Ready golf pace means keeping up with the group in front of you, not just staying ahead of the group behind. Your place on the course is right behind the group ahead. If a whole hole opens up in front of you, your group has fallen behind, even if nobody is pushing you from behind yet.

Most golfers judge their pace by looking back. If the group behind isn’t waiting, they assume everything is fine. But slow play spreads forward and backward: one group that drops a hole behind slows down every group after it for the rest of the day.

Look Ahead, Not Just Behind

In the photo above, the fairway ahead is wide open. It looks peaceful, and it’s a lovely place to be. It’s also a signal worth noticing. When you can’t see the group in front of you on the next fairway or green, check where they are.

Three simple signs that your group has dropped behind:

• An empty hole in front of you. You reach the tee and the group ahead is already putting on the next green.
• The group behind is waiting on every shot. They’re standing on the tee or in the fairway while you play.
• You’re behind the course’s expected time. Many courses post a target pace, often around four hours to four and a quarter for 18 holes. That works out to roughly 13 to 14 minutes a hole.

How to Keep Up With the Group Ahead

1. Check the gap at every tee.
Make it a habit to look up the hole before you tee off. Is the group ahead where you’d expect them, about one shot ahead? If they’re a full hole away, it’s time to tighten up.

2. Close the gap between shots, not with your swing.
Catching up never means rushing your swing. It means walking a little more briskly, having your club picked before you reach the ball and being ready when it’s your turn. That’s the heart of ready golf: you cut out the waiting time, not your routine.

3. Plan as you walk.
Look at the green, the pin and the trouble while you walk to your ball, and carry the club you’ll need. Our tip on how to scout the green as you walk up shows how.

4. Keep searches short.
The Rules of Golf give you three minutes to search for a ball. If your shot might be lost or out of bounds, hit a provisional ball before you walk forward, so a lost ball never costs a long walk back.

5. If you can’t catch up, let the group behind play through.
Sometimes a group falls behind for a reason: a tough hole, a lost ball, a beginner in the flight. That’s fine. If there’s a clear gap ahead and the group behind is waiting, wave them through. Everyone, including your own group, will enjoy the round more.

Common Mistakes

• Only looking back. No one waiting behind you doesn’t mean you’re on pace.
• Rushing the swing to catch up. Hurried swings lead to more shots and more searching. Speed up the walking and the planning instead.
• Long chats on the green. Talk while walking to the next tee, not on the green.
• Marking scores on the green. Leave the green as soon as everyone has holed out, and write scores at the next tee.
• Waiting for the group ahead to completely disappear before teeing off. Wait until they’re safely out of range, then play. Waiting longer than needed only widens the gap.

FAQ

How far behind the group ahead should we be?
Ideally about one shot behind. When you reach the tee, the group ahead should be playing their second shots or approaching the green.

What if the group in front is slow?
Then you’re on pace even if you’re waiting. Your job is to keep up with them, not to pass them. If they keep falling behind the group ahead of them, a course marshal will usually step in.

Is it rude to let a group play through?
Not at all. Inviting a faster group to play through is one of the most appreciated courtesies in golf.

Does keeping pace mean I can’t enjoy the scenery?
No. Enjoy the walk, the views and the company. Just stay ready, so that when it’s your turn, you play.

Key Takeaways

• Ready golf pace means keeping up with the group ahead.
• An empty hole in front of you is a sign your group has fallen behind.
• Catch up between shots by walking and planning, never by rushing your swing.
• If you can’t catch up, let the group behind play through.

Do you check the group ahead when you step onto the tee? Try it on your next round and see how much smoother the day feels. New to golf? Start here.

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