| READY |  |
| READY | |
Basically ready golf means being ready to hit when it is your turn. It also means if you are ready before others, and you don't interfere with play to go ahead and play.
The person with honors should be ready to play and hit first. If that is not the case, then anyone who is ready should step up and hit. I can't count the times where I have seen everyone looking at everyone else trying to determine "who is up". When it's all said and done, often times the guy who is supposed to be up, is the one least prepared to hit.
Ready golf means that golfers should go to their balls as soon as possible and get ready to play their shots. While waiting to hit, players should prepare for their shots by selecting their clubs, judging the wind, getting yardages and such, so they are ready to hit.
All players should go to their ball as soon as possible. The only time players should wait for other players is if the first player's ball is in front of the other players in such a way that the other players could be hit by the first player's shot.
Hint: Walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball, determine your club selection while waiting, and then move towards the center to your ball. You can usually get close to your ball and get ready to play the shot, while players behind you can still make their shots.
It is important that everyone try to help out to find a lost ball in order to keep playing moving. Players should, however,do it after hitting their shots. It is unacceptable to see an entire group searching for a lost ball, spending the maximum 5 minutes, then watch all of them start the hitting rotation over again. The player closest to the pin should be the first to help in the lost ball search. Another tip is to always hit a provisional ball if your first ball is even remotely suspected of being lost. This will save a trip back to the tee, which is an ultimate slow play enhancer.
Don't leave your clubs in front of the green. It is better to carry them off to the side, or preferably behind at a good exit point to the next tee. This way when you are done putting, you can quickly exit, allowing the following group to hit in a timely manner. Above all don't stand there writing the scores down, or discussing what type of beverage you are going to have when the cart lady comes around. Save this for when you are clear from the green.
The continuous putting rule is a good guideline. If you first putt, and can quickly tap in, or take the 2nd putt without excessive lining it up/reading the green etc., then putt. If you will have to stand in someone's line or be excessively hurried, then mark and wait. You also need to be lining up your putt while others are playing. If you are in someone's line this may not be entirely possible, but as a rule you can get 90% of the surveying done ahead of time.
After a bunker shot where the person fails to get on the green, or leaves himself a long putt, don't everyone wait for the guy to finish raking the bunker, go get his putter, line up his long putt, and play. Once the guy hits the bunker shot, the person furthest away from the hole should be ready to putt. He should have been preparing while the guy was doing bunker duties.
In general it is wise to have the player furthest from the hole hitting first for safety reasons. However, if you reach your ball, and will not cause delay or interfere with anyone else's shot, you should go ahead and hit. Often times players are on complete opposite sides of the fairway, or not even close to each other. Also the use of carts can be a factor. If you drive up to your ball way ahead of a walker, and can hit without being a safety hazard, or slowing anyone else down, then go ahead and hit.
Ready Golf is really all about common sense. If you can hit, hit. Use the time when others are hitting to prepare for your shot when it is your turn. Keep the game moving, and don't wait to hit just for the sake of honors. Remember: The foursome you are following determines the pace of play. KEEP THEM IN SIGHT!
This page last updated February 23, 2000