by joel melnick
A starter at a local course tells every group its their responsibility to stay with the group in front of them and complete 9 holes in a maximum 2:15 hrs. The staff then tries to ensure gaps on holes are quickly filled by encouraging players to keep up. This seems to work well.

by Bonnie
Where are you going in such a hurry? Aren't you enjoying the golf and the play with others so what does it matter. You aresuppose to be enjoying the day and the friends plus the golf so what is the hurry? Take off the watch and enjoy!!!

by Rene
Wow, it must be nice to at mostly exclusive high end courses, thanks for sharing that with us folks who can only afford municipal courses, I know I feel better!

by SS
I was at a Myrtle Beach-area course this past week and we ended up with a fivesome. Course officials were nice enough to let us go as long as we kept up with the group in front of us. They sent us off the back where no other groups were and -- despite not being pushed -- we made the turn in 1:45. When we teed off on No. 1, we were behind a foursome and waited on every hole and that nine took 45 more minutes that our first nine. Our players all picked up at double bogey (USGA handicap allowance) and our best score was 80. We followed the 5-minute hunt for wayward shots rule and played ready golf. Just goes to show that you can play 18 holes in less than 4 hours if you don't mess around -- even with a 5-some.

by David Poweska
I'm in total agreement with Cindy about people in carts not being aware at all of what they're doing. All you need to do is sit there and watch one player hit, get in the cart, drive 20 yards, watch the other one get out and hit, drive 50 more yards, and so on. Here's a clue - one player plays, the other goes to his/her ball and plays when it's time, then goes back and picks up the other player, who by this time should almost be up to where the second player is. If rangers would just educate when they see this (if any of them are actually paying attention), it'd knock off 15 to 30 minutes per round.
Other option - instead of everyone getting their own carts (as was suggested previously), how about having Segways as an option? Not for everyone, but it'd allow everyone to go to their own balls and be motorized as well.

by Alan
Amen brother Brandon! At my club on Saturday morning we routinely get around in 4:15 with four guys, some walking, some riding. It is a matter of staying focussed and being ready to play when it is your turn. I lived in the UK awhile back and loved the Brits for their insistence on expeditious golf. For them, 3:30 was the norm and they would routinely pull American four-ball groups off the course at St. Andrews. So, if Americans can learn to play faster there when they needed to, why can't they over here?
I don't buy Mike's solution simply because carts seem to slow down play in many cases. Knowledgeable walkers are usually faster than cart users because they are ready to play. It's not the distance between green and the next tee that slows the game down for cart riders, its simply being ready to play and thinking ahead. The cause of all this? Inexperience. How many times have we seen the guys who don't play often simply clutter up the fairways not remembering how to be ready to play, how to help their cart partner, etc.
As for GPS or Skycaddies, I love them, but they do slow down play. I carry a rangefinder, but only use it about three times a round because there are usually plenty of distance markers nearby. It is the 50-100 yard ranges where I need help.
Keep up the pressure on slow play! It is the golf god's work you are doing!
Alan

by Ann Kelly
You may be interested to know that many courses in the UK (upscale courses included) only allow threesomes or twosomes...or when foursomes are permitted only 2 balls may be played.
Ann Kelly author, Feeling Naked on the First Tee, and Ready, Set, Golf!

by Mike
I agree that I am not always in a hurry, especially at a nice course I have never played. I like to be able to take time to play well(you dont when rushed),get proper yardages ,and enjoy seeing the course.
Sometimes when you are in hurry there are 2 things to help. One is to have GPS on the carts or really everyone should get a Sky Caddie.
The second was an idea John Daly had in his book--especially for your own local CC--EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN RIDING CART.I know at first it sounds strange but hes right--he said if you need exercise get it somewherelse not walking the golf course. Walking a hilly course is not fun and who wants to hit an important shot rushing up to your ball out of breath. And taking time looking for 2 balls from one cart is not efficient either. Imagine how fast rounds would be with 4 guys all riding seperate!!!And playing ready golf.

by Joel Zuckerman
"I play almost exclusively at upscale, destination golf courses."
Aren't you the fancy-Dan my young friend!!!

by Eric
I totally agree about slow play being a problem on my regular, local, courses but... If I'm on vacation and paying a premium fee for a premium course - my goal isn't getting around in 3 hours. My goal is to enjoy the walk and experience the course. If that takes 4 hours then so be it. I'm in no hurry to get on and get off when I'm not trying to get back to work.

by Peter Norrie
Sadly, even Scotland isn't immune to slow play. Bottom line is the pros are to blame. Modern golfers copy what they see on TV and now demand to know the exact distance to the flag, even although the vast majority can't break 90 on the easiest of courses.
A 150 yard marker and an indication that the pin is front, middle or back is enough information for even the most accomplished golfer.

by LARRY POINTER
The groove rule is seperating pros & amatuer, why not enlarge the hole to 8"'s?
This would speed up play for amatuers.

by Geoff Scammell
Couldn't agree more. Slow play is the bain of my life and the example set by the pros gives me little hope that things in the amateur game will improve. When I play with my friends in Scotland a four ball gets round 18 holes in under 3 hours. And you do not feel rushed. The trick is simple - always be ready to play when it's your turn.

by Cindy
I agree with your article about slow play on the golf course. I don't understand how it can take some people so long to play golf. I run into the ones that talk, talk, talk and can't hit until they finish their story then there is the golfer that can't get out of the cart and walk 10 yards to his ball while his cart buddy plays his ball or the guy that has to return his club w/head cover to the bag even though he will be using that club again on the next shot... a little common sense would go a long ways. My friends and I can play 18 holes of golf, walking, in under 3 hours as a norm so when I run into the 5-6 hour rounds on a cart, it is infuriating!

by GolfBlogger
You hit a real sore spot with me. I am sure that most of the slow play is a result of people playing from the wrong tees for their ability. If from the tees you're playing you can't hit the fairway, and be at or around the 150 mark on 80% of the par 4s, you should move up.
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