With the hot golf season upon us, we need to reduce the amount of time we’re out in that heat. Five to five and one-half hours on the course is simply too long. What can we do to speed the pace?
First of all, don’t sit in the cart and simply “observe” your cart partner hitting the ball. If you are anywhere reasonably close, proceed to your ball, determine what club you need, take your practice swings…..be ready to hit as soon as your cart partner is finished. I’ve seen many, many instances of ladies sitting in the cart waiting for it to be driven up ten yards to their ball. We’ve played this game long enough to “guesstimate” about how many yards closer our ball may be from where we are currently sitting. Don’t be afraid to walk a few yards to your ball. We can all use the exercise.
Once you’ve hit your ball, get in the cart and go. Put your headcover back on your club while you’re in the cart or waiting on your cart partner to hit. This is a hard one for me, so I know it’s not an easy habit to break, but I also know it saves time.
If it’s a “cart path only” hole, use your imagination and take a few clubs with you along with your GPS so you don’t have to go back for the right club.
The hottest spots on the course are on the greens. If it’s feasible for you to putt out without stopping to mark your ball, this saves time. If you need to study the putt, it’s totally reasonable to mark it. We don’t want you to rush, but if you feel comfortable, putt out. And if you are first to finish on the green, be the flag retriever so it’s ready to return to the hole as soon as the last person putts….and you can get out of the heat sooner.
If it sounds like I’m preaching, I don’t intend to sound that way. I think we ALL want to speed play, and these are just a few ideas. If you have ideas of your own, let me know and I’ll add them to the list. And when you see me holding up the cart while I put away my clubs, call it to my attention. I’ll need help to remember.
