With busy schedules, it can be difficult to fit in a beloved round of golf, especially when you are playing with a group of people. The average game with a group of four can even last several hours. Here are a few tips for increasing your speed of play so that you can enjoy a quick game more often.

Tips to Speed Up Your Golf Game

1. Let Faster Groups Play Through

If there is a group behind you that is waiting or catching up to your party, wave them through so that players don’t start to get stacked up behind you. Knowing that there are people waiting, often impatiently, will take the enjoyment out of playing for many folks, so there’s no reason not to let faster golfers play through.

2. Mark Scorecards in Advance

Be organized on a day when the course is busy or you’re on a timeline. Don’t spend several minutes sorting out scorecards while everyone stands around. Whoever is first to hit should have their glove on and club and tee ready while someone else prepares the scorecards.

3. Follow Everyone’s Shot

A time-consuming aspect of golf is looking for balls lost in the rough. Keep an eye on everyone’s shot—not just your own—to minimize the time spent searching for the ball. It’s also courtesy to your fellow players to be as engaged in their game as in your own.

4. Be Ready & Focused

Don’t hang out in the golf cart or chatting while others are hitting. Determine your shot and the club you need, and be ready when it’s time to play. Although a leisurely, social game is one of the nice parts of golf, it’s not always an option on busy courses. Save the socializing for the clubhouse.

5. Alternate Forms of Play

Consider alternatives to individual stroke play to move a game along. Investigate forms such as best-ball or match play as options that are fun and faster paced for groups. Be open to playing “ready golf”—letting the person who is ready to hit go first rather than on who has “honors.”

Getting in a round of golf can be challenging if you have time constraints or play on busy courses, but following the tips above can improve pace. Coulee Golf Bowl in Onalaska, WI, offers a scenic nine-hole golf course and an eight-lane bowling center, as well as a sports bar and grill to relax and enjoy family fun. They also have a golf club and can help you plan tournaments and parties. Call (608) 781-1111 to book a tee time, or visit them online to tour the course.