We hear more and more complaints about the woeful state of the “pace of play” during a round of golf. Rangers are hired to patrol the course, urging players to speed up and in some severe cases, direct them to pick up their balls and go directly to the next hole. Messages appear on the GPS screen in the golf cart telling a group they have fallen behind and they must “pick up the pace”. There is an annoyed foursome behind you waiting to hit. They are annoyed because there is a foursome behind them in the same state of frustration. Slow play is a recipe for disaster on a golf course because it impacts the entire field of players. Simply stated, it is the responsibility of every member in a foursome to be mindful of the pace of play and to keep the group moving.
What exactly is “pace of play”? First, it is a measure of time. Your foursome is expected to play 18 holes in 4 hours and 15 minutes. That is the national average. Second, it is a USGA rule that a player must be “ready to play”, meaning you have at least one ball and club ready for immediate use. And then there is the unwritten rule of golf etiquette that suggests it is your duty to be directly behind the group ahead of you, rather than directly in front of the group behind you.
What is a player to do? The answer is to play “ready golf”. Your foursome will agree on the first tee that you will all play ready golf. All this means is that you will always go to your ball without delay and have your club or clubs ready and hit assuming it is safe to do so. For example, if your cart partner went into the right rough off the tee and your drive is in the fairway, drop your cart partner off where she can begin to look for her ball. She should take a few clubs with her and another ball in the event her original ball cannot be found. Drive to your ball and hit. Then if she has not found her ball, you can go back and help her to look. Three minutes is the USGA limit to look for a ball.
Another way to speed play is to have a brief set up routine. Select your target, take your stance and take a practice swing if that helps, but try not to stand over a shot too long, then make the shot. The USGA suggests that 40 seconds or less is all you need per shot. Be a decisive player. Size up your shot on your way to your ball. Think about what club you will need and what result you want from the shot. Take an extra club in case that shot does not pan out.
Develop the habit of watching the shots of the players in your foursome. Get an idea of where the ball landed and pick a tree, shadow, bunker or whatever else you can use as a landmark to get to that location without delay.
If you are having a difficult hole, pick up your ball. If you are at double par at the 150 yard marker, pick up your ball and head for the cart. Until you are making better contact with the ball, be less concerned about scoring and more concerned about holding up the foursome behind you. They will sing your praises for extending this courtesy and you will have a few minutes to calm your mind and relax. You can join your group on the green to be a good sport. There is no shame in picking up on a bad hole.
While golf always affords ample time to interact with your group during the round, it is not acceptable to sit in the cart and visit with your friend when there is a ball to be struck. Talk in the cart while you are driving to the ball. Talk while walking down the fairway. Talk walking off the green. Just make sure your group is moving along.
Once you near the green complex, park the golf cart on the side of the green that will lead you to the next tee in the most expeditious manner. Take a few wedges and your putter and walk back to your ball, even if it is 30 or 40 yards off the green. Write your scores down at the next tee. You will be amazed how much time this shaves off your round.
If a group wastes 5 minutes on every hole looking for balls, taking too many practice swings, standing over a putt too long or parking the cart in the wrong place, it adds up to 90 minutes added to the 4 hours and 15 minutes expected. You will not make very many short lists for future rounds with other players if you get tagged as a slow poke. Make your commitment to maintaining pace of play and you will have a group well-choreographed and many happy rounds ahead of you.