Have you ever been stuck on the golf course, waiting for what felt like an eternity for your turn to hit the ball? It can be frustrating, especially when you're feeling confident and ready to swing away. Fortunately, there's an answer to this problem: ready golf. This efficient way of playing speeds up the game by allowing players to hit their balls whenever they are ready - no waiting for turns required! Let's dive into what ready golf is and why it's such a great way to play.
What Is Ready Golf?
Ready golf is a term used to describe quickening the game's pace by hitting the ball when you're able, rather than waiting for your specific turn. Usually, in golf, the person farthest from the hole hits first.
But ready golf throws that tradition out of the window- anyone in the group can take their shot whenever they're good and ready, no matter what position they are relative to other players. So if you reach your ball and feel confident enough to go while other members of your group are looking for their ball or trying to figure out which club to hit, swing away even though it may not be officially your turn!
Ready golf is typically played in the fairway but you can play ready golf on the tee box, around the green and even on the green. Let's take a closer look.
On the tee box, the golfer with honors should hit first but if he or she is not ready then it's perfectly acceptable for someone who is ready to go ahead and tee off. If you have a slower group in front of you it may be a good idea to have the shorter hitter in your group go first while the longer hitters wait.
When you're on the green you can still play ready golf. If it's not your turn to putt do your homework and line up your putt so that when it is your turn you're ready to go. Obviously, you don't want to be in the line of the golfer putting or a distraction to him or her.
You can also putt out of turn if one of your playing partners has hit out of a greenside bunker and is still technically away. Go ahead and putt while they rake the bunker. Ready golf is all about making the game a more pleasant experience.
Why Play Ready Golf?
There are a few reasons why ready golf is a great idea. For one thing, it makes rounds go by faster. This speeds up play and helps keep everyone on schedule so no one has to wait too long between holes or at tee boxes. Nobody wants to play a 5 or 6-hour round of golf.
It eliminates any confusion over who is away or who should go next. As soon as someone is physically able (and comfortable) taking their shot, they can do so without having to worry about whether or not it is their turn yet.
It can also improve your focus and have you playing better golf. If you're not forced to wait as long between shots, you may be able to stay focused on each shot rather than getting distracted or bored waiting for your turn.
Additionally, playing ready golf can help speed up play if someone in your group isn’t quite an experienced golfer yet—so they don’t have to worry about holding up others while they slowly progress to the green.
And finally, playing ready golf just makes sense—after all, who wants to wait around when they could be getting closer to finishing their round sooner and collecting all those skins?
It is important to be safe when you're playing ready golf. Be aware of where you and your playing partners are on the course especially when you are playing out of turn and in front of them on a particular hole.
The USGA and R&A Jumps on Board
In 2019, the USGA and R&A thought that ready golf made so much sense that they added a recommendation to the Official Rules of Golf. It states, " In stroke play, players may play "ready golf" in a safe and responsible way..." (see Rule 5.6 2b - Pace of Play) They even stated that ready golf could be played in match play to save time if you and your opponent agreed.
Ready golf is an excellent way for experienced and novice golfers alike to speed up their round and get more enjoyment out of playing with friends or family. By eliminating golf etiquette about the order of play and allowing players in a group to hit whenever they are ready (and safe), everyone gets a chance at playing faster-paced rounds that are more enjoyable overall! So next time you find yourself stuck in the fairway waiting around for your turn, consider giving ready golf a try - you won't regret it!
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