As a junior player growing up in Scotland we were encouraged to play in 3 hours and 20 minutes. Fast forward a few decades and unbelievably on most professional tours this same time frame is what it takes to play just 9 holes.
The problem of slow play, as golf TV analyst and former LPGA player Dottie Pepper aptly puts it, “just got to get better.” Yes, it does Dottie, but how? This sentiment will undoubtedly apply as we approach the third women’s Major of the year, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco.
According to the rules of golf, players are allowed 40 seconds to hit the ball. The LPGA allow an additional 10 seconds given to the first player in the group to hit on par 3’s, but have taken away this comfort on par 4’s and 5’s – this is one of the new policies the LPGA have adopted to combat slow play along with fines and stroke penalties relevant to the time exceeded to hit a shot.
For example, a fine is given for a player exceeding the allotted time by 1-5 seconds, a one shot penalty is doled out for a player exceeding the allotted time by 6-15 seconds and a two shot penalty for those taking more than 16 seconds.
Slow play is clearly an issue on all professional tours and thankfully the LPGA are leading the way by applying these strict policies, but are they working? The LPGA’s goal for these changes “is to create a more efficient and enjoyable competitive environment for players and fans.”
In all honesty, after watching the recent US Women’s Open Erin Hills, the LPGA’s second women’s Major of the year, I don’t think it is working. As a fan, it was not an enjoyable competitive environment to watch, and part of the blame lies with the LPGA and the USGA for the way they set up the course.
In an Insta post, Lexi Thompson explained that her group waited on every single hole at the US Women’s Open
The course was officially set up at 6,829 yards, almost 7,000 yards. That’s just nuts for a course with greens as quick and undulating as they were. Think of it this way folks, for the men to play on an equivalent set up it would have to be close to 8,500 yards. For your informationI, last week’s US Open at Oakmont was 7,372 yards.
According to the latest Trackman stats the PGA on average, carry the ball…
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