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What is Pace of Play?

  • Pace of play is the time it takes to play a 9 or 18 hole round

  • Regulation time for a foursome is 15 minutes per hole (9 holes = 2 hrs 15 mins. and 18 holes = 4 hrs 30 mins.)

  • Objective of your foursome is to keep up with the group in front of you … not in front of the group behind you. (For example, on a par 4 your group should have all hit their tee shots before the group in front of you has left the green)

Tips on Maintaining Pace of Play

  • Play ‘Ready Golf’ if you are not playing in a tournament or sanctioned event. This means that the golfer who is ready to hit can do so even though they may not be the farthest away from the hole or have the honours on the teeing ground. Agree with the others in your group that when it makes sense you will play ready golf.

  • On the Tee – Step onto the tee while the player ahead of you is removing her tee. Tee your ball while that player is leaving the teeing ground.

  • Be sure to track all shots played to see where they landed and how far they rolled. This is especially important for errant shots which may be more difficult to find. Use landmarks in locating your ball – trees, bushes, rocks, etc.

  • Take one practice swing for each shot, and then hit the ball. If you take an extra 10 seconds (which doesn’t sound like a lot) over each shot and you take 110 shots, you have added another 18 minutes to your round. If everyone in the foursome does this, you have added an additional 1 hr and 13 minutes to your round.

  • Plan your shot before it’s your turn. As you are walking to your ball take note of yardage markers and determine what club you want to use (i.e. are you going to go over the water or lay up, etc.) Don’t wait until you are at your ball to do this.

  • Golf is a social sport – socialize only between shots, while in the cart, walking to the ball or wait until the 19th hole (i.e. the clubhouse).

  • As you approach the green determine which direction the next tee is located and leave your clubs on that side of the green. Ensure that any clubs that you take with you to the green are left between yourself and the route back to your clubs so 1) you don’t forget them and 2) you don’t have to backtrack to get them.

  • On the putting surface – mark and clean your ball and study your line of putt before it’s your turn to putt. Then when it’s your turn, you are ready to go. If you have hit your first putt and are close to the hole and you are comfortable with your next putt, ask if you can hole out. It is quicker to putt out the short putts vs. marking them.

  • Keeping score – never mark your score beside the green that you just completed playing. Doing so, means that the group behind you must wait to hit their shot. Wait until you are at the next teeing ground before entering your score. However, don’t let marking your score interfere or delay teeing off.

  • Having a bad day … everyone has them. To keep the game moving along in a timely manner, pick up your ball at double par and place it on the putting green where you can putt out.