Slow play

SLOW play has always been a very touchy subject, writes Nigel Burkitt.

It is a fact that many players ignore the simple practices that can speed up play.

Leaving your clubs at the side of the green nearest the next tee can speed things up, as well as placing your bag adjacent to where you are playing your shot from, rather than 20 yards short and then walking forward.

Many players are never ready to play when their turn comes. It all adds to the frustration.

One of the more amusing experiences I had was whilst playing as a young junior on my own. I was held up by two ladies for nine holes, having to wait on every shot.

The ladies left the 17th green and proceeded to walk straight down the 18th fairway. Thinking their match was over, I played up and finished the hole and, as I walked on to the 18th, the two ladies were walking back towards me on the tee.

"Sorry young man, we were so busy talking we forgot to tee off," one of them informed me. Absolutely priceless!

I personally don't mind if players take six hours on the course as long as they let faster groups through.

You can have a picnic on the side of the 8th fairway for me, because golf is many things to many people but a bit of consideration goes a long way.

However, here is another tip for speeding up play: don't bother wasting time having a practice swing on every shot.

Why? Well, as a coach for many years, I have seen a lot of players and I can assure you that all of us have two swings, one we use with the ball and one we use without the ball.

We should save the one that is poetry in motion for posing in front of the patio windows, and use the one which is usually less then poetic for the course.

PS Before anyone takes offence, this is purely a tongue-in-cheek observation

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