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Tips to avoid slow play!
Golf
is a sport that is meant to be played at an enjoyable
yet steady pace.
People often wonder why play is so slow. There is a
rather simple theory. Play is slow simply because the
average player doesn't mind a 4- or 5-hour round.
The secret to faster play is really simple. It is
nothing more than this:
Be Ready To Hit.
Don't watch your
partner when you should be getting to your ball,
choosing your club and getting mentally ready for the
shot.
Hit
it, walk or ride to your ball, and hit it again.
It is perfectly possible to complete a four ball round
in three and three quarter hours. Slow play usually
results from failure to clear the green promptly or from
being unprepared to play your shot immediately it is
your turn. Your co-operation in eradicating this malaise
will be greatly appreciated.
If every person could play each hole just 20 seconds
quicker, then we could probably save half an hour in
time, meaning everyone gets home that little bit earlier.
Learn
and comply with the rules and etiquette of golf.
It is essential that everyone plays quickly, without
delay and
picks their ball up
when they can no longer score any Stableford points on a
hole.
Know how many shots you have taken at all times, don't
finish the hole then add up your strokes. This is the
easiest and simplest way to speed things up.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority
on the course is determined by a group's pace of play.
Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a
group playing a shorter round.
The
newly revised R&A rule book has been written for the
modern golfer and has a prominent section on etiquette
and how to improve the pace of play. If we can increase
the speed of play then we can increase the pleasure of
the game for everyone.
Remember your place on the golf course is directly
behind the group in front of you. Not directly in front
of the group behind you.
The bottom line is: use a little common sense on the
course. You can play in a reasonable amount of time and
still have the social interaction or business meeting
you desire. |
