FIVE POINTS GOLF CLUB is committed to fun golf experiences played at an enjoyable pace. It is our expectation that every league member accepts the responsibility to maintain their position on the course relative to the pace of play target time. Playing at a better pace is not about hurrying up or rushing around the course. It is simply about being more efficient with your valuable time, as well as everyone else’s. Saving 10 seconds per shot can improve your overall time by 15 minutes. Here are some helpful tips for improving pace of play:
- Arrive early: Plan your arrival at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tee time. Add 15 to 25 minutes if you want to hit range balls or practice putts before your round.
- Play ready golf: The first person who is ready should hit. This applies to the fairway, green, and tee box. Just because it’s called “honor” doesn’t mean it’s dishonorable to play out of turn. It’s far more dishonorable to keep the group behind you waiting all day long.
- Always be prepared: Start the round with tees, markers, balls and a ball-mark repair tool in your pocket. Remove and replace head covers as you walk or while waiting for others to hit.
- Be ready for your turn: Don’t sit and wait in your cart while your cart-partner plays; get ready for your own shot and be ready to hit when it’s your turn. Do as much of your pre-shot routine while others are hitting. When it’s your turn to play, take 30 seconds, maximum, to hit your shot.
- Help your partners: Follow the flight of all shots, not just your own. Once in the fairway, help others look for their ball if you already know the location of yours. Volunteer to fill in a divot, ball mark, or rake a bunker for another player if needed. Be ready to attend the flagstick for others.
- Keep moving: Proceed quickly to your ball between shots and to the next tee after completing a hole. Fill out the scorecard after you arrive at the next tee.
- Pick up on maximum score: The maximum that a player can score on any hole is double par. Once the player reaches double par … or is certain that they will … they should “pick up”” and cease playing that hole.
- Keep up with the group in front: Your correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you.
- Be cart smart: Drop off your partner and drive to your ball, or vice versa, whenever possible. When you leave the cart, take three clubs, not one. Park the cart at the back of the green or closest proximity to the next tee before heading to the green.
- See it, read it, hole it: While others are putting, read your putt and be ready when you’re up. Finish short putts (taking your time) rather than marking them. If you’re first to hole out, grab the flagstick and replace it once the last golfer has finished.
- Cart path only holes: Take extra “just in case” clubs with you before heading from the cart to your ball. Don’t be that guy that walks all the way across the fairway with one club, walks all the way back to the cart to get a different club, and then walks back across the fairway again to his ball. Don’t be that guy!
- Limit your searches: Just because you are entitled to three minutes of search time doesn’t mean you should use it. If the only place the ball could be is nasty, stop looking … you probably don’t want to find it and won’t be able to play it anyway. And, it’s not a fishing or hunting expedition so avoid the urge to fish or hunt for “free” balls.
- Be accountable: Recognize that slow play isn’t always the fault of other players. If your group falls behind or is constantly getting pushed, take stock of your own behavior, pick up the pace if you can, and encourage your mates to do likewise. And should the course marshal ask your group to speed up, don’t take it personally. He’s just doing his job.
FIVE POINTS GOLF CLUB 