Skirting the Fairways
with
A test for the tortoises

Are you a slow player?  Find out for yourself from the following questions:

a)         On the putting green,

            (i)         Am I over- careful in reading the green from several angles?

(ii)               Do I imagine that I see things that aren’t there?

(iii)             Do I pick up unimportant things?

(iv)              Do I lift the ball to “clean” it when it couldn’t need it?

(v)                Do I have other balls lifted needlessly, as a matter of routine, or only when they might interfere?

(vi)              In stroke- play, do I putt out whenever feasible, instead of lifting and marking my ball?

(vii)            Do I re-try putts while others wait?

b)                 Before starting do I know the handicap allowances and local rules?

c)                  Do I always know when it is my turn to play and am I ready to play?

d)                 While others are playing, do I size up my shot and decide what club to use, or am I in-decisive in selecting clubs?

e)                 When I hit one off the fairway, do I line up with objects in the area where it went, and thus save time in searching?

f)                    Do I have a second ball ready in case I need it?

g)                 Do I practice swing or waggle unnecessarily?

h)                  Do I let following players through whenever there’s an open hole ahead?

i)                    Does my idle chatter distract and delay others?

j)                    Do I try to give a lesson to others during play?

k)                  After a bad shot, do I analyse it for my companion’s edification, or re-examine my swing needlessly?

l)                    Do I waste time between nines?

m)               Above all, am I considerate towards others?

Remember, slow play means you are being inconsiderate to others.

Reproduced from 'golf IN VICTORIA' magazine- August 1989