Playing Ready Golf – Pace of Play
Keep the Pace
Good pace of play increases enjoyment of the game.
Keeping pace can actually improve one's game.
Standing around on every shot allows the muscles to cool down or limbs to stiffen up.
A brisk pace can help keep a golfer loose and ready to play.
❖ Pace of Play simply means “be prepared and ready to play”.
Goal: Play JGC in about 2 hours and 15 minutes
You should average 15 minutes per hole.
❖ Note your tee-off time. If you think you are playing slow, calculate from your tee-off time – 15 minutes
per hole - to where you should actually be.
Keep sight of the group in front of you, not behind you.
If the group in front of you is in the fairway, your group should be on the tee.
❖ If you see a full hole’s distance between you and the group ahead of you – you need to speed up.
❖ If there are people behind you waiting to hit and there’s no one ahead of you – you need to speed up or
allow them to play through.
Be ready to hit when group in front moves to next shot.
Pick up if you have reached double par and move to the next tee, adding 2 strokes if off green and 1 stroke
if on green.
Choose the Appropriate Tees
❖ Don’t feel obligated to play the tees others in your group are playing. If you prefer to tee it forward, while
others are hitting from the blues, stay with the tee you prefer. You’ll hit fewer strokes, improve pace of
play and score better.
If you are not consistently able to reach greens in regulation from the back tees, you should move up to
next tee box.
On the Tee
❖ No “Honors”-(except in Match Play). The first player ready tees off.
Shorter hitter should hit first.
Carry extra balls, tees in your pocket in case you need to re-tee.
Hit a provisional ball if you think your first may be lost, rather than walking ahead to search only to return
to the original spot for a replay.
On hole #4, if your ball goes into the water from any fairway shot, move directly to the drop area at the
end of the fairway.
On the Fairway
Proceed directly to your own ball, rather than travel as a pack, going to first one ball, then the next.
Use the travel time to think over your next shot (yardage, club selection, etc.) Begin preparing before you
get to your ball.
Drop off rider (with 2 or 3 clubs). Cart driver should proceed to their ball.
❖ Hit safely when ready, no “Honors”.
Shorter hitters should hit, if longer hitters are waiting.
Watch other players hit shots to avoid looking for golf balls.
Cart Path Only Holes - #3 and #7
❖ Be sure to take a couple of clubs with you, so you don’t have to return if you discover you didn’t bring the
proper club.
Lost Ball
Drop player off who lost the ball. All other players go to your own ball. Hit and come back to help look for
lost ball.
❖ Do not take more than 3 minutes to find lost ball. If you’re not playing in a league or tournament – don’t
spend more than a minute searching.
On the Green
Park carts between green and next tee.
If one player is having trouble around the green, others should putt up until player in trouble is ready.
❖ Get ready to putt before it’s your turn.
Carry extra ball markers in your pocket, in case you or a fellow player needs one.
Whenever possible continue putting until holed out.
Player closest the hole tends the flag for others.
1st player in the hole picks up the flag.
Move quickly off green, record scores at next tee.
Put the Conversation on Hold
❖ Never hold up play because you’re in the middle of a conversation. Put the talk on hold, take your stroke
and then continue with your talk.
Keep your cell phones turned off to avoid disturbing others.