Good Scorecards – Correctly Recorded Scores

The Universal Scorecard is the official scorecard for all scheduled weekly tournaments.

But about 4% of scorecard rounds are disqualified with incorrect identification, bad totals, and handwriting that is difficult or impossible to read.

Start and Finish times for Pace of Play has gotten overlooked too.  We will be improving Pace of Play measures for 2017 and the scorecards and Pace of Play logs will be our best tools to identify and fix slow play.

We have an illustrated guide to completing the Universal Scorecard and the Pace of Play Logs (new for 2017).  CLICK HERE       STARTER and SCORER Instructions are being revised and simplified.

Tips To Accurate and Quick Scorecards (thanks to Tom King)

  • Each foursome / threesome should keep 2 course scorecards, 1 on each cart.
  • Get good pencils – and perhaps a couple for each cart. The course and Metro Sr have plenty available. Many errors are caused by writing too faint to read.
  • Mark Start Times on both Course Scorecards when the Tee Group takes the tee box (when the first player addresses their ball). Most tee group starts have about 10 minutes separation at tee off, when the group ahead has moved out of range (200 to 250 yards).
  • At the end of play, these cards should be exchanged so that the other cart can check a card for legibility and accuracy, for scores, totals, times as well as names and player numbers. If you can’t read a scorecard, we can’t either.
  • Any discrepancies should be resolved among the playing group BEFORE transferring the information to the “green card”.
  • The guy with the best handwriting should record them on the Universal Scorecard (“green card”).
  • Have 1 or 2 players make a quick, final check of scorecard scores and totals, to find transposition errors.
  • The most legible Course Scorecard checked for completeness, signed, and turned in with the Universal Scorecard.

It may take a couple extra minutes to do it right, but wouldn’t you rather spend 5 minutes on your scorecard so the 5 hours you spent on the course is recorded accurately?

Illustrated Guide to Universal Scorecard

Download (PDF, 599KB)

PGA Championship Coming in 2018

We don’t have any official information yet.  So we can’t sign up anyone for a while.  This is to get you thinking for 2018.   Here is starting information link from PGA CLICK HERE.

The 2018 PGA Championship will be held at Bellerive.  Schedule is August 6 through August 12, 2018

Metro Seniors organized a group of volunteers for the 2013 Senior PGA Championship.  We essentially handled marshal duties for one hole.  It was fun and we got to ramble around Bellerive.

There is a cost to volunteer, and some training time required. Volunteers do get tickets for access to the course during most or all the event.  Volunteers also receive some clothing items (shirt, jacket, hat) that help offset some of the costs.  Volunteers also have separate parking and shuttles.

Board of Governors will discuss organizing a group for 2018.

Would you be interested?  Add your comments.

Links to Course Scorecards – 2017

Following is a summary of links to course scorecards.  These are “informational” to help prepare for the season.  You can refresh your memory of the courses.

The document has hot links to take you directly to that page.  The scorecard page also has links for more information about each course.  If you are interested in other courses, you can search courses by state and city (click here).

These are from the OOBGOLF.COM site.  They feature a full scorecard with a plan of each hole.  These are also offered in a standardized view that is easy on the eyes.

Although they appear complete they are not “official” course scorecards.  A few of the forward tee colors, and some of the forward tee stats for Men are not included in these scorecards.  However, for MSLSGA “Regular (or Back”) tees, most of the yardages, ratings and slopes match or are a very close match for the MSLSGA official stats.

Many of our scheduled courses will have website, run and internet search on the course name and location.  An image of the course scorecard is sometimes available.  However, in several cases, the course websites show scorecards that are outdated or simply in error.  Example – Crystal Springs is showing a scorecard from a Houston TX course.

Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf Association statistics assembled by the Handicap Committee will be our official source for Tees and Colors, Yardages, Ratings, and Slope for scoring and handicap calculations.  These will be available on the website before the 2017 Season begin.

Download (PDF, 6KB)

 

Pace of Play – How to Improve for Metro Seniors

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.

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Player Ability
    1. Short Hitters = More Strokes, More Time
    2. High Handicaps = Higher potential for lost balls, searches, penalties
  4. 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.

 

 

What Tee To Play From??????

To play “Forward”, or not to play “Forward”, that is the question: Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer. The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune of lost balls, OB, and more strokes for the Back Tees, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, while playing Forward for fewer strokes, more fun, and shorter rounds.

Forward Tees or Back Tees really is The Question that Metro Senior Golfers must resolve. We have now opened up tee selection for all Flights A- D.

We are seniors and don’t get the distance (or accuracy) that we remember? So playing Forward is a real strategy to play better golf, focusing more time and energy on what we still can do well.

Why Play Forward?

More Fun

  • Do you really LIKE looking for balls?

  • Shorter Approach Shots

  • More action where the putts and short money shots reside

Better Scoring

  • Reducing the Yardage by 500 to 600 Yards can easily reduce 2 to 4 strokes from your game.

Faster Play

  • Fewer strokes, less time and delays

  • Fewer lost and OB balls, and less searching

  • Yes, we do enjoy our time on the course, but not waiting for you or anyone else?

Want to find out what tees you should be using?

  • How does your AVERAGE driver yardage guide tee selection?
  • How does handicap guide Tee Selection?
  • How does your average 5 Iron yardage help you pick tees?
  • Tee selection based on how you play Par 3 and 4 holes?

Want to find how many played from forward tees by flight?

  • Or why your buddies are beating you (could it be that they are playing forward?)?
  • How many strokes are lost by playing Back?
  • Maybe you could break 100 by playing Forward?

Read the following for this and perhaps more.

Download (PDF, 85KB)

 

 

 

More Pace of Play Information Available

More information and resources have been added to the website on Pace of Play.

Understanding Pace of Play is the first step in making improvements.  Although issues like Course Design and Maintenance are not in our control, each of  us can make changes that can lead to faster play for us, our group and for everyone on the course.

Unfortunately, one individual or foursome can slow everyone down.  So, we need everyone to think how we each can improve.  Then we can help others.

CLICK HERE for the resources and references.

Want to Play Rounds in Less than 4 Hours?

Here are some resources that will help you speed up your golf.  All are easy, and common sense (that is never really so common). Pace of Play is a continuous improvement program.  Everyone can get better. Practice make perfect.

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO PLAY IN 4

As much as 75% of time on the golf course is not golf at all, it is moving to the shot!  If you reduce the “moving” time you will play faster.

Think about you game and how you can improve!  Think about your groups’ game and how you can help them improve!  Recommend these to a “slower” friend and show them how it is done.

If we all individually strive to improve our own game, we will improve AND we will help others improve,

Here are more ideas on Pace of Play.  Read them. Print them out. Share them with your foursome or perhaps other slow players.  It will help them focus on the major time wasters. They can’t get better if they don’t know how!

Download (PDF, 88KB)

Download (DOC, 479KB)

New Discount Card – Get Yours at Meeting – March 22

Membership Discount Card

 

Starting this year, Metro Seniors will issue a Membership Discount Card instead of the Super Saver Coupon Book. This will be a numbered (the number will NOT be your ID#) plastic card the same size as a credit card that you can easily carry in your wallet.  The card will be good for the current year from a period of April 1st to March 31st of the following year.  If everything goes as expected, the card will be offered in succeeding years.  Of course, there will be a different color scheme on the card each year.  The card will have to be signed on the back in order to be valid.

The cards will be handed out at the March Meeting at your Division tables.  If you cannot attend the meeting, then see your  Division VP for your card at one of your normal weekly Division tournaments.

We have contracted with over 30 courses and golf stores to give you discounts equivalent to or better than the Super Saver Coupon Book.

You will only get one card, so don’t lose it!  Use the cards as much as you can (they are not valid for the weekly tournaments),  The more the cards are used, the more likely the courses and stores will be to want to participate in the future.

Download (PDF, 246KB)

2016 Communications Survey Results

First of all, I do apologize to our members in Division 9 and to members without email.  The survey was online so the survey was limited to members with email.  For Division 9 members, I did not have a current email list and with time pressures, simply did not include you.   I think you needs are important, and will look at getting your responses in a followup survey.

Division 9 Members and all non-email members will have the opportunity to pick up a Member Book and a directory at the General Meeting (and at the course later).

NOW THE RESULTS

Download (PDF, 80KB)