Did you know?

If each player in a four-ball takes five seconds less to play each shot, the round time can be improved by over 25 minutes.

If you and your playing partners do only one thing and that is to keep up with the group in front at all times, then you will never be accused of slow play.

One of the main reasons that golfers don't enjoy their golf is slow play on the golf course. If everybody followed a few simple guidelines, this could be changed very easily. Below are a few helpful tips to make sure you are never accused of slow play.

4. Allowing faster groups to play through

If a group cannot keep its position on the course for whatever reason, and is delaying the group behind, then it should invite the group behind to play through so that group can play at the pace it is capable of.

Inviting a group behind to play through means that it will take longer for the group doing the calling through to complete the round. This is due to having to wait for the "playing through" group to get out of range before continuing play. However, while the round time may be slightly increased, it is likely that the "inviting" group will enjoy its game more without being constantly pressurised by the group behind, and the group that has been allowed to play through will have had their enjoyment enhanced.

Sometimes, if a number of groups on the course are playing slowly, playing through does not always achieve its objective, but it remains good etiquette.

4.7a Position of bags or carts

When players are approaching the green, golf bags or carts should be positioned to allow for quick and efficient movement off the green towards the next tee.

4.7b Marking scorecards

While it is strongly recommended that players remain at the green to watch the other players in their group hole out, the marking of score cards should not be done at the green if this may delay play of the group behind. Mark scorecards on the way to or at the next tee. That said, the player who is first to play from the next tee should play first and then mark the card.

4.7c Playing a provisional ball

Ball searches and lost balls are a feature of golf, but they do cause delay. However, the delay can be significantly minimized if the player whose ball might be in danger of being lost has played a provisional ball. A player should play a provisional ball if they think that their ball may be out of bounds or if there is any possibility that it may be lost, other than when it is clearly in a water hazard.

The result of playing a provisional ball is that the player will not have to return to the spot of the previous stroke to put another ball into play. Another practical result is that often, having played a provisional ball, the player is less concerned with taking the full five minutes to search for the original ball in the knowledge that the hole can be completed with the provisional ball.

4.7d Watching the flight of the ball carefully

The problem of lost balls can be significantly reduced if all players in a group make a conscious effort to watch each others shots and their own shots as carefully and as often as possible. This will result in less searching time and fewer lost balls.

The R&A have published a new pace of play manual which can be viewed or downloaded, this offers advice for all golfers to help get round the course in good time.

Please click here to see manual.

We understand that not everyone plays at the same speed and at peak periods a round of golf could take a little longer, but if everyone follows the R&A guidelines regarding play, then there should be no issue's on the course and everyone will have an enjoyable game. I hope you have all found this useful and if anyone has any further questions or ideas to help improve slow play then please contact me at the pro shop.

Please click here to ask me any questions you may have on this matter.