Pace of Play Committee – Volunteer Now!

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The Board has charged a new Pace of Play Committee to define how we can improve member experience.

I am looking for volunteers to work on the committee over the next several weeks.  We want to have improvements approved by the Board and ready to start for the new 2017 season.  We will introduce these at the March General Meeting.

Contact me ASAP to join us.  Dave Wicks, dlwicks@sbcglobal.net, 314-616-5813

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Every course we play expects a typical round of about 4 1/4 hours.  In reality, rounds of less than 4 hours are really possible.  With exceptions of rain delays and Path Only, most tee groups finish in 4  1/2 hours or less.

The experience of a 5 or 6 hour round of golf is frustrating for everyone.  Our game goes cold while waiting.  Tempers flare.  The course loses revenue – an extra hour could reduce revenue by 4 to 5 foursomes – $700. Lunches are missed.  and more.

Improving Pace of Play will require ALL members cooperation.  One player, or one foursome can delay everyone.  One slow group can cause other groups to fall behind even further.

Getting better requires everyone:

  1. Education for existing and new members
    1. Ready Golf
    2. Tournament Rules that speed play
  2. Cooperation from ALL members
    1. Play quickly
    2. Encourage others to improve
    3. Enforce rules
  3. Develop better Education, Rules, Monitoring, and Enforcement

 

3 thoughts on “Pace of Play Committee – Volunteer Now!”

  1. pre tee off have the division VP announce 2 or 3 things that are in our membership book to avoid slow play. IE; replace head covers after driving to your next shot, park you carts on the far side of the green, closest to your “next” tee box, putt out, etc. Every week highlight some time saving tip. We will never self police unless we feel free to do that, and it will take the VP calling people out

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  2. I have been a Metro member for three years and have not experienced what I would consider an abnormally long round. We are a senior league and therefore have members up there in age with various physical abilities. The only thing I have noticed is some of my fellow league member might have a pre-shot routine that could be shortened.

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  3. “Slow Play” can be caused by many things other than players including course conditions and maintenance (Design/Difficulty, Rain, Long Rough, bad carts), tournament rules (Tees, Lost Ball/OB rules, number of players).

    The Board selects courses that match members’ capabilities, are managed and maintained well. Organization and rules changes are always being considered. Adding Division 5 reduced average number of players on each course. Opening 2 forward tees to all flights and encouraging “Moving Up” especially for higher handicaps and shorter hitters.

    However, even with the best course and rules, Individual Player Behavior is still the key factor in Pace of Play. One slow player, or foursome, can easily add 30 minutes to an hour to 100 other players. A CONSISTENTLY Slow Player is disrespectful of everyone else on the course. This saps the Fun and Fellowship from the league.

    A “typical” round on a good day for our scheduled courses should take between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours. 12 to 15 minutes per hole on average. Each single minute reduction in your shot process can cut 18 minutes for the round.

    We all individually MUST work to improve our own pace of play. We must model that for others and encourage them to do the same.

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