Lesson 4.1: Pace of Play
Slow play is one of the most common complaints in golf — from recreational players, from club management, and from tournaments at every level. As a caddy, you have more control over pace of play than almost anyone else in the group. A proactive, organized caddy can shave 20-30 minutes off a round without anyone noticing — because the round just flows naturally when everything is in order.
- Be ahead of the moment, always. The most powerful pace-of-play habit is simple: be ready before being asked. Have the club out before the player reaches the ball. Know the yardage before they ask. Have the next hole’s information while they’re finishing the current one. Every time a player has to wait for their caddy to do something that should already be done, the round slows down.
- Ball searching: Under the rules of golf, players have 3 minutes to search for a lost ball. As a caddy, your job is to be moving toward the ball’s landing zone from the moment it leaves the club. Keep your eyes on it through the air, note landmarks near where it lands, and lead the search from exactly the right spot. A caddy who can find balls quickly — or who identifies early when a ball is truly lost and signals the player to play a provisional — saves multiple minutes per hole.
- Ready golf: In casual play (not competition), most groups play “ready golf” — whoever is ready hits, rather than strictly following “farthest from the hole hits first.” Encourage this naturally when your player is ready and others are not yet. It’s widely accepted and dramatically improves pace.
- Move with purpose. Between shots, walk quickly. Walk to your player’s ball while they’re walking to it — don’t wait at the previous shot location and then follow. Get ahead so you can have yardages ready. The difference between a caddy who walks slowly between shots and one who moves with purpose across 18 holes adds up to a significant time difference.
- If the group falls behind: You’ll notice it when there’s a visible gap between your group and the group ahead. Don’t wait for the course marshal to address it. Quietly mention to your player: “We’ve lost a little ground — let’s see if we can pick up the pace over the next few holes.” Most players appreciate a heads-up, and being the caddy who notices and addresses it is a mark of real professionalism.
Under the rules of golf, a player has 3 minutes to search for a lost ball. If it isn’t found in 3 minutes, a penalty and re-hit apply. Know this rule and manage it — announce “we’re at 2 minutes” when you’re near the time limit so your player can make an informed decision about whether to keep searching or accept the penalty and keep moving. Being the person who manages time on the course is a sign of real competence.
When your player is on the green, start walking to the next tee box and confirm the hole number, par, and any notable features while waiting. You’ll often have 30-60 seconds while they finish and the group walks off the green. Use it productively.
Pace exercise: play or walk 9 holes with a stopwatch. Time the duration from when the group arrives at a ball to when the next shot is struck. A well-paced group should spend no more than 45-60 seconds per shot from arrival to execution. Identify which moments cause delays — searching for yardage, cleaning clubs, deciding on a club — and brainstorm one specific change you could make as a caddy to eliminate each delay.