Finally, Someone Does Something About Pace Of Play

If your idea of a great round of golf includes playing 18 holes in less than four hours, no waiting for the group in front of you and finishing before noon, then the new “Fast Track Golf” program at Crystal Springs Resort is for you.

Located in the mountains of northern New Jersey, Crystal Springs Resort surveyed hundreds of their golfers and quickly discovered overwhelming support for a faster pace of play. With such strong sentiment voiced, the Resort quickly implemented a proactive program that enables golfers to complete a round in less than four hours.

On weekends throughout the summer season, Crystal Springs will implement “Fast Track Golf” on two of the Resort’s seven award-winning courses, with designated “Fast Track Golf” tee times at Wild Turkey prior to 7:30 a.m. and at Cascades prior to 10 a.m. “Fast Track Golf” is available to daily fee players or to resort guests.

“Fast Track Golf is one of the alternative golf concepts we have successfully implemented at Crystal Springs,” said Art Walton, Vice President of Golf Operations. “We want our guests to have a great time here, even if that means we actually shorten their time playing golf.”

Features of “Fast Track Golf” include:
•Maximum 7 strokes per hole
•Maximum 3 putts per hole
•Lost balls must be abandoned after a 60-second search
•No “honors” – play when ready

Those who don’t maintain pace will be warned, moved, or may be required to play another course.

AS most of us know, there's really no reason for a round of golf to take more than four hours. I've played plenty of rounds in three hours or less--walking in a foursome! All it takes is some common sense steps like being ready to swing when you get to the ball, picking up when you're out of the hole in your match, and not spending time looking for a ball you couldn't play even if you found it. If you're playing in a tournament, things may be different, although I've also competed in MGA events that didn't take more than four hours so I know it CAN be done.

In addition to writing about golf, Dave Donelson distills the experiences of hundreds of entrepreneurs into practical advice for small business owners and managers in the Dynamic Manager's Guides, a series of how-to books about marketing and advertising, sales techniques, hiring, firing, and motivating personnel, financial management, and business strategy.