AJGA Pace of Play Policy

PACE OF PLAY PROCESS
The AJGA Tournament Committee will designate four (4) holes on the course as timing checkpoints. A volunteer will be stationed at each timing checkpoint and signal each group with a color-coded card (green, yellow or red) indicating a group’s position on the course. Penalties will be confirmed with groups by an AJGA Tournament Committee member and verified in the scoring tent. It is the responsibility of the player to know which color card(s) they receive at all checkpoint holes.

OVERALL TIME PAR
Overall time par is the amount of time the AJGA Tournament Committee expects all players to complete a round. This will be expressed on a per hole basis and an overall time for 18 holes. In part, time par is established with the understanding that 45 or more seconds is excessive to play a shot without distractions.

• A group’s time begins when a member of its group has played a stroke from their starting teeing ground.
• Checkpoint times are measured when the flagstick is replaced in the hole after all players in the group have holed out.

OUT OF POSITION
“Out of position” is defined as:

• Failure to complete the hole being played before the group immediately ahead has completed the hole which follows the timing checkpoint.
• When a checkpoint hole precedes a par 5, failure to complete the hole being played before a player from the group ahead has made a stroke from the putting green.

TIMING CARDS
Volunteers stationed at each checkpoint hole will signal the group according to their position on the course.

• Green card (No Penalty): The group is in position AND on or within overall time par through that checkpoint.
• Yellow card (No Penalty): The group is out of position OR behind overall time par through that checkpoint.
• Red card (One Stroke Penalty): The group is out of position AND behind overall time par through that checkpoint.

PENALTIES

• Red card: A one-stroke penalty per card is assessed to each member in the group.
• A penalty stroke is added to the hole where the infraction is incurred. Penalties will be confirmed with the group by an AJGA Tournament Committee member and verified in the scoring tent.

RESCINDING A PENALTY
A red card will can be rescinded three ways:

1. Group is in position with the group immediately ahead through next checkpoint.
2. Group is on or below overall time par through next checkpoint.
3. Group plays on time par from red card checkpoint to following checkpoint or final hole.

A group will be presented with a yellow and a red card if they play red checkpoint to checkpoint or final hole within time par, but are still “Out of Position” AND behind overall time par through that checkpoint.

APPEAL PROCESS
If a player or players feel an individual or individuals are responsible for the group’s penalty/penalties under this structure and would like the AJGA Tournament Rules Committee to consider waiving the penalty/penalties, the player or players must make an appeal to the AJGA Tournament Director or the Senior Rules Official prior to leaving the scoring area.

FACTORS IN DETERMINING TIME PAR
Listed are factors the AJGA takes into consideration in creating a fair time par at each event:

• Difficulty of course
• Length of course
• Walks between holes
• Conditions of competition
• Pace of play history for course

The AJGA reserves the right to adjust the Pace of Play Policy for all events.

PACE OF PLAY TIPS
The following tips will enhance your tournament experience and can keep your group from receiving a red card during your round.

• Show identifying marks on your golf ball to fellow competitors.
• Get your yardage before it is your turn to play.
• Read your putt before it is your turn to play.
• Recognize when someone will need the flag tended or your ball marked.
• Get to your next shot without delay. It is more important what you do between shots than during.
• Be aware of who is away. If you're not sure, ask.
• Know where your group is in relation to the group in front of you.
• Anyone can search for a lost ball. Have your parents and spectators one shot ahead of your group to spot errant shots.
• If a ball is not found after a brief search, the fellow competitors should go forward and play their shots to the green and let the player and spectators continue the search.
• If your ball might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, play a Provisional Ball (Rule 27-2).
• If a situation arises and you do not know how to proceed, play a second ball under Rule 3-3 and continue play (stroke play only). You must report the facts to the AJGA staff afterwards regardless of score.
• Place golf bag off the putting green near the next teeing ground. This avoids holding up the following group to hit while a player retrieves their golf bag from the front of the green.