how to speed up the game of golf

^{Twenty Ways to Speed up Play in Golf}

1. Be ready to hit immediately when it's your turn.
2. Line up your putt before it's your turn.
3. Determine yardage before you arrive at your ball.
4. Select your club while approaching your ball.
5. Carry a spare ball; when in doubt, play a provisional ball.
6. Limit conversation on the green.
7. After finishing a hole, don't take practice putts.
Fill in your scorecard while walking to the next tee, not on the green.
Give instruction to your friends on the driving range or the practice green, not on the course.
Leave your cart or bag off to the side of the green and toward the next tee.
If you can't find your ball within two minutes, wave the group behind you through.
Look for your ball alone. Let the rest of the group get ready to hit their shots.
On the tee, let the first player who is ready hit.
If your group gives you a "gimme," don't try to make it, anyway.
Take a maximum of eight strokes on any fairway.
Reduce or eliminate practice swings.
Putt out (on short putts) rather than marking and waiting.
Reduce or eliminate the use of cell phones.
Watch others' players drives so you can help them locate their balls.
Walk (briskly), don't ride. It's good for your health and, believe it or not, it'll speed up play.

How do you convince people to play faster on the golf course?

It’s all about them, always. Which brings us to perhaps your most promising option: appeal to their self-interest by pointing out the benefits of not being a tortoise. “The truth is most people play better when they play a little faster,” says Scott Dawley, executive director of Speedgolf USA.

How can I improve my pace of play in golf?

Here are some recognized tips for improving pace of play: Confirm your tee time in advance and make it a point to arrive at the tee early with your golf equipment in order, ready to play. Remember essentials like extra balls, tees, gloves and appropriate clothing for the day’s weather conditions.

How do you play golf on your own time?

Do your housekeeping on your own time: Start the round with tees, markers, balls and a ball-mark repair tool in your pocket. Replace headcovers while you walk. Write down scores on the next tee. Don’t make others wait. 6. Be cart smart: Drop off your partner and drive to your ball.

What can we do about slow play in golf?

Awareness and education are the keys. I'm not talking about turning golf into a track meet. Incremental improvement is the goal. I am suggesting that by making all golfers aware that slow play is a problem and educating players on practical ways to be more efficient with their time that we can all get a better golf experience.

How do you fix slow play in golf?

How to Deal with Slow PlayDon't Get Tight. While you wait, you should work toward staying loose and working on tempo. ... Ask to Play Through. Another alternative is to simply ask the group in front of you if you can play through. ... Practice Putting and Chipping. ... Play Smarter & Harder.

What is a good pace of play for golf?

Pace of play is the total amount of time it takes for each group to complete the hole. Combined over 18 holes, this is the total amount of time it takes from your first tee shot to your last putt on number 18. A general rule of thumb is to try and keep it under 4.5 hours. That equates to roughly 15 minutes per hole.

How long should it take to play one hole of golf?

Hole-by-Hole A normal golf hole will take a group of four amateur golfers around 15 minutes to complete. This equates to an 18-hole round of golf taking anywhere from 4 to 4.5 hours.

How can I mentally improve my golf game?

The best mental golf tips for your golf gameDon't be over-ambitious & focus on the step you're making. ... Work out a strategy and envision success. ... Make pre-round warm-up a habit. ... Take your pre-round warm-up for what it is. ... Start warming up by putting. ... Warming up your body as well as your mind.More items...•

What is the 40 second rule in golf?

“Under the guidelines for Rule 6-7, a player is permitted 40 seconds to play a stroke. This 40-second time limit includes the first to play from the teeing ground, from the fairway and from around and on the putting green."

What is an average golfer?

According to the USGA, the average score for recreational players is 91 on a par 72 golf course. These numbers take into account everyone who actively records their scores and reports them online, and since a lot of golfers don't do this, the average golf score for all golfers is much closer to 100.

What causes slow play in golf?

Be ready to pay when it's your turn We feel that one of the biggest causes of slow play is the golfer simply not being ready to play when it is his or her turn on tee, fairway or green, or when the course ahead is clear. Golf is not a race, so you don't have to be relentless in your pursuit of the finishing post.

What is the 10 second rule in golf?

If any part of your ball is overhanging the lip, you are allowed a reasonable time to reach the hole and then a further 10 seconds to wait and see whether it will drop. If it does, you've holed out with your previous stroke. If it doesn't, the ball is then treated as being at rest.

How far does Tiger Woods hit a 7 iron?

Club Averages His long irons (2- to 4-iron) range from 250 to 200 yards. His middle irons (5, 6, 7) range from 208 to 172 yards. His 8-iron travels 158 yards, and 9-iron flies 142.

How do I overcome golf anxiety?

5 Tips for Calming Your Nerves on the Golf CourseChew Gum. There have been a number of studies done on the effects of chewing gum on the brain. ... Take Deep Breaths. The next thing you can do to calm your nerves is to take some deep breaths. ... Visualize Success. ... Live in the Moment. ... Get Excited.

Why is golf so mentally challenging?

You cannot control your swing effectively. Your neurological system is not fast enough for the golf swing. Focusing on your swing means you are not fully connected to striking the golf ball in the necessary way and to the target. It makes you more Left Brained and less athletic.

How do you stay in a golf moment?

A good technique for staying in the present in golf, and one that is used for exactly the same purpose in meditation, is to focus on breathing. When you feel your focus drifting to the past or future, notice your breathing and focus on what you see (the ball and the target).

How to improve pace of play in golf?

Here are some recognized tips for improving pace of play: Start smart. Confirm your tee time in advance and make it a point to arrive at the tee early with your golf equipment in order, ready to play. Remember essentials like extra balls, tees, gloves and appropriate clothing for the day’s weather conditions.

How to play golf before you get off the tee?

Plan your shot before you get to your ball. Once you are off the tee, think ahead. Determine your yardage and make your club selection before it is your turn to play. Very often, you can do this while others are playing, without disruption.

How to help cartmate after hitting?

Or, drive to your ball after you drop your cartmate off and then pick him or her up after you hit. Be helpful to others in your group. Follow the flight of all tee shots, not just your own. Once in the fairway, help others look for their ball if you already know the location of yours.

How to save time on the tee?

Minimize your time on the tee. On the tee it is usually acceptable for players to “hit when ready.”. You can also save time by playing a provisional ball ( Rule 27-2 ) if you think your original ball might be lost or out of bounds. Plan your shot before you get to your ball. Once you are off the tee, think ahead.

How to play cartmate?

Don’t wait in the cart while your cartmate hits and then drive to your ball. Get out and walk to your ball with a few clubs. Be ready to play when it is your turn and then let your cartmate pick you up. Or, drive to your ball after you drop your cartmate off and then pick him or her up after you hit.

How to take glove off before hitting?

If you take your glove off between shots, have it back on before it is your turn to play. Even a small step like this saves time. Keep your pre-shot routine short. Pick your line of play once and trust yourself. Try to take no more than one practice swing, then set up to the ball and play your shot.

Why is it important to play at a better pace?

Playing at a better pace is not about hurrying up or rushing around the course. It is simply about being more efficient with your valuable time, as well as everyone else’s. Adopting this mindset – and not being afraid to share it with your fellow players – will ultimately add enjoyment to your golf experience. Here are some recognized tips for improving pace of play:

How to eliminate back and forth in golf cart?

Take multiple clubs around the greens or in the fairway, to eliminate going back and forth to the cart or making your partner wait.

Where to park golf cart?

Park the cart in a position where you can walk off the green and it’s on the way to the next tee. If you’re walking, this also applies to where you leave your golf bag and any green-side clubs used on the hole.

When your group is on the tee and the player with the honors is waiting for a group ahead?

When your group is on the tee and the player with the honors is waiting for a group ahead to clear , shorter hitters who are not a threat to hit into the group ahead shot go ahead and play , regardless of honors.

Is it okay to have a cold drink on the golf course?

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a cold one or a snack on the golf course. Be sure to allow time before your round to stock up. No offense to the beverage cart attendants, but fewer stops throughout the round for snacks or drinks will only help the pace.

Do you write scores on the green?

Don’t write down all the scores around the green, do it at the next tee box. This tip helps keep the pacing going and doesn’t slow down the group behind you.

Is golf fun?

Golf is more fun for everybody when it’s played at a good pace. Help your group and the groups around you enjoy their day on the golf course by doing your part to maintain the proper pace of play.

How to improve your pace of play?

Ten Ways to Improve Pace of Play. 1. Move promptly: Proceed quickly to your ball and be ready when it’s your turn to hit. 2. Play promptly: Take 30 seconds, maximum, to hit your shot. 3. Be quicker on the greens: Read it. Hit it.

Is anyone who plays golf faster than me a maniac?

Anybody who plays golf faster than me is a maniac. Yes, I stole that concept from the late George Carlin. And boy does it apply to pace-of-play issues we have in golf today. Nobody thinks slow play is their fault. But I'm here to tell you that everyone is guilty.

What percentage of golfers groused about slow play?

The tricky part here lies in golfer self-perception, as reflected in a recent GOLF.com anonymous poll of PGA Tour pros. In the survey, 78 percent of respondents groused about slow play, but not a single one said he was guilty of it.

What to do when your sloth like playing partner is slow?

When sloth-like playing partners shift into super-slow-mo, keep up your own breezy business. Walk briskly ahead, out of their line of fire but within their field of vision. If you’re lucky, they’ll notice and scurry to catch up. Yeah, we know. They probably won’t.

How long do you have to look for a golf ball?

You are allowed three minutes to look for a golf ball - don’t take any longer.

What is the green speed in Augusta?

Green speeds at some clubs are just daft. Some boast ‘stimps of in excess of 10-12. Augusta national greens are set at 12.5 and the Open uses 10.5. Add to that flag positions that can induce 2-3 extra putts than normal, then time is just added unnecessarily.

What to do if you are in a fourball and the group behind is a twoball?

If you are in a fourball and the group behind is a twoball, wave them through at the first available opportunity - it stands to reason that they will be faster than you.

What to do if you have a nightmare on a hole?

If you are having a nightmare on a hole, pick your ball up.

When putting, do you remove your glove?

If you are a golfer who removes his glove when putting, do so before you get to the green.

Is depth of rough bad for amateur golf?

The depth of rough is usually ridiculous for club amateurs. Firstly just going offline is just that, you lose the line to the green and that should be punishment enough. Hitting the rough will probably induce a time taking provisional when it shouldn’t be needed, the three minute search time, which is little monitored by the players and add a lost ball to the player’s misery. Clubs should also reinforce to players that anyone on ones side of the fairway sees another on the other side searching, they shouldn’t help as by the time the get over, the three minutes is almost taken up

Does leaving the flag in slow down putting?

Agree in advance (during non-COVID times) whether your group wants to leave the flag in while putting - and remember that tending the flag does slow things down. It speeds up play if all of you leave the flag in the hole.

How long should you shoot for a golf shot?

But watching too many practice swings or waggles can be tedious. Michael Breed on The Golf Fix says a good goal to shoot for is 45 seconds from the time you arrive at your ball to the shot.

How many seconds does the USGA recommend?

The USGA suggests a pretty aggressive 20 seconds, but that's certainly not something they enforce in the tournaments they run. 13. You're playing stroke play every round. This is a tricky subject because for handicap purposes, the USGA wants you to hole out everything in every round in order to report a score.

What is chit chat in golf?

Chit-chat on the tee too often gets in the way of "ready golf.". This dynamic is in large part a result of golf carts. The tee boxes are the best time you chat with the players in the other cart. Try and save the storytelling for the 19th hole or when you have a wait yourself.

What does it mean when you play more?

The simple fact of the matter is that the more you play, the more mindful you'll be of pace of play. Also, the more you play, the better you'll become and the fewer shots you'll hit.

How long does it take to find a ball in golf?

The proposed "modernization" of the USGA and R&A rules bring the maximum time allowed to find a ball be reduced from five to three minutes. That might make sense in a tournament, when there is a lot on the line, swings are faulty less often and holes are properly staked and spotters are in abundance.

Why do you hole out every round in the USGA?

This is a tricky subject because for handicap purposes , the USGA wants you to hole out everything in every round in order to report a score. That is in direct opposition to the R&A, which only counts competition rounds. (A recent announcement by the governing bodies was made that announced the creation of a " world handicap system " that will level the playing field).

Why do Scots play faster?

Want to know why the Scots play faster? A lot of them are in golf clubs with weekly games. So pace of play has become a habit. The simple fact of the matter is that the more you play, the more mindful you'll be of pace of play. Also, the more you play, the better you'll become and the fewer shots you'll hit.

How to get faster scores in golf?

Pick up a scorecard. Look up course handicaps if you’re having a match. Tee it forward. Lower scores usually mean faster rounds!

How to play golf with a friend?

If you’re riding in a cart, take your shot and jump back in without putzing around at your golf bag. You can clean and replace your club while your friend is playing. Another option: Encourage your friend to go to her ball to play. You can walk to the cart when you’ve finished.

What does "play ready" mean in golf?

PLAY READY GOLF. Many players don’t realize that “play ready golf” means to step up to the tee when you are ready and other players are still fiddling around. It also means that when you arrive at your ball, you should prepare for your shot and be ready to hit it when no one else is, no matter who’s away.

How many hours to beat a 40 minute pace?

You’re already keeping a scorecard. Check the clock every three holes and agree to try to beat a 40-minute pace (four hours for 18). When everyone is calling out scores, call out the times, especially at the turn.

What to say to friends to make round move faster?

You can tell your friends, “Hey, I just learned this great new tip that’s going to make our round move along a little faster. What do you say we give it a try today ?”

Where to time your golf club?

Next time you play with good friends, suggest that you time each other — at the tee, in the fairway, on the green. Start the clock when you take your club out of your bag.

Can you walk to the cart in golf?

You can walk to the cart when you’ve finished. If it is cart-path-only (an estimated 30-minute drag on pace of play), always take three clubs with you to your ball. If you chunk a shot (yes, you), just walk to the ball and play the next one without walking back to the cart to get a different club.