No one is happier than Maine State Golf Association executive director Nancy Storey that the U.S. Golf Association is on a campaign to improve “pace of play.”

On the USGA website, USGA.org, there is a June 12 story entitled “USGA Pace of Play Initiative,” in which the theme is “While We’re Young,” and it is all about playing faster for more enjoyment.

Storey, who says pace of play has been a golf problem for a century, is a fast golfer, who can get around a course easily in three hours if there is no one to slow her down.

“I may play too fast,” she said, smiling.

That said, she is not going to change, which is why she endorses the USGA emphasis on faster play in its national campaign “Play It Forward .”

“Some people simply do not realize they play slowly,” Storey said. “Education is the biggest thing.”

Players need to be taught where to leave their clubs on a green, which should be at the point where they will be walking toward the next tee. That generally saves time.

Other tips to speeded play are: 1) Walk directly to your golf ball, not in a conversation group. 2) As players hit, everyone in the group should watch the ball, making it easier to find. At this time of year this is especially necessary because of wetness and leaves. 3) Continuous putting can be done if balls on the green are not marked. If the ball is in someone’s putting line, it must be marked, but otherwise, it is not necessary.

Because people watch PGA Tour golf on television, they tend to copy the pros when they are on the greens. The pros examine the putting line from numerous angles, which slows play a lot. Weekend players often to do the same thing.

“What goes unnoticed by television,” Storey said, “is the fact that the pros walk to their ball very quickly. They can hit a tee shot 300 yards and get to it so fast there is no time for a TV commercial.

The MSGA’s website “MESGA.org” devotes space to “pace of play.” If you are a slow player, give it a read.

Noteworthy

A 13-team “Pars for Patriots” tournament raised approximately $3,500 Sunday at Apple Valley, with the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

According to its chairman, U.S. Army Ret. Sgt. Maj. Charlie Paul of New Gloucester, it went so well that plans for next year’s event already have begun. “As long as Apple Valley will have me, we will do this,” said Paul, who served 25 months as a Marine in Vietnam before joining the Army Reserve.

In first place at 11-under were Wayne, Jason, Jeff and Dale Lauzier. Second at -8 were Rick, Laurie and Troy Plummer with Dan Mercier, while third at -7 were Bob Taylor, Mike Bolduc, Dick Monroe and Gene Flaherty.

Members of Auburn’s U.S. Army 619th Transportation Co. were on flag duty at the ninth green.

Three Maine women — Lynda Hyman and Monica Austin, both of The Woodlands, plus Emily Bouchard of Biddeford-Saco, represented Team Maine Tuesday and Wednesday during the USGA Women’s State Team championship at the NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio. They shot 174-179, and that did not qualify Maine. A detailed account of the tournament and its activities, written by Bouchard, the MSGA’s director of junior-senior golf, is on the MSGA website …

With the Tri-States championship concluding today at Martindale, the Maine State Golf Association schedule this week includes the two-man team tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at Brunswick and the regular Friday and Saturday tournaments at Lake Kezar, which will be a two-ball format. Also next weekend on Saturday and Sunday is the MSGA’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Old Marsh.

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