Pace of play can often be the crux of enjoyment from everything to a casual round to a PGA Tour event. Pace is one of the biggest factors in the game, and slow play can rear its ugly head wherever golf is played. While the Rules recommendations found under Rule 5.6 provide mechanisms to speed up the round – playing a provisional ball, not exceeding the three minute search time when looking for a lost ball – there are three other factors that can drastically impact the speed of a round at all levels: tee time intervals, course maintenance (rough height and green speeds), and culture.
Tee time intervals need to allow for a reasonable amount of space between groups to keep the pace moving while also factoring in how long it will take to play certain holes. Good “flow” on a golf course consists of playing the course at a reasonable pace while avoiding major backups and waits. If the first hole is a par 3, the tee time intervals need to allow groups to finish that hole before the next tee time or else there will be a wait on the tee. There also needs to be consideration for the format – foursomes of four-ball need more time between groups than a threesome of stroke play. This is why U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers have larger tee time intervals than U.S. Open qualifiers. Tee time intervals set the structure for the day; if tee time intervals are too small, pace will always be a challenge.
At the tour level, a stern test usually ensures the best players come out victorious. You’ll often hear the term “U.S. Open rough” or “major championship green speeds.” While these extreme conditions are often necessary to test the best players in the world, course conditions also dictate player pace. Finding a balance between a proper test and an acceptable pace is always top of mind, and the caliber of the field playing the course should be a primary factor in deciding these controllable conditions.
If elite players aren’t on the course, maintaining greens at a modest speed and rough at a height that allows players to find their ball will allow for quicker rounds. When players are constantly searching for their balls in rough just a few feet off the fairway, the round will inevitably slow down. The same goes for players having a 3-foot putt on greens stimping at a 13: What might have been a tap in at slower speeds is now a putt that requires some time and attention.
Culture is a topic that isn’t always a focus for pace of play but is arguably the single biggest factor. Every course has a different culture and provides varying expectations, whether that be at your local muni, the nearby private club, an outing, invitational, or professional event. We often have an expectation for how long the round should take at these places and event, and these expectations drive a culture and ultimately dictate what is tolerated as slow play. Three hours and 45 minutes might be a modest pace for a group of four at your club and those taking more than four hours might get a letter sent to them, while a group of three professionals might appropriately need four-and-a-half hours to play that same course in tournament conditions.
Awareness and information is an important area of focus when trying to improve the culture of a group. Players should have a realistic expectation of how long their round should take and be cognizant of their positioning on the course at all times.
At a professional tournament where players need to hole out every ball, the rounds will always take longer than on a typical day at your club. The pros also have to deal with all of the course setup challenges that lead to slower rounds from rough height to green speeds. But even with all of these challenges, the culture of what’s accepted by the members and what’s tolerated by their administrators is one area they could clearly overhaul. Social pressure goes a long way, and for these member-driven tours, the members need to be a leading voice to make a cultural change.
As we look forward to another season in 2025, let’s continue to make pace of play a priority by controlling what we can control. If you’re a player, be ready to hit when it’s your turn, pick up when you’re out of a hole, play a provisional ball if you think your first ball may be lost or OB, and stick to three minutes to search for your ball. If you’re an administrator/operator, provide appropriate rough height, green speeds, tee time intervals, and course setup for your target demographic.
And for all golfers, be the change you want to see on the course – help build that culture of prompt pace that will help enhance everyone’s experience.