Pace of Play Policy & Guidance

Pace of Play Policy & Guidance

Policy statement:

All members must be able to experience an enjoyable round of golf that flows and does not involve constant waiting. Due to extensive member feedback and in recognition of the rules of golf (R&A rule 5) the Board of Virginia Golf Club (the club), establishes this pace of play policy based on the following parameters:

• The over-arching principle of this policy is for members playing in a group, are required to keep up with the playing group in front. This principle requires that, in all member competition play, a playing group which finishes more than 12 minutes after the preceding group may be deemed to be in contravention of this policy, (based upon the usage of 7-minute tee intervals).
• Notwithstanding the pre-dominant requirement of this policy for playing groups to maintain contact with the group in front (not more than 12 minutes behind), the maximum time for a competition round to be completed is 4 hours & 30 minutes. The 1^st group in any field with a competed round time in excess of 4 hr & 30 minutes maybe considered to be in contravention of the policy.
• The club through the match committee will assess each situation before applying this policy having regard to course and/or weather conditions which may impact pace of play.

Scope:

This policy applies to all golfers using Virginia Golf Club Championship course and the Heritage course. It is to be used in all competition and social club events regardless of format.

Principles:

• Members playing in a group are required to keep up with the playing group in front.
• Completing 18 holes will take no more than 4 hours and 30 minutes.
• Each player (not just the lowest marker) is responsible for the pace of play of their group and is encouraged to help their group do so.
• Players must check in with the competition starter at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled tee time.
• Players must be in the 1^st or 10^th teeing area, five (5) minutes before their tee time (R&A rules 5.3a).
• Players are encouraged to play ready golf, where safe to do so (R&A rules 5.6b).
• Shorter hitters hit first. Longer hitters hit last.
• The first 6 holes should be completed in 1 hour 30 minutes.
• The first 9 holes should be completed in 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Complete the first 15 holes in 3 hours 45 minutes.
• Complete the entire 18 holes in 4 hours 30 minutes.

Helpful strategies for pace of play:

• In other than stroke competitions, pick up when you cannot score.
• In stroke competitions, observe the maximum score or mercy rule (see local rules, par 3 (8), par 4(9) & par 5 (10)).
• If you lose your ball and or fall behind, play your next shot as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Call the following group through, if delayed looking for multiple lost balls, (see R&A rules 18.2a) for the three minutes search time ruling.
• Move promptly between shots and be ready to play when it is your turn.
• If you are in a cart, go ahead to scout for the ball of those walking the course.
• If you are behind, abandon the ‘honour system’ of the furthest from the hole hits first.
• Adopt the procedure where the person who is ready hits, even if they are further up the fairway, providing it is safe to do so.
• Play a provisional ball if there is some doubt to where your ball finished.
• Leave golf buggies and/or golf carts in line with green exit to next tee area
• Line up your putt and get ready to putt, while other players are having their turn, without breach of etiquette.
• Putt out whenever possible (except in match play)
• If you have ‘the honour’ on the next tee, hit first and then record your score.
• Record your score on the next tee while others tee off.

Please do not:

• Record your score while on the green of the hole you are playing
• Take an excessive number of practice swings.
• Replay putts (R&A rules 5.2b & 5.5b).

Pace of play accountability

Any Pro-shop staff member or Course Ranger (CR), including board members, has the club’s endorsement to direct players to adhere to the conditions of this policy.

• The scheduled tee time in which a player’s name is recorded on the time sheet, up to the time the score is submitted, will be the measure of the pace of your play.
• Mi-score pace of play module, for round timing, may also be used to evaluate the pace of your play.
• Groups encountering slow play during a round, can report their experience by calling or notifying Pro-shop staff, for recording and follow up by the CR if practical.
• Groups encountering slow play during a round, can report their experience after play, to the Pro-shop staff or CR for recording and referral to the match committee.
• Only Pro-shop staff or CR can ask a group to ‘catch up’, due to their slow play.
• If a group falls behind the pace of play (i.e., loses contact with the group in front) they will be asked to ‘catch up’ by the Pro-shop staff or CR controlling the competition.
• If asked to ‘catch up’ to the group in front, by the Pro-shop staff or CR, a group has two holes to exhibit discernible effort to achieve its correct position in the field.
• Any player who chooses to argue about a request to ‘catch-up’ during a round, or to exhibit adverse behaviour towards the Pro-shop staff member or CR, will be reported to the match committee and or board for further action.
• The Pro-shop staff or CR, managing the competition, will be unequivocally supported by the club’s board in their interpretation of a groups pace of play during a round.

Penalties for breaches of this pace of play policy:

Penalties in a competition field may be applied to the FIRST group which loses contact with the group in front (=/> 12 minutes behind) and/or, the group takes more than 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete the round of golf.

In determining action, the Match Committee will take into consideration any matters which may have contributed to slow play on any particular day, such as adverse weather or course conditions. Members should note that it would not be considered usual for the use or non-use of a golf cart to be an impediment to a group’s pace of play.

The Match Committee may apply the following penalties:

• On the first occasion, each player of the group will be sent a courtesy email advice and copy of this policy for information and action (Example: Dear member, this is a courtesy advice from VGC Match Committee in relation to your group’s pace of play on 00/00/00 round of golf, the VGC Pace of Play policy is provided for your information & action.)
• On the second occasion within a 6-week period from receipt of the courtesy advice from the Club Match Committee, each player of the group will be sent an SMS/text or email message, on behalf of the match committee, advising the player of his or her first official warning for slow play.

• (Example: Dear VGC member, the Captain warns you of your first slow play breach from 00/00/00 & 00/00/00 rounds of golf. Read VGC Pace of Play policy, for clarification.)

• On any subsequent occasion, in a six (6) week period, player/s will be warned by SMS/text message or email from the VGC Captain and may be restricted to only book in one of the last two tee times of the morning or afternoon fields for the following two weeks of competitions.

(Example: Dear VGC member, the Captain warns you of your second slow play breach from 00/00/00 & 00/00/00 rounds of golf. Read VGC Pace of Play policy, for clarification.)

• On the third occasion in a two-month period, player/s may be suspended from playing in a competition time slot for two (2) weeks. This will be communicated to a member by a letter from the VGC Board, on recommendation of the match committee.
• Members have the right to use the club’s complaint procedure to contest any penalty.