SHARE: Join Our Email List Improving Pace of Play and the Golfer Experience By Hunki Yun, Director of Business Development, USGA Regional Affairs Golf enjoyed a resurgence in 2020, with increased rounds reported at courses throughout the U.S. The question now is whether golf can capitalize on this momentum to make lasting gains in participation and revenue. The key will be improving the game’s primary product – a round of golf. Understanding what drives golfer satisfaction, and dissatisfaction, has been the focus of extensive USGA-funded research over the past several years, and our recommendations can help you improve the golfer experience and overall financial health of your facility. Read More Multimedia Content Choosing Which Tees to Play 100th Anniversary: USGA Greens Selecting an appropriate tee for your round has a huge impact on how much fun you have and the overall pace of play. Here are a few techniques you can use to choose the right tee. As golfers, we don’t spend much time thinking about what is under the surface of a green while we’re lining up a key putt, but the way a green is built has a huge impact on our round. Watch Video Watch Video Research Fore The Golfer Golfer Experience Research: What a Golfer Really Wants Why is it Hard to get my Tee in the Ground? USGA-funded research into the golfer experience studied the range of expectations and what aspects of the golfer experience can be improved to have the most impact on overall satisfaction. Have you ever felt like you needed a hammer to get your tee in the ground? Why does this happen at some courses? The answer is found in what lies beneath the grass you are playing on. Read More Read More Regional Updates Return of the Putting Course Winter Shade Putting courses are seeing a resurgence at resort facilities. Here are some tips that can help keep a busy putting course in good condition. Sunlight and air movement during summer is important, but don’t forget to evaluate the effect that trees have on turf during winter months too. Read More Read More Protect Your Bunker Edges More Rounds, More Carts, More Damage Mechanical bunker rakes are great for efficiency, but their repeated use can damage bunker edges. Learn how some courses are overcoming this issue. Golf courses that implemented single-rider cart policies and reduced labor hours have seen increased wear and turf damage going into winter play. Read More Read More Editorial Staff United States Golf Association 77 Liberty Corner Road Liberty Corner, NJ 07938 908.234.2300 Contact Us Editor in Chief Adam Moeller Associate Editor George Waters Creative Director Matthew Patalona Art Director Mark McCormick Stay Connected with the USGA ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Important Links USGA COVID-19 Resource Center USGA Privacy Policy USGA Green Section Home Page Meet The USGA Agronomists Course Consulting Service Information USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (TERO) ©2020 by United States Golf Association® Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications USGA Green Section publications are made available through the courtesy of the United States Golf Association (USGA®). The reuse of these materials is authorized only if the following conditions are met in their entirety. This policy applies to all Green Section publications, including articles, videos, presentations, and webcasts. 1) Adherence to all components of our Conditions for Reuse policy. 2) Inclusion of the appropriate Reprint Permission Language. 3) Notification of your Intent To Reprint Content. The USGA Green Section Record (ISSN 2156-5813) is published twice monthly via electronic mail by the United States Golf Association®.