Agua picante ranchera de Casamigas
Slow golf turns friends into coworkers. Here’s how to play faster without acting like a marshal.
- Ready golf beats “honors” 95% of the time
- Walk with a club in hand; putt in waves; pick up after double
- Use scripts that fix pace without starting a fight
Why pace matters (and not just to strangers behind you)
- Faster rounds = more holes, more laughs, fewer “I gotta bail on 17” texts.
- Better rhythm = better scores. Waiting 5 minutes on every shot is a tempo killer.
- Good pace is a group project. One hero can’t save three statues.
The usual suspects (what actually slows groups down)
- Searching forever because no one watched the ball
- Pre-shot theater (three rehearsals, TED talk alignment)
- Cart chaos (both riders go to one ball… twice)
- Putting paralysis (mark/remark/realign/re-scan from four angles)
- Scorecard rituals on the green instead of the next tee
The 12 Rules of Ready Golf (steal this)
- Whoever’s ready, hits. Honors is for majors and wedding speeches. If slow pace is even slightly coming into play, give out the ol' "I'm just gonna go ahead and play ready golf if that's good with you guys?" as you put your tee down.
- Play first, search second. If you’re safe, hit your shot before joining the ball hunt.
- Cart split: each rider grabs a club and heads to their ball; meet at the next stop.
- Club in hand: walk to your ball with two likely clubs and a range.
- Plan while they hit. Pick yardage, wind, and target during their routine.
- Bunker efficiency: enter at the low side, rake on the way out, leave it tidy.
- Green in waves: if you’re ready and out of the line—putt. Continuous putting is fine.
- Read while others roll. Quick look from behind the ball; no committee meetings.
- Tap-ins don’t wait. Finish out inside ~2–3 feet unless someone asks you to mark.
- Triple? Pick it. Stroke max: pick up after double on casual rounds.
- Scoring at the tee. Write scores while the first player tees off.
- Be predictably brisk. Walk with purpose; 20 seconds over the ball is enough.
Scripts that speed up groups (and keep vibes friendly)
- On the tee: “Let’s do ready golf today so we finish before sunset.”
- Ball search: “I’m safe—gonna play mine then help you look.”
- Green traffic: “I’m clear—mind if I go ahead and finish?”
- Cart split: “I’ll drop you at yours, then I’ll hit and swing back.”
- Gentle nudge: “Let’s keep it moving—we’re just behind pace.”
7 painless habits that shave 20–30 minutes
- Watch every shot until it lands; pick a tree/marker behind it.
- Play a provisional when there’s any doubt. Announce it.
- Choose a tee box you can actually carry; pride is slower than honesty.
- Keep tees/balls handy—pockets are faster than bags.
- Lag putt practice on the practice green (2 minutes saves holes later).
- Cart parking: leave it past the green toward the next tee.
- Order drinks at the turn by text/call if the course allows.
Pace-friendly formats (for casual rounds)
- Scramble last 3 holes: guarantees a fast finish.
- Stableford Lite: no card-math meltdown; pick up when you’re out of points.
- Best ball, net: keeps everyone swinging without re-tee drama.
Gear that helps (tiny investments, big payoff)
- Rangefinder (or app) clipped on the bag—no fishing.
- Ball retriever? Nope. Play a provisional instead.
- Marking tool and two balls in pocket before every tee shot.
Etiquette with groups behind you
- If you’re half a hole open ahead: wave the next group through.
- If the course is stacked: keep the gap closed to the group in front; that’s winning.
FAQ
Is continuous putting “bad etiquette”? Not in casual play—and it’s faster. Communicate and go.
What if a partner insists on honors? Offer a compromise: “Honors on 1 and 18, ready golf elsewhere.”
How fast is ‘good’? Four walkers should finish in ~4 hours on a typical muni. Carts, ~3:45. The real metric: no empty fairway ahead.
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