Pace of Play
Pace of play is one of the most important elements in having a great experience at the golf course. It is one thing that is mentioned often in our surveys about things that could be improved in the BWGA experience. Our goal is to play rounds in four and a half hours or less. Our tournament rounds should be viewed a little differently than your social rounds. It is often a combination of little things that contribute to slow play and on-course traffic jams. Remember: pace of play is not about rushing, it is about being ready to play your shot promptly when it is your turn, and navigating efficiently around the course.
Your group’s pace of play is keeping up with the group in front. If when you reach the tee box and there is a group near or on the green you are IN POSITION. If there is not a group on the hole you are OUT OF POSITION AND SHOULD SPEED UP YOUR GROUP’S PACE OF PLAY USING READY GOLF TECHNIQUES, ETC. UNTIL YOU ARE IN POSITION. Do not use the line of thinking often heard said “Well there is no one pushing us”. That is not the standard that will meet the time goal mentioned above.
The following are techniques that have proven to improve pace of play and EXPECTED TO BE USED BY ALL OUR PLAYERS ALL OF THE TIME:
Always have an extra ball, tees, ball marker, and green repair tool in pocket.
The player with honors should be ready to tee off first but play ready golf if needed. It is not a breach of etiquette.
When leaving the tee all players should go promptly to their ball. This means the cart will go to the closest ball first and drop off that player with his choice of club. Then the other player will immediately proceed to her ball and get ready to play when it is her turn, being careful to stay clear of players hitting their shots. The first player can then walk ahead to the cart after playing her shot. We should not have a player waiting in the cart at another player’s ball when their turn is forthcoming. Many times a player can get out of the cart, select their club, and walk over to their ball in order to be ready when it is their turn to play. This style of play should be used continuously throughout the round.
Develop the technique of focusing on your ball’s flight line to completion and marking its line with background points; such as trees, bushes, posts, etc. Mental focus… where did it go? It is helpful for everyone in the group to watch out for each other.
Play should continue even if one player has a lost ball. Players should most often take their shot and then help find a lost ball.
Limit the time looking for lost balls consistent with maintaining pace, and no more the USGA rule of 3 minutes.
On cart path only days always take at least 3 clubs to the ball to insure having the correct one. Save the time to walk back to get another club.
Begin assessing the next shot on the way to the ball and while others are taking their turns. This applies both on the fairway and green.
Never hold up play to carry on conversations. Talk while riding and walking
Avoid talking on the phone and texting during the round. This can delay your turn and be disruptive to others in your group. Put your phone in silent mode.
Develop the technique of minimizing trips to the bag by waiting to put clubs back in bag until selecting a club for the next shot. The clubs will not mind and everyone else will appreciate the time saved.
When approaching the green, players can often take a putter and pitching wedge and walk short distances. Just make sure someone drives the cart to the green.
When arriving at the green the cart should be parked on the side of the green nearest the next tee to facilitate clearing the green area promptly.
Pace of play is improved when players finish putting out short putts.
After the group has putted out it is important to clear the greens area immediately. This means no practice putting. It also means drive to the next tee before returning clubs to the bag and marking the scorecard.
As you have read through these tips, we are sure you have concluded that most of them save only little bits of time. That is the key for having good pace of play. Those little bits of time by each player add up to more significant chunks of group time. A slow group impacts all the groups behind them.
Let’s all incorporate these tips into our style of play and increase our enjoyment of golf and each other’s company.
Thank you in advance for your emphasis on pace of play!