04 May '09

RULE: Slow Play - who cares?

Championships are here - field is over 220. Bet we have a slow round??? Do you need to worry?

 Now that the course has dried out and with the Club Championships (rounds of stroke play) in May, everybody needs to be aware of  Pace of Play.  It should take just  under 4½ hours to play on a stroke day. All other competitions should be faster.

You are not expected to  run around and not enjoy your game,
BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP.
Players use these types of strategies to maintain a good pace of play:

· If it is safe, walk directly to your ball and prepare for your shot. You can then play immediately it’s your turn.

· It is quicker to “putt out”. Often you can read and prepare for your putt while other competitors putt.

· Leave your buggy on the “away side” of the green.

· If you have the honour, mark your card after hitting.

· If you get behind make the effort to catch up over the next few holes.

· If a lost ball is going to hold up play then call the next group through.

· Pick up in stableford when you can’t score.

· Walk briskly - don’t stroll.

What do other clubs do?

· Write start and finishing times on score cards, to monitor players speed

· Charge extra for competition fees and employ a marshal.

· Penalize slow players. (Invoke Rule 6-7)

What are we doing?

· Looking to adjust start times to spread players evenly on the course.

· Discouraging players from STOPPING after 9 holes.

· Identifying slow players, and assisting them to make adjustments. 

LET’S DO IT WITH CO-OPERATION

NOT

MARSHALS and PENALTIES

Match Committee – May 2009

What Does the Rule Say?

 

Rule 6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play says, “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.”

 

Penalty for Breach of this rule: Stroke Play– two strokes. Subsequent offence-disqualification. Stableford Comps– two points deducted from your total scored for the round. Subsequent offence-disqualification.