One easy way to keep play moving

Ever since a shepherd waited a few seconds too long for four distant sheep to move out of range, slow play has rarely been off golf's agenda. Most solutions prompt more argument than agreement. But there's one answer we can all agree on, and that's a basic understanding of the rules.

No one expects encyclopaedic knowledge of all 34; but a five-minute debate on where to drop out of a water hazard - or how to take relief from a staked tree - contributes directly to snarling up the course. There are a handful of situations that crop up regularly in a round, and we all know what they are. It's every golfer's responsibility to know how to take prompt and correct action when they arrive.

It won't cure slow play in itself, but knowing the common rules is an easy way to remove part of the problem. And that's not a bad start. If you would like clarification on any rules click here.