This is my final and last edition of my ideas on improving pace of play on the golf course. It’s a big problem on golf courses all across the country. Over the last week the USGA and Golf Channel have really made a big push to bring it to the front of people’s minds. Everyone can do something on the golf course to try and save 10-15 minutes or more during a round.
The first six ideas really put the responsibility on each individual golfer. With today’s idea, I actually put all the responsibility on the golf course itself. It’s time for golf course to actually do a better job managing their golf course.
Golf Courses Need to Do a Better Job of Managing Pace of Play
Here’s an policy every golf course across America should adopt – it’s a knock-off of the infamous “No Shirts. No Service” slogan you regularly see at gas stations.
“Slow Play = No Play”
When you walk into the clubhouse and are paying for your greenfee, the pro at the counter should hand you a print-out or postcard that simply states the pace of play rules of the golf course. If they don’t want to hand out a piece of paper with the rules, then the pro needs to simply remind them they have a strict pace of play policy and there are people out there managing the flow of the golf course.
The last part of the actual statement above is actually the hardest. Golf courses quite frankly need to do a better job improving pace of play and they need to have people on the golf course who manage it. Yes, you’re right. The marshall is suppose to be the one who manages pace of play, but how many times have you seen a “retiree” or “volunteer” who is only doing it for the free golf. They don’t actually care about the pace of play and are just out there to be seen. You can’t sit here and tell me you have not seen a marshall drive by your hole and wave and continue on while you have just waited on every hole.
I understand from my past experiences working at a golf course that players who are paying for a round of golf tend to think they are “entitled” to do as they please because they paid the greenfee. It’s the same mentality that people have at football or baseball games who act like a fool all because “I paid for the ticket I can do what I want.”
If you tell the golfers upfront at the time of payment, you are setting their expectations. Sure you will also have the #knucklehead who demands to see the General Manager, but I can guarantee 99/100 golfers will take it in stride. Hell, you never know, some of them may even try to keep up. It’s as simple as a reminder that says “if you fall behind you will be reminded about pace of play rules.”
It’s a real simple plan that all golf courses should adopt. It’s much easier to just collect the greenfee and tell them to show up #1 at their tee time. It’s a collective effort between all golfers and all golf courses.
I hope you enjoyed my series of articles on pace of play and I want to hear your thoughts. Let me know below or let us all know on Twitter @Front9Back9.
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