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How do I stop slow play in golf?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 10, 2026

Our Top Tips For Avoiding Slow Play

  1. Arrive at the club in plenty of time. ...
  2. Lose the elaborate pre-shot routine. ...
  3. Be ready to play when it's your turn. ...
  4. Follow the signs and 'park up' accordingly. ...
  5. Don't mark your card on the green. ...
  6. Pick up when you can't score. ...
  7. Manage the lost ball scenario. ...
  8. Keep your pace up.

How do you fix slow play in golf?

How to Deal with Slow Play

  1. Don't Get Tight. While you wait, you should work toward staying loose and working on tempo. ...
  2. Ask to Play Through. Another alternative is to simply ask the group in front of you if you can play through. ...
  3. Practice Putting and Chipping. ...
  4. Play Smarter & Harder.

What causes slow play on a golf course?

Be ready to pay when it's your turn

We feel that one of the biggest causes of slow play is the golfer simply not being ready to play when it is his or her turn on tee, fairway or green, or when the course ahead is clear. Golf is not a race, so you don't have to be relentless in your pursuit of the finishing post.

What causes slow play?

Slow play, based on my experience, boils down to two key elements: not being ready to hit when it's our turn, and not being mindful of our partners. It takes an entire tee sheet and golf course staff working in harmony to keep pace of play exceptional.

Is slow play ruining golf?

There are few things more aggravating on a golf course than slow play. Waiting on every shot behind a foursome that has little concept of the proper pace of play can ruin an otherwise glorious day. Slow play has become something of an epidemic, as too many golfers mimic what they see from the pros on television.

35 related questions found

Where should I tee off from?

As we have already mentioned, this will differ from person to person, but the general rule is: The back tees: low-handicap men. The middle tees: middle- to high-handicap men, low-handicap women, or low-handicap senior men. The front tees: middle- to high-handicap women and seniors, or beginners.

How long should a round of golf take?

Hole-by-Hole

A normal golf hole will take a group of four amateur golfers around 15 minutes to complete. This equates to an 18-hole round of golf taking anywhere from 4 to 4.5 hours.

How can I improve my golf pace?

Here are some recognized tips for improving pace of play:

  1. Start smart. ...
  2. Try alternate forms of play to speed up your round. ...
  3. Minimize your time on the tee. ...
  4. Plan your shot before you get to your ball. ...
  5. Keep your pre-shot routine short. ...
  6. Aim to play in 20 seconds. ...
  7. Develop an eye for distance. ...
  8. When sharing a cart, use a buddy system.

How Long Should 18 holes take?

How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes of Golf? If your group is playing at a reasonable pace and are not being held up by other groups, you can typically expect to play 18 holes of golf in 3 to 5 hours. Depending on your group size and pace of play, I've had rounds take anywhere from 2 ½ to 6+ hours.

How long should it take to golf 18 holes?

As you add players to your group, you can expect the time to complete a round to grow by roughly thirty minutes for each additional player. Two players could play in three hours, three players could play in three hours and thirty minutes, and four players, on average, could take four hours to play 18 holes of golf.

What to say to slow golfers?

Instead of throwing a tantrum, try using your words. “Ready golf” is an especially handy phrase, all the more so when you couple it with action. You might, for instance, hit out of turn intentionally and then say: “Sorry about that. But it's all about ready golf” — ready golf being code for “hurry your a– up!”

What does slow playing someone mean?

It is the opposite of fast playing. A flat call can be a form of slow playing. The objective of slow playing is to lure opponents into a pot who might fold to a raise, or to cause them to bet more strongly than they would if the player had played aggressively (bet or raised).

How many holes are there in a round of golf?

In any event, if you love golf, 18 holes is great because it takes a long time to play that many. Of course, if you love someone who loves golf, it's not as great. But again, it took a long time for this to become standard. Even longer than it takes to play 18 holes at a public course today.

What does the average golfer shoot?

The average golfer shoots over 100 for 18 holes (and it's likely higher than that because many don't play completely by the rules). You've probably also heard that the average score, even with all the advancements in the game in recent years, has remained consistent for decades.

What color tee should I play from?

Red Tees: Women's tees, farthest forward with shortest distance to the hole, and least challenging. Gold Tees: Senior's tees, not quite the shortest distance to the hole but second in line, meant to help the elderly who still play have a better chance at shooting their old hay day scores.

How long does a round of golf take for 1 person?

On an empty golf course, a single player or a skilled twosome can play an 18-hole round in as little as 2 hours. That can be walking or riding, depending on the age of the players. On a busy golf course with average to poor players, an 18-hole round can take in upwards of 6 hours to play.

How fast should you play golf?

Pace of play is the total amount of time it takes for each group to complete the hole. Combined over 18 holes, this is the total amount of time it takes from your first tee shot to your last putt on number 18. A general rule of thumb is to try and keep it under 4.5 hours. That equates to roughly 15 minutes per hole.

How long should a 2 ball take?

A standard 2 ball should get around the average course in about 3.5 hours maximum. Add another half hour or so for a four ball. If you're in a five ball, be prepared for some comments.

How do golf courses increase rounds?

Strategies to Boost Revenue at Your Course This Season

  1. Sell packages.
  2. Custom memberships.
  3. A well-designed loyalty rewards program.
  4. Branded merchandise.
  5. Sponsorships.
  6. Add an eCommerce page to your website.
  7. Open up an online booking channel.
  8. Upselling and cross-selling.

Is walking 18 holes of golf good exercise?

Walking golf is a great exercise for children and adults who love playing this invigorating sport. People who forgo the golf carts and hoof it on foot can find themselves burning off between 1,000 to 1,500 calories when playing all 18-holes. You can burn off more calories by carrying your clubs.

How many miles does a golfer walk in 18 holes?

The World Golf Foundation estimates that golfers who walk an 18-hole course clock about 5 miles and burn up to 2,000 calories. But here's the rub: About two-thirds of golf in the U.S. is played in motorized carts. Some resorts and private courses even restrict walking and require carts.

What is the penalty for slow play in golf?

If a player on the list exceeds 60 seconds they will be individually timed even if their group is not considered out of position. One “bad time” during a tournament will prompt a warning from officials and a second bad time will result in a one-stroke penalty.

What are red tees in golf?

Red tee markers can have two meanings. If the red tees are behind the white tees, it is usually for championship play. More commonly, the red tees are located in front of the white tee markers and are often called the "women's tees". The forward tees usually offer the shortest yardage on the course.

What age is a senior golfer?

In men's professional golf senior tournaments are for players aged 50 and above. In other branches of the sport the lower age limit varies, but is usually 45, 50 or 55.

Is a 250 yard drive good?

The average driving distance for a golfer with a 5 handicap or less is 250 yards. You might think that's kind of low for a good golfer but it's pretty realistic for someone who isn't a professional. If you hit the ball the average distance you're really not that far away from the average distance of a scratch golfer.