There are a few of us PGA Professionals on this site, so this question is directed at all of us, and any of the rest who may be able to affect pace of play on courses..
--Why have we, as professionals come to accept slow play on our courses? Is it so much to require our guests to play golf in 4 hours?
--Why do we feel like we can't tell people to pick up the pace when they are falling behind??
--Does the design of modern courses really affect pace of play? I feel like it does not, at least not to the point that many people think it does.
JKM,
You're in a difficult position.
You sell your services to the membership.
You depend upon the sale of merchandise and lessons.
Placing you at the front line of defense against slow play is unfair to you and your staff.
It's the club's job to police the membership, not yours.
If the club DOESN'T want to improve the pace of play, you can only do yourself harm by trying to do so.
The best method for improving pace of play, that I've seen, is the following.
1. No mulligans are permited.
2. Each foursome is clocked out when the last golfer tees off.
3. Each foursome is clocked in when the last golfer walks off of # 18.
If a foursome takes more than 4 hours, or finishes more than 8 minutes after the proceeding group, the entire foursome is deemed to have played a SLOW round.
A letter is then sent to the entire foursome.
It states that they have been recorded as having played a slow round.
It further states that if any one of them are recorded as having played a SECOND SLOW round, they will not be able to tee off before 2:00 pm on the next TWO (2) following three day weekends (fri, sat & sun)
A "Mulligan" is deemed to be a slow play violation and the culprit is sent a slow play letter.
Key to this system are several facets.
A. Once one group plays in more than 4 hours it's almost impossible to get successive groups to play in less than 4 hours, thus, the differential between the groups becomes critical.
B. Early groups are told to play in 3.5 hours.
C. Strict enforcement.
D. This removes all potential on the course conflicts between staff and
members. No need for rangers, staff, etc., etc..
E. A small, tough committee is in charge and they report to one person,
the President of the club. Excuses, such as the dog ate my homework,
fall on deaf ears.
TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT