Is Fast Play a Problem at Golf Clubs
By: Kieran Clark | Edited: Mon 08 Sep 2025
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Whenever you talk to a group of golfers about which things frustrate them, the chances are that slow play will be one of the first issues raised.
It remains such a hot topic that governing bodies have launched initiatives, clubs have tried to police the speed it takes members and visitors to get around their courses, and you routinely have people describing slow play as being a "cancer" in the game.
Such language is arguably provocative, but it does reflect the intensity of feeling surrounding a problem that many people believe holds back the growth and popularity of the sport, both at professional level on tour and for those of us who simply play golf for enjoyment.
When surveyed, 87% of golfers told us that they would ideally want to play 18 holes in less than four hours, but just 61% of respondents stated that their most recent round was within that timescale.
Innovative suggestions have been promoted as a solution, some more contentious than others, but looking at comments on Golfshake's social media channels, it has been intriguing to see a few golfers cite FAST play as being a complaint of theirs.
Should fast play be viewed as a genuine problem at golf clubs?
How Long Should a Round of Golf Take?
In 2024, we surveyed over 2,000 golfers to gain an understanding of their playing habits and their views on pace of play.
What should be the ideal time for a round of golf is an individual perspective and will depend on many factors, including the length, layout and difficulty of the course, the size of groups, how busy the place is, and the ability of those who are playing, but it's clear that there is a sweet-spot to be found.
Just 2% of golfers said their preferred duration for a round was over four hours and 30 minutes, meaning that for most people that is too long. 89% of club members want rounds to last under four hours, but the number drops substantially for those who desire to play 18 holes in under three hours and 30 minutes.
40% of golfers aged over 45 said their ideal time for a round was under three hours and 30 minutes, with 54% of those under 45 seeing that time as perfect. Just 17% of the under 45s would like to get round in under three hours.
Therefore, depending on circumstances, the overwhelming majority of people would be content to have rounds of golf that last somewhere between three and four hours, anything longer than that is too much, and anything faster, for many, would be simply too quick.
Can You Play Golf Too Quickly?
We're all different, some of us walk faster and have shorter routines, and if you align that with taking fewer shots, as better golfers will typically do, then some people will be quicker than others without those slower players having done anything wrong.
Disparity in pace of play is not always caused by some golfers having poor habits or bad etiquette. It's just a reality of people not being the same as each other.
Some golfers will be more social than others, perhaps taking more time for a chat on tees and between shots, but should that not negatively impact anyone else, there is clearly no issue there.
The question is whether you can play too quickly. While you don't want to be taking a million practice swings or spending interminable times lining up putts, golf also requires concentration, and taking notice of the conditions of the moment, meaning that a pause to take a breath is no bad thing.
Some of the world's best golfers are faster than average, but they are never rushed, and that is the key thing.
If you are someone who is determined to play within a certain time at all costs - perhaps for good reason - then you increase the potential of rushing yourself, which can contribute to hitting poor shots and not playing to your fullest ability. Golf, after all, isn't normally a race, and is best enjoyed in good company with the opportunity to appreciate your tranquil surroundings.
Does Fast Play Contribute to Course Congestion?
No one enjoys having to wait on every tee or to spend time waiting forever for the group in front to clear the green, but how much of that is generally a result of golfers ahead playing slowly? Judging by social media, you would think it's the only factor in this marriage of inconvenience, but logically, faster golfers playing quicker than average can also find themselves catching up with groups who are playing at a reasonable pace.
Tee time intervals are usually consistent, perhaps eight to ten minutes between groups, but unless everyone is getting round at roughly the same pace, that gap will converge as time goes on, ultimately contributing to congestion later in the day.
Allowing faster groups to play through is one thing, but even that can add to waiting times should the pattern continually repeat itself.
The fundamental problem is less about slow versus fast, but rather that unless everyone keeps to an average time, congestion is likely to occur on busy days.
You could then make the argument (no doubt controversial in some quarters) that unreasonably fast play is as much of a problem as ridiculously slow play when it comes to the flow of traffic on a golf course.
Unless everyone is sticking to roughly the same time and pace, delays will naturally occur.
It's unrealistic to expect everyone to play to a consistent pace at all times, therefore consideration from all sides is required, meaning that slower players let faster groups through when possible, and those quicker golfers accept that not everyone who doesn't play at their favoured speed is somehow a terrible golfer who doesn't conform to the standards of etiquette.
Rather than looking at the situation in terms of slow play or fast play, let's instead champion sensible golf!
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About the author
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
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