by Jessica A. Tucker

Created on: June 24, 2009   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

One of the best ways to ruin a great game of golf on a beautiful day, is slow play on the golf course. Every golfer has suffered through either being the cause or the one affected by slow play at least once in their golf life, either side of the coin is an uncomfortable spot to be.

With the summer tourist season quickly approaching, what better topic to address in today's post than slow play. Whether it is your first day on the course or one of your regular weekly rounds, it is always important to be considerate to the other players on the course. The biggest culprits of slow play on the golf course are those with the attitude that they paid a pretty jar of pennies to play golf and they will take as long as they darn well please. Well, that's all fine and dandy for him or her and their buddies,however what about the hundred or so others behind them who also paid the same amount to play?

There are no excuses, pace of play on a normal, full size eighteen hole golf course should never take more than four to four and a half hours. With a little common sense, every golfer should be able to play their round in the time alloted to that specific track. The best piece of advice to give regarding pace of play, is to try and stay within a half to a full hole maximum behind the group ahead of you. As long as the group ahead is in the same position and playing at a decent pace, you should be fine. When a ball cannot be found, a maximum of five minutes looking for a lost ball should be all that is spent. After those five minutes, the ball should be declared lost and the player move on to the next shot.

When playing in a group that is falling behind, resorting to 'Ready Golf' is the best solution to the problem while suggesting that the others in the group do the same. If you are unsure of the term 'Ready Golf', basically this refers to no screwing around. While others are hitting, be thinking about your next shot so when they are finished you are ready to take yours. Clubs, bags, carts, and belongings can also be a huge hindrance to pace of play. Try to always keep equipment closest to the direction you will be heading next, whether it is the green or the next tee-box. All in all, with a little common sense, pace of play should never be an issue, exceptions of course for the odd- bad hole or two that every golfer occasionally encounters on the golf course.

Learn more about this author, Jessica A. Tucker.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.