Your goal should be an enjoyable round of golf played in 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

1. Always be ready to hit when it's your turn. Keep an eye on whoever is hitting so you are ready as soon as it's your turn.
2. Don't be the slowest golfer in your foursome. A foursome must wait for its slowest player. All golfers on the course must wait for the slowest foursome.
3. Anytime your foursome falls behind the group in front, even a little, you should go into your "fast play" mode until you're back in position. One way to do this is to play "Ready Golf." (See "Ready Golf" & "Monitoring Your Pace" on pages 4-5) Always be aware of the position of your foursome in relation to the groups in front of you.
4. Get to your ball as soon as you can with the proper clubs. Plan your shot as you are approaching your ball. Take two or three clubs if there's any doubt about what to hit.
5. If you are out of the hole with a triple bogey or worse, pick up. Under the USGA's new Equitable Stroke Control system, a player can - and should - pick up when he is out of the hole and record the score he most likely would have made.
6. When approaching the green leave your clubs or cart between the green and the next tee. Then, after everyone holes out, you can walk off the green and get your clubs on the way to the next hole.
7. On the green the player closest to the pin should attend or pull the pin. The first player to hole out takes the pin and replaces it when everyone has finished. Mark the scores, after you leave the green, as you go to the next tee.
8. Mark once and then putt continuously until you hole out, if possible. While others are putting, study your putt. When it's your turn, you should be ready to step up and hit the putt. More time is wasted on the green than anywhere else.
9. Don't play you wait for me and I'll wait for you cart golf. The player with the closer ball should hop out of the cart and grab a couple of clubs. Let your partner take the cart to his ball. After you hit your shot, head down the fairway. Your partner will pick you up or meet you at your ball for the next shot.
10. Watch the shots of everyone in your group until each ball stops rolling. Line up the location of each ball with a visual reference like a tree or a bush. Try limiting your search time to one minute. If you take five full minutes searching for a lost ball, consider letting the group behind play through. If you think there is any chance your ball may be lost you should play a provisional ball.