Slow play on the golf course is usually a habit that a golfer acquires over time, as he or she acquires bad habits. Or it's the result of the golfer never having been taught proper golf etiquette. This means a slow golfer can usually be "cured" of his malady. Of course, that golfer has to be aware that he's slow, and that's where buddies come into play.
But as we often take a look at other golfers on the course and notice the things they do to slow down play, so should we take a look at ourselves. When we do take an honest look at ourselves, we often discover we're doing some of the same things to slow down play that we're complaining about others doing.
Before we run down a list of suggestions for speeding up play, it's important to note that many of these tips have nothing to do with rushing your play, but rather with simply being ready to play, and with using common sense and good etiquette on the course.
The bottom line is, as soon as it's your turn to play, you should be ready to step up and make the stroke.
'Ready Golf' Is a Ready Answer for Slow Play
One catch-all way to speed up play to is to play "ready golf."
Traditionally, golfers have always based order of play on the concept of "away" or "out," terms that refer to the golfer whose ball is farthest from the hole. That golfer — the one who is away — is supposed to play first, followed by the next-farthest away and so on. That has always been a matter of etiquette (and, in match play, a matter of rules).
"Ready golf" means that each golfer in a group plays when ready. If you are not the one who is out or away, but you are ready to play your stroke while the others in your group are not, go ahead and play.
Not only is ready golf now allowed in the rules in stroke play, but the governing bodies of the sport (the R&A and USGA) encourage it.
20 Tips for Speeding Up Play on the Golf Course
On the tee, pay attention to your fellow-competitors' drives. If they lose sight of their ball, you can help direct them to it and avoid any searching.
When waiting on the tee for the group in front to clear the fairway, don't be so strict about order of play. Let the short hitter — who can't reach the group ahead anyway — go ahead and play.
Work on building a concise pre-shot routine. If your pre-shot routine is a lengthy one, it's probably in your best interests to shorten it anyway. Limit practice strokes to one or two at the most.
Walk at a good pace between shots. No, you don't have to look like a race-walker. But if your between-shot gait can be described as a "shuffle" or an "amble," you're probably going too slow. Speeding up your gait a little is good for your health, but also might help your game by keeping you loose.
Carry extra tees, ball markers and an extra golf ball in your pockets so you never have to return to your golf bag to find one when needed.
Members of a group should not travel as a pack, with all members walking together to the first ball, then the second, and so on. Each member of the group should walk directly to his own ball.
Use the time you spend getting to your ball to think about the next shot — the yardage, the club selection. When you reach your ball you'll need less time to figure out the shot.
Never delay making a stroke because you're having a conversation with a playing partner. Put the conversation on hold, make your stroke, then pick up the conversation again.
Don't ask your playing partners to help you search for a lost ball, unless you are absolutely certain there is time for them to do so (e.g., there is no group behind waiting). If the course is crowded, your partners should continue moving forward, not slow things down further by stopping to help your search.
If you are unsure whether your ball has come to rest out of bounds, or may be lost, immediately hit a provisional ball so that you won't have to return to the spot to replay the shot. If you are playing a recreational match with, shall we say, a "loose interpretation" of the rules, then simply drop a new ball somewhere around the area where your ball was lost and keep playing (taking a 2 shot penalty, of course).
If you are searching for a golf ball and are willing to spend up the maximum three minutes the rules allow looking for it, allow the group behind to play through. If you are playing a recreational match and not playing to strict rules, you should never spend more than a minute looking for a lost ball - forget it and drop a new ball (with 2 shot penalty).
Begin reading the green and lining up putts as soon as you approach the green. Don't wait until it's your turn to putt to start the process of reading the green. Do it as soon as you reach the green so that when it is your turn you can step right up and putt.
When your group reaches the putting green, consider leaving the flagstick in and putting that way. That is now allowed under the Rules of Golf, and it saves a little time by not requiring that golfers deal with removing the flagstick, placing it off to the side, then retrieving it and putting it back.
Never leave your bag or trolley in front of the green. Leave it only to the side or behind the green in the general direction of the next Tee. This opens up the green for the group behind.
After putting out, don't stand around the green chatting or take any practice putting strokes. Leave the green quickly so the group behind can play.
When leaving the green and returning to your bag, don't stand there fussing with your putter or other clubs. Walk smartly to the next tee, and then put away your putter.
Don't mark your scorecard on, or next to, the just-completed green. Always mark your scorecard after reaching the next tee. Mark your scorecard while others in the group are driving off. If you are first to drive off, mark your card after playing your tee shot.
Don't bother marking lag putts — go ahead and putt out if it's short enough and you won't be trampling on another player's line.
When chipping around the green, carry both the club you'll be chipping with plus your putter so you don't have to return to the bag.
If you're the type who likes to offer golf tips to playing partners, save it for the driving range — or only do so on the course when you're sure that you're not slowing down play (and sure that you're not annoying your partners!).
These are all simple tips that can help your golf group move around the course at a better pace.
