Stop Slow Play

Slow Play: Are you Guilty?

By: Bruce Munch

Head Professional, White River Golf Club, Rochester, VT.

When was the last time you had an enjoyable 5 1/2-hour round of golf? Probably never! Slow play ruins your tempo, eats up the whole day and takes away the enjoyable feeling that a round of golf is intended to provide. It is definitely the leading problem in the game today and the truth of the matter is that slow play is avoidable.

Women do not cause slow play and neither do beginners. Inconsiderate, unaware and uninformed players of both genders and all abilities cause slow play. Here are some things you can do:

Before you tee off, look at the scorecard with special attention to the length of the par 3 holes. Select a tee box, which will allow you to hit comfortable irons into the green. Remember that there are no gender tee boxes. There are only forward tees, middle tees, back tees and sometimes championship tees. Well-designed golf holes provide generous landing areas for tee shots hit from appropriate tee boxes by players of appropriate skill. Playing from the back tees may not allow you to reach this landing area which will require more precise tee shots and lead to higher scores. You are out there to have fun, put the Testosterone away and play the correct tee box for your ability. Try playing your favorite course from the forward tees. You might enjoy it.

When you tee off on the first hole, be aware of the group ahead of you. It is your job to make sure you maintain contact with that group. If someone in the group is causing slow play, talk to them. Slow play reflects on everyone in the group so speak up.

Play ready golf! Even though protocol dictates that the player who is away plays next, if they are not ready and you are, fire away. Everyone should have a pre shot routine for more consistent play but this should not lead to slow play. Begin your routine of target and club selection while your playing companions are hitting. This way, when it is your turn to hit, you will be ready.

Don't punish yourself! If you are having a bad hole, pick up and go up to the green, hit a chip shot and putt. In this way you will have gained a positive experience from a bad hole. Remember that you must adjust your card before you submit the score for handicap so know your maximum allowable score for each hole and when you have reached it, move on.

Whether riding or walking, leave your bag or cart at a point where you will leave for the next tee. Backtracking wastes time and energy. When you have finished putting out, walk quickly to your cart, and get in with your clubs. You have to go to the bag on the next tee for a club, so put your putter away at that time and please, wait till you reach the next tee to record your scores. The faster you clear the green, the sooner the next group can hit their approach shots.

If you are in doubt as to the yardage of your next shot, take a few clubs with you to your ball. Nothing slows up play more than having to go back to the cart to change clubs, especially on cart path only days. Keep a second ball in your pocket so if you hit a bad shot and have to hit a provisional ball you will not have to go back to your bag or the cart to do so.

Play smart! Waiting for the green to clear on a par five because once in your life you actually hit your three wood that far, is probably not a good idea and the chance of hitting that great shot after a long wait is very slim indeed. Lay up when appropriate. If you are not pretty certain that you can get to the green or at least within comfortable chipping range, you should lay up to your "GO TO" distance. That is the distance you hit either your pitching wedge or sand wedge, with a full swing. We practice the full swing all the time so, play to your strength.

I hope that following these simple tips will lead to more enjoyable rounds in your golfing future. If everyone did this, the game would be more enjoyable for everyone so pass this information along to your playing partners. Good luck and keep it in the short grass.