Policy and Guidelines

Policy

We aim for stroke rounds to be completed within 4 hours.

We aim for Stableford and Par rounds to be completed within 3 hours 45 minutes.

Guidelines for Management and Resolution

The lowest handicapped person in each group is responsible for keeping pace with the group in front.
If someone says to pick up the pace don’t be offended and argue/sulk. Do what you can to play more quickly.
If anyone has issues please refer them to the Club Captain and he will address each one on its merits.

General Pace of Play Etiquette:

Keep up with group in front. (#)
Play ready golf. If you are ready, and it is safe to hit, do so. No need to wait in turn. This goes for putting as well. Prepare for your shot/putt while waiting.
Limit practice swings. 2 is more than enough.
Rules of golf recommend 40 seconds from when you are free to hit your ball to hitting same. Let's aim to be better than that.
The maximum time allowed for searching for a lost ball is 3 minutes. Stick to it. Don't search endlessly. (You DID hit a provisional. Right?).
Place buggies/carts on the side of the green closest to the next tee, and not blocking potential approach from following groups.
Tee off, then mark your scorecard

(#) If you are a group of 4 behind groups of 3, it can be difficult to keep up. If this is the case, but you are being pressed by groups behind, make every effort to lift your pace.

Additional points to improve Pace of Play

Watch ALL balls until they stop

Searching for lost balls is one of the most time-consuming aspects of the game. After every shot keep an eye on the ball (yours and your playing partners’) until it comes to rest—even if it is in the fairway. If it has wandered into the rough or trees/bushes, identify a marker or reference point – a specific tree, bush, …anything. As you leave the tee, keep a line of sight onto that marker.

Do your pre-shot stuff BEFORE it’s your turn

Get prepared for your shot while walking to your ball. Get the distance, check the wind, do a pre-shot routine ahead of time (while others are playing their shot) so that you’re ready to go IMMEDIATELY after your playing partner’s ball has finished moving.

Go directly to your ball

Move quickly to your own ball. Avoid travelling in a group from one ball to the other.

Take Multiple Clubs

If you need to leave your bag/buggy/ cart away from where your ball is positioned, take a couple of clubs with you. This will save you from having to go back and forth.

Read the green while others are putting

As you approach the green, check the contours, high/low points and overall slope of the entire green. While others are putting, you can then take the opportunity to read your particular break and determine your pace, etc. Watch others’ putts to get further information about speed and break. Once your partner has putted out, you should be immediately ready to hit your own ball. Putt out, particularly if you are unlikely to unduly interfere with another players line.

Clear the green quickly

Don’t loiter around the green discussing the scores. Clear the green for the group behind and then record your scores at the next tee or en route. First player to tee off should record scores after teeing off. If your foursome have fallen behind, the first two players to putt out should immediately head over to the next Tee and hit off.

Pick up

If playing Par, Stableford or other non-stroke formats, if you are out of the hole (wipe, minus, etc), then pick up your ball and move on.