Dear Members,
I would like to remind you all that slow play is a blight on the game of golf and will not be tolerated at our golf club.
I would like to remind all members that a lot of work is done by the committee and especially our Club Secretary towards ensuring that we get bookings at golf courses and it is very disappointing when that great work is jeopardised by incidents such as slow play.
**Please note that the biggest misconception about slow play is that you must stay clear of the group behind you. The rule in fact is that you must keep up with the group in front of you and if you are the first group you must be aware that you set the pace for every one else.
Below is a guide to speeding up play and I urge all members to familiarise themselves with these tips as penalties may be introduced in future.
John Varrica/ President RWMGC.
- Pay for your game and collect your score card at least 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled hit off time
- Ensure that you have all the necessary equipment, such as balls, tees, sand bucket, divot repairers, scorecard and pencil
- Arrive at the first tee five minutes prior to your allocated tee off time
- Don’t wait to be called from the practise putting green.
On the Course
- All players must maintain their place in the field, which is immediately behind the group in front and not ahead of the group behind. This is a group responsibility and not an individual one. All members should be proactive in addressing the slow play problem.
- No player thinks that they are slow and it can be somewhat embarrassing to be told so. Some players have rituals that do not change no matter where they are in the field and there comes a time when some of these practices should be abandoned for the sake of a quick game. Some of the bad practices that our committee has observed are:-
a. Players taking multiple practice swings then walking back to pick their line and then addressing the ball and then taking too long to pull the trigger.
Some players have been observed doing this for every shot no matter the circumstances.
b. Players marking their ball on the green and then walking great distances behind the ball to find their line and then taking too many practice swings before putting. If you are not obstructing anyone, mark your ball, fix your divot, study your line and be ready to putt as soon as it is your turn.
c. Players marking cards while the fairway or green is clear. If the green or fair way is clear, someone in the group should tee off immediately and if need be mark your card for the previous hole after that.
- Should your group fall a clear hole behind (e.g. you are on the tee of a four or five par hole and the previous group has already left the green) and it is delaying the group behind please invite the group behind to play through (irrespective of the number of players in that group)
- No more than three minutes is allowed to search for a ball. If you can’t find your ball in three minutes you must proceed by enforcing the golf rules governing the conditions under which your ball was lost. If more than one ball needs to be found, split up and search for all the balls at the same time. If your ball is safe you should proceed to hit your next shot prior to joining a search for a fellow members ball.
- If you hit a ball that you think may be hard to find, or it may be out of bounds, please hit a provisional ball
- Go to your ball and get ready to hit your next shot as soon as it is feasible; i.e., not impeding another player’s shot or endangering yourself. Don’t always wait for your mate to play before going to your ball.
- Short hitters to tee off first
- Walking briskly between shots.
- Unless playing a stroke round, pick up your ball if you have already wiped the hole and can no longer score.
- Leaving your golf bag, buggy or cart strategically placed to side of the green nearest the next tee.
- Cart users should be particularly aware of the extra time taken in sharing a cart and look for ways to speed up play, for example, move ahead of walkers to look for possible lost balls, try to position the cart for easy access when leaving the green to reduce the number of times that you have to get in and out.
- Always conduct yourself in a disciplined manner. Try and demonstrate courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive you may be – this is essentially the SPIRIT OF THE GAME
On the Green
- When you reach the green, move to your ball and repair any pitch marks. Where possible, line up your putt prior to your turn to putt
- If your ball needs to be marked, then do it as quickly as you can. Anticipate the requirements of your fellow player. Move back and line up your putt
- Except in match play, and where you will stand on someone else’s lie, when you start putting, continue until you have holed out. If playing a par or stableford event and you can no longer score on that hole, pick up your ball and let others continue
- The first player to finish putting should take control of the flag and be ready to replace it in the hole when the final player has completed the hole
- If you have fallen behind the group in front of you, some players that have already putted out may proceed to the next tee and hit off in order to save some extra time.
- Players should proceed to the next tee without delay. The following group should be waiting to play their approach shots, so the path taken to the next tee should be borne in mind. Think ahead and leave your cart or buggy in a place where you won’t be hindering the following players.
Marking Cards
Cards should be marked as quickly as possible after completing the hole, but it is best to mark the cards at the next tee. Please mark your card when it is not your turn to play and remember, at all times your place in the field is immediately behind the group in front and not in front of the group behind.
