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One of the most frequently discussed topics in golf is that of slow play.

The subject comes up so often that you would have thought a solution to it would have been found by now. However, despite all of our concerns in this area, there still isn't a solution. Worse, one doesn't even seem to be close at hand.

Slow play creates a diverse set of problems. For the golfer, slow play can impact negatively on enjoyment and scoring potential. For the golf course, slow play can under-utilize a golf course and create financial strain.

Since managing pace of play is so important, why haven't we found a solution?

Frankly, in my opinion, part of the problem is that there is not an agreed definition as to what actually constitutes slow play.

Slow play is different things to different people. Some people will say a group is playing slowly if they lose ground on the group in front of them. Others will say if you are not playing "ready golf", then you are not playing as time-efficient as you could. Still others will say that the speed of play should be clearly defined by reference to time.

All methods are imperfect. With the group-in-front benchmark, if the front group is playing at a three and a quarter hour pace, should all groups be expected to play at that same pace?

Ready golf

Playing "ready golf" creates a conflict of sorts with golf etiquette as normally the player furthest from the hole is the next to play. "Ready golf" involves movement by others when playing your shot, which can be distracting.

I suppose if there was an easy answer, we wouldn't be talking about it all the time. One thing is for sure, speed of play is an issue at every level of golf, from the widely-used public courses right on up to the professional tours.

If I was World Controller of Golf, I would define speed of play by reference to time.

My Speed of Play Laws would legislate 12 minutes for par 3's, 14 minutes for par 4's and 16 minutes for par 5's for a foursome playing under normal conditions.

As World Controller of Golf, I would also restrict players to certain tees so as to enable them to keep within my Speed of Play Laws.

As a general rule, the harder the golf course, the more time it will take to play. Similarly, the less skilled the player, the more time they will take to play. This is precisely why some golf courses restrict players to certain tees, using their handicaps for guidance, eg if you are a 12 handicap, you cannot play the back tees.

For those of you who may be interested, my Speed of Play Laws would result in a total target time for a normal par 72 course of 4 hours 12 minutes.

I think this is a reasonable amount time for a foursome to complete an enjoyable round of golf, whether walking or riding, whilst also enabling the golf course to sell an optimum number of rounds.

My solution is of course one of many imperfect solutions.

Riddell's Bay is currently using time to manage speed of play and has erected a few strategically placed, attractive, clocks to do this job. I think this is the best way to go, although many do not.

Slow play in golf should be tackled, however, it should not simply be replaced with fast play. That would just be a swapping one problem for another.[[In-content Ad]]

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