Pace of Play
Playing golf should be an enjoyable experience. One way to enhance this enjoyment is to make sure that your group is playing at a good pace�and conversely, one way to diminish this enjoyment is to be playing at a slow pace (or behind someone who is). A typical 18-hole round at ANCC should be played in about 4 hours and 15 minutes. Your group should pace itself by focusing on the group ahead of you, not behind you. You know that you are keeping a good pace when
- you arrive at the tee for a par 3 and the group in front of you is on the green,
- you arrive at the tee for a par 4 and the group in front of you is approaching the green, or
- you arrive at the tee for a par 5 and the group in front of you is still in the fairway.
However, playing golf at a good pace does not mean that you have to rush your shots. It does mean that you should be ready to hit your ball when it�s your turn.
Before you play
Make a determination as to whether walking or riding will enhance your ability to keep up with pace of play. Beginner golfers can help speed their play by riding in a cart with a more experienced player. Although walking the golf course enables exercise, there are times when it is not advantageous to walk. For example in the August heat it is better to keep up by riding. One must be able to walk at a brisk pace and move quickly to the ball.
Mark your balls so that you can readily and precisely identify them. Do not consider them identifiable just by saying that you are playing a Titlist with a number 3 on it. Mark them in a way that is distinctly yours, such as, with a certain number of dots or your initials.
- Carry extras such as tees, ball markers, and balls on your person in your pockets.
On the tee
- Always be ready to hit, even if you don�t have honors. If you do have honors, make sure that you do not
delay the rest of your group.
(Remember that in a tournament, the Rules of Golf dictate that you hit in order of honors.), - You arrive at the tee for a par 4 and the group in front of you is approaching the green, or
- Watch where you�re playing partners� balls go, so that finding them takes less time.
In the fairway
- Anticipate your next shot as you approach your ball, thinking about the club you want to hit in that situation.
- If you are walking, walk briskly to your ball, getting as close as it is safe to do so.
- If you are riding but not driving, the driver should
- Drop you off before proceeding to her ball OR
- Switch places with you and drop her off if her ball is closer OR
- Park the cart between the two balls.
- If you are riding under the �Cart Path Only� rule, take more than one club with you when you leave the cart to go to your ball so that you don�t have to go back for another club if you�ve misjudged the distance or situation. Please do not walk to your ball without a club.
- Identify your ball before you hit it.
- Take one practice swing and get set while others are hitting
- If you think that your ball may be lost or out of bounds, hit a provisional ball (being sure to telling the other players in your group that you are hitting a provisional ball).
- Do not take longer than 5 minutes to look for a lost ball.
- Unless you are playing is a Special Event tournament, pick up your ball when you�ve reached your maximum score under Equitable Stroke Control.
On the green
- If you are riding, park the cart between the back of the green in play and the next tee.
- If you are walking, pull your cart or carry your clubs toward the back of the green in play.
- Establish verbally the order of putting so that everyone knows in which order they putt.
- The golfer closest to the hole should tend the pin, and the first person to putt out should be ready to replace it.
- Be READY to putt first if you are farthest away from the hole.
- Read the line of your putt while others are putting; however, keep in mind that �reading your putt� should not interfere with another player�s effort to putt. This may actually slow play.
- Putt out short putts whenever possible without interfering with someone else�s putt.
- When you have putted out, collect any clubs, towels, etc. that you brought with you on the green before the others putt.
- Exit the back of green and tally your scores at the next tee.