18 Tips to Improve Pace of Play on the Golf Course

By: Derek Clements | Mon 26 Oct 2020

UPDATED ARTICLE October 2024: What Is Ready Golf And What Can You Do To Improve Pace Of Play

Pace of play continues to be the issue that frustrates club golfers more than any other. Nobody enjoys taking five hours to play 18 holes. Here we have 18 simple tips to follow that are designed to speed up the game. None of it is rocket science and we would like to think you are already doing most of this.

1

Get to the course in plenty of time - don’t turn up two minutes before your tee-time.

2

Hit some balls on the range if you can - it helps you to loosen up and you will feel more confident on the first tee. And more likely to hit a decent opening drive.

3

Switch off your mobile phone - quite apart from the fact that many courses frown upon the use of phones, if you are constantly checking your phone and answering calls it is clearly going to slow you down - and annoy your playing partners!

4

When it’s your turn to play, make sure you have already selected your club and have gone through your pre-shot routine.

5

You don’t have to wait for your playing partners - if you get to your ball before the others in your group, it is fine for you to go ahead and play your shot. Similarly, if you are on the tee before anybody else, you can go ahead and play.

6

If you are having a nightmare on a hole, pick your ball up.

7

If you hit your drive into thick rough, always play a provisional.

8

Keep an eye on where your ball has finished, but also watch where those in your group end up.

9

You are allowed three minutes to look for a golf ball - don’t take any longer.

Amateur Golfers

10

If you are playing into the sun, make a point of asking your playing partners to watch where your ball goes.

11

Be aware of golfers behind you. If there is space in front of you and the group behind is waiting for you to play, you need to think about letting them play through.

12

If you are in a fourball and the group behind is a twoball, wave them through at the first available opportunity - it stands to reason that they will be faster than you.

13

If you are playing a friendly fourball, agree beforehand what your rules are on concessions on the greens.

14

Do not mark your scorecard while standing on the green.

15

Do not leave your bag and/or trolley at the front of the green.

16

Set yourself a target. A fourball should not take any longer than four hours - that means you should reach the turn in no more than two hours.

17

Agree in advance (during non-COVID times) whether your group wants to leave the flag in while putting - and remember that tending the flag does slow things down. It speeds up play if all of you leave the flag in the hole.