Slow Play: When You Are Given Lemons, Make Lemonade

     How much do you hate slow play.  I think as golfers, we all do.  But let's put some things in perspective about slow play.  You have to take a look at this before you make a quick judgement. Slow play can be a good thing, depending on how you look at it and what the reasons are for slow play. When it is slow out there and you are given lemons--or slow play--make lemonade.
     I think you have to look at the reasons why play is so slow.  There are good reasons and there are bad reasons. I hate groups in front of me that don't play ready golf.  It seems as though there is a virus among golfers in some groups that says that you must go to each other's balls and watch your friend hit their shot.  Then, everyone in the group goes over to watch you hit your shot. This is bad folks. Please play ready golf.  Go to your own ball and be ready to hit immediately after the guy who just hit plays their shot. Believe me, this will speed things us. Play the shot.
    That three foot putt you are about to stroke is not for three million dollars. Hit the darn thing and move on.  What happens if you miss?  You make bogey or double bogey at worst and lose that quarter. Its not the end of the world.  Hit the stupid thing, will ya?  Lee Trevino said it best when he said, "You can miss a two footer just as quick in three seconds as you can in thirty."
     Many who hate slow play overlook a simple reason why a golf course is taking too long to play.  Could it be that they teed off on a beautiful Saturday morning and they are not the only ones who had that same idea.  In other words, the course is crowded with other golfers. Maybe its not that people are playing slow, its that there are so many golfers playing the course. You know that is the case.  There is nothing you can do to speed up play, because there is just nowhere to go.  I understand the frustration, I have been there before.  Just maybe its time to look at this from a different perspective and start squeezing the lemons. Get some sugar and water to make the lemonade.
     Let me explain what I am talking about.  The very fact that play is slow means that there are a lot of golfers on the course.  Let me translate that statement.  What it means is there are a lot of people playing the course--a lot of golfers.  Unfortunately they have chosen the same time to play as you have, but having so many players enjoying the game of golf is a good thing.  Remember, every one of these golfers that are out there playing have payed a green fee and that is revenue for the course. It means that the course can keep their doors open and as golfers we have to understand that.
     Here is a revelation for most golfers. In order to keep the doors of a golf course and the greens green you have to have revenue.  People have to play and pay their green fees,  The course doesn't run on the good thoughts of the golfers who play it. It takes money my friend, and the more golfers who play the course the more money the course has to operate. Slow play on a crowded course is a good thing.  What would be happening if there were no golfers on the course but you?  Can you afford the many millions of dollars that it takes to run a golf course?  I don't think so.
     Less golfers on the course probably means a faster round.  Why are you out here anyway?  Do you really want to return to life off the course?  What are you going to do after you have completed a round in three and a half hours?   You are probably going to go in the coffee shop or bar and have a tall cold beer or to or maybe a soda and talk over the round with the other three in your foursome. Two and a half hours later you will head for home. That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? I would rather spend the time on the course, even though I enjoy the nineteenth hole. Besides, what is happening the rest of the day that is so pressing?  Do you have to mow the lawn?  How about that paperwork from your job?  So the movie starts at 1:15 and you are not going to make it.  Plan for a later showing.
      I have to agree with you that we can speed up play and cut the times for a round of golf to less than four and a half hours.  There are more issues that cause slow play that I haven't mentioned.
 I have to admit that slow play is caused by players playing slow and that is a bad thing that we have to address. Yes we can do something about players playing slow because they are not keeping up.   What you have to realize is that in most cases slow rounds are caused by crowded golf courses.   There really isn't much we can do if a course is playing to its capacity as far as the number of golfers playing the course.  A full golf course is a good thing.  We have to realize that and just make some lemonade.

Do you really want to rush a great round of golf on a beautiful course?