How to Avoid Slow Play in Golf

OK, let me rephrase that headline: How to not hold others up on the golf course so you yourself can have a more enjoyable round.

See it’s not really about anyone else out on the course – it’s about you. I stopped trying to hustle through my round years ago and learned how to play at my own pace without annoying the group(s) behind me.

Now if it were up to me, I would take 5 or 6 hours to play 18 holes. Unfortunately, I don’t have my own personal golf course, so leisurely lollygagging down the fairway isn’t going to work when there’s a few foursomes backed up behind me. Don’t get me wrong, I still take my time – sometimes even up to 5 hours to finish 18-holes. But I’m rarely holding anyone up…

Here’s 3 reasons why:

1. I know which tee box I belong on
This is perhaps the most important thing golfers need to understand. Nothing gets me more frustrated than watching a group of clowns skulling, slicing and duffing their drives from the championship tees. Now I realize there’s a machismo thing going on here but if you can’t reach the damn fairway from the back tees, perhaps it might be a good idea to move up a bit? I also realize not all golf courses are the same – which is what a slope rating is for. Learn what a slope rating is and use it to decide how hard the course will be and subsequently which tee box you belong on. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t break 90 on a consistent basis, play from the forward tees (typically the “white” tees). Plus you’ll enjoy your round more since you’ll avoid the hazards that would come into play from the back tees.

2. I don’t mind bending the rules
For recreational golfers, the USGA rules are really more like guidelines than actual rules. In fact, I’ve written about how the USGA should come up with a simpler set of rules for non-tournament play. Learning which rules to bend will help you move along faster without actually having to hurry. For example, agree amongst your foursome that you can improve your lie (roll the ball over); or that any putt less than a foot is a gimme; or play “ready golf” instead of waiting for the farthest person away to hit (or instead of waiting on the tee for someone in the restroom just because they won the previous hole – if they need a bathroom break, then they tee-off last). Another time saver is to only look for lost balls for 2 minutes, instead of the USGA-allotted 5 minutes (think of it as your two-minute warning). Finally, don’t hesitate to “pick up” on a hole. A good rule is if you’ve reached 10 strokes but haven’t reached the green yet, it’s time to pick up and move on to the next hole.

3. I let faster groups play through
Letting others play through is sometimes a tough pill to swallow because many golfers don’t think (or realize) they are playing slow – so when the group behind is catching up, it’s easier to become annoyed than it is accommodating. But not me. As soon as I notice the group behind me getting close, I consider letting them go ahead of me. Now obviously if we’re right behind the group in front of us, then my group isn’t the problem. But if there’s an open hole ahead of us, it’s time to swallow our pride and let them through. Not only does it appease the group behind you, but it puts less stress on you and your group to play hastily (which will not only make your round more enjoyable, but will also allow you to play more relaxed and most likely better).

Remember, the aforementioned tips are not just so other people on the course can play faster, but also for your round to be more enjoyable. All you need to do is recognize that golf is supposed to be fun and that your score is secondary. Once you accept that, it’s easy to play from the right tee-box; bend some rules; and let others play through.

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