How Should a Ranger Approach Players About Pace of Play?

Hello…Since retiring, I’ve taken a job at a local private golf course, where I work as both a starter and a ranger. When needed, I try to approach players in a friendly way when I need to ask them to speed up their play. However, I often still get attitude or excuses like, “I pay a lot of money to play here,” or “It’s my day to relax and enjoy.” I understand that everyone wants to have a good time, but I also know that the expected round time is around four hours, and I want to ensure that everyone can enjoy their day on the course.

I always try to assess where the problem lies, as it’s not always the group in front of them causing the delay.

My question is, how should I best approach players when there’s a pace-of-play issue? Any tips or strategies for communicating this effectively while maintaining a positive atmosphere on the course would be greatly appreciated :wink:

Hi Golfers,
Good morning. I am the course ranger, I wanted to inform you that today’s play is moving a little more slowly. Please try to pick up the pace a little bit. Practice swing restriction and prepared golf can be very beneficial. .

Having worked at a golf course myself, I understand the delicate balance of enforcing pace-of-play while keeping the atmosphere positive. It’s important to approach players with empathy and clarity. When addressing pace-of-play issues, I found it helpful to start with a friendly, non-confrontational tone, like, “Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that we’re trying to keep things moving so everyone can enjoy their round. If you could help us by speeding up a bit, it would be greatly appreciated.” Make sure to acknowledge their desire to enjoy their game and offer assistance if needed, like helping them with any issues they might be having that could be slowing them down. Emphasizing that the goal is to ensure everyone’s experience is enjoyable can also help in diffusing any frustration.