8/3/2026
In a previous edition of the Mad Post, I mentioned some challenges we are currently facing with Pace of Play. This is a very common issue that clubs face, especially when demand is high. To raise more awareness, and help educate members on how to play faster, the pro shop team will be tracking all round times for one week between August 7
th to 13
th. The round times will be shared with members, however players within each group will remain anonymous. Groups that have been identified as slower will be contacted to make them aware, and also offer tips and helpful advice on how to play faster.
Our time par in the member handbook is set at 4 hours and 15 minutes. This is certainly not the expectation of many of our members. Many feel that pace should be much faster, me included. This can be the case for sure, especially if you tee off earlier, or later in the day. The other factors that contribute to fast, or slower pace include:
- Number of players in the group (single, twosome, threesome, foursome)
- Format of play within the group, casual game vs. match vs. league play
- Make up of group, all members, mix of members and guests, if guests, number of guests in the group
- Weather, hot humid days tend to slow players down, cool days, golfers play faster, windy days can make course play tougher which can slow pace down
- Playing the proper tee, for many, playing an incorrect tee can make the course unnecessarily longer, less enjoyable and slower
These are just some factors; however, I could list many more. Following the awareness week, I'll share the results along with a few observations, best practices, and simple tips that can help all of us keep the game moving without feeling rushed. My hope is that this initiative creates some great conversation and helps us continue to provide the best possible golf experience at Mad River. I look forward to sharing the results with everyone in the coming weeks.