Pace of Play
Pace of play is the speed at which your group completes the round.
Pace of play decides how much fun everyone has on the course. A fourball usually needs four and a half hours for 18 holes. Rounds that run much longer are considered too slow and back up the whole course. The rulebooks of the R&A and the DGV (German Golf Association) have been addressing the topic actively for years. Ready Golf is recommended: whoever is ready plays, instead of stubbornly waiting for their turn. Many clubs prescribe target times per hole and send out marshals when things stall.
On the course, pace comes down to small habits. Prepare your shot while others are playing. Put your bag down on the way to the next tee, not in front of it. Mark your scorecard at the next tee, not on the green. Example: your ball lies in the rough. Instead of searching for five minutes, the current rules allow a search time of three minutes. After that the ball is lost and play continues. Anyone who lives this consistently stays in the flow.
The most important etiquette rule: if the group behind you becomes visibly faster, let them play through. That is no disgrace but normality, especially with twoballs compared to fourballs. The signals are a clear hole ahead of you and a group waiting behind you. This keeps the course relaxed for everyone. You can find more about conduct on the course in the FAQs.
FAQ
How long may a round over 18 holes take?
As a guideline, a fourball should take about four to four and a half hours. Many clubs prescribe target times per hole, and much longer rounds back up the whole course behind you. If your group is regularly slower, it is worth taking a look at the Ready Golf concept.
What do I do if the group behind me plays faster?
You let them play through — that is no disgrace but normal etiquette, especially when a smaller group follows behind you. You can recognise the situation by a clear hole ahead of you and a group waiting behind you. A friendly wave at the next safe point is enough, and everyone plays on more relaxed.
How much time am I allowed to search for a lost ball?
Under the current rules it is three minutes from the start of the search. After that the ball is deemed lost and you must continue play with the corresponding rule consequences. This limit exists precisely because of pace of play — it used to be five minutes.