Pace of Play Update – January 2017

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The Board of Governors reviewed and approved the Pace of Play Action Plan for 2017 as recommended by the Pace of Play Committee.

The summary of findings for the 2016 season were posted here in December (CLICK HERE).

Action Plan Elements

  • Expectations – What is Expected or Target Pace?
  • Education – What makes up Pace? Rules! Ready Golf!
  • Measures and Data – Improved data collection and measurements
  • Rules – Rules can improve Pace!
  • Enforcement – Slow Groups/Members

This website, newsletters, emails and meetings will be used to Educate and Inform our members.  More on the many moving parts as time goes on.

We will be measuring, analyzing, and reporting Pace of Play throughout 2017.  Starting June 1, we will begin enforcement for “slow play”.  This will include warnings, and remediation efforts, and if necessary expulsion of members.

EXPECTATIONS FOR 2017

  • Members
    • Play to best competitive effort, with courtesy and respect for others
    • Follow all rules
    • Manage their group to “Meet Pace” and “Keep Up” with group ahead
  • Pace of Play Targets for 2017
    • 4 to 4 1/2 hours Tee Starts
    • 4 1/2 to 5 hours Shotgun Starts
    • Course, conditions, organization, member capability
  • VP/Board/POP Committee
    • Manage Pace fairly and consistently
    • Set and communicate clear Standards / Rules
    • Measure and communicate status and results
    • Enforce
      • Identify “Slow Play” groups/members
      • Gain Improvements

RULE CHANGE – Maximum of 9 Strokes on any hole

All players will be required to take no more than 9 strokes on any hole.  This will prevent a “blow-up” hole from slowing a group and all behind them.  It will reduce only about 15 to 30 strokes per round but these are concentrated in our slowest players and groups. Pace for our slowest players (and those following) should improve by several minutes per round.

The Max 9 rule will not make any differences in handicaps, in flight prize money, in flight standings, or in qualifications for the league championship.

Everyone who has a bad hole may and should take advantage of the Max 9 rule.

DATA and MEASUREMENT – New Pace Log Sheet

We will continue using our Scorecards.  However, we will add a simple Log Sheet for times.  This will allow faster and simpler data collection and analysis.

Starters/Scorers instructions will be simplified to help.  The Logs will be completes as part of registration and Scorecard completion.

DIVISION MENTORS

We will work to expand the Mentors program used in Division 3.  Mentors will help new players get started, understand rules, requirements for Pace of Play, and regular play.  Mentors may also help with “Slow” players or groups.

ENFORCEMENT SLOW PLAYERS / GROUPS

Groups that are consistently slow will be identified, asked to improve, and as needed disciplined or asked to leave the league.

Slow Groups are:

  • Significantly over the target pace and/or average pace for the outing (>20 minutes)
  • Not Keeping Up with the group ahead (<15 minutes behind)
  • Warnings will be issued
  • At 3rd warning in the season, membership may be revoked

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