Hints on speeding up your game
Slow Play - The Cardinal Sin
Leave you cell phone in the car, or at least switch it off.
When on the tee, fill in your score card while others are taking their shots. When it’s your turn, take your shot straight away; don’t stand around filling in your card! This is one of the biggest time wasters.
On the tee, take one practise swing, and then address your ball.
When taking a shot, watch to see where your ball lands and remember where it stops. This saves time looking for it later.
The old story; keep up with those ahead of you, rather than staying ahead of those behind.
While you are approaching your ball on the fairway, try to plan your next shot, along with which club to use.
If your ball is ahead of the player who is due to take the next shot, go to one side and walk on ahead to your ball (if it’s safe to do so). You then will be ready to take your next shot much sooner. This saves lots of time.
If you are about to hit towards bright sunlight, ask others to keep an eye out for your ball.
If you do not intend to play your ball as it lies within a hazard, it might be quicker to drop another ball and play it before retrieving your original ball from within the hazard.
If you think your ball went out of bounds, play a provisional ball.
If searching for a ball, or if you have “lost” a fairway and the following group is waiting, wave them through. They’ll thank you for it.
If slow players ahead of you call you up at a par three, wave them on. You’ll probably catch up with them again on the next fairway.
After hitting your ball onto the green, place your clubs well off to the side of the green, towards the direction of the next tee.
On the green, so long as you’re not impeding other players, eye up and plan your putt while awaiting your turn.
In stroke play, if you missed your putt by 15 – 30cm (6 – 12 inches) ask if you may tap-in, rather than marking the spot for a later putt.
After the last player putts out, walk off the green straight away, don’t stand around talking or filling in your score card.
Walk briskly between shots, don’t dawdle. The best time for chit-chat is while walking from the green to the next tee.
Pick the right opportunity to clean your glasses, check your card, take your sweater off, fossik in your golf bag, peel that banana, clean your club, take a drink or blow your nose. Don’t hold up play!
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