Slow play can be a huge source of contention among club golfers, with players who take an eternity to play a round ranked as one of the most annoying issues for players. Those who like to play at a faster tempo can very quickly get frustrated and agitated when they’re forced to spend half their round waiting to play. Slow play is a serious issue for clubs, and is something that regularly needs to be addressed.
Here are some tips to help both slow players and faster ones deal with the problem of slow play.
Play ready golf
‘Ready golf’ is an acceptable way of playing nowadays – meaning it is now okay to hit your shot before anyone else in your group if you reach your ball first (although keep in mind that it is not acceptable in a tournament situation). Traditionally, whichever player was farthest from the hole should play first, according to the Rules of Golf. These days, clubs are free to adopt a ready golf philosophy, and can encourage members to play their ball if they are ready to play and it’s safe to do so.
Examples of ready golf include:
- No honour – the first player ready plays
- Players should play their own ball before helping to look for a lost ball
- When not playing your shot, you should be preparing to play your shot
- Putting out even if that means standing close to another golfer’s line
- Players closer to the hole playing while another player goes to look for a ball that has gone over the back of a green
- Marking scores upon arrival at the next tee, apart from the first player, who marks their scores once they have teed off
Ready golf has been shown to be quite successful in improving pace of play, with a recent survey conducted within Australian golf clubs revealing that 94% of clubs who encouraged ready golf amongst their members experienced success in improving the pace of play to varying degrees.
Of course, you should only play ready golf when it is safe to do so, and when you are not going to endanger other players by doing so.
If you’re a slow player
If you’re a beginner or just the type of player who likes to take their time, be aware that you may be causing frustration for more experienced golfers. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be welcomed to play at your local course; just that you should be aware of how your play may be affecting others. Here are some strategies you can try to help you play a little quicker.
- Make sure you get to the course earlier than you need to, and allow plenty of time to warm up. Warm up all the shots you are likely to play so that you are ready to play them with minimal fuss. Be ready to start right on your tee time – in fact, it’s better to reach the first tee five minutes before you are due to start, so you can get yourself completely ready before tee-off time.
- Consider playing a round of 9-hole golf if you’re very new to the game and likely to play very slowly. This will allow you to practice your strokes and technique without needing to be on the course for too long.
- Always let faster players play through. Be aware of what’s happening around you, and of the requirements of good golf etiquette – and realise that your behaviour on the course has the potential to affect others. If the group of players behind you is catching up quickly, do the polite thing and let them play through. It will save a lot of angst and allow play to keep moving.
- Know the rules of the game. Play can be significantly slowed by discussions about what is correct in certain situations, and even though you can’t be expected to know all the obscure rules of golf, it will certainly speed up play if you’re familiar with the main ones. Carry a golf rule book around with you so that you can quickly find an answer to less common problems or situations.
- Always watch the ball until it lands. That way, you won’t have to spend as much time looking for it later. Watch every ball in your group this way, and note landmarks near where each one lands. Your group will play much quicker if every eye is tracking every ball.
- Help each other out. Offer to rake the bunker for a player while they play their next shot.
- Park your golf buggy appropriately – usually on the side of the green closest to the next tee when you’re on or near the green. You can have a look at Parmaker’s great range of golf buggies here.
- Read the greens while your partners are playing their shots, and be ready to putt as soon as it is your turn.
All this is not to say that you need to play every round of golf at breakneck speed. Just be aware of others around you and implement some of these strategies to improve your pace of play.
If you’re a faster player
- If the group in front of you is not letting you play through, politely ask them if they would mind if your group does so. Give them the benefit of the doubt – they may be new players who don’t understand correct golf etiquette, and might be perfectly willing to let you play through once it’s explained. If they unreasonably refuse your request, let the clubhouse know about the problem, as it’s in their interests to make sure their customers are happy. They should be able to ask the group to let you play through, or at the very least to pick up their pace.
- Choose your tee times where possible at times that are not likely to be too busy.
- If all else fails and you’re stuck on the course for hours, look at it this way – there are worse ways to spend your time than out in the fresh air with a group of friends! There’s nothing that makes time go slower than watching every second of play from the group in front of you and counting down the agonizing amount of time they take! Instead, take the opportunity for a chat with your playing partners in the down times, and use the chance to really connect with others in a way you may not usually have time to do. The time will pass quicker than you know.
- Also consider using your down time as a mini practice session, and use the time to focus on things that are giving you problems. Chip or putt a few balls, or try hitting a few practice shots out of the rough. Do some slow, easy practice swings to keep your body loose and your muscles warm.
- Use the time to focus your thoughts or to analyse your round so far. Have you noticed any patterns, or particular mistakes you are repeatedly making? Think about how you might fix the problem; or if you’re playing well, think about exactly what you are doing to ensure your good swings, so that you can repeat it.
- Use the last green. If you can see that the people ahead are still busy at the tee, stick around on the green you’ve just finished and play a few practice putts while you wait (as long as there’s no one pressing up behind you either).
- If slow play is a regular problem, see if your club can help. They might be able to put out information to new players explaining etiquette rules expected at the club (such as allowing faster players to play through) or host a rules meeting to ensure newer players are up to speed on the basic rules and expectations.
