| 
The Old Committeeman quietly put his scorecard down
with a satisfied look as the Golf Chairman joined him
at the octagonal table. The Golf Chairman remarked,
"I seem to be joining a golfer who has had a very good
round today."
In reply, the O.C. said, "It was one of my best this
year. My score was in line with the low five scores
in the handicap twenty. The reason was my play was very
practical. I kept the long shots in the fairway and
my short game was efficient and respectable with a few
one-putts and no three-putts. Now, you can see why I
have a pleasant view of my world.
"But more importantly," continued the O.C., "I have
found the slow play article that I promised and here
it is:
SLOW PLAY: A Self-Examination
Slow play is a problem common to most clubs and
a concern of all Golf Committees. In attempting to cope
with slow play, the AGA club golfer should begin with
himself. Thoughtfully and responsibly review the following
Self Examination on Slow Play. Then do something about
it.
- On the putting green:
- Am I over-careful in reading the line from
several angles?
- Do I imagine I see things that aren't really
there?
- Do I pick up unimportant things?
- Do I lift the ball to "clean" it when it
couldn't possibly need it?
- Do I have other balls lifted needlessly,
as a matter of routine, or only when they might
really interfere?
- In stroke play, do I putt out whenever feasible,
instead of lifting and marking my ball?
- Do I re-try putts while others wait?
- Before starting, do I know the handicap allowances
and Local Rules?
- Do I always know when it's my turn to play,
and am I ready to play?
- While others are playing, do I size up my shot
and decide what club to use? Or am I indecisive in
selecting clubs?
- When I hit one off the fairway, do I line it
up with objects in the area where it went, and thus
save time in searching?
- When I must go a different way from the player
with whom I am sharing a cart or caddie, do I take
two or three clubs with me to speed my selection?
- Do I have a second ball handy in case I need
it?
|
|
- Do I practice-swing or waggle unnecessarily?
- Do I let following players through whenever
there's open hole ahead, or when I'm looking for a ball?
- Does my idle chatter distract and delay others?
- Do I try to give a lesson to others during a
round?
- After a bad shot, do I analyze it for my companions'
edification and re-examine my swing needlessly?
- If I use a cart, do I park it in the right place
for saving time, without hurting the course?
- Do I waste time between nines?
- Above all, am I considerate of others? Do I distract
fellow golfers? The Etiquette of the game reads in part:
"Players should not disturb their play by moving, talking
or making unnecessary noise" and "Players should not
stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly
behind the hole, when a player is about to play."
Now, how much time should a four-ball match take? At the
first tee on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland,
there is a sign stating that a four-ball match should
not take longer than three and a half hours. A pace of
12 minutes per hole is a three-hour, 36-minute round.
At an AGA club, a four-ball match would most likely take
longer, but it should not take longer than four hours.
An average of 13 minutes per hold makes for a round of
three hours, 54 minutes. If all players follow the points
raised in the Slow Play Self Examination, a four-ball
match should require substantially less than four hours.
After the Golf Chairman read it, the O.C. asked, "What
do you think of it?"
The Golf Chairman replied, "I like
it very much. I was expecting something like this from
you and in anticipation that I would like it, let me review
the promotional program I have been thinking about for
your reaction. "Apart from mailing it out to all golfing
members with our next newsletter, plus making it available
in the golf shop, I am going to announce that I plan to
correct my slow play habits in accordance with the program
and leave it open for any golfing member to catch me erring
and take me to task. As a reward, I will offer him a refreshment
of his choice in the XIX Hole. I will be on exposure to
get their attention. To get more attention for the program,
I plan to get all members of the Golf Committee to participate
as well. What do you think of all this?" "I like your
reaction and your program," replied the O.C. "You can
include me in the program as an old committeeman of this
club. I am with you all the way in this effort to improve
the way we play golf at this club." The O.C. added, "On
this upbeat note, I must end a very good XIX Hole session,
and I wish you well." Then turning to James, the O.C.
said, "I find that I am running late and any unsigned
tickets will be signed tomorrow. Good night, James." "Good
night, sir."
|
