Use common sense to improve pace of play as much as possible by following the following practices:
Slow play on the golf course can be a habit that a golfer acquires over time. It may also be the result of the golfer never having learned proper golf etiquette. This means a slow golfer can usually attain better pace of play habits. Of course, that golfer has to be aware that he is slow.
But as we look at other golfers on the course and notice the things they do to slow down play, so should we take a look at ourselves. When we do take an honest look at ourselves, we often discover that we are doing some of the same things to slow down play that we are complaining about others doing.
The following suggestions for speeding up play have nothing to do with rushing your play, but rather with simply being ready to play, and with using common sense and good etiquette on the course.
All players should play at a pace that will not slow the group behind them.
Your group should keep up with the group in front of you, which is different than keeping ahead of the group behind you.
Use continuous putting as much as possible.
This means you finish putting once you have started unless you will be standing on another players golf ball or on their putting line.
You have not finished putting until the ball is in the cup.
Choose your club, take practice swings and line up your shot or putt while others are hitting or putting.
If you are across the fairway or chipping and are not in another golfer's line, hit the ball. There is no need to wait excessively.
Short ball hitters should hit first off the tee box and fairway whenever practical to do so.
Each member of a group should proceed directly to his or her ball.
The group should not travel as a pack, going to first to one ball, then the next, and so on.
While walking (or riding) to your ball, use the travel time to begin thinking over your next shot - the yardage, which club you'll use, and so on.
Begin preparing before you get to your ball.
If sharing a cart, don't drive to the first ball, wait for the first player to hit, then head to the second ball.
Drop the first player off at his ball, drive on ahead to the second ball.
The first player should walk over to the cart as the second player is playing his shot.
Carry a few extra tees, ball markers and a spare ball in your pockets so you don't have to return to your golf bag to retrieve them, should you find yourself in need of one.
When you think your shot might have landed out of bounds or be lost, immediately hit a provisional ball.
Don't walk ahead to search, only to have to return to the original spot to replay a shot.
If you lose your ball in the weeds or water, do not spend much time looking for it.
Drop another ball, take the prescribed penalty, and hit your next shot.
Limit your search for lost balls to no more than a minute.
We need to keep the game social, however talking should not interfere with your readiness to hit the ball.
Never hold up play because you're in the middle of a conversation.
Put the conversation on hold, take your stroke, then continue the conversation.
On the green, begin lining up your putt and reading the break as soon as you reach the green.
When it's your turn to putt, be prepared to step right up and take the stroke.
Leave your bags or golf carts to the side of the green, and in the direction of the next tee, never in front of the green.
Do not place your golf bag, push cart, or driving cart in front of the green while putting.
Place it behind the green on the way to the next tee box.
Clear the green before recording scores.
Never stand on or next to the green after holing out in order to write down your score.
Write it down when you reach the next tee.
Play ready golf from tee to green. If you are "out" (your ball is farthest from the hole) be ready to hit as soon as the previous player has hit.
Once everybody is on the green, the person farthest from the hole should start the putting.
If the "out" person is not ready, the next person should start putting. After putting has started, items 2 and 13 above apply.
If you are the type who likes to offer tips to playing partners, save it for the driving range - or only do so on the course when you are sure that you are not slowing down play (and sure that you are not annoying your partners).
Never take a non-emergency cell phone call when playing.
