RACCOON CREEK MEN’S CLUB

Pace of Play Policy

2022

 

“Pace of Play rule is all about the PACE of PLAY, not Race Cart Golf AND NEVER is it about Snail Golf.  It is about Honor.  Honoring the people in front of you and honoring the people behind you, By Keeping Up a Proper Pace of Play and Staying In Position with the foursome in front of you.  It’s never about Rushing, Your Shot but Rushing TO Your Next Shot.”

 

“Effective January 01, 2012, USGA Rules of Golf, Section I - Etiquette; Behavior on the Course, Pace of Play Players should play at a good pace. The Committee (defined as the governing body that must establish the conditions under which a competition is played) may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.” Please understand, that pace of play is not only a matter of golf etiquette, but a financial matter for the Men’s Club as well. If our tournaments run long and affect the public tee times behind us, the Pro shop can potentially lose money by cancelling tee times or having the write rain checks to the public. When that happens, the Pro shop starts putting pressure on the Club to get our members moving. They have even threatened they will make the Club buy additional tee times we aren’t using to compensate the course for lost revenue.

 

Each tournament group is expected to complete their round within the 4 hours and 30 minutes. The first group during a tournament to come in after their allotted time is considered late. Thereafter, groups finishing more than 15 minutes after the preceding group in front of them are also considered late. 

 

Tournament players in a late group shall be penalized 1 stroke for violating pace of play guidelines on the front and 1 stroke for violating the back nine. However, each late group shall be given the opportunity to explain their tardiness, in private, with an audience of at least 2 Board members. After hearing of the group’s explanation, the Board members will waive or enforce the penalty at their own discretion. Board member discretion to waive or enforce the penalty is absolute, and shall be based on several factors including, but not limited to: repeat tardiness, player’s knowledge of the rules of golf, weather conditions, injuries incurred on the course, etc. 

WHAT IS THE POLICY?

The tournament policy we have adopted includes penalties for slow play. Said policies were designed to help you as individuals and as a foursome to keep up the pace so that you are always immediately behind the group ahead of you. The policies include:

1. Each foursome must complete tournament rounds in 4 hours and 30 minutes. The front nine in two hours and fifteen minutes and the back nine in two hours and fifteen minutes. 
2. We expect each member to be responsible for their foursome to keep up with the group ahead of them. If you have one member that is constantly slow, the other three must keep him from delaying the rest of the foursome. Each Foursome Should Pick a Pace of Play Captain to keep them in position.
3. If you find your foursome is falling behind the group ahead of you, all players must do their best to catch up.
4. RCMC’s expectation is two hours and fifteen minute time limit for each 9 holes if you come in more than fifteen minutes behind the group ahead of you, you will each be subject to one penalty stroke for the front nine and one penalty stroke for the back nine with a maximum of two penalty strokes for the tournament.
   1.  Tournaments utilizing shotgun starting times will be evaluated for pace of play at holes 1, 10 and contact to foursome ahead of them at scorer’s table. Players are to proceed directly to scorer’s table at completion of their final hole.