I know, I know.....what do these three have to do with you? Let me explain. Obviously, the pace of play is the easiest to relate to the members of ASGA. Let's face it, we're all old and not as quick to move around (explains why it is called "Austin SENIOR Golf Association", right). So why am I bringing this up? Well, pace of play is a problem that all of us (even us slow folks) would like to see improved. How? Here are a
few suggestions: 1) Putt out once you start (obviously if you blow a putt by four feet you may want to mark and consider your error); 2) Let the slow one in the group (you know who you are) putt first and head for the cart (no one needs an audience); 3) Go (meaning you, the slow one) to your ball first and send your cart partner on to his ball while you hit (he can come back for you, provided you deserve it); 4) Leave the green side immediately, don't sit and record your group's scores (this infuriates those behind you even though you are only taking thirty seconds to do it..... try holding you breath for thirty seconds and you will understand what I'm talking about). Well, there you have it, the perfect way(s) to speed up play. Problem solved!
few suggestions: 1) Putt out once you start (obviously if you blow a putt by four feet you may want to mark and consider your error); 2) Let the slow one in the group (you know who you are) putt first and head for the cart (no one needs an audience); 3) Go (meaning you, the slow one) to your ball first and send your cart partner on to his ball while you hit (he can come back for you, provided you deserve it); 4) Leave the green side immediately, don't sit and record your group's scores (this infuriates those behind you even though you are only taking thirty seconds to do it..... try holding you breath for thirty seconds and you will understand what I'm talking about). Well, there you have it, the perfect way(s) to speed up play. Problem solved!
Housekeeping you say! What in the world! Housekeeping in this sense is referring to the raking of the sand traps that you have just used two stokes to get out of! This has developed into a major problem. There is a simple solution, rake the damn trap! I know it looks like a pig pen with sand but leave it better than when you entered. This is the one exception to fast play! Rake the trap!
Cheating ...... or to be more specific, use of the "gimmie". The gimmie is an insidious ploy of those too lazy or too prideful to conclude the necessary act of putting the ball in the hole, no matter what! It says a lot about that person when they look to their partners for confirmation that it is a good putt. It leaves each person in the group with that secret feeling that somehow someone just cheated. And I am not just talking about the person who takes the "gimmie". Anyone who allows that act to take place is cheating as well. It is still practiced (we have eye witnesses) and it is cheating at the most elementary level. We, the members of ASGA, are better than that! The guys in my off days (other than Tuesday) matches have a favorite joke, "Its good, pick it up!" they say when one of us just misses and the ball lies only a few inches from the hole. Of course, no one does because they know that they will incur a penalty if they do so. Taking a "gimmie" is not a "wink-wink" move. It is cheating.
