December 2016 – Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf

2017 Special Events Registration – Now Open

12/31/2016 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

2017 Special Events Registration is now open.

Click Here for Registration Page

Pace of Play – How to Improve for Metro Seniors

12/31/2016 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

Pace of Play on the golf course is almost always a hot topic. Everyone wants a speedy rounds.

And we can easily see the problem as “the other guys” in the group right in front of us. Remember the group immediately behind you can only see you. So maybe we are all part of the problem.

SLOW PLAY is the real sore point. What causes SLOW PLAY? There are many contributing factors. Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf has to work with all the factors to give members the best possible experience.

Course Conditions, Rules, and Equipment
1. Course Design and Difficulty
2. Course Maintenance
  1. Long Rough
  2. Leaves on Fairway and Rough
3. Slow Carts or Bad Cart Paths
4. Rain Delays or Wet Conditions – Path Only
Tournament Conditions and Rules
1. Individual or Team Competition (Scrambles)
2. Tees Selected by Metro Sr and by Individuals
3. Shotgun or Tee Order Starts
4. Out of Bounds and Lost Ball Rules
5. Number of Golfers
Player Ability
1. Short Hitters = More Strokes, More Time
2. High Handicaps = Higher potential for lost balls, searches, penalties
Player Behavior
1. On Course Time Management
2. Ready Golf
3. Time Wasters
4. Player Etiquette

What does Metro Seniors do to improve tournament pace of play?

Select Courses With
- Design, Distance, Difficulty that mesh with Members’ Capability
- Reasonable and Consistent Maintenance
- Good Management
Set Rules that help maintain Speedy Play while offering Fair Member Competition
- Tees Selection (Distance, Rating, Slope)
- Division Number and Size – Smaller number of golfers for each tournament
- Tournament Rules for Lost or OB Balls or special situations
- Start Type – Shotgun or Split Tee Starts (#1 and #10)
- Monitor Tee Group Times and Separation Gaps on Scorecards
Set and Communicate Metro Seniors Pace of Play Targets and Standards
- Weekly Tournament and Special Events Targets
- Course Pace of Play Targets
- Measure and Communicate Member, Division
Encourage Pace of Play Improvements
- Record Scores, Calculate Handicaps, Flights
- Encourage Short Hitters and High Handicaps to “Move Up”
- Educate and Promote READY GOLF
- Recognize “Model” Players and Groups
- Mentor New Members and SLOW MEMBERS
Enforce Pace of Play Rules and On Course Corrections
- Slow Group Notification, Penalties on Course
- Slow Group Weekly Warnings
- Apply Board Sanctions
Monitor Tournament Play for the Season
- Member Survey for Good/Bad Courses
- Member Attendance, Times, Scores
- Course Feedback

Member Ability/Behavior is the “last” and probably the most visible element of Pace of Play. It is very important. We are all involved. AND we can all contribute by helping, encouraging, and modeling good behaviors for slower players. With everyone’s cooperation we will improve everywhere.

Metro Seniors will act fairly and consistently to enforce our rules for Slow Play when significant and consistent problems are identified.

Pace of Play Update Dec 2017

02/26/202012/31/2016 by dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

Pace of Play Committee has been working hard.

Two meetings in Dec 2016
Significant Analysis and Review of 2016 Actual Play Times Data
Lengthy Discussion of Ideas for Improved Pace of Play
- Significant, Measurable, and Enforceable
- That will be Supported by Members
- Reflect Actual Data
- Focused Implementation – Significant Few
Follow-up Meeting in January and Recommendations to Board
- Rule Changes (Tournament and Enforcement)
- Education and Promotion Program
- Improved Measurements and Enforcement with 2017 Season

FAQ on Pace of Play 2017 – Click Here

MOST IMPORTANT

Our Review SHOWS:

Most Members can and are playing quickly
- Our fastest players are regularly in the 4 hours to 4 1/2 hours.
- Most groups are Staying Up with the group ahead with short separation times.
Split Tee Starts have faster finish times than Shotgun Starts
- Full Season Average Split Tee Finish was 4 hr 49 min.
  - First Groups Off = 4 hr to 4 hr 30 min (20 to 30 min faster than “average”)
  - Late Groups Off = 5 hr to 5 hr 20 min (20 to 30 min slower than “average”)
- Full Season Average Shotgun Finish was about 5 hr 14 min.
  - Fast Groups = about 4 hr 40 min
  - Slow Groups = over 5 hr 30 min
- Shotgun have doubled tee starts (A/B), closer groupings, more players (slower play)
Longer Pace of Play Focused in 10% to 15% of Members/Groups
- Usually 1 to 3 Groups Per Outing
- Affect (slow down) 3 to 5 groups immediately following
- Includes B, C, and D Flight Players/Group
- Methods to Improve Slowest Groups (Education, Encouragement, Enforcement)
Scorecard Time Data Collection must be improved
- Sloppy Handwriting
- Bad Times between Scorers and Tee Group (Education, Training, Enforcement)
- Faster Reporting to VPs
On Course Corrections Are Needed for Enforcement
- Identify, Encourage, Enforce on Slow Groups on Course
- Get Groups to Self-Enforce on a Slow Player
- Fix Problems BEFORE Everyone is Affected
Encourage Members with Clear Targets, Goals and Motivation for Pace of Play
- Everyone Can Improve
- Education and Information for All Players
  - Target Pace of Play by Course
  - Target Current Slower Players and New Members
  - Ready Golf
  - Rules Use for faster Play
- Communicate Status of Pace of Play

FAQ on Pace of Play 2017

Download (PDF, 136KB)