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Suggestions for
improving pace of play:
Nobody thinks slow play is their fault. But everyone is guilty.
Awareness and education are the keys. I'm not talking about turning
golf into a track meet. Incremental improvement is the goal. I am
suggesting that by making all golfers aware that slow play is a problem
and educating players on practical ways to be more efficient with their
time that we can all get a better golf experience.
Ten Ways to Improve Pace of Play
1. Move promptly: Proceed quickly to your ball and be ready when it’s
your turn to hit.
2. Play promptly: Take 30 seconds, maximum, to hit your shot.
3. Be quicker on the greens: Read it. Hit it. Tap it in. Go to the next
tee.
4. Treat the rules with discretion: Take no more than 3 minutes to look
for balls and take relief.
5. Do your housekeeping on your own time: Start the round with tees,
markers, balls and a ball-mark repair tool in your pocket. Replace
headcovers while you walk. Write down scores on the next tee. Don’t
make others wait.
6. Be cart smart: Drop off your partner and drive to your ball. When
you leave the cart, take three clubs, not one. Park behind greens.
7. Be a good teammate: Know your playing partners' strengths and
weaknesses; help them when it’s convenient, move on when it’s not.
8. Avoid "1-club" bag swaps - Always pull a club while replacing
another. For example, keep your putter in your hands for the cart ride
to the next tee after you hole out, then place it in your bag as you
take out your driver. [Then keep your driver in hand until you pull
your approach club.] The minutes you save by limiting club swaps will
add up quickly.
9. Kick honors to the curb - Play "ready" golf. If you're ready to hit
either from the tee box or fairway, then hit, even if it's not your
turn. Get your foursome on board so that no one will be offended or
fail to follow suit. Ready golf sends your rounds into warp speed and
has little effect on a match, since honors even out over time.
10. Accept responsibility: Recognize that slow play isn’t just the
other guy’s fault.
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