Daily play at a golf course: Using spreadsheet simulation to identify system constraints

We present a spreadsheet-based simulation model of daily play at a golf course and how it can be used in teaching. The model represents the variability and interactions that impact pace of play on a golf course as measured by throughput (rounds played) and cycle time (round length). The model predicts that most of the waiting time will occur on par 3 tee boxes. Alleviating this bottleneck by allowing the following group on par 3 holes to tee off while the group ahead is walking to the green, was shown to improve throughput by 13% without increasing cycle time. The model was developed using MS-Excel and @RISK, a Monte Carlo simulation package.