Eddie Pepperell On Slow Play: 'Nothing Needs To Change

The Englishman's latest blog on slow play suggests that golf should stop tailoring itself to society

Eddie Pepperell On Slow Play: 'Nothing Needs To Change
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Englishman's latest blog on slow play suggests that golf should stop tailoring itself to society

Eddie Pepperell On Slow Play: 'Nothing Needs To Change

The issue with slow play continues to roll on with golf's governing bodies this week revealing a set of new rules for 2019 hoping to 'modernise' the game.

And by modernise, they mean to speed it and bring new people into golf.

New rules include dropping a new ball when going out of bounds, instead of walking back to the tee, and keeping the flagstick in when putting.

Related: All you need to know about the new golf rules for 2019

But last month's Qatar Masters winner Eddie Pepperell says that golf doesn't need to change its ways and the time it takes to play a round is a good thing for society.

Yes, society moves quickly. But in general, workers don't have the same time to play the game that they used to - and Pepperell predicts in his most recent blog post entitled 'In Defence of Golf' that society will slow down over time and golf will benefit from this.

He blames our fast-paced society on chronic mental and physical illnesses, and suggests that golf can be the cure, or at least help.

Pepperell won his first European Tour title at the Qatar Masters last month

"It is incredibly stimulating mentally, once you begin to grasp the movement of the golf swing," Pepperell writes.

"The social aspects of golf can be fantastic, and help people remove themselves from screens and technology.

"All of these things I believe have huge potential in dealing with chronic illnesses, whether that be physical or mental."

Related: How can we improve golf's pace of play?

He also believes that, whilst golf needs to be quicker at professional level, the idea that a game of golf should take 2 hours is unrealistic.

"Golf can be played faster at tournament level, as well as club level. But it can never be played in 2 hours. And I don’t want golf to change itself in such a way to make that possible."

Read Eddie Pepperell's 'In Defence of Golf' blog post here.

The Englishman, to me, certainly has a point. Golf is a long game and hopefully that will never change.

I welcome things like TopGolf, pitch and putt courses and any other style of the game that brings new people into it - but the core format of golf and its main appeal is a nice four hour stroll with mates over 18 holes.

Do you think golf needs to change its ways? Let us know your thoughts on our social media channels.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV