We are very fortunate to have 56 regular members (7 teams of 8!) of the league this year plus a good amount of substitutes! Of course, that does mean that we have to be even more vigilant about Speed of Play. We’ve put together a few Rules of Etiquette that help remind us to keep the pace up (a round should be completed in about 2h 15m on the front 9 at Green Valley):
- Start here: https://www.usga.org/pace-of-play-resource-center.html.
- Concession of HOLES (not the entire round). It’s a players right (yes, it’s in the USGA rules) to concede any hole to their opponent. We suggest considering taking advantage of that in the interest of pace of play, especially in this league. If it’s almost mathematically impossible for you to win or tie the hole, we suggest taking the opportunity to concede the hole to your opponent.For example, if your opponent is on the green in 4, and you’re chipping up or hitting up for 6-7, what are the odds you’re going to tie them (or win the hole)? Concession of the hole will speed up play for everyone in the league. Announce to your opponent that you concede, and you BOTH pick up and move on. The other two players in the group can finish up their play while you move to the next teeing ground. Score what you think you WOULD HAVE scored (if you finished the hole) on the card for handicap purposes. Note: X = 10. Do not use X to signify that someone picked up. Please put in numbers.
- “Ready Golf” is fine on the course for our league. What is ready golf? In certain circumstances you may reach your ball and are ready to hit. Other members of your group may not yet be prepared. Ready golf allows you to go ahead and hit your ball, even if you are not away.
- Be ready when it is your turn for the rest of the hole.
- Think about club selection as you are approaching your ball and keep pace with the rest of your group.
- When on the green, think about your putt as you are waiting your turn (of course, don’t stand in someone’s line of putt when it is their turn!).
- Make sure your carts/clubs are off to the side and don’t require you to walk much closer to the group waiting behind you. In other words, people may have waited for you and you don’t want them to wait longer as you leave the green. (Of course, on 5, this can’t be helped).
- Another exiting the green point – wait until the next tee box to write your scores down. If you stop and write down your scores near the green you are exiting, you are causing the group behind to wait – make this a habit whether someone is waiting or not, and it will serve you well on other courses too!
- Our local Green Valley rules call for groups to call the next group up on holes #5, 8, 11 and 12. While it is the choice of the group being called up whether to hit up or not, in general, it does speed up play on that hole.
- Finally, our League rule for water holes helps pace of play if a player is having trouble getting over the water: If you hit two balls into the water, drop the ball on the other side near the water (you will be lying 5, hitting 6).
Thanks!!