The rule changes haven't made any difference in pace of play on most of the courses I frequent. Same problems that have existed for quite a while (playing the wrong tees, not playing ready golf, spending way too much time looking for balls, etc...). Most courses no longer have marshals to nudge groups to move a little faster, so I don't see anything changing anytime in the near future.

The flag seems to be neutral. Faster when all leave it in, slows when it has to go in and out 2 or 3 times a hole. An engineer not named Bryson determined that it was better to remove the flag in all cases to score better. Should be a subject to continue long after the case for single length clubs continues.

You beat Molinari to the punch with this thread!!
JT

Not noticing any faster play this season with other groups but leaving the pin in I believe has save me a few strokes. YMMV.

I haven't noticed any changes where I play.

I'd think the most visible attempt to play to the new rules is a matter of putting with the pin in. I see people leaving the pin in on long putts and playing ready golf, but I also see most people removing the pin when they get within 5' or so. I don't think I can tell whether they are playing faster or slower.

The thing is, where I play is a privately owned course that is run like a public course. There's no such thing as membership, not even a tournament association, so playing by the rules, judged group to group, is always questionable.

For example, if one of us loses a ball in the rough off the tee, we're going to drop in the area where we think it went, not return to the tee to hit another shot. We're a bunch of older guys who just play for fun, we don't gamble, and we aren't overly concerned with the rules if it means we are responsible for slowing up the group behind us.