The amount of time it takes to play 18 holes is a big reason why more people are leaving the game and less people taking it up. These days most golf rounds simply take too long.
As amateurs we should all play "ready golf" to speed up play. We are no on the PGA Tour and don't need to take 5 minutes looking at a three foot bogey putt from 12 different angles as if it were to win the U.S. Open. We need to "find it and hit it." Below are a few "ready golf" tips for faster play. After all, golf is more fun if it doesn't take too long.
Hit When Ready
Yes in regular golf we wait for the person farthest from the hole to play his/her shot. In ready golf though, whoever is ready to hit pulls the trigger rather than waiting for the person farthest out. When you get to your ball, go for it. Don't wait.
Pick Your Club While Others Are Playing Their Shots
While other players are playing their shots is the time to calculate yardages and select a club. On the green, read the break of your putt while others are putting. That when when they are done with their shots or putts, you can pull the trigger immediately.
Short Pre-Shot Routine
The pre-shot routine is a process most golfers go through before hitting the ball. Some take a practice swing or pull up their shirt the same way before each shot. This is a good thing as long as it doesn't take too long. A pre-shot routine should only be 10-20 seconds.
ONE Practice Swing Or Even None
How many times have you watched an amateur take 10 or even 20 practice swings before hitting the shot? At 2-3 seconds per practice swing the time could really add up. Consider that an average amateur probably shoots 100. So if the player took five practice swings that would be 600 total swings. 600 x however many seconds per swing and we are talking about a LONG round of golf!
Take ONE practice swing. 10 more on the course are not going to help. Save them for the practice range.
Take Your Bag/Clubs With You
If you carry or use a golf cart, always bring clubs with you when searching for your ball. That way you are ready with club in hand rather than having to go back to your bag and grab one.
Play REAL Golf
No mulligans or extra shots! Amateurs often hit another shot if they disliked the previous one. Mulligans are time killers because there are more shots and the player has to retrieve them.
Just A Start
These are just a few tips for ready golf. Stay tuned for part two coming up in a future blog post!
Golf Games: Ready Golf Part One
Slow play is a big problem in golf. Perhaps the biggest. The amount of time it takes to play 18 holes is a big reason why more people are leaving the game and less people taking it up. These days most golf rounds simply take too long.
As amateurs we should all play "ready golf" to speed up play. We are no on the PGA Tour and don't need to take 5 minutes looking at a three foot bogey putt from 12 different angles as if it were to win the U.S. Open. We need to "find it and hit it." Below are a few "ready golf" tips for faster play. After all, golf is more fun if it doesn't take too long.
Hit When Ready
Yes in regular golf we wait for the person farthest from the hole to play his/her shot. In ready golf though, whoever is ready to hit pulls the trigger rather than waiting for the person farthest out. When you get to your ball, go for it. Don't wait.
Pick Your Club While Others Are Playing Their Shots
While other players are playing their shots is the time to calculate yardages and select a club. On the green, read the break of your putt while others are putting. That when when they are done with their shots or putts, you can pull the trigger immediately.
Short Pre-Shot Routine
The pre-shot routine is a process most golfers go through before hitting the ball. Some take a practice swing or pull up their shirt the same way before each shot. This is a good thing as long as it doesn't take too long. A pre-shot routine should only be 10-20 seconds.
ONE Practice Swing Or Even None
How many times have you watched an amateur take 10 or even 20 practice swings before hitting the shot? At 2-3 seconds per practice swing the time could really add up. Consider that an average amateur probably shoots 100. So if the player took five practice swings that would be 600 total swings. 600 x however many seconds per swing and we are talking about a LONG round of golf!
Take ONE practice swing. 10 more on the course are not going to help. Save them for the practice range.
Take Your Bag/Clubs With You
If you carry or use a golf cart, always bring clubs with you when searching for your ball. That way you are ready with club in hand rather than having to go back to your bag and grab one.
Play REAL Golf
No mulligans or extra shots! Amateurs often hit another shot if they disliked the previous one. Mulligans are time killers because there are more shots and the player has to retrieve them.
Just A Start
These are just a few tips for ready golf. Stay tuned for part two coming up in a future blog post!
The amount of time it takes to play 18 holes is a big reason why more people are leaving the game and less people taking it up. These days most golf rounds simply take too long.
As amateurs we should all play "ready golf" to speed up play. We are no on the PGA Tour and don't need to take 5 minutes looking at a three foot bogey putt from 12 different angles as if it were to win the U.S. Open. We need to "find it and hit it." Below are a few "ready golf" tips for faster play. After all, golf is more fun if it doesn't take too long.
Hit When Ready
Yes in regular golf we wait for the person farthest from the hole to play his/her shot. In ready golf though, whoever is ready to hit pulls the trigger rather than waiting for the person farthest out. When you get to your ball, go for it. Don't wait.
Pick Your Club While Others Are Playing Their Shots
While other players are playing their shots is the time to calculate yardages and select a club. On the green, read the break of your putt while others are putting. That when when they are done with their shots or putts, you can pull the trigger immediately.
Short Pre-Shot Routine
The pre-shot routine is a process most golfers go through before hitting the ball. Some take a practice swing or pull up their shirt the same way before each shot. This is a good thing as long as it doesn't take too long. A pre-shot routine should only be 10-20 seconds.
ONE Practice Swing Or Even None
How many times have you watched an amateur take 10 or even 20 practice swings before hitting the shot? At 2-3 seconds per practice swing the time could really add up. Consider that an average amateur probably shoots 100. So if the player took five practice swings that would be 600 total swings. 600 x however many seconds per swing and we are talking about a LONG round of golf!
Take ONE practice swing. 10 more on the course are not going to help. Save them for the practice range.
Take Your Bag/Clubs With You
If you carry or use a golf cart, always bring clubs with you when searching for your ball. That way you are ready with club in hand rather than having to go back to your bag and grab one.
Play REAL Golf
No mulligans or extra shots! Amateurs often hit another shot if they disliked the previous one. Mulligans are time killers because there are more shots and the player has to retrieve them.
Just A Start
These are just a few tips for ready golf. Stay tuned for part two coming up in a future blog post!
