What Is Ready Golf And What Can You Do To Improve Pace Of Play

IT IS abundantly clear from our recent survey on slow play that most, if not all, of you want to see us playing ready golf as part of the solution to finally speeding things up.  Over 60% of the comments related to what can be done focused around this topic, general etiquette, golf knowledge and understanding of the rules.

But there still seems to be some confusion as to what ready golf actually is so here are some useful tips, guidelines and what you need to know to play ready golf.

• What Is Ready Golf
• What You Should Do To Play Ready Golf
• Ready Golf and The Rules of Golf
• 15 Tips For Playing Ready Golf

What Is Ready Golf

In simple terms 'Ready Golf' is the definition used when playing social golf and in stroke play to encourage golfers to play when ready to do so rather than following the long standing golf tradition of playing first when furthest from the hole.  Additionally, golfers are encouraged to play when ready on the tee rather then teeing off based on who's honour it is from having the lowest score on the previous hole.

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Ready Golf has been around for over 15 years with the R&A actively encouraging its uptake and usage back in 2019 alongside some rule updates introduced in 2019.

Tips For Playing Ready Golf

First things first, decide on playing ready golf from the get go so that all golfers in your group know.

Start On The First Tee

If your club does not encourage ready golf then it is up to you to agree to do it among yourselves - and there is nowhere better to kick it off than at the first hole.

When you get to the opening tee, don’t hang about waiting for the others in your group to finish talking about last night’s Champions League game. Pull out your  driver and hit your shot. With luck, it will encourage the others in your group to follow suit.

The same should apply at all 18 tees. There is absolutely no need to wait for the player who has “the honour” if you are playing ready golf.

Fairway Honours

If you get to your ball first, go ahead and hit your approach, even if you are closer to the green than the others in your group.

Green Etiquette

When you get to the green, there is nothing to stop you from taking your putt, even if others are further from the hole. If you are there first, take your putt.

Similarly, if somebody in the group has found a bunker or is left with a shot pitch and you have already walked up to the green, take your putt.

While your playing partners are preparing to hole out, line up your own so that you are ready to go when it is your turn.

Don’t leave your trolleys and/or golf bags at the front of the green - put it on the easiest route to the next tee. And are your cards on the way to that tee.

Lost Balls

If you are playing in a fourball and somebody has hit their ball into the cabbage, don’t all go looking for the ball at the same time. If you are in the fairway, go up to your ball and hit your shot - and encourage your partners to do the same. You can take turns to look for the ball.

If one of you hits your drive into thick rough or trees, ensure that you hit a provisional - and do NOT take any longer than three minutes to look for the ball.

Think Of Others

With the best will in the world, there are going to be times when your group struggles to keep up with the game in front. Assume that those behind you are playing ready golf and wave them through.

Before you tee off, make sure that everybody in the group knows you are playing ready golf.

Don’t take endless practice swings. And if you do feel the need to do so, ensure that you are doing so while your partners are playing their shots. Be ready to play.

If slow play is an issue at your club, have a word with the professional and the committee and suggest that they actively encourage ready golf.

Remember that not everybody wants to play quickly, so clubs need to consult their membership and ensure that on competition days in particular that those who are not keen on ready golf are either put at the end of the field or are made aware of the fact that they should give way to quicker golfers.

R&A Ready Golf Guidance

In certain circumstances it isn't possible to play ready golf due to competition situations but the R&A provide the following guides.

In stroke play golfers are encouraged to play out of turn in a safe and responsible way when:     

• You agree with another player to do so for convenience or to save time
• Your ball comes to rest a very short distance from the hole and you wish to hole out, or  
• You are ready and able to play before another player whose turn it is to play under the normal order of play, so long as in playing out of turn you do not endanger, distract or interfere with any other player.

15 Quick Tips For Playing Ready Golf

• Make sure you arrive on time and ready to tee off at your allotted time.
• Play once you are ready and it is safe to do so, you don’t always need to be the furthest from the hole to play.
• Outside of competitions if you are ready first on the tee then tee off even if it’s not your honour.
• Help others with tracking shots to speed up searching for any errant shots that may be lost.
• Keep your pre-shot routine to a minimum.
• Be aware of your place on the course and the groups in front and behind you.
• Walk with a purpose between shots and from green to tee.
• If possible play your shot before helping to search for lost balls.
• Offer to rake bunkers for others if you are in a situation to keep up the pace.
• Start reviewing green complexes as soon as you arrive at the green and during other players' putting.
• Always leave trolley's and clubs at a point around the green where you will exit for the next tee.
• If you hole out first then pick up the flagstick ready to replace once everyone else putts out.
• Mark your card after you exit the green ideally on the next tee whilst others are teeing off.
• Turn off outside distractions where possible, do you really need your mobile phone on the course.
• If the format allows and you can no longer score, pick up your ball.

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