PACE OF PLAY:

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Committee would like to encourage the playing of READY GOLF during this year’s St Andrews Links Trophy.

 

Player Responsibility

• Always be ready to play when it is your turn
• Play within the published maximum times allowed and keep up with the group in front
• Even if you lose a ball, have a lengthy search or a ruling, it is still the responsibility of the group:

• to play to the scheduled time, and
• to get back into position as soon as possible

• If you keep up with the group in front, your group will not be timed

 

Ready Golf

• In stroke play, Ready Golf should be played but in a safe and responsible way
• Play when you are ready – you don’t have to wait until the farthest away player has played
• For example, play Ready Golf:

• when the player farther away has a difficult shot and is assessing options
• when a longer hitter has to wait for a green to clear
• on the tee if the player with the honour is delayed
• by playing your shot before helping to look for a lost ball

• You will be encouraged by a referee to play Ready Golf if your group falls behind
• Where possible, advise other players that you are going to play first 

 

When Your Group is Out of Position

• A referee will ask your group to get back into position (but if group is significantly out of position, the referee may start timing immediately)
• If your group is not back into position within two holes or no effort was made after one hole, your group will be “timed”

 

Procedure When You are Being Timed

• The maximum time allocated per shot is 40 seconds, 10 extra seconds are allowed if you are the first player to play:

• on a par three hole
• an approach shot to the green, and
• a chip or putt

• The timing starts almost as soon as you reach your ball
• Obtaining a yardage and selecting a club are included in the time allocated for your shot
• If you exceed the allocated time you get a “bad time”
• If you play your shot within 40 seconds, you cannot get a bad time

 

Random Timing When You are Not Out of Position

• You may be timed without warning, including when your group is not out of position
• In such cases of “random timing” without warning, you risk a bad time if you exceed 60 seconds to play a shot, with an extra 10 seconds given (ie 70 seconds in total) for a “first to play” shot

 

Penalties for Bad Times

• 1 Bad Time  = You are warned
• 2 Bad Times = You get a one stroke penalty (stroke play)
• 3 Bad Times = You get an additional two stroke penalty
• 4 Bad Times = Disqualification

 

Note:  The full Pace of Play Condition and explanation of the timing procedures are available from the Tournament Office. 

 

The Pace of Play Condition will be strictly applied.