“Pace, Patience, and the Pre-Tee Panic”

In the great words of DC Gogo band Rare Essence, “Do you know what time it is?”

If you’ve ever tried to wrangle grown adults into being on time for anything — let alone something as sacred and scheduled as a golf outing — then you, too, may deserve a medal. Possibly two if you’re also in charge of snacks.

Recently, I had the “pleasure” of coordinating a group of 12 players. My mission?

• Ensure check-in was smooth

• Make sure the tee boxes were ready

• Monitor pace of play (without coming off like the tee-time tyrant)

• And above all, make sure everyone had fun

Simple, right?

Well, not when one person thinks “arrive 15 minutes before tee time” means pulling into the lot as their name is being called on the first tee. Or when someone has to “quickly grab a hot dog” before we even hit hole 1. And then there’s always that one person who shows up fully dressed… except for their shoes. That are still at home.

⏳ The Myth of “Golf Time”

“Be there at 7:15 for a 7:30 tee time.”

Actual arrival time: 7:26.

Actual start time: 7:37.

Reason? “ I thought you meant golf time.”

What is golf time, exactly? Is it early? Is it late? Is it when the pro shop feels like telling us to go? Or when someone finally finishes their pre-round swing routine that could rival a yoga session?

🐢 Pace of Play: A Group Effort or Group Delusion?

Somewhere between holes 3 and 5, pace of play goes from “we’re fine” to “where is the Marshall?” And when the Marshall shows up, you’d think we were being audited. Everyone suddenly becomes hyper-focused, walking briskly, putting faster, and pretending we weren’t just having a full-blown therapy session on the last tee box.

Let me be clear — I’m all for enjoying the game. But the minute your round starts feeling like a Ken Burns documentary (slow, educational, and somehow 7 hours long), it’s time to reevaluate.

🛎️ The Case for Early Arrivals

There’s a secret to a great round that most people miss: show up early. Not just “on time,” but early. Like, early enough to:

• Actually check in and not sprint to the starter

• Get a few swings in on the range

• Putt until you feel like you might actually make one

• Say hello to your group without needing oxygen

I promise, your round will go smoother. And bonus: you won’t be the reason we’re all getting side-eyes from the Marshall by hole 6.

💬 So… Are Golfers the Worst Timekeepers?

Maybe. But maybe it’s because we treat golf like an escape — and in some ways, time feels suspended when you’re chasing a little white ball with friends. Still, a little structure goes a long way. If we all committed to better timing, the course (and the group behind us) would thank us.

So the next time you’re getting ready for your tee time…

Ask yourself this: Are you showing up for the game, or are you just showing up late?

#ParPerspective | #PaceOfPlay | #GolfTime | #TeeTimeThoughts | #GolfLife #Road2Par

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