2. Par Threes. In 2011, we are going to use the old-time rule that has somehow gotten dismissed over the years in public play. When your group has all your golf balls on the green, and the group behind you is on the tee box, wave them up to hit. When that group is all done hitting from the tee, proceed on with your putts. (This also means that when you are on the tee box, have your clubs chosen and be ready to hit, and look for the group ahead of you to wave you up!)
3. Forget "being away". The order of play is based on who is ready and can hit safely, not on whose ball is away.
4. Forget "honors". Shorter hitters can hit first off the tee, when you have longer hitters in your group who might hit into the group ahead of them. Otherwise, whoever is ready on the teebox first, go ahead!
5. Be ready on the green. Park your cart, leave your bag, drop your wedge, etc. in a direct line with the next tee. Then you will not waste time and annoy the group following by back-tracking to retrieve equipment. On the green, begin lining up your putt and reading the green as soon as you reach the green. When it is your turn, step right up and putt. You don't have to mark every putt. It is OK to follow your lag putt by immediately putting next. If your group has fallen behind, and you are done putting, leave your partners and walk off the green to the next tee box, and tee off. Also, the scorekeeper should move to the next tee before recording your scores.
6. Stop the multiple practice swings. One should be enough. If you need more, take them way ahead of the time you are supposed to be ready to hit. Likewise, determine your club selection as quickly as you can.
7. Be ready in the field of play with cart. If sharing a cart, get out of your cart and WALK a little. Drop the first player off at his ball, drive on ahead to the second ball. Occasionally, close to the green, you can grag some clubs and walk to the green or your chip/pitch shot as your partner parks the cart on the cartpath between the green and the next tee box.
8. Be ready in the field of play while walking. Occasionally, if the next hitters are on the opposite side of the fairway from you, you can continue walking down the fairway closer to your ball.
9. Rules, Lost ball. You must limit your search for lost balls to 5 minutes by Rule 27-1. Remember to play a provisional ball when you hit a ball that may be out of bounds or that you think is going to be a real problem to find.
10. Falling behind. Any group can occasionally fall behind the pace of play. When you notice that the group ahead of you has pulled away from you, start picking up your pace of play to catch up. For sure, you are behind when the group ahead of you has put a full hole's distance between them and you.
Thanks for your help in achieving FAST PLAY!!! We will all enjoy the benefits!!!
Lee Spencer, Tournament Chairman
Status: (Downriver GC 5/12) Every group (50 pairings) finished in under 4 hours and 10 minutes. One walking twosome was too slow on the front nine but they got a cart for the second nine and were fine thereafter.
Status (Liberty Lake GC 6/8) Most every group (30 pairings) in the AM finished in under 4 hours and 25 minutes. Unfortunately, about half of the PM groups finished at 4 hours and 45 minutes.