Writing about slow play may seem like a boring subject, but slow play itself is much more boring, if you are unfortunate enough to be a victim. There is an assumption among many golfers of a certain age (and I’m one of them), that common good manners should be enough incentive to avoid selfishly ruining the enjoyment of others on the golf course, but unfortunately in today’s western society, good manners are no longer common. So now it’s up to the professional golfers who teach newcomers how to play the game, to also teach them the basic rules and etiquette of the game of golf.
In the meantime, try following this simple guide on how to avoid unduly slow play, thus increasing not only your own enjoyment, but that of those sharing the golf course with you.
- Be ready to play your shot as soon as it’s your turn to play.
- Ensure that your buggy or golf trolley is left to the correct side of the green to proceed to the next tee.
- Don’t wait on the green to mark your score card.
- Hit a provisional ball if feel your ball may be lost.
- Take several clubs with you when
walking from the buggy path to your ball on the fairway.
- Keep up with the match in front, not in front of the match behind.
- If you lose a hole to the match in front, call through those waiting behind.
These simple guidelines should enable an average fourball to complete a round in well under four-and-a-half hours, without undue haste. In fact, you should even have time to rake bunkers, replace fairway divots and repair pitch marks on the greens.
Enjoy your golf by helping others to enjoy theirs!
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