Pace of Play

Pace of Play Update – Mid-Season

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The Pace of Play results are continuing to show significant improvement over 2017.  This is especially good since the wet weather and path only conditions early in the year were expected to hurt the pace.

Thanks for your cooperation on the Pace Logs.  The data is important in helping better define issues with courses, starts, conditions and differences between divisions.  More data and analysis needed, but this will lead to changes in courses and probably rules and starts.

Division 2 and 3 are especially fast, even with more players per event.   Almost all tee groups are doing a great job of keeping up with the group ahead.

The division and course summaries for 11 weeks of play are summarized below.

Key Points YTD

  • 53 Events to Date
    • Average Play Time = 4:30
    • Average Fastest Times = 4:02
    • Only 4 rounds averaged over 4:55
  • Division 1 is running 10 to 15 minutes slower that Division 2 – 5
    • Average Gross Score Div 1 is about 5 strokes higher
    • Average Handicap is about 2 to 4 points higher
    • More Shotgun starts than Div 2, 3, 4
    • More 5+ hour max times
  • Shotgun Starts are about 10 minutes slower than Split Tee Starts
    • Reverse Shotgun – leaving holes open is slowest
    • Spreading out the B Tee Groups leads to faster overall play
  • Courses difficulty, conditions and “newness” slightly increase times
    • Florissant (new, hills and blind shots)
    • Acorns (new, lots of water)
    • Bear Creek (hills, narrow, and Reverse Shotgun)

Division VPs have had discussions with a very few of our most frequently slow groups and players.  We have received some complaints.  However, we are working for cooperation and improvements. Saving 1 minute per hole for our slowest groups could virtually eliminate pace of play problems.

Keys to speedy play are:

  • Staying aware and keeping up with the group ahead
  • Being ready to play whenever it is safe to hit
  • Helping your group move to the balls quickly and eliminate time wasters
  • Using rules – Max 9 Strokes, lateral hazard drops, minimal ball searches

Download (PDF, 11KB)

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Pace of Play – Course and Division Summaries – 9 Weeks

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Metro Seniors – Great Job!

Pace of Play for 9 weeks (about 1/3 of the season) has improved significantly over 2016.  Averages across all Divisions and courses is running about 10 to 15 minutes faster.  Tee Starts and Shotgun starts are both running faster.

Our fastest players averaged just over 4 hours across 43 events, even with the weather and path only conditions.  All players averaged 4:31.

Our 5 longest times were at Bear Creek (2 times), Florissant (new course), Belk Park and Prairies.  Bear Creek and Florissant are our most difficult courses.  Bear Creek requirements for Reverse Shotgun start creates significant crowding increasing times.  Florissant was new, had several blind tee shots with lost ball opportunities.

We still have work to do.

  • 15 of 43 events had several groups that finished in over 5 hours.
  • 5 of these rounds had groups finishing in 5:30 to almost 6 hours.
    • Slowest groups were
      • 30 to 60 minutes longer than the average
      • 1 to 1 1/2 longer than the fastest groups
    • Slow Pace affected increased the average pace (all players) to 4:52 – 5:08 (vs 4:30 typical)
    • Weather, Course, Conditions were factors but many groups still played at 4:30 or less.

After the first 8 weeks, only 9 members repeated in 3, 4, or 5 slow groups.  They lost significant time against the group ahead and finished with a hole or more open ahead.   They typically delayed several groups behind them.

These frequently slow groups have been asked to work with their VP to improve pace.  With improvements of as little as 1 minute per hole, we should faster averages with less delay for groups behind.

Download (PDF, 7KB)

Download (PDF, 7KB)

Download (PDF, 6KB)

 

 

 

 

What can you do to play FASTER?

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Thanks to George Arft for some simple suggestions we can all use.  All of these are about you managing your time on the course so NO ONE in your tee group or on the course is waiting for you.

One of my favorites – Ditch the head covers!  Do you realize how long you spend with on/off for every shot?  Paint nicks don’t hurt your ball flight.  A scratch on your iron does not reduce your back spin on the green.  Are you keeping them beautiful for when you get OLD?  Saving them for your great grandchildren?  Think about it!

Clubs depreciate faster than cars or even computers, so that $500 from 10 years ago is probably worth $20 on Ebay (plus shipping).  The head cover might be more valuable than the club.

Here are the rest of George’s suggestions!  Perhaps you could share them with the really slow guy in your tee group – it is always the “other guy”.

Download (PDF, 21KB)

Pace of Play – Questions and Answers

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As this season has developed, some really good questions have been asked by members in one-on-one.  On reflection, these are good for all members to experience.

Q.  How do you identify individuals when all data is for a tee group?

A.  The data for any outing is collected for a group, but we do have each ID number for all players.  For each outing each tee group is responsible for their management of Pace as well as rules (ball searches, lost ball drops, max nine strokes, and so on).

Over the season, most members play in different groups.  Over time, the slowest members will have many more outings where they are in the slowest groups.  Based on 2016 data, 75 to 85% of members will have none to 2 outings where they were “slow” for the 25 week season.  Our slowest groups/members had many more outings where they were slow.

If a group of close friends always plays together and is frequently slow, all those members will be identified as “slow”.

Q. Our group got behind because two guys played really slow.  After we were way behind, they wanted to catch up by skipping a hole and taking a 9 max.  I was having a good round, why should I have to take a 9 because they were slow?

A. For any outing, if a group falls behind, ALL members of that group are responsible for taking action improve as early as possible.  

For example, if someone searches too long, the other group members MUST get them to stop and play a new ball.  If someone is over 8 strokes, others must get them to stop and record 9.  If a member is having a health or mobility problem, his group members should act to help in any way that is reasonable.  Be more active in getting them to their ball.  Help them reduce the non-golf activities.

If a group is way behind, voluntarily skipping a hole and scoring 9 is needed and should be done.  This is similar to having a marshal telling the group to move up.  He won’t care if it was the “other cart”, he won’t care if it is a good round for you.  You must move up then.

By the time skipping a hole is required, significant damage has been done.  Several groups behind are already delayed.  This will help, but still too late.

Q. I play with a couple of friends/carpool who are slow.  They don’t cooperate when I suggest that they speed up, or point out Ready Golf.  How can I not be branded as slow?

A. Do the best you can to RESPECTFULLY suggest that they speed up.  Model good play behaviors.  Stay aware of the group ahead and remind your group.

If they continue to be uncooperative, please advise the Pace of Play Committee of your concerns.  We may be able to help get the point across to the others in your group.

Consider playing with other members.  Fellowship is a key ingredient in the Association.  Playing always with the same small group keeps you from meeting other members, making new friends, and playing at a better clip.

Telling your friends that you want to play in other groups may feel awkward but friendship is a dialogue.  If they don’t respond to your needs you might question the value of the friendship.

Q. What information is used to identify slow groups?  How is it used?

A. Historically we have used total time of play and the separation gap from the group immediately ahead.  In our rules if groups play longer that 4 1/2 hours AND they finish more then 15 minutes later (separation) from the group ahead, the VP may use enforcement rules (warnings).

Data from 2016 showed significant time elements including courses, weather, cart usage (on course or Path Only), course crowding (A and B tees on Shotgun starts), 3somes or 4somes, and tee group position or order.

The Pace of Play Logs now collect more of this information plus members can make comments on the form.

For the start of 2017, we are collecting the times and conditions.  We have standardized definitions for the times to record – Start Time, Finish Time, and Scorer Time.  We calculate total times, min. max, and average play times, Start Gap, Finish Gap, Time Lost and Time Gained.

Plus, I have been refining the calculated times for total play time and the separation times.

For Total Play Time – we are still targeting course times (4 to 4 1/2 hours).  But we know that Path Only will be slower.  The fastest foursome group for the round becomes an “indicator” of course conditions – the best we could hope for, that course, that day, and so on.  The Average Time Played is yet another indicator – 50% of groups played FASTER.    Groups that are significantly (more than 10 minutes over average) will be looked at more closely.   Groups that are 30 minutes or more more than average or an hour or more slower than the fastest group will have the most focus.

I’m looking now at Time Gained or Time Lost compared to the group immediately ahead.  Example if you started 10 minutes after the group ahead AND you finished 10 minutes after the group ahead – Great! you kept up – playing at the same pace as the group ahead.

If you finished 20 minutes behind – not so good – you lost 10 minutes – almost a full hole.  But if you were behind a really fast group and you played below the Average Time – I don’t see your group as a problem.

Shotgun Starts have special data problems.  The calculations are adjusted for the A/B starts and the start separation – an A group on #5 will be finishing when the B group on #6 is just starting.

Also, slow groups impact more groups across the course.

General Guidelines

NO PROBLEMS

  • Playing rounds in less than 4 hr 25 minutes
  • Playing faster than Average Times for the round
  • Playing 0 to 15 minutes over Average but Gaining Time on a slower group ahead (they delayed you)

SLOW GROUPS

  • Playing more than 30 minutes over Average for the round
  • Playing more than 60 minutes longer than the fastest foursome
  • Playing more than Average AND Lost Time of 10 minutes or more (Finish Gap will be about 15 to 20 minutes)

SLOW PLAYERS

  • Playing in “slow” groups frequently (more than 3 times)

Q. What will be done with “slow” groups and players?

A. Our rules currently allow for the VP to issue warnings for each incident of “slow play”.  After at least 3 warnings, the VP may recommend sanctions up to and including termination of membership for specific players or groups.

We will begin enforcement for slow play starting June 1 2017.

Each Division VP will review the data and consider if and when warnings should be issued.  VPs may request that slow groups “split up” or limit play (Split Tee Starts only and only as the last group starting).  We may ask for “mentors” to play with some of the group to offer suggestions or to evaluate players ability to play at pace.  We want the slow groups to improve.

Groups or players will be subject to membership termination for:

  • Consistently and continuing Slow Play
  • Lack of significant improvement – for the most part if the group simply plays 1 minute per hole faster that would make them 18 minutes faster.  Big improvement – it can be done.
  • Lack of cooperation

Q. We let a faster 3some play through. Why did we get identified as slow when we lost time for the play through and were letting group play faster.

A. If your total play time was over average and you finished more than 10 minutes behind the group immediately ahead, you would be highlighted as slow for that round.  The 3 could not have played through if you were staying up with the group ahead of you.  If you kept up with your original forward group, or the 3some, no problems.  If the group behind the 3some caught up to your group, more evidence that your group was slow for course, conditions, and field that day.

If you made comments about the play through on the Pace of Play Log, it would help all to understand and correct the calculations.

Q. My number showed up in two different groups for the same outing, how can you punish me when data is wrong?

A. Data entry on the log sheets is not perfect. Sloppy handwriting, erasures, transposed numbers, wrong numbers – all happen.  This is same as Universal Scorecards and some members miss a flight prize because they signed on an incorrect scorecard.  This happens on every outing in every Division.  Even with Starters and Scorers reviewing the data, we have errors.  The good news,

  • We are looking for ONLY the slowest groups, usually only 1 to 3 groups per outing
  • We are only looking for consistently slow groups/individuals – 3 rounds minimum.
  • If you (your group) enter the data on the Pace Log sheet, maybe you will get it right (Starters and Scorers can make mistakes in moving information from USC to Log Sheets)
  • The data will be available and you can challenge when you see an error.
  • VPs and Pace of Play Committee (and ultimately Board) will oversee data and any enforcement
  • We don’t want to punish anyone, we are simply asking them to play a little faster and be considerate of all our other members.
  • With 7 weeks, we have over 2600 member/times entered.  There were a few garbled numbers, a few transposes, and I’m sure somewhere I keyed in something wrong.  But, I’m confident that error rates are low and will have almost no impact on identifying our consistently slower players.
  • Finally, if our slowest groups improve 1 minute or two a hole, we won’t have to do any of this.

Pace of Play – YTD Status – May 2017

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THANK YOU!

You made significant improvements to Pace of Play already in the first 7 weeks of 2017.

Even considering weather, course conditions, and course load (attendance), Pace is significantly better for 2017 as compared to 2016.

We have average times running 15 to 20 minutes faster than last year.  That is a huge improvement.  With the rain, wet fairways, and path only for many rounds it is even more significant,

We still have work to do.  About 1/3 of our rounds had maximum time of 5 hours and more.  Although slow tee groups made up only about 10%, up to 40% of members will suffer when following a slow group.

3 rounds were especially slow, averaging about 5 hours.  Weather, high rough, wet fairways and course crowding were factors.  But this simply made our slowest players play even slower.  Our fastest groups still got around  at a quick pace.

What is a “slow group”?

Slow Groups are clearly identified with:

  • Total Play Time over 4 hr 25 min.
  • Total Play Time significantly more than the Average Play Time for outing – more than 10 minutes and most 20 to 30 minutes longer.
  • Time Lost against the group immediately ahead more than 10 to 15 minutes
  • Total Play Time >>> Minimum Play Time – more than 45 minutes

Your group won’t be slow if

  • Total Play time is < 4:25
  • Keeping up with the group ahead, within 8 to 10 minutes

You can have one slow round once in a while – stuff happens.

Our primary concern are groups that are chronically slow – 2 to 3 slow outings over a short period.  As an example, in the first 7 weeks we have several members who were in slow groups for 3 or 4 of the first 7 events.   We are already asking these folks to improve more.  If you have a string of slow times, you will be asked to improve ASAP.

Your Division VP has the details from the Pace of Play logs and a summary of our slowest players, dates, times, and more.

Enforcement starts June 1 

The first 7 weeks were for data collection and testing.  We are now ready to roll out enforcement.

Starting June 1. our VPs will begin reviewing for slow play.  Warnings may be issued.  Slow groups will be asked to improve. Some groups may be asked to break up, play with  others.  Some groups may be limited to playing only in 3 somes or playing in the last group for tee starts.

Member cooperation is critical.

 

Complaints – Contact me – David Wicks, dlwicks@sbcglobal.net

For more details of the first 7 weeks see below.

Download (PDF, 141KB)

 

 

Week 2 Pace of Play Update

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Thank you Metro Seniors

In our first two weeks we have seen very significant improvement in Pace of Play in every Division.

2016 Season averages for were:

  • Split Tee Starts – 4:49
  • Shotgun Starts – 5:13

Our first two weeks for 2017 were: Split Tee – 4:23     Shotgun – 4:30

Many factors including weather are part of this, but member awareness and focus on Ready Golf are the keys.

We still have a few slow tee groups.  The slowest Tee Groups are still a full hour longer than the fastest groups on some outings.  These slow groups still block several groups behind.  One player can slow down as many as 20 players behind.

Very encouraging are the times for Columbia, Aberdeen, Landings, and Dardenne.  The slowest to fastest times were closer together (20 to 45 minutes difference).  These were also relatively crowded courses.  Everybody was keeping up, staying together.

The table below is Times by Division for week 1 and 2.

Below (PDF file) is a more detailed summary of the Pace of Play Logs.  This includes the times for each tee group.  You can see your group time and how it stacked up with the field.  I have highlighted the “slowest” groups in YELLOW for each outing.  This is based on total play time and “Time Lost” against the groups ahead.

The groups in CYAN were blocked/slowed by the group ahead.

These summaries DO NOT have Member IDs. However, the full details with member identification has been shared with the Division VPs and the Pace Of Play Committee.

If your group was “slow” you may want to see what you can do to speed up.  Starting June 1, tee groups that are significantly and consistently slow will enter enforcement (warnings through expulsion if they do not improve.)

 

DIV Course/Conditions Date Players Min Time Max Time Avg Time
1 Emerald Greens, ST, Exc Cond 04/14/17 89 03:59 05:02 04:27
1 Columbia 50F, Rain, 90 Deg 04/21/17 39 04:05 04:48 04:29
2 Landings @ Spirit 04/13/17 92 04:04 04:33 04:19
2 Crystal Springs 52F, Dry, 90 Deg 04/21/17 76 04:05 05:02 04:33
3 Aberdeen Excellent Conditions 04/13/17 132 04:23 04:42 04:32
3 Orchards 04/20/17 107 03:59 04:53 04:20
4 Columbia SG, 55F, Dry, 90 Deg 04/13/17 107 04:20 05:05 04:43
4 Innsbrook, ST Exc Cond 04/20/17 99 03:30 04:30 04:10
5 Links Dardenne, 75F, Dry, 90 Deg 04/13/17 120 04:14 04:46 04:27
5 Belk Park 04/20/17 91 03:47 04:40 04:13

Download (PDF, 28KB)

 

Water Hazards and Dropping Zones

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Update for Week 2 – April 20/21

No conforming Dropping Zones for these courses for Week #2

  • Division 1 – Columbia
  • Division 2 – Crystal Springs
  • Division 3 – Orchards
  • Division 5 – Belk Park

Innsbrook (Division 4) has 3 marked, maintained Dropping Zones

  • Hole #7 (left of lake)
  • Hole #15 (left of lake)
  • Hole #17 (left of lake).

We encourage the use of Dropping Zones as it can help improve Pace of Play.

When we have problems with Water Hazards (marked by Yellow Stakes), use of Dropping Zones may be allowed (see Section 17 below).

Section 17 – Water Hazards – Penalties and Carry Over Procedure
All players must attempt to hit their ball across water hazards marked by yellow stakes.
If a ball is in or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard, the player may proceed with under one of the following options: :
A) proceed under USGA Rule 26-1 (water hazard rule) with penalty of one (1) stroke
B) If there is a conforming dropping zone, identified and clearly marked by the course, and announced before start of play to players as to the hole and location of the dropping zone player may drop a ball, under penalty of one (1) stroke, in the dropping zone.
C) Under penalty of three (3) penalty strokes, player may choose to drop a ball on the opposite side of the water hazard two club lengths from the margin of the water hazard, opposite the point where the ball entered the water hazard. Penalties are one stroke to come out of hazard, plus two (2) penalty strokes to carry across the hazard.

Most of our scheduled courses DO NOT have regular, marked. maintained Dropping Zones.   I am preparing a detailed summary for all our courses.

For this week’s courses (April 13/14) – Only Division 1 (Emerald Greens has marked/maintained Dropping Zones).

Landings at Spirit (Division 2) – No Drop Zones
Aberdeen (Division 3) – No Drop Zones
Columbia (Division 4) – No Drop Zones
Links @ Dardenne (Division 5) – No Drop Zones

 

For Emerald Greens (only 2 holes have regular drop zones)

Hole #2 – Par 4 – Drop Zone beside and to the left of the green
Hole #17 – Par 3 – Drop Zone at bunker near green

Note – there is NOT a regular drop zone for #18, although this may be “marked” sometimes. We cannot use a temporary zone.

 

Starters and Scorers – Instructions and Schedules Update

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ALL MEMBERS – Please remember we need everyone (including new members) in each Division to volunteer as Starters or Scorers each season.  The job is not hard.  We have simplified the instructions.  Starters and Scorers are really facilitators – handing out and collecting score cards and handling the Closest To Pin markers.

Scorers – We do ask that you assign the Scorer Finish Time accurately.  Then scan score cards for completion (all blanks full), and legibility (if you can’t read it, neither can we). If incomplete or illegible ask group to clean it up.  You don’t have to check math.  You don’t have marshal or policing duties.

The Pace of Play Log Sheets are new, but tee groups are responsible for completing their member IDs at registration and times and comments at scoring completion.  Should take less than a minute for each tee group.

MEMBER TEE GROUPS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SCORE AND TIME DATA AND ACCURACY, LEGIBILITY AND COMPLETION on Universal Score Card, Course Scorecard, and Pace of Play Logs.

The new checklists/instructions for Starers and Scorers have been updated.

Plus we have the current (3-28-17) Starter/Scores Schedule for Divisions 1 and 4 online.

All members and especially new members should look over the instructions.  If you know the process, registration and scoring will go faster and be more accurate.  CLICK HERE, for a step by step illustrated instruction for scorecards and Pace of Play Log sheets.

CLICK HERE for Starter Scorer Checklists and Division Starer / Scorer Schedules.

 

Pace of Play – Blank Log Sheets Available

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New Pace of Play Log Sheets will be used for each weekly tournament starting this season.  This is really required as data improvement to really improve and enforce pace of play.

  1. Simplified and fasted data recording
  2. Faster data collection and analysis
  3. Published Pace Status in website and newsletters

The data is exactly the same as required on the Universal Score Card (USC).  But the USC is not available for analysis quickly.  Plus extra movement (mailing or collection) is added expense.  The USC will be the backup if Log Sheets get misplaced.

At Registration:

  1. Starters will have log sheet out and noted for Date/Course and weather or course conditions
  2. Tee Groups will fill in Member IDs on their start line as soon as they have their tee position

At Round Finish

  1. Scorers will have Log Sheet available
  2. Tee Groups will complete their line with Start Time, Finish Time and Scorer Finish Time
  3. Tee Group can also comment about round if times are unusual
    1. Sickness
    2. Cart problems
    3. Slow group ahead
    4. Whatever they think is appropriate
  4. Scorers will look over Official Finish Times for accuracy and then mail the sheet to Pace Committee

Tee Groups will only have to write Member IDs and Times – about 20 seconds each tee group.  Starters / Scorers simply make Log Sheet available and mail out.

Each Div Case will have Pre-Printed (Date, Course, Division) log sheets for each Tee and Shotgun start.  Plus blank sheets will be available.  Stamped, addressed envelopes are available.  Each sheet has instructions printed on the back.

Sample Blank Sheets are available.  Starters or VPs can print these out and set up manually before the outing if they wish.    The logs are different for Split Tee and Shotgun to more easily show the Tee Group order of play.  You can actually see your group status (Start/Finish) as you fill out the sheet.

Blank Pace of Play Log Sheets

Split Tee Start Log Sheet

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Shotgun Tee Start Log Sheet

Download (PDF, 97KB)

 

Pace of Play – Some Data (Division 1)

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Why is the 15 minute Gap so important?

Well, the gap time measures a tee group’s separation from the group immediately ahead. If there is more than about 15 minutes separation, the groups are separated by a full hole.

Once a group loses sight or contact with the group ahead, they sometimes lose their perception of pace and fall behind even further.

The following chart show the actual Play Time and Gap for Division 1 at all Tee Start courses for 2016.

  1. For most groups, the gap separation is less than 15 minutes – GREAT!
  2. If the gap is less than about 8 minutes, the group ahead may be slower and blocking
  3. The yellow highlight – gaps between 16 to 25 minutes – too slow but not critical.
  4. The red highlight – gaps from 26 to 50+ minutes.  These are very serious.
  5. The red highlights usually show a very slow time.
  6. The fast groups in the early tee positions show the course conditions
  7. Slow group early in the tee positions will slow and block several groups behind
  8. Unfortunately slow play problems are magnified on the Shotgun Starts (different data set)

Where were you in these groups?  What could you do to play faster/ keep up? Every group is responsible for enforcing pace of play within their group.

Bottom line:

  • A few slow groups can impact many groups on the course
  • Keeping Up with the group ahead (Minding the Gap) is very important

Everyone can have a bad round.  It is very important to shake off a bad hole or two.  And it is important to all of us for everyone to play quickly, and as a minimum stay up with the group ahead.

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