Sometimes when golfers without disabilities follow golfers with disabilities, they complain about the slow pace of play. What do I do?
The first thing is to be careful. Too often a golfer with a disability seems to automatically be the focus for charges of slow play when they are not the cause. No player, regardless of disability should slow play. The impact on other players is unacceptable. However, don’t focus on the golfers with disabilities to the exclusion of other groups. If in fact an individual with a disability may be slowing down the field, perhaps some assistance or lessons might help, just as you would offer for others who slow down play. Training of your marshals and rangers on sensitivity to this is key. Just as you don’t want them always singling out women or juniors or senior citizens as the source of slow play, they should not automatically look to your customers with disabilities as the source. A good resource for this issue is the USGA’s From Bag Drop to 19th Hole.
Related Questions
- Because my course is flat, more golfers with disabilities come here to play. How can I even things out and let the wear be the same?
- I have heard a lot about pace of play or slow play. What is it and how can I help keep things moving?
- Are there guidelines to follow when adding to or building a play system?
