Slow Play

While golfers love being out on the course, they don’t want their game to take all day! Slow play is often a bad habit that has been acquired over time, or perhaps simply the result of never having been taught the proper etiquette of maintaining a good pace. Ultimately it is your responsibility to keep up with the group of golfers in front you, not to simply stay in front of the golfers behind you! Pace of play is very important to your playing partners and to everyone else on the course whose play you may be impeding! There are a number of things you can do to speed up your play without rushing your game.

Tips on Picking Up the Pace

• Be ready to play: plan your shot before it’s your turn.
• Have a pre-shot routine. Taking one practice swing before each shot (rather than multiple) will shave considerable time off your game.
• Choose the correct set of tees from which to play.
• High handicappers can play with low handicappers, as long as they keep up!
• Put your conversation on hold when it’s your turn to hit the ball.
• Try to keep an eye on everyone’s drives, so as not to lose sight of balls.
• Don’t be too strict about order of play — let the short-hitter hit first off the tee if the group ahead hasn’t cleared the green yet.
• Carry extra tees, an extra ball and ball markers in your pocket.
• Don’t spend too much time looking for a lost ball. If you insist on looking for a ball, golf etiquette says to wave through the group behind you.
• When chipping near the green, carry your putter with you so you don’t have to return to your bag.
• Mark your score after reaching the next tee, not while lingering on the green.