10 TIPS TO HELP MAINTAIN PACE OF PLAY WHEN ENJOYING A ROUND OF GOLF
We all love golf, but nothing halts the momentum of a round quite like a slow pace. Here is a list of 10 tips to help you maintain your pace of play the next time you get out for a round:
RESPECT THE TEE BOX
If possible, try to hit just one ball when you and your partner(s) are in the tee box. If you believe your ball is out of play, then it is okay to hit a provisional ball, but otherwise, just one tee shot should be all that’s necessary.
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Habits are everything in golf. When it comes to practice swings and other motions pre-shot, try to keep it brief. Not only does it help with pace, it will keep you from overthinking your own shot.
EYE ON THE BALL
It sounds simple enough, but watch the shots of everyone in your group. Many times, people lose sight of their shots in flight and it takes a long time to locate the ball, or they lose it completely. Paying attention to all shots is beneficial for the entire group and will save time spent searching.
Be sure to pay attention to your playing partner’s shots.
3-AND-DONE
Three minutes. That is the allotted time you should spend searching for your golf ball before taking a drop and moving on. Not only does this keep your group from waiting, it will also prevent the groups behind you from getting backed up while you search. If you can’t find it in three, it wasn’t meant to be.
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
This may seem intuitive, but many players do not consider their next shot until they pull up right behind their ball. After your tee shot is off, begin calculating. How far out are you from the pin, what club may you use and how do you want to approach your shot?
HEAD ON A SWIVEL
Pay attention to the other groups on the course, specifically the groups in front of you and behind you. If the group ahead ends up way ahead, or if the group behind is constantly waiting in the tee box behind you, then you may need to pick up the pace.
SINK THE PUTT
OK, sinking a putt on the first try is tough, so how about this instead: line your putt up and make your read while others in the group are hitting. When your time to hit arrives, you’ll be ready with no delay and you’ll have that perfect line read down and ready to nail the putt home.
MAINTAIN THE BUDDY SYSTEM
If you’re sharing the golf cart with a partner, stick together. Even if your tee shots land on opposite ends of the fairway – pick a ball, go to it and hit, then proceed to the other player’s ball. This helps out so that one person is not constantly walking and the cart does not need to keep driving backwards and sideways to pick up the other player.
KNOW WHEN TO CALL IT
Sometimes, you just don’t have it. We’ve all been there. The shots are erratic and it feels like you’ll never finish the hole. That’s alright and under USGA rule, you can pick up your ball if you’re “out” on a particular hole. So next time things go south, pick up the ball, regroup and get it back on the next hole.
Don’t keep your friends waiting.
COME PREPARED
Before you head out, check your bag and make sure you got enough of everything. Balls, tees and any other equipment you may need for the round. This will prevent you from being the person in the group who always needs to borrow, or even worse, searching the woods for a spare ball to use.
