Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf

Ideas we have used to speed slow play :

ORGANISATIONAL :
        o       More Stableford competitions (where possible).  Players must 
                pick up when they are out of points.  This avoids walk-backs to
                replay.  The exception to the 'out-of-points-must pick-up' rule
                is when a group is up the backs of the group in front.  Poor
                golfers get averse to never getting to putt.  If they're
                playing briskly, they get the reward of playing the full hole.

        o       Avoid scrambles.

        o       Appoint one player in each group to be a timekeeper.  If a
                group knows in advance who this is, they accept his
                remonstrations.  If it's left to 'the group' in general,
                no-one does it, because no-one wants to be the one to do the
                unpleasant job.

BEHAVIOURAL :
        o       Spread tips about how a group as a whole can speed up, without
                loss of time allowed by each player to take his stroke.  That
                is, tips about how to usefully use the time when you're not
                preparing for, or taking, a shot :
                        -- Don't walk to see your buddy's shot on the LHS of
                        the fairway if you're on the RHS.
                        -- On arrival at the green, out-of-points player
                        becomes flag-attendant for ones with long putts.
                        -- On arrival at the green, player nearest pin becomes 
                        flag-attendant for ones with long putts.  He marks and
                        cleans his ball, if desired, while players prepare to
                        putt.
                        -- If you're not putting or flag-attending, don't just
                        spectate, prepare for your own putt.
                        -- Move your equipment to the side of the green
                        towards the next tee (obvious, but so many people
                        don't think to do it).  
                        -- Mark cards while others in group are driving at the
                        next tee.
                        -- Get out your ball marker and pitch-mark fork as you
                        walk towards the green.
                        -- Do favours for each other : rake your buddy's
                        bunker, throw his divot back to him, give him his short
                        putts, etc.  This also generates a friendly atmosphere
                        in the group.
                         
                        and so on....
                        Anyone with more ?  There must be dozens.

        o       Encourage groups to let the group behind through.  Point out
                that they will gain time to look for the lost ball in this
                way, without feeling the pressure of knowing they are holding
                the course up.  If they are simply playing slowly and have
                lost a hole on the group in front, letting a group through
                relieves them of further blame, so long as they keep up with
                the group they let through.

        o       If you let a group through at the tee, both groups tee off.
                This gives the slower group advantages :
                -- Possibly eight pairs of eyes looking at wayward drives !
                -- They can start looking for wayward drives while waiting for
                the group let through to get out of range.
                -- They get off the tee, possibly avoiding a bollicking from
                the group behind the ones they let through !

Note that up to this point, no-one has had to live under fear of penalties on
their score-card.  That need only come later.  ORGANISATIONAL changes are easy
to implement, BEHAVIOURAL changes need encouragement -- include them in
newsletters/noticeboards or whatever; point out the PERSONAL ADVANTAGES of
following the tips (e.g. more time to look for lost ball, less recrimination by
the aggrieved in the clubhouse, etc); at your next social gathering, have a
golf quiz, and make one of the rounds 'A point for every idea to speed up play
in your group'; identify champions of good practice, and let everyone know that
playing with these 'champions' in their group, they will get good pracices
pointed out to them (as with the time-keepers, if it's stated in advance, it'll
be accepted -- those who object to being 'told how to behave' on the course are
Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf