Golf, one of the most — if not the most — diverse games in the world.
Played on every continent and in most countries around the world, the game of golf has almost no boundaries. No matter of your age, physical ability, mental capacity or status within society, the game of golf offers and affords opportunity for all who wish to challenge themselves on the Links.
At one time, the word ‘golf’ was synonymous with elitism. Only the very wealthy, those that had status within society, had the opportunity to play. Equipment was expensive, locations limited, there were very few public golf courses, and rather you had to belong to a country club to be able to book a tee time or play a round of golf.
The evolution of golf has come full circle over the years. The game has grown, popularity has increased, availability of courses and cost to play is affordable for all. The opportunity for all audiences and demographic ranges to take up the game is out there.
Having said this, taking up the game is still intimidating for many. The game of golf is entrenched in tradition and has been built around many basic rules and regulations. These are called golf etiquette. Golf course etiquette is the foundation that the game of golf is built around — best described as the way we conduct ourselves on the course.
Although there are many rules of etiquette — and too many to write about in this article — one of the most important and therefore intimidating for many new golfers is speed of play.
Speed of play is simply defined as the amount of time allocated to reasonably play a round of golf. A round of golf is determined by whether you are on a nine- or 18-hole golf course. This is of course determined by the difficulty of the course you are playing, but a reasonable amount of time to play golf for nine holes is two hours and for 18 holes is four hours.
Golf course staff monitors play by a few different methods, but the most common method to monitor speed of play is to employ a course marshal. The job of the golf course marshal is to drive from hole to hole to ensure each and every group is in position. A group is in position if they are within a half-hole of the group in front of them, or ready to hit when the group in front is out of range.
It is my opinion that the marshal has the most difficult job on the golf course. His/her primary role is one of conflict as they only seem to approach a group that is out of position and needs to speed up. This in some cases can cause conflict and create hostilities, therefore making your golfing experience less enjoyable.
In the next few paragraphs I shall give a few tips on how to keep up with the speed of play and therefore stay in position. Some of these tips include the appropriate number of practice swings, where to leave your equipment around the green and walking and talking.
First of all, the best solution to increasing your speed of play is to walk faster. I find that players have a tendency to walk at a slow pace while they are out playing with friends. Their main focus is on the social aspect of the day and the speed at which they are walking can be slower than what is required to keep up with the group in front of them.
I understand that in many cases golf is the excuse, but the main reason some are on the course is to enjoy the company of their friends. The social aspect of the game is undeniable, but can still be enjoyed while walking quickly and directly to your ball.
The next step is to be prepared when it is your turn to hit the ball. I find that many golfers spend too much time waiting and watching their playing partners hit their shot when they can be preparing for their turn to hit. This preparation is needed to correctly choose the golf club needed to hit the ball towards your target.
Some of the information you need to be prepared to hit your shot is the distance you need the ball to travel, the lie your ball is on, and wind conditions and hazards that may be ahead of you. Preparation is the key to hitting a successful shot and being prepared when it is your turn to hit will most certainly assist you in improving your speed of play.
Practice swings are an important part of your pre-shot routine. A practice swing assists golfers in simulating that prefect swing. It also helps you loosen up and get rid of any tension you may have in your body. One or two practice swings prior to hitting your ball is appropriate, but five or six becomes counter productive, slows down speed of play and quite frankly irritates your playing partners.
Lastly, where you position your golf clubs while you are on the green can also improve the speed at which a round of golf takes. Many golfers will leave their golf clubs on the front part of the green while putting. This location is fine if the pin is close to the front side of the green, but creates a problem if the pin is closer to the back side of the green. The problem is the time it takes to retrieve them at the completion of the hole. It is advisable to always place your clubs on the side of the green that you will be walking off towards to next hole. It seems like a small detail but one that can most certainly improve your overall speed of play
It may not seem like a big deal, but if you do this for all 18 holes and it takes 30 seconds per hole, that translates to an extra nine minutes it will take you to play your game. Put this together with taking five practice swings or not being prepared when it is your turn to hit the ball, and you can see how your speed can slow down.
Improving your speed of play on the golf course comes down to awareness in most cases. Although these are only a few of many helpful speed of play tips, applying them the next time your are on the course will most certainly assist you and your group keep up to the group in front of you and allow your course marshal to drive by with a smile.
Play well, keep up with the group in front of you and enjoy the great weather this week.
Scott Bergdahl is the teaching pro at Lakeside Golf Resort near Sylvan Lake