A MESSAGE FROM PRO SHAWN DUROCHER
Prompt Pace of Play
A round of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace.
Each player should recognize that their pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own group and those in following groups. Players are encouraged to allow faster groups to play through.
(1) Pace of Play Recommendations. The player should play at a prompt pace throughout the round, including the time taken to:

• Prepare for and make each stroke,
• Move from one place to another between strokes, and
• Move to the next teeing area after completing a hole.

A player should prepare in advance for the next stroke and be ready to play when it is their turn. When it is the player’s turn to play:

• It is recommended that the player make the stroke in no more than 40 seconds after they are (or should be) able to play without interference or distraction, and
• The player should usually be able to play more quickly than that and is encouraged to do so.

(2) Playing Out of Turn to Help Pace of Play. Depending on the form of play, there are times when players may play out of turn to help the pace of play:

• match play, the players may agree that one of them will play out of turn to save time (see Rule 6.4a  Exception).
• stroke play, players may play “ready golf” in a safe and responsible way (see Rule 6.4b(2)).

(3) Committee Pace of Play Policy. To encourage and enforce prompt play, the Committee should adopt a Local Rule setting a Pace of Play Policy.
This Policy may set a maximum time to complete a round, a hole or series of holes and a stroke, and it may set penalties for not following the Policy.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ:  What is “Ready Golf?”
A. When everyone you ask to join you for a round of golf is ready to play!
B. It’s actually “Reddy golf,” and anyone named Helen gets three mulligans.
C. Permitting the golfer who is ready to hit to swing away (even though it may not be her turn) in order to speed up play.
D. It’s what you say to confirm you have everything you need to play golf.

For Starters: Pace of Play tips from Jane Blalock, LPGA
With golf more popular than ever, courses are filling up and maintaining a respectable pace of play has never been more critical to everyone’s enjoyment of the game.

Pace of play is basically playing your round of 9 or 18 without undue delay. In other words, don’t hold up your group, or all of the groups behind you, by dallying unnecessarily from shot to shot or hole to hole.

“Always think ahead to your next shot,” says Jane Blalock, 27-time LPGA Tour champion and CEO of the PGA of America Women’s Clinics. “The key is to be prepared before you arrive at your ball.”

Blalock has played thousands of rounds of golf with thousands of different playing partners. It’s possible she’s seen it all. The overly chatty golfer who starts a long story the minute they get to their ball. The distracted golfer who can’t seem to pull the right club the first time. The stubborn golfer who insists their ball can be found and just keeps looking. The carefree twosome who politely drives each other directly to their respective golf balls, waiting there before driving over to hit their own ball which is within walking distance.

“Slower players in your group may need a nudge,” says Blalock. “It’s okay to say, ‘Let’s try to pick it up a bit,’ when you feel as though your group is holding up the group behind you. But if a group is constantly pressing you from behind, it may also make sense to just let them play through. Never compensate for a slower player in your group by trying to play faster than you normally do. This will take you out of your tempo and you’ll start hitting bad shots and hitting more often, which actually takes more time.”

It’s important to note, adds Blalock, that playing faster does not mean rushing your swing. “Play at an even pace as you go from shot to shot, hole to hole. Stick to your routine over every shot. Play smart and just be ready when it’s your turn.”For Starters
With golf more popular than ever, courses are filling up and maintaining a respectable pace of play has never been more critical to everyone’s enjoyment of the game.

Pace of play is basically playing your round of 9 or 18 without undue delay. In other words, don’t hold up your group, or all of the groups behind you, by dallying unnecessarily from shot to shot or hole to hole.

“Always think ahead to your next shot,” says Jane Blalock, 27-time LPGA Tour champion and CEO of the PGA of America Women’s Clinics. “The key is to be prepared before you arrive at your ball.”

Blalock has played thousands of rounds of golf with thousands of different playing partners. It’s possible she’s seen it all. The overly chatty golfer who starts a long story the minute they get to their ball. The distracted golfer who can’t seem to pull the right club the first time. The stubborn golfer who insists their ball can be found and just keeps looking. The carefree twosome who politely drives each other directly to their respective golf balls, waiting there before driving over to hit their own ball which is within walking distance.

“Slower players in your group may need a nudge,” says Blalock. “It’s okay to say, ‘Let’s try to pick it up a bit,’ when you feel as though your group is holding up the group behind you. But if a group is constantly pressing you from behind, it may also make sense to just let them play through. Never compensate for a slower player in your group by trying to play faster than you normally do. This will take you out of your tempo and you’ll start hitting bad shots and hitting more often, which actually takes more time.”

It’s important to note, adds Blalock, that playing faster does not mean rushing your swing. “Play at an even pace as you go from shot to shot, hole to hole. Stick to your routine over every shot. Play smart and just be ready when it’s your turn.”

Pace of Play pointers from LPGA Certified Coach Ashaunta Epps:
1) When you get to the next hole and you see the group you’ve been following in the fairway or up on the green, you are on pace. If you don’t see them on the hole at all, you need to pick up the pace.

2) Pace for a Par 3 hole = 10 minutes.  Par 4 or 5 = 13 to 15 minutes. Imagine adding a minute a hole. That’s 18 extra minutes, which means you could be one or two holes behind, and you are not on the pace of play.

3) Don’t rush your actual shot, but make sure you move efficiently while preparing to take that shot.

4) You can save a lot of time by moving golf carts to the middle, halfway between both balls so each player can go their separate ways and get into position for their shots simultaneously.

5) Take multiple clubs that could work for your next shot if you have to walk from the cart to your ball so you don’t have to keep walking back and forth from your ball to the cart to get the right club.

6) Limit yourself to one, maybe two, practice swings.  Your pre-shot routine includes your alignment, set up, practice swing and addressing the ball. Then you execute your swing.  Keep this whole process under 40 seconds.

7) When you get within 50 yards of the green and your playing partners are closer or already on the green, grab your wedge and your putter.  Let them drive up to the green while you execute your shot and then walk to the green to putt.

Bottom Line: Moving with purpose from shot to shot and hole to hole will help you maintain the proper pace of play so everyone can enjoy their experience on the golf course. Help others understand the importance of playing at an even pace by efficiently managing your own game.

Thanks and see you on the links!
Shawn