There’s absolutely nothing more annoying in the game of golf than slow play. Not even close.
We all love golf, but let’s be honest, playing five and half hour rounds just isn’t something that any of us want to do. And from leisurely rounds at local country clubs to the PGA Tour, slow play has become a major issue. So much so that tournament officials have actually had to penalize players who simply can’t keep up the pace.
Although none of us have to worry about taking a two-shot penalty for taking too long to hit a shot, we still have to be aware of how our play is affecting other people on the golf course. Use some of the tips below to speed up your rounds (without making your playing partners too angry).
Tee off when you’re ready – Unless you’re in a sanctioned competition, don’t worry about honors. You can ask your playing partners if it’s okay but there’s nothing wrong with simply teeing off when ready.
Hit provisionals – For your sake and the sake of the group, always hit a provisional if you think you might not find your ball. There’s absolutely nothing that will stall a round of play more than someone having to go all the way back to the tee because their first ball is no where to be found. There’s no penalty for doing it and it can save an enormous amount of time.
Don’t look for golf balls – We’ve all seen it before. The guy playing in front of you with the 12-foot ball retriever trying to fish his Titleist ProV1 out of a pond. Don’t be that guy. If you hit your ball in the water, walk up and take a look for it. If it’s not in reach or you can’t even see it, drop a ball and keep playing. You’re out there to play golf, not search for balls.
Leave the green after you hole out – If you’re the first one to hole out on the green, go grab the pin and hold it until the last man has finished. If you’re the second or the third person to hole out, start walking to the next tee box. There’s no rule that says you have to watch everyone putt. If there’s no one behind you then feel free to watch but if there is, don’t waste anytime lingering around.
Play the Appropriate Set of Tees – You wouldn’t go down a double black diamond if you weren’t a good skier, would you? There are different sets of tees for a reason. Just because there’s a set at 7,200 yards doesn’t mean you have to play them. If you drive the ball 230 – 250 yards, play courses that are 6300 – 6700 yards in length. If you drive it farther, you can move back a bit. Ask the local pro which tees are the most appropriate to play for your skill level. In addition to your round moving a little quicker, your day will be much more enjoyable.
Don’t wait to start your pre-shot routine – It’s okay to have a pre-shot routine but you don’t have to wait until everyone hits to start it. If your playing partner is in the fairway and he’s up first, start going through your motions so that after he hits you’re ready to step up to your ball and hit it. Obviously, if you’re in his field of view or your ball is right ahead of him you can’t do this, but if you’re ball is off to the right or left, you can.