Then things changed. The popular equation is “Arnold Palmer + TV + Dwight Eisenhower = Golf Boom.” Here’s another: “Jack Nicklaus + TV + Big Money = Slow Play.” Jack in his prime played not just slowly but painfully slowly, and a couple of generations of pros and amateurs copied him. Today, with millions of dollars on the line, tour players have become a conclave of posturing, pussy-footing prima donnas.

In their semi-defense, it’s human nature to be greedy, to take as much time, money and advantage as we can. We therefore need to be disciplined and guided, whether by the 10 Commandments, the Articles of the Constitution or the Rules of Golf. 

While Moses and the Founding Fathers may have done their jobs, the USGA and R&A have not. Oh, they’ve restricted us to 14 clubs, regulated our handicaps and capped our distance potential. But they’ve done nothing about slow play.

Until recently. A year ago, very quietly, the USGA unveiled a new program at its 10 amateur events. It calls for four pace-of-play checkpoints, at the 4th, 9th, 13th, and 18th holes. On the 1st tee, each group is given a set of target times by which they are expected to complete the designated holes. If they fail to hit those times—and if they also fall out of position with the group in front—action is taken. Miss one time, and the group is warned. Miss the second checkpoint and each player in the group is given a one-stroke penalty. Miss the third checkpoint and it’s an additional two strokes for everyone, and miss four checkpoints and the entire group is disqualified.

It worked. At the U.S. Amateur, 12 one-stroke penalties were imposed during the two qualifying rounds, during which the average pace of play was reduced by 45 minutes. Similar results were gained at the other championships.

Which begs the question: Why doesn’t the USGA roll it out to the big event, the U.S. Open?

“We want to get it to a place where we are comfortable with it,” says USGA Director of Rules and Competitions Mike Davis. “I don’t think we are ready for the U.S. Open yet, but there may be a time when there are several years of proven results that might persuade us to take it to the next level.” 

In other words, the USGA is moving, uh, slowly.

Sorry, but “several years” is not good enough. After all, it’s not as if the USGA invented this system. It was developed by the Vancouver Golf Association and has been used by regional golf associations as well as the American Junior Golf Association—all with great success.