Ready golf:  The number one way to imrpove your pace of play is to
be ready to make your shot whenever it is your turn.  Much can be
done here within the normal custom for playing order, though the
term "ready golf" technically means hitting when you are ready and
it is safe, not waiting your turn.  Here is what you can do without
changing the order of play:

	Always get to your ball before it is your turn to play,
	whenever it is safe to do so.  Take along a couple of extra
	clubs if you can't have them with you (e.g. they are on the
	cart and the cart is elsewhere).
	
	Take your practice swings and line up your shot while
	others are making their shots.  Be ready to make the swing
	that counts when it is your turn to do so.
	
	Watch carefully any ball headed for the rough.  Your own
	ball is your primary responsibility, but helping others
	locate lost balls when your ball is in plain sight will
	speed things up a lot.
	
	Around the green, leave your bag on the side nearest the
	next tee and take all the clubs you need with you.
	(i.e. if you are in a bunker, consider taking your putter
	and a chipping club with you in case you don't get it on
	first.)
	
	Always rake the bunker, but do so when it won't interfere
	with play.  If your bunker shot leaves you where it is
	still your turn, consider making the next shot and then
	dealing with the bunker.  Volunteer to rake for someone in
	a similar situation, and they may do it for you.  
	
When to consider playing out of turn: You can get most of the
benefit of ready golf without  playing out of turn, but there are
some circumstances where playing out of turn makes sense both for
pace of play and for quality of play:  

	After a player makes a poor shot and would still be next to
	play, consider playing ahead if it does not effect the
	game.  This gives the other player a chance to think about
	and plan the next shot without the pressure of knowing
	he/she is holding up the game.  Make sure the other player
	understands why you are doing this.
	
	When a long hitter has to wait for a group ahead, consider
	having the shorter players who can hit do so out of turn.
	This may also take some pressure off of them from not
	having to hit when the groups behind are watching and
	waiting.

	On the green, consider allowing players to tap in short
	putts out of turn rather than mark and replace them.  This
	may change the situation for those who still need to putt,
	but also eliminates the need to putt over ball markers.
	
Hazards: the number one rule for hazards of any sort is stay out
of them, and if you do go in, know the rules and consider the
options:

	Excercise good judgement on course management.  Take clubs
	you know you can hit with confidence and lines that give
	you maximum forgiveness.  Going in a hazard does more
	damage than most players can repair with a string of 3 or 4
	good holes.
	
	If you hit a shot into the woods, consider whether any of
	the options for unplayable lie will allow you reasonable
	chance of escape.  If not, declare it lost and hit again
	off the tee.  If you don't find the ball, you will need to
	re-hit anyway.  Even if you do find it your other options
	are to either play it where it is or take an unplayable and
	drop nearby or behind the spot it was, and in most cases
	none will produce a good chance of escape.
	
	If you hit in dense grass or near OB, hit a provisional.
	If you don't find it or it is OB, you can play the
	provisional (with penalty).  If you do find it, you can't
	play the provisional, but in these circumstances you are
	unlikely to want to.
	
	If you hit on or near water, watch carefully where the ball
	goes.  You don't have to find it to know it was in, but you
	do need to know where it went to drop properly.  Don't
	spend an unreasonable amount of time fishing balls out of
	ponds.  If you do need a supply of finder balls, pick them
	up at some off time and leave them behind when people are
	waiting.
	
	Take some care to leave waste and wild areas in good
	shape.  Nobody wants to have to hit from a footprint.  This
	applies especially to bunkers, where rakes are usually
	provided.
	
	Local ettiquete on where to put the bunker rake varies.
	Best advice is put it back where you found it.
	
Carts:  Golf carts have made the game accessible to a lot of people
who couldn't play otherwise, and have made the game more enjoyable
for many others.  The first suggestion about carts, however, is to
seriously consider whether you really need one rather than taking
one out of habit.  18 holes requires about 5 miles of walking on
the average course, and assuming that you are reasonably fit, the
weather is not hazardous, and the course not too up and down, you
should have no trouble walking the distance.  Aside from saving the
cart fee, walking offers the advantages of less wear on the course,
a more natural feel (no fumes or noise) to your outing, less hassle
over club selection (your clubs are always with you), and often a
better feel for the course (an opportunity to pace distances, judge
elevation changes, etc.).  If you do decide you want a cart, here
are some tips to make the experience more enjoyable:

1) Electric carts are quieter and cleaner, if there is a choice.

2) Watch your shots and line up any shot that lands in the rough or
the woods relative to a distinctive landmark.  Chance are you won't
be able to drive straight towards the ball and it will be easier to
lose it if you don't have some landmark to go by.

3) Be efficient in the fairway.  Drop the player who its first near
his/her ball, then take the cart to the second ball.  That way both
players can prepare to make their shots and/or look for the second
ball.  

4) When in doubt about your club selection, take 3 clubs to bracket
what you may want.  This is particularly important when you can't
drive the cart to the ball.

5) At the green, park the cart on the side with the next tee.
Keep the cart on the paths or away from the green.  Obey any course
restrictions on where to drive and where to park.  Nobody wants to
have to shoot out of ruts and flattened grass.

6) After shooting, board the cart and drive away quickly.  Don't
stop to return your club to the bag until the next time you stop.
This gets you out of the way of those behind you more quickly and
does not take you any extra effort.  Likewise drive away from the
green before returning your putter or adding up the score when
others are waiting.

7) Try to avoid going backwards in a cart.  Those behind may not
realize you are coming back and hit into you.  If you need to drive
forwards to get a line on a blind shot or see if it is clear, leave
someone behind at the ball furthest back when you do so.