Dear Members, as all will be aware, there has been a focus on pace of play at the Club, most particularly over the past 12-18 months.
Over recent months, there has been additional paid and volunteer resources and efforts made to improve the pace of play with some members being contacted (being in a group) playing slower rounds in an effort to improve the overall pace of play.
It is also probably helpful to provide some explanation of the clubs policy on pace of play, specifically in reference to the maximum time principle for a competition round to take no more than 4hrs 30 mins. This principle was primarily established for larger fields, particularly Saturdays & Sundays, and whilst it applies to all competitions, it does not intend to provide a guide to weekday golf (with often smaller fields) which should be much quicker than the policy maximum time.
In essence, to keep things simple, the Club does not want to suggest players should rush, but that members are encouraged to keep up with the group in front in ALL competitions – not the often used comment, “we were not holding the group behind us up”. If a group loses touch with the group in front, the request is to display a discernible effort to catch up
The following points are a re-run of previous notices on pace of play & are simply to bring to remind members of the behaviours that assist in pace of play (& avoid unnecessary waste of time on course).
- Members should be in position to tee off on the time allocated on the timesheet, at the tee at least 10 mins before your allocated time ready to play;
- Shorter hitters hit first when safe to do so, there is no reason for an entire group to wait until all players in the group are able to hit, if shorter hitters hit first when safe it is likely that a longer hitter will be free to play if playing at no 3 or 4 in a group;
- Whilst Golf is a social game, please ensure you proceed directly to your ball after playing (unless assisting others to locate their ball) so you are ready to play when safe to do so. We often see groups of 3 standing around whilst a member plays their shot and only then proceeding to their ball, this can waste a lot of time;
- Play ready golf, if it is safe to play, you should proceed regardless of whether your ball is closer to the green than another member of your group;
- Avoid excessive practice swings, (2 should be enough) and over analysis of putts, the general guide is that the approach to your ball and playing your shot should take no longer than 45 seconds;
- When accessing a green, please leave buggies or golf carts in line with the most direct exit from the green to the next tee to minimise the time required to exit the green, allowing the following group to play;
- On the green, provided it does not impact playing partners, place your ball and ready yourself to putt (whilst others are putting);
- Mark your score on the next tee after your tee shot or whilst others are teeing off, not on the green before exit to the tee;
- The maximum period for a search for a lost ball is 3 minutes, please see local rules board for your options for playing after a ball has been lost, including playing from the fairway with a 2 shot penalty to apply;
- Members are asked to be conscious that pace of play is an issue, and to ensure their group keeps up with the group in front (not in front of the group behind), one group falling behind can impact on the entire field;
- The Club has a local ‘mercy rule’ which applies to most competitions, please see the local rules board to appraise yourself of this rule. In stableford competitions, if you have had sufficient shots on a hole such that you are unable to score on the hole, you must ‘pickup’, even if not on the green;
- Please ‘be active’ in progressing your game at a reasonable pace such that you are not holding up other groups;
- Lastly, whilst not really a pace of play issue, as always, members are asked to ensure sand is carried & divots are filled, please leave a bunker as you would wish to see it if you had to play from the area.
