At a glance, golf might seem like a fairly leisurely sport. So why is slow play considered to be one of the deadly sins of golf? Why is it necessary to know how to play faster? After all, golf is primarily a game of strategy, not speed, right? Golf is a game of strategy and rhythm. Getting a good rhythm going is essential to an enjoyable game of golf, and if you’re playing too slow, it’s going to be hard to establish that pace.
Here are a few tips that will help you speed up your game:
1. Warm up before arriving at the tee.
It’s understandable that you’d want to stretch your muscles before you step up to swing. After all, a bad swing could cause serious injuries and frustration to your game. But do your warm-ups before your arrival at the tee. You’ll save a good 3 to 5 minutes of game time, which might not seem like much, but when you have three or four people waiting to tee off also, it adds up.
2. Don’t stand and watch others hit.
Instead, keep your attention on your game and think about your shot before it is your turn. It will help you stay focused and on course.
3. Take your club when you go up to the ball.
If you don’t know the yardage, take a few clubs with you. If you are in a cart, standing there waiting for your partner to bring you a club or go back to get a different club, takes up unnecessary time. No one wants to stand there and watch as you walk over to your ball then back to your cart then back to your ball.
4. Be ready when your turn is up.
While you’re standing around waiting for others to hit, you should be planning out your shot and thinking about exactly what you’re going to do when you step up to hit. If it’s not too distracting, practice your swings while your partner is going. Don’t wait until it’s your turn to start thinking about what to do.
5. It is OK to hit if you can see the group in front.
Unless you can easily hit a ball 300 yards, don’t worry about hitting the group in front of you that is that far away. Of course you should be careful, and nobody will advocate that you try to hit anyone with your ball, but if you are realistically unlikely to hit them, get up and strike your ball.
6. Don’t mark one-foot putts
Unless you’re playing at a PGA tour game, there really is no reason to mark one-foot putts. If this happens, just putt the ball and make way for the next person.
7. Play when ready
If you’re playing a round of golf with your friends, there is little need for elaborate professional ceremonies. Agree to play when ready as soon as you arrive at the first tee and the game should move along at a reasonable pace.
8. Don’t practice your putt after the group has finished
Again, this is a simple matter of staying focused on the game. Once you’re group has finished a hole, don’t stand around on the green. It slows your game down and potentially the game of the group behind you.
9. Don’t fill out your score card on the green
People waiting to hit won’t go until you are safely off of the green. When you’re done with a hole, fill out your score card in your cart, while walking over to the next hole or when you arrive at the next tee.
The above tips are obviously meant as general guidelines. Everyone has their own pace, but being brisk, staying focused on the game, and minding your basic golf etiquette are all things that will help you pick up the pace and get a good rhythm going.
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