Cart driving/riding observations:
• One of the most frequent group practices that adds to slow play is when someone hits a ball into tall grass, trees, etc., and the entire foursome goes looking for the ball. If one of the other players got a good look at the shot, fine, help the player look for his ball. The other two should proceed to their balls and hit.
• Don’t drive to a ball and wait for one cart occupant to hit his shot – drive to your ball and be prepared to hit. The first player can then begin to walk toward the cart. Both players should hold onto their clubs and drive off. Clean your club and return it to the bag when you get to your next shot. Consider not putting on and taking off your headcovers all the time. Put your driver in a part of the bag where it isn’t going to bump against other clubs and it’ll be fine.
• When you get to shots within 40 or 50 yds of the green, the closest player should take his putter and a few wedges, exit the cart and walk toward the green, the player further out should hit and take the cart to the green
• When you leave the cart for the green, if you have a shot from off the green, take your putter as well as several wedges so that you are ready for whatever lie you end up finding.
• When you drive your cart to the green, park behind the green If when you leave the green to a cart parked in front or on the side, you may prevent the group behind from hitting immediately as you go to your cart.
• You help speed up the following group hitting to the green if you wait until the cart gets to the next tee box to record scores. If you’re the scorekeeper, let the others tee off as you mark the card regardless of honors.
On the tee observations:
• If one player has already used a laser rangefinder to get the distance to the pin on a par 3, is it really necessary to use your own GPS or rangefinder to double check the distance if it delays you teeing off?
• Once the group gets to the tee box hold off on all conversations until all have finished teeing off.
• Pay attention to where wayward drives may go – your own and others
On the green observations:
• As you walk to the green, begin assessing the breaks and distance and while others are putting, make your decisions so you putt as soon as it’s your turn.
• If you must, plumb bob before it’s your turn to putt
• On the green don’t wait for the slow player to putt in order if he isn’t ready. Go ahead and hit your putt.
Regarding Dan’s comment about being aware of your position on the course. Many Scottish golf courses have a sign posted near the first tee – “Your position on the golf course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you!”
I applaud Dan and Jim for their emails. Like Dan, I am the usual arranger for our group of golfers in AZ. Without anyone impeding us, we play in 3:20, but we’re always complaining about the pace of play. We have compiled a number of observations about behaviors that cause slow play. I’ll separate them so this comment doesn’t get too long.
Cart driving/riding observations:
• One of the most frequent group practices that adds to slow play is when someone hits a ball into tall grass, trees, etc., and the entire foursome goes looking for the ball. If one of the other players got a good look at the shot, fine, help the player look for his ball. The other two should proceed to their balls and hit.
• Don’t drive to a ball and wait for one cart occupant to hit his shot – drive to your ball and be prepared to hit. The first player can then begin to walk toward the cart. Both players should hold onto their clubs and drive off. Clean your club and return it to the bag when you get to your next shot. Consider not putting on and taking off your headcovers all the time. Put your driver in a part of the bag where it isn’t going to bump against other clubs and it’ll be fine.
• When you get to shots within 40 or 50 yds of the green, the closest player should take his putter and a few wedges, exit the cart and walk toward the green, the player further out should hit and take the cart to the green
• When you leave the cart for the green, if you have a shot from off the green, take your putter as well as several wedges so that you are ready for whatever lie you end up finding.
• When you drive your cart to the green, park behind the green If when you leave the green to a cart parked in front or on the side, you may prevent the group behind from hitting immediately as you go to your cart.
• You help speed up the following group hitting to the green if you wait until the cart gets to the next tee box to record scores. If you’re the scorekeeper, let the others tee off as you mark the card regardless of honors.
On the tee observations:
• If one player has already used a laser rangefinder to get the distance to the pin on a par 3, is it really necessary to use your own GPS or rangefinder to double check the distance if it delays you teeing off?
• Once the group gets to the tee box hold off on all conversations until all have finished teeing off.
• Pay attention to where wayward drives may go – your own and others
On the green observations:
• As you walk to the green, begin assessing the breaks and distance and while others are putting, make your decisions so you putt as soon as it’s your turn.
• If you must, plumb bob before it’s your turn to putt
• On the green don’t wait for the slow player to putt in order if he isn’t ready. Go ahead and hit your putt.
Regarding Dan’s comment about being aware of your position on the course. Many Scottish golf courses have a sign posted near the first tee – “Your position on the golf course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you!”
I applaud Dan and Jim for their emails. Like Dan, I am the usual arranger for our group of golfers in AZ. Without anyone impeding us, we play in 3:20, but we’re always complaining about the pace of play. We have compiled a number of observations about behaviors that cause slow play. I’ll separate them so this comment doesn’t get too long.
I’ll probably get some abuse anyway.
A lot of time spent looking for lost balls. We should emphasize hitting a provisional when the ball looks like it might be lost.
Regarding my email on Pace of Play, add your comments and experiences regarding this subject! Comments should be respectful to our members.
After reviewing the email, I think I left out that in many cases preshot routines can be completed while others are completing their shot!