By Fred Altvater
Slow play is a problem that has plagued golfers, since men first began hitting rocks around a sheep pasture in Scotland. Some people just don’t get it and dilly dally about the course, never considering the grief they are creating for the golfers behind them.
Some courses have a, 3-hour-40-minute Rule and they stick to it. If you are not on time during the round, the ranger will let you know about it. These are private courses, however, and the membership all agree to speedy play. Most public golf courses would be ecstatic with a, 4-hour-30-minute Rule.
Don’t even get me started on 6-hour outings. They tend to attract golfers that want to support the charity, but play once a year and do not understand that it is considerate to pick up after your eighth shot.
I get it, we were all beginners at one time or another, but even beginners must learn to pick up the pace or just pick up their ball, when the course is crowded.
The following are a few tips to keep play moving the next time you visit the golf course.
Ready Golf:
Don’t wait for who’s away, if you are ready, hit away. Also, first one to the next tee has the honor, don’t wait, Grip IT and Rip IT!
Playing Through:
If you are playing so slow you need to let a faster group behind you play through, you will probably encounter the same problem, when the next group catches up to you.
The solution: figure out a way to play faster.
Change the Format:
–Shambles is an excellent option that allows everyone to hit their driver, but place their second shot at the group’s best tee shot. This saves a lot of time especially if some of your group struggles off the tee.
–Scramble allows everyone to play from the best shot every time. It is the normal format for large outings to keep things moving.
–Best Ball and Alternate shot can be fun and help keep the round moving.
-Before the first shot is hit, decide the maximum number of strokes allowed on each hole. e.g. double bogey, double par, etc. Once the maximum is reached simply pick up and move on.
Technology:
Tagmarshal has developed software to help courses manage slow play. Every group is given a tag or GPS locator, on the first tee. The course management team can easily track each group’s progression around the course. (https://tagmarshal.com/)
Problems areas can be identified and managed individually.
New Rules:
The USGA will roll out their new modernized Rules of Golf in January and several of them address the issue of speeding up play.
For more information about the rules changes for 2019 visit: http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/text/golf-s-modernized-rules-released.html.
Common Sense:
-Don’t mark scores on the green. Move to the next tee box and complete the scorecard while the other players are teeing off.
-Don’t park the cart or lay your bags in the front of the green. Most greens have an entry toward the back or side of the green. While the last player is chipping on, or sizing up their putt, get the equipment and the cart to the back of the green for easy exit to the next tee.
-Don’t spend an inordinate amount of time looking for lost balls and always play a provisional. If the cost of losing balls is a concern for you, don’t buy ProV1’s, there are many much less expensive brands available for sacrifice to the Golf Gods.
-Don’t look away. If you hit a wayward shot don’t turn away in disgust, watch it and mark it for easy location. Also, be a good citizen, watch the shots of your playing partners and help them quickly locate balls.
-Save time on the green by beginning to analyze your upcoming putt as you walk up to the green. Don’t take too long sizing up each putt.
As Paula Creamer said in the USGA commercial, “While we’re Young!”
Final Word
The final word on slow play is just keep moving.
While each one of these items is not a huge time saver, shaving 30-60 seconds off per hole is very possible, and that relates to 18 minutes per 18-hole round!
The biggest issue is your place on the course in relationship to the group ahead of you. If that is maintained, then you should be good.
Everyone was a beginner once, so most golfers understand the trials of a new player. Just do the best you can and don’t worry about score, if you have just taken up the game.
Have Fun out there, Miss’em Quick!
This article is taken from the March 20, 2018 Back 9 Report. You can hear the complete broadcast at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/back9report/2018/03/21/the-back-9-report.
