting the greens and doing what we love, play golf. Simply put Ready Golf is hit when ready and it applies to everywhere on the golf course. It means thinking ahead so you are ready when it is your turn. If you happen to be play with someone who is not keeping up the pace of play let them know in a nice way as well as giving us a heads up so we can help them speed up and also help them not be the gal that no one wants to golf with.