 EWGA endorses the 4.5-hour 18-hole rule. That means a 9-hole round of golf should take no longer than 2.25 hours. To achieve this, your foursome should take only 15 minutes per hole.
Pace of play is an important issue for everyone in golf, but it's really crucial for women. Let's face it, we've all heard men talk about those "s-l-o-o-o-o-w" ladies on the course. We know we don't deserve that rap. So let's be sure we don't give anyone reason to pin it on us.
Slow play hurts everyone, and often the "slowskys" don't realize how they impact others. On league night, for example, your EWGA friends may not be able to finish in daylight if the starting groups play too slowly. In your foursome, if you make your partners wait and wait for each shot, you throw off their tempo and ruin their enjoyment for the game.
We're not saying everyone has to be a scratch golfer. Few of us are! You just need to play efficiently and know when to pick up your ball and move on. Everyone will enjoy your company on the course if you maintain the pace of play. But let's be blunt. No one wants to play with a chronic "slowsky!"
Please follow these rules:
Look to the group in front of you (not behind you) to check your pace of play.
This means when you are on a Par 4, you should be able to see the group in front of you on the green.
On a Par 5, you should be able to see the group in front of you in the fairway.
On a Par 3, you should see the group in front of you on or leaving the green.
If you have lost sight of the group in front of you, your pace of play is too slow and you must pick up your pace.
Here are some tips to play more efficiently:
Plan your next shot while walking to your ball.
When two women are sharing a cart, drop one off at her ball while the other moves the cart toward hers.
Be attentive. Slow players tend to go into suspended animation until someone jolts them to consciousness by announcing they are away.
Limit practice swings. If your practice swing takes 10 seconds and you take 3 practice swings on each hole, that adds up to 9 minutes for an 18-hole round!
Update your score at the next tee box, not at the green.
Always stage golf bags or carts off the area around the green and positioned toward the next tee.
Help your partners. Help others find their lost balls. Watch others hit and watch the ball flight to help find balls quickly. (Don’t spend more than a few minutes looking for your ball.)
Always play “Ready Golf”. Socialize between holes, not in the fairways.
Let the low handicapper in each group be the timekeeper. Be gracious if she asks you to pick up or speed your pace of play.
If your ball prefers a swim to romping in the grass, drop another ball that likes the grass. Do not spend an eternity (maximum of 3 minutes) looking for the ball -- that ball is gone! The same applies to balls that enjoy playing hide and seek in the woods and tall grass.
Golf balls and golf clubs are very devoted to each other. Therefore if you approach the golf ball without a golf club in your hand, the golf ball gets really upset. Please take a club with you and be ready to hit the ball. Your golf ball will be happier!.
Use these guidelines for when to pick up your ball:
On a Par 3 Hole:
Pick up your ball after three shots in the fairway. Toss ball onto green and putt. Max 6 shots.
On a Par 4 Hole:
Pick up your ball after five shots in the fairway. Toss ball onto green and putt. Max 10 shots.
On a Par 5 Hole:
Pick up your ball after six shots in the fairway. Toss ball onto green and putt. Max 10 shots.
Remember ...
Your position on the golf course is one shot behind the group in front of you, not one shot ahead of the group behind you.
Keep them in the fairway, putt straight and have a great time.
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