6 Great Ways to Maximize Your Time on the Golf Course

Getting the most out of your time on the golf course can seem daunting, especially when you feel like you’re constantly waiting on other groups or looking for lost balls. But with some planning and preparation, you can maximize every precious minute of your round. Here are 6 great tips to help you make the most of your time on the course.

Arrive Early and Get Ready Quickly

Showing up early is one of the simplest ways to avoid waiting around. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your tee time so you have time to get your clubs, shoes, and other gear ready without feeling rushed. Take a few practice swings and get loose while you wait to tee off. The quicker you’re ready to play when it’s your turn, the more time you’ll save.

Limit Practice Swings

While a few warm-up swings are fine, resist the urge to take 10 practice swings before each shot. Take only what you need to get loose and lined up, then step up and swing when ready. This will shave several minutes off your round. Also, avoid excessive fidgeting or waggles before you strike the ball. Developing consistent, efficient pre-shot routines will get you playing faster.

Walk at a Good Pace

Make sure you walk to your ball briskly so you don’t hold up the group behind you. But don’t rush so much that your heart is racing or you get worn out. Find a sustainable pace you can maintain throughout 18 holes. Staying relaxed, focused, and moving steadily between shots is key. You’ll play better and waste less time than if you’re constantly sprinting ahead and then waiting on others.

Don’t Over-Search for Lost Balls

Spending several minutes hunting for a lost ball in the woods can really slow things down. Give it a respectable effort, but don’t spend more than 3-5 minutes looking for an errant shot. The USGA recommends no more than 3 minutes max per lost ball search. Take a drop and move on so you don’t leave the group behind waiting on you.

Play Ready Golf

When it’s safe and your turn to hit, just go ahead and hit rather than strictly adhering to farthest from the hole hits first. If you’re ready to play on a par 3 or approaching the green and others aren’t, just go for it and maintain pace of play. But always be aware of other players and never hit into them. Playing ready golf when possible will significantly cut down on waiting and improve pace.

Ride in Golf Carts Strategically

Riding carts offer chances to conserve energy and maximize efficiency. Drop a player with the longest walk at their ball, then drive to your own to get ready. And position the cart so it’s easy to get in and out facing the direction of your next shot. You can get energy efficient light kits specifically for the Club Car Precedent and other popular golf cart models to improve visibility and safety when darkness falls before the final hole. Strategic cart use can streamline travel time between holes and shots.

Implementing even a few of these tips can dramatically improve your pace of play and allow you to get the most out of every round. Good time management lets you stay more focused on your game and enjoy some extra shots you wouldn’t have had time for otherwise. Plus, you’ll avoid delays, frustration, and letting other groups play through. Master these time-saving techniques and you’ll maximize both your enjoyment and your actual golf game on the course.

Are you a golfer? I definitely am not. I went to a driving range once about 25 years ago. My partner and I each had a bucket of balls for driving. By the time my partner was finished driving all of his balls, I was still swinging and missing my first one. I never did make contact between club and ball. So I will leave golf to the golfers and just publish tips that were ghost written by someone who understands golf.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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