PLAYING TIPS AND ETIQUETTE
SAMGA Pace of Play Tips:
SAMGA members and friends, the pace of play is arguably one of our most talked-about topics and one that has no easy solution. With that said, we can and must try to improve our pace of play, and to do that requires buy-in from all of us. We don’t have to hurry or rush, just by being a little more conscious and efficient during our rounds. Here are a few easy to implement tips that might help improve our pace of play:
ON THE TEE: Play “hit when ready” and if you think your original ball might be lost or out of bounds, play a provisional.
IN THE FAIRWAY: Don’t wait in the cart while your cartmate hits and then drive to your ball. Get out and walk to your ball with a few clubs and be ready to play when it is your turn and then let your cartmate pick you up. Plan your shot before you get to your ball, think ahead. Determine your yardage and make your club selection before it is your turn to play. You can do this while others are playing, from club selection to pre-shot routine to execution, try to hit your shot in 20 – 30 seconds when it is your turn to play to keep play moving at a good pace. Keep up with the group in front of you. If your group is consistently not able to keep up and a gap opens in front of you, invite the group behind you to play through.
ON THE GREEN: Be efficient on the putting green. As soon as you get to the green, mark your ball, clean it, survey the green, get your line and be ready to putt when it is your turn. You can do these things while others are putting without disturbing them. If you’re recording the score for the group, wait until the next tee to record the scores.
Adopting these few simple and easy to implement tips will help SAMGA improve our pace of play and add enjoyment to our events for the entire membership.
SAMGA On-Course Etiquette:
- No talking when partners are hitting shots and keep conversations off the tee box and putting greens.
- Be respectful of other players’ space and try to stay out of the line of sight, especially when putting.
- Do not stand where you might distract a fellow player and don’t move.
- Don’t make any noise when your fellow player is preparing to putt.
- Avoid slow play and do your part in helping your group keep up with the group in front of you.
- If you aren’t ready to play when it is your turn, encourage one of your fellow partners to play.
- Maintaining the course: replace divots, rake bunkers, repair greens pitch marks and indentations.
- When tending the flagstick, make sure you aren’t standing on anyone’s line.
For safety’s sake, never hit when there’s a chance you might be able to reach the group ahead of you, and anytime you hit a shot that you think even has a remote chance of hitting any other players, yell “Fore” immediately, and make a point of apologizing to any players your ball lands near.
Displays of frustration are one thing, but outbursts of temper are quite another. Yelling, screaming, throwing clubs, or otherwise making a fool of yourself are unacceptable and, in some cases, dangerous to yourself and others.
Finally, at the end of the round, shake hands with your fellow players, congratulate the winners, console the losers, and thank them for their company. At the end of the day, the great pleasure of the game is the time you get to spend with your friends whether old friends or new friends you just made through the game.