Hints To Speed Up Play and improve your game

SPEEDING UP PLAY: Suggestions that should both improve our scores and decrease playing time.

1. In two- or four-man Best Net ball competition, don’t bother to write down scores that clearly will not be the Best Net ball. Keep only the best net score.

a. In the future, Scores from “best net” tournaments will not be used for handicaps.

b. If you’ve blown your chance to get best net, continue to play for practice if you so choose, but be considerate and don’t slow your group down.

c. You make that call.

2. If your next putt is shorter than your putter, putt out.

Exception: don’t stand on another player’s line to put out.

a. Reasons:

· It saves time (about 15 seconds is used marking and replacing the ball).

· Putting out eliminates the time used to mark, move if necessary, replace the ball, and get lined up again.

1. Professionals say this will improve your putting average because you have a better feel for both green speed and break right after the putt that you just hit. Take advantage of that current information.

b. Time Considerations:

· Average time wasted per hole with unnecessary ball marking? About 30 to 60 seconds per foursome/hole -- up to 18 minutes per round.

3. Lost balls: Limit the time spent looking for lost balls. The foursome should help a player if it looks like a ball might be lost.

a. However, if another group arrives at the tee box you just left, abandon the search.

· It’s going to cost you a stroke anyhow.

4. No ball hawking.

a. Do that on your own time. While you might find a ball, you’re wasting everyone else’s time.

b. In today’s world, used balls are cheap! At our age, we already have balls that we don’t to use as often as we’d like to.

5. Marshals will be asked to keep up a steady patrol. They will ask groups that have a gap of one shot or more in front of them to try to close the gap.

a. So, if a Marshal asks you to close the gap . . . don’t take offense. They’re trying to help us.

Of course, PSMGA members don’t have to do any of these things.

However, courtesy and being considerate of other players is a tradition in golf.

It’s your call.

Each member of a foursome (or any group) should proceed directly to his or her ball.
Begin preparing before you get to your ball. While walking (or riding) to your ball, use the travel time to plan your next shot - the yardage, the club, etc.
When sharing a cart, if it's practical, drop the first player off at his ball (or leave the cart with him) and proceed to your ball. Either way, the cart driver drives to pick up his partner.
Carry a few extra tees, ball marker, and a spare ball so you won't have to return to your golf bag if one is needed.
Limit your search for lost balls (at our age, time is worth more than used balls).
Never hold up play because you're in the middle of a conversation. Put the conversation on hold, take your stroke, then continue the conversation.
On the green, begin lining up your putt and reading the break as soon as you reach the green. When it's your turn to putt, be prepared to step right up and take the stroke.
Leave your bags or golf carts to the side of the green, and in the direction of the next tee, never in front of the green. If necessary, leave your sand wedge, etc. between the golf cart and the hole so you can pick it up as you walk off the green.
ALWAYS leave the green immediately after everyone holes out. Write down scores when you reach the next tee.
Play "ready golf." Order of play should be based on who's ready, not who's away. However, an eagle or a hole-in-one should probably have the honor at the next tee.
Green Etiquette: One of the first players to hole out should assume responsibility for flagstick management.
Green Etiquette: Players who are not putting should be invisible while another player is putting.