Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2016 - 6

INSIDE
THE MG A
Pace of Play Is a
Fixable Problem
6M HCA FM5B
P
ace of play is one
of golf's big issues.
Many who play the
game, or want to play the
game, think it takes way too
long to get around a golf
course. For many in today's
busy world, a typical daily
schedule is chunked out in
60- to 90-minute intervals,
and taking 4 to 5 hours out of
a day for a game of golf is diffi
cult to do. And when they
can play, they complain of
plodding around the course,
waiting on every other shot,
and not having fun.
The USGA is taking the
lead in examining the pace of
play issues through research
on the golf course and by
bringing industry leaders together
in a recent Pace of Play
Symposium. It's long been
the assumption that pace of
play is a " golfer " issue, but
it's becoming clear that pace
of play is a shared problem
that needs to be a concern
of every golf organization,
every person associated with
conducting events and every
golfer. We all have to take
responsibility for the causes,
and for fi nding solutions.
Architects need to keep it
in mind in their routings and
design features; operators in
the tee-time intervals they
use and devoting resources to
player assistants; and super4
MINNESOTAGOLFER
Spring 2016
intendents and golf professionals
in course setup and
maintenance practices, such
as green speeds, hole locations
and rough lengths.
And, of course, the golfer
has to think about how they
manage themselves and
their groups around the golf
course. Most of this involves
basic common sense and etiquette,
with the underlying
understanding that you're
not the only group on the
golf course.
Playing at a good pace is an
attitude. It starts with the fi rst
group of the day understanding
their role, and the following
groups keeping up.
In
the USGA's aforementioned
Pace of Play Symposium, it
was said, " Playing at a better
pace is not about hurrying
up or rushing around the
course. It is simply about being
more effi cient with your
valuable time, as well as everyone
else's. Adopting this
mindset, and not being afraid
to share it with your fellow
players, will ultimately add
enjoyment to your golf experience. "
The
fact is, while the total
length of time to play a round
of golf is important, research
has found that it's really the
fl ow of the round that makes
it enjoyable or not. Waiting
on the group ahead on every
What is MGA
Membership?
It's your
invitation to
play some of
the fi nest golf
other shot is not fun, regardless
of the total time it takes
to play.
The symposium offered
some simple tips for
improving pace of play:
1 Arrive at the fi rst tee on
time and ready to go.
2 Play from the appropriate
tees for your game.
3 Minimize your group's
time on the tee-play
ready golf whenever
possible.
4 Plan your shot before it's
your time to play.
5 Keep your pre-shot
routine short and aim to
play your shot in 20
seconds.
6 Play smart cart golf.
7 Be helpful to other
players-watch each
other's shots.
8 Keep up with the group in
front of you.
9 Be effi cient on the putting
green-be ready to go
when it's your turn and
putt out when possible.
It's not complicated and it's
not hard. It just involves a
commitment to do our part
as golfers.
2015 MGA
Tournament
Season
Accounting
The books are closed on
the 2015 golf season,
and MGA staff have
completed a fi nal accounting
of member
revenues collected and
distributed to MGA
member clubs through
championships, qualifi -
ers, the Senior Tour and
Member Days.
Green Fees .......$156,889
Cart Fees ..............$91,610
Food & Bev. .........$76,412
Prizes .......................$65,351
Honorariums ........$7,950
Range ......................$36,598
Total .....................$434,810
www.mngolf.org
courses around,
through participation
in MGA Associate Members'
Days or the MGA
Senior Tour. * It's your
USGA Handicap Index,
now updated twice every
month, year-round.
* It's your subscription
to Minnesota Golfer
magazine, delivered to
your home. * It's your
support of programs
and services that
make the game better.
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2016

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