Imagine showing up to work, ready to go, only to be stuck waiting for hours before you can actually do your job. Annoying, right? That’s exactly the kind of frustration golfers deal with when slow play drags out a round—except in professional golf, there’s no easy fix.

Slow play has been a thorn in the side of both the PGA and LPGA Tours for years, with players speaking out time and time again. Charley Hull even went as far as to say in 2024 that Tour cards should be stripped from such offenders. And now, with the new season in full swing, the conversation hasn’t died down. The problem, however, if anything, is getting louder.

The LPGA is finally cracking down on slow play, and Lilia Vu is all for it. While the reigning major champ doesn’t consider herself a slow player, she knows just how brutal long waits can be—and she’s glad to see the Tour take action. “I know that it’s definitely been cracked down a little bit more,” Vu said. “I don’t think about it a lot because I don’t consider myself a slow player. I’m fine with it. It doesn’t really affect me.”

The LPGA is taking slow play seriously, and they’re not just talking about it—they’re putting real changes into motion. Starting March 27 at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, a brand-new Pace of Play Policy will go into effect on the LPGA Tour, with the Epson Tour following suit on April 25 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa. Previously, in the Founders Cup 2025, the LPGA had already taken a step where the average pace of play throughout the event was recorded at 3 hours and 42 mins.

Meanwhile, LPGA Player President Vicki Goetze-Ackerman emphasized that this was a player-led effort—one designed to make the Tour better for everyone involved. “As a global sports and entertainment property, the LPGA conducted a thorough review of the current pace of play policy to evaluate and address an issue that has been a source of frustration for players and fans alike,” she explained.

“This new policy, which was player-led and developed through an established Pace of Play Committee, was created in what we believe is in the best interest of our brand, fans and the overall LPGA watching experience. Based on a data-backed approach and direct player input, this policy now acts as a stronger deterrent, ensuring players take warnings seriously before penalties become necessary. Our overall intention is to improve the pace of play on Tour, and these updates mark a significant step toward creating a more efficient and enjoyable competitive environment, benefiting both our Members and our fans.”

Even though the new policy is in place, some players still feel the effects of slow play. Vu, for one, knows just how frustrating it can be. “Sometimes we’re waiting on holes for a while. We don’t want to do that,” she explained. “With my back, if you ever see me waiting a while, I’ll be walking in a circle on the fairway. It would be nice to just get up to my ball and be ready to hit.”

Her words highlight what so many players have been saying—slow play doesn’t just hurt the flow of the game, it takes a physical toll, too. The LPGA’s tougher stance on the issue might ruffle a few feathers, but for players like Vu, it’s a step in the right direction.

Less waiting, more action. That’s the goal. And with the LPGA doubling down, fans might finally get a faster, more engaging product on the course.

So what exactly is the LPGA doing to fix this problem? Here’s what’s changing under the new policy

What’s changing under the new policy?

The LPGA’s new pace-of-play policy isn’t just about tough talk—it comes with real consequences. One of the biggest changes is a stricter penalty structure for players who go over their allotted time. If a player takes anywhere from one to five seconds longer than they should, they’ll be fined. Go six to fifteen seconds over, and that’s a one-stroke penalty. Anything beyond sixteen seconds? That’s a two-shot penalty. The message is clear: dawdling over shots is going to cost you—literally!

Another key change is the removal of the 10-second grace period for the first player to hit on par-4s and par-5s. Now, the only time a player will get that extra cushion is when hitting first on a reachable par-4. The allowance still stands for the first shot on par-3s, approach shots, and putts, but players will need to adjust to a faster pace in other situations.

Despite these new rules, the LPGA is keeping some elements of the previous policy intact, including the warning system. If a group falls behind, they’ll receive one warning per round unless they’re so far out of position that an official decides to start timing them immediately. If warned, they’ll have one hole to speed things up before penalties start kicking in. Players can still be timed at any point during a round, and if someone’s pace is dragging the group down, officials can target them individually.

Perhaps the most interesting twist? The LPGA is taking a long-term approach to habitual slow play. If a player keeps racking up time violations year after year, their fines will double each season. In other words, the slowest players won’t just get hit once—they’ll pay a bigger price the longer they keep pushing the limits.

At its core, the updated policy ensures players take warnings seriously, creating a smoother, faster game for everyone—players, fans, and officials.