Dear Members, during the Club’s recent Match Committee Meeting, the pace of play issue issue was again discussed, along with a request to provide advice to members on the required ‘on course’ actions to improve the pace of play and the enjoyment of all members. The Club has a Ranger on course on Saturdays to assist in this regard, but in addition to pace of play being a continuing issue on Saturdays, there are other days during the week where pace of play has also become an issue which needs to be brought to the attention of all members for action.
The following points are simply to bring to attention the behavours that assist in pace of play (& avoid unneccessary 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 5 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 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;
- 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;
- 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 your 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.
