Harper Lin
Ready golf is a style of play in golf that prioritises maintaining a good pace of play. It encourages players to play when they are ready to do so safely, rather than adhering to the traditional system where the player farthest from the hole plays first. Ready golf is intended to speed up the game and is most commonly used in stroke play. It is not typically used in match play due to the strategy involved and the need for a set method of determining the order of play.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A replacement for the traditional farthest-from-the-hole system of determining order of play in golf |
| When to play | When safe to do so and when ready |
| Where to play | On the tee, in the fairway, and on the green |
| Who plays first | The first person ready to play their shot is free to play |
| Who plays next | The shorter hitter can go first off the tee in stroke play even if it's not their honor |
| Putting | Keep it to 20 seconds or less from when it's your turn |
| Losing a ball | Other players in the group should hit their shots before helping search |
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What You'll Learn
- Ready golf is a replacement for the traditional farthest-from-the-hole system
- It encourages golfers to play when they are ready to, if it is safe to do so
- Ready golf is not appropriate in match play golf due to the strategy involved
- It is most commonly used in stroke play and can be used on and around the green
- Ready golf is likely to have the most impact on a less busy course
Ready golf is a replacement for the traditional farthest-from-the-hole system
Ready golf can be used on the tee, in the fairway, and on the green. For example, if a player is in a bunker, their partner can putt while they get ready. It is important to note that ready golf does not mean first come, first served on the tee. The player with the honour should still play first, but if they choose to wait, a shorter hitter who is ready to play can go ahead.
When adopting ready golf, it is important to remember to play safely and responsibly. For instance, players should ensure their partners and other groups are out of the way before taking their shot. Ready golf should also not be confused with being "ready to play", which consists of behaviours such as arriving at your ball with your glove on and making a decisive club selection while your partners are hitting their shots.
While ready golf is actively encouraged at many clubs, it is not appropriate in match play golf due to the strategy involved and the need to determine which player plays first. However, there is an exception under Rule 6.4a that allows players to agree to play out of turn in match play to save time.
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It encourages golfers to play when they are ready to, if it is safe to do so
"Ready golf" is a term used in stroke play golf only. It encourages golfers to play when they are ready to, if it is safe to do so. This approach replaces the traditional "farthest-from-the-hole" system, which dictates that the player whose ball is furthest from the hole should play first. With "ready golf", the first person ready to play their shot is free to do so, which can help to improve the pace of play.
This philosophy can be applied everywhere, including on the tee, in the fairway, and on the green. For example, when starting a hole, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole typically plays first. However, with "ready golf", if a longer hitter has the honour on the tee but chooses to wait for a group ahead to clear the fairway, a shorter hitter in the group who is ready and able to tee off safely should go ahead. This helps to maintain the pace of play, as the shorter hitter will likely be the first to play the next shot as well.
"Ready golf" can also be used to speed up putting. Golfers can line up their putt and read the green while others are putting, so they are ready to go when it is their turn. They should aim to keep their putt to 20 seconds or less and, when possible, tap it in and clear the way for their partners to finish the hole.
It is important to note that "ready golf" does not mean "first come, first served" on the tee. Players still need to act sensibly and follow the rules to ensure that playing out of turn does not endanger others. For example, if two players arrive at their balls at the same time, one may motion for the other to hit first but should prepare so they can hit quickly afterward. Additionally, golfers should not approach their ball and hit it without ensuring their playing partners and other groups are out of the way.
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Ready golf is not appropriate in match play golf due to the strategy involved
Ready golf is a style of play that is used to speed up the pace of a round of golf. It involves golfers playing when they are ready to, rather than waiting for the player farthest from the hole to take their shot. This means that shorter hitters can go first off the tee in stroke play, even if it is not their honour.
However, ready golf is not appropriate in match play golf. This is due to the strategy involved in match play and the need to have a set method for determining which player plays first. In match play, if a golfer plays when it is their opponent's turn, their opponent may cancel the stroke, forcing them to replay the shot. This is outlined in Rule 6.4a of the Rules of Golf, which states:
> "The player may invite the opponent to play out of turn or may agree to the opponent’s request to play out of turn. If the opponent then makes a stroke out of turn, the player has given up the right to cancel the stroke."
Therefore, while ready golf can be a useful way to speed up the pace of play in stroke play, it is not suitable for match play due to the strategic elements involved and the potential for cancelled strokes.
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It is most commonly used in stroke play and can be used on and around the green
"Ready golf" is a term used in stroke play golf to encourage golfers to play when they are ready to do so safely, rather than adhering to the traditional "farthest from the hole plays first" rule. It is designed to improve the pace of play, particularly on less busy courses, by preventing groups from losing touch with the group in front. Ready golf can be applied everywhere, including on the tee, in the fairway, and on the green.
When starting a hole, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole typically plays first. However, in ready golf, if a longer hitter has the honour on the tee but chooses to wait for a group ahead to clear the fairway, a shorter hitter in the group can tee off first if they are ready and able to do so safely. This helps to maintain the pace of play, as the shorter hitter will likely be the first to play the next shot as well.
Ready golf can also be applied on and around the green. For example, if one player is on the green and another is in a bunker, the player on the green can putt while their partner rakes the bunker. Additionally, when putting, players are encouraged to keep their turns to 20 seconds or less, and to tap in putts within a couple of feet of the hole rather than marking them.
It is important to note that while ready golf encourages players to shoot when ready, it does not mean "first come, first served". Players should still follow basic golf etiquette, such as allowing the player with the honour to play first and ensuring that playing out of turn does not endanger others.
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Ready golf is likely to have the most impact on a less busy course
"Ready golf" is a term used in stroke play golf that encourages golfers to play when they are ready to do so safely, which may help with pace of play. This is in contrast to the traditional system, where the farthest from the hole plays first. For example, shorter hitters can go first off the tee in stroke play even if it's not their honour. Ready golf also applies when putting, with players encouraged to keep their putts to 20 seconds or less from when it's their turn.
Ready golf is not appropriate in match play golf due to the strategy involved between opponents and the need to determine which player plays first. If ready golf is implemented in match play, players must review the rules to protect themselves from cancelled strokes. For example, if players agree to play out of turn to give one player an advantage, this would be a breach of Rule 6.4b and would attract a penalty of two strokes for both players.
Ready golf should not be confused with being "ready to play", which, according to the R&A Pace of Play Manual, consists of behaviours such as arriving at your ball with your glove on and making a decisive club selection while playing partners are hitting their shots.
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Frequently asked questions
'Ready golf' is a term used in stroke play golf to encourage golfers to play when they are ready to do so safely, rather than strictly following the procedure of "farthest from the hole should play first".
'Ready golf' can be played on the tee, in the fairway, and on the green. It is not appropriate in match play golf due to the strategy involved between opponents.
'Ready golf' improves the pace of play by allowing shorter hitters to go first off the tee in stroke play. It also encourages golfers to prepare for their shot while waiting for their turn, instead of waiting to start thinking about their shot until it is their turn.
