US Women's Amateur Championship Qualifier

Pace of Play Guidelines

 

STROKE PLAY

 

SUMMARY

 The Pace of Play Committee has designated 4 holes (#4, #9, #14, #18) on the course as Pace of Play checkpoint holes.  A Rules Official will be stationed at each checkpoint hole to monitor and indicate (if needed) a group’s position on the course.  When a group is out of position at any checkpoint (including the last checkpoint), the players in the group are liable to penalty under these guidelines and will be notified by the Rules Official.  When a group has been notified of a missed checkpoint, the group is expected to regain its position by the next checkpoint.  If the group reaches ANY subsequent checkpoint out of position, each player in the group is liable to incur the applicable penalty (see schedule of penalties below).

 

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE TIME

 Maximum allowable time is the MAXIMUM time deemed necessary by the Committee for a group to complete its stipulated round. This is expressed in a per-hole and aggregate time format on the players’ scorecards.

 

  • A group’s maximum allowable time begins at its assigned starting time, or if the starting time is delayed, at the adjusted starting time.
  • Checkpoint hole completion times are determined after all players in the group have holed out and the flagstick has been replaced in the hole.
  • Time associated with playing the game, e.g., course difficulty and walking times between holes, is included in all maximum allowable times.

 

OUT OF POSITION – STROKE PLAY

 A group is out of position when it:

  • Takes more than the maximum allowable time to finish a checkpoint hole and completes play of a checkpoint hole more than 14 minutes after the group ahead of them.*

*The first group off the tee is measured only against maximum allowable time.

 

GROUP OUT OF POSITION – MONITORED BY A RULES ROVER

  •  Any group that is out of position may be monitored by a Rules Rover.  A Rules Rover, when monitoring a group, may individually time strokes made by a player(s).   A time exceeding 40 seconds to play a stroke may be considered excessive if the group becomes liable to penalty.
  • A player(s) concerned about a non-responsive (slow) fellow-competitor(s) in the group should request a Rules Rover to monitor the group in case it may become or is liable to penalty.
  • Information gathered at any time by a Rules Rover or a member of the Rules Committee may be used by the Pace of Play Committee during the review process to determine whether a group or player(s) is in breach of these guidelines.

 

PENALTIES

Players in a group that have missed one or more checkpoints are liable to penalty according to the following schedule of penalties:

  • 1st missed checkpoint – warning*
  • 2nd missed checkpoint – liable to a penalty of one stroke
  • 3rd missed checkpoint – liable to an additional penalty of two strokes
  • 4th missed checkpoint – liable to disqualification

 

*If a group successfully clears each of their first 3 checkpoints, but is out of position (misses) at the 4th checkpoint, each player in the group is liable to a penalty of one stroke.

 

FINAL DETERMINATON REGARDING BREACH/REVIEW PROCESS

Before returning score cards, any group that is liable to penalty should consult with the Pace of Play Committee to have a final determination made regarding their breach (i.e. lodge an appeal).

 

A player(s) who was out of position during the round that elects not to consult with the Pace of Play Committee to determine whether they were in breach of these guidelines prior to returning their score card is deemed to be in breach of these guidelines and incurs the penalty or penalties according to the above schedule of penalties.

 

The Pace of Play Committee will determine that a group who has been found to be out of position is not in breach of these guidelines only if:

 

  • The group was delayed by the Committee.
  • The group was delayed by a circumstance beyond control of the player or the group.
  • The group was delayed by another player(s) in the group, other than their partner in four-ball stroke play.

 

Any incurred penalties are to be applied to the player’s score on the checkpoint hole where the breach(es) occurred.