Slow play on the golf course is never a good thing for anyone. Golfers don’t want to spend all day waiting to finish, and the Pro Shop will get endless complaints, but generally it comes down to only one or two groups causing frustrations for everyone behind them.

A typical round of golf should be played in 4 to 4.5 hours. The pro’s can finish an 18-hole practice round in less than 3 hours, while beginners may take more than 5 hours. Anything longer than 5.5 or 6 hours is way too long. There are many reasons why we see slow play on the golf course --

• Players have money on the game
  
• Beginners can’t keep the ball in the fairway
  
• Nobody taught them to pick up and move on
  
• Less experienced player on a course that is too hard (trees, water, etc)
  
• Duffers searching fields and streams for lost balls of others
  
• Your group is just behind the beer cart
  
• Someone is using their cell phone and not concentrating on golf
  
• Tee times less than 6 minutes scheduled between groups
  
• Course marshall is not enforcing pace of play

Ready golf is such an easy concept and those who understand it are frustrated by others who don’t care. If you “play fast” then you’ll want to avoid any of the above as often as possible.

Here are some great ways to speed up your round and play at a respectful pace for those behind you --

• Go out at “o’dark early” or “first light” and secure the first tee time of the morning at sunrise so there is nobody in front of you
  
• Ask how far apart the tee times are, best if you can find 8 to 10 minutes, and what is the expected pace of play, generally 4 to 4.5 hours
  
• Find a golf course with a block of early tee times where the expected round is under 4 hours, or you are somehow otherwise rewarded for fast play
  
• Always play ready golf, have an extra tee and golf ball in your pocket always, help your group track and find balls
  
• Realize “cart path only” golf courses will play slow, always take several clubs out to the ball to avoid multiple trips back and forth from cart
  
• Pair your own foursome with a group who also plays ready golf

Golf should be an enjoyable couple of hours challenging both your mind and your body. If you have business to conduct, or visiting to do, save that for after the round. Be mindful of your own pace of play and follow the tips above to finish the round and still have plenty of time for the rest of the day.