| So 5 hour rounds are a pretty common | | | | fruitless effort. Look for a minute or two...if you |
| occurrence at a public golf course. And honestly, | | | | seriously think you have a reasonable chance of |
| there is no need for it. I don't care if you're a 40 | | | | finding it, sure use your 5 minutes. But, come |
| handicap or a 5 handicap, you can play in 4 hours | | | | on...if it looks like a Costa Rican jungle...you are not |
| or less, as long as you follow some simple rules... | | | | going to find the ball, do not waste any more |
| Play Ready Golf! | | | | time looking for it. |
| How often have you stood on the tee of a par 3, | | | | Gimme Putts |
| watching the group in front for what seems to be | | | | Unless you are playing for $100 a hole, please do |
| an eternity? Three of the guys are on the green. | | | | not spend 5 minutes lining up your 183 putt. Tell |
| One is in the bunker. The guy in the bunker was | | | | your playing partner it is good, and have him pick |
| the last to hit...so he's also the last to get to the | | | | up. How many times have you watched another |
| bunker. The other 3 guys are standing around | | | | 2-5 minutes wasted while the group in front of |
| chatting as bunker guy gets his sand | | | | you is standing in a 5 foot circle surrounding the |
| wedge...heads over to the bunker...and thinks | | | | pin? |
| about not screwing up his sand shot. He hits his | | | | Develop a Pre-Shot Routine |
| sand shot, which flies over the green, into a | | | | If you do not already have one, work on |
| bunker on the other side of the green. The other | | | | developing a consistent pre-shot routine. Just don't |
| 3 guys chuckle, and continue to chat. Bunker guy | | | | make it a 5 minute one that involves 35 waggles, |
| rakes his bunker (nice job!), walks to the other | | | | and constant re-gripping of the club. Mine involves |
| side of the green...and hits an ok shot that ends | | | | lining up behind the ball, envisioning my shot, |
| up on the green, but he's still 'away'. Bunker guy | | | | walking up to the ball, grip, look up, check |
| rakes...oops...he forgot his putter in the cart...3 | | | | alignment, look up...hit. It probably doesn't take |
| other guys continue to chit chat..and laugh at | | | | more than 20 seconds. And it's consistent. I don't |
| bunker guy...you really screwed this hole up Charlie! | | | | spend minutes hemming and hawing over what to |
| Bunker guy finally putts, makes a great | | | | do. Not only does it help speed up play, but it will |
| one...saves his 4. And now the other 3, one by | | | | clear your mind, and help you stay focused. |
| one, take their time reading their putts, lining up | | | | Leave Your Bags in the Direction of the Next Tee |
| the putts, hitting their putts...missing..marking their | | | | I don't see it as often as other slow down |
| ball...and begin the routine once again. This is | | | | mistakes, but it definitely happens. Leave your |
| absolutely insane. | | | | bags to the side of the green, and in the direction |
| This is an 'extreme' example, but I see it | | | | of the next tee, never in front of the green. |
| happening in so many different circumstances. | | | | Nothing worse than watching a slow group take |
| People do it on the fairway...one by one, | | | | forever to putt out, then all walk back toward |
| completely serially, people select a club, think | | | | me...to get their bags and put away their |
| about their shot, take some practice swings and | | | | clubs...then walk BACK over the green toward the |
| then hit the ball...waiting for their playing partner on | | | | next tee. |
| the complete opposite side of the fairway to hit | | | | Play Level Appropriate Tees |
| their ball...watch it fly through the air, and land | | | | I don't worry about this as much as some people |
| wherever it went. | | | | do, but you are only doing yourself a disservice if |
| You do NOT have to wait for your playing | | | | you are a 20 handicap playing off the back tees. |
| partners. While the guy is hitting his bunker shot, | | | | But, I'm not going to say that everyone that |
| read your putt...heck, use a golf ball with an | | | | does it slows down play. If you're a high |
| alignment mark, and line up your putt. While your | | | | handicapper who plays quickly, by all means, |
| playing partner is thinking about his shot out of | | | | torture yourself from the back tees. |
| the rough, you should be selecting your club for | | | | Cart Riders... |
| your approach shot out of the fairway...you can | | | | Two very simple things. First: drop your cart |
| pick your intermediate target, get a clear image | | | | partner off at their ball...then drive to your ball and |
| of what you are going to do. Just be READY to | | | | get ready for your shot. Second: take at least 2 |
| step right into your pre-shot routine as soon as | | | | or 3 clubs with you to your ball. |
| the other guy hits. | | | | Beginners |
| The Ball is Lost...Forget About It | | | | Last thing I will mention....I am all for people |
| This does not bother me nearly as much as #1, | | | | learning the game...but do it on an executive |
| but if you hook your tee shot into some deep | | | | course or at the driving range. You will have a lot |
| woods, with lots of underbrush...you are not going | | | | more fun on a shorter course, and will have more |
| to find it. Yes, I understand the rules give you 5 | | | | time to work on your short game, which is the |
| minutes to look...but the vast majority of people | | | | quickest way to start shooting lower scores. |
| take more than that...and for the most part it is a | | | | |