Pace of Play

Play Ready Golf - hit as soon as you are ready without interfering with another player. Disregard “honors” and who may or may not be “away” on the green or anywhere else on the hole. Always play ready golf.  We expect you to complete a normal round of golf in 4.5 hours or less. 

USGA Rule 18 allows 3 minutes to find your ball and USGA Rule 5.6 recommends that 1) A player should make a stroke in no more than 40 seconds (and usually in less time) after the player is able to play without interference or distraction. And 2) Encourages players to play faster or out of turn when it is safe and responsible to do so (i.e., “ready golf”).  We also recommend a PUTTING THRU THE GREEN policy that has been successfully used by the PGA, other clubs, and in specific tournaments to help speed up play. 

“Putt thru the Green” means that a player continues to putt until their ball is holed out. If you or anyone in your group objects to a putt, you may ask them to mark their ball. We also recommend leaving the flagstick in the hole when putting to speed up play. You must always putt out on every green or disqualify yourself from the tournament. NO GIMMEES!! 

Helpful hints: 

• Always play ready golf/encourage partners to do the same/someone should be hitting at all times when hole is open 
• Keeping up with the group ahead of you is the priority; the group behind you doesn't matter
• Prepare for your shot (club choice, etc.) while you are waiting for your turn to play. This can be a tremendous time saver. Same goes when on the green. You can prepare for your putt before your turn. Early preparation requires some common sense and etiquette to not disturb your fellow competitors. 
• Shorter yardage hitters should always tee off ahead of longer yardage hitters when fairway is open
• Do not mark your ball on the green unless necessary (in partners line/dirty ball)
• Putt through the green (once you begin your putting, continue until you have holed out)
• Minimize practice swings (take 1 or fewer swings only when necessary)   
• Drive cart to the farthest point behind the green within reason. Do not park short of or parallel to green
• When on opposite sides of the fairway at similar distances, its acceptable for 2 players to hit simultaneously
• If you've lost your ball and the hole is NOT open ahead of you, you can continue to look for the ball until the hole is open (Max 1 Minute)
• If you've lost your ball and the hole IS open ahead of you, drop and hit immediately/take 1 stroke penalty    
• Place carts, clubs, clothing, etc. between the hole you are playing and (path to) the next tee box.
• Record scores on the next tee box while your playing partners are hitting their next tee shots. Please do not record your scores at the green and hold-up the players behind you.  
• Direct beverage cart away from the hitting area or greens. Drive to meet it between holes; or suggest meeting them on the next tee.  
• When riding in carts… drop off your playing partner at their ball, then proceed to your ball. Hit when ready!  

Slow Play - Every year we talk about slow play and the problems it causes with the courses and with our members. We lose members and some courses may choose not to invite us back due to slow play. If you do not already know… slow play is a problem when you are not keeping up with the group in front of you. If you (or any player in your group) fail to maintain pace of play... consider moving up to the shorter tees in future tournaments. Be considerate of the players behind you. If you (or your group) are consistently slow, you may be moved behind the group or groups you are holding up or you may not be invited to play course that we, as a group, have problems playing at a good pace.