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Tips to Improve Pace
of Play
PACE
OF PLAY PROCESS
The AJGA Tournament Committee will designate a minimum of six (6) 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, single red or double 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 cards they receive at all checkpoint holes.
OVERALL
TIME PAR
Overall time par is the amount of time in which 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 the group has played a stroke from his starting teeing ground.
- Checkpoint times are measured when the flagstick is replaced in the hole after all players in the group have holed out.
- The AJGA Tournament Committee may adjust time par between tournament rounds.
OUT
OF POSITION
“Out of position” is defined as:
- Failure to complete the hole being played in less than the time established by the committee after the group immediately ahead put the flagstick in on that hole (i.e. 14 minutes is defined as 14:00:00).
* The first group(s) of the day is judged only against time par until they get into position with any group that may be ahead of them.
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/OR within overall time par through that checkpoint.
- Single Red card (Warning): The group is out of position AND behind overall time par through that checkpoint.
- Double Red card (One-Stroke Penalty): The group is out of position, behind overall time par through that checkpoint AND did not make its required checkpoint-to-checkpoint time determined at the last red card checkpoint.
PENALTIES/BAD
TIMES
- Bad times: A player has recorded a bad time when he has taken in excess of 45 seconds to play a shot once it is his turn to play and there are no distractions. Players will be notified of the number of bad times they have committed when they receive their first red card.
- Double red card: A one-stroke penalty may be assessed to each member in the group if the group receives a double red card. The one-stroke penalty will be assessed to any player with multiple bad times (minimum of three).
* A penalty stroke is added to the hole where the infraction incurred. Penalties will be confirmed with the group by an AJGA Rules Official and verified in the scoring area.
UNDUE DELAY
- If a player records five (5) bad times during the round, they will receive a one-stroke penalty for undue delay. Players will be warned after receiving four (4) bad times.
- The player will receive another penalty stroke if they record two (2) or more additional bad times.
RESCINDING A RED CARD
A red card can be rescinded in two ways:
- Group is in position with the group immediately ahead through next checkpoint.
- Group is on or below overall time par through next checkpoint.
FACTORS
IN DETERMINING TIME PAR
Listed are factors the AJGA takes into consideration in creating
a fair time par at each event:
• Difficulty and 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.
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.
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