Tanah Merah Country Club has embarked on a campaign for considerate golfing, and one of the areas it wants to clean up is Pace of Play.
Slow play is a growing concern compounded with busy courses and high utilisation rates. It turns a leisurely game into a maddening one for golfers who are trying to play at a reasonable pace.
Of course, the first Rule of Thumb is presenting yourself at the buggy bay AT LEAST 20 minutes before tee-off.
Tee-off times are spaced out at eight-minute intervals, and it is important that golfers adhere to the right playing time and pace.
Golf Course Marshals often encounter players either taking too long to hit their shots with too many practice swings or spend much time aligning their shots.
Every golfer hates slow play! A general rule of thumb is to keep up with the group in front of you at all times. By doing so, you make everyone else have an enjoyable day at the golf course.
To help you have an enjoyable game, we are re-introducing the “Ready Golf” concept which is widely promoted by USGA and R&A.
For Ready Golf, you are encouraged to practice the below as examples:
- At the tee-box, the player with the honour tees off first, following the Rules of Golf for the order of play. However, when you are ready to play before another player whose turn it is under the normal order of play, you may proceed out of turn. Just ensure that it does not endanger, distract, or interfere with any other player.
- At any time, proceed to hit your shot when it is SAFE to do so. You may go ahead and play your shot when others are, for instances, searching for balls, spending time taking relief from penalty area and travelling a distance to get to their golf balls, etc.
- Help your flight mates to search for their balls AFTER you have hit your shot.
- Shorter hitters may play first only when they are absolutely certain that the front group is clear and out of their range.
- Instead of marking the ball, continue to finish the short putts as soon as possible or practice “gimme putt” in your social rounds.
- For social play, give yourself a maximum score per hole such as double par and record your score later instead of checking the scores with others on the green.
In summary, unless you are playing matchplay, our mindset of “furthest from the hole must play first” will need to change especially for social play.
The R&A golf Rule 6.4[RC1] specifically states: In stroke play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn, and players are both allowed and encouraged to play “Ready Golf” – that is, to play out of turn in a safe and responsible manner.
Slow play means that a golfer shall play without undue delay. Slow play is when a golfer takes longer than 40 seconds to play any shot.
Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player shall not unduly delay play.
Course timings are based on groups of four, groups are expected to complete 18-holes within 4hrs 20minutes at Tampines and 4hrs at Garden.
OTHER TIPS: BUGGY MANOEUVRE TO SPEED UP PLAY
To speed up play, you may adopt the below common practices when using buggy at the golf course.
If your ball is already on the green and your buggy mate has a short distance shot to the green, you may just drop him/her off with few clubs (wedges and putter, etc.) before driving off. You do not need to wait for him/her to play the shot and go to the putting green together in a buggy.
If your buggy mate and your golf balls are far apart on fairway, you may just drop him/her off at his/her ball and drive to your ball or vice versa. After playing, you may pick him/her up further down the fairway.
Park your buggy “ahead” but not “behind”. Especially around the green, in general, always park the buggy nearer to the next tee box.
What happens when players fail to keep up with the Pace of Play after multiple advice from the Golf Course Marshals?
- They may have to skip a hole and may have to consider playing from an easier Tee box.
- Repeat offenders may get official reminders and warning letters which may lead to disciplinary action.
Here are 16 reasons why your pace of play may be too slow:
Source: Brandon Tucker’s advice on Golf Advisor
- Playing a tee box too far back.
- Not sharing the golf cart properly.
- Not taking multiple clubs to your ball.
- Searching for golf ball too long.
- Looking for a ball that is pointless to find.
- Not reading your putts while others are putting.
- Not prepared when it’s your turn to hit.
- Not watching your playing partners’ shots.
- Holing out everything.
- Your pre-shot routine is too long.
- Not helping each other with yardage.
- Playing stroke play every round.
- You’re too plugged into tech.
- You’re hooked on mulligans.
- Playing based on honours.
- Excessive practice on course
On many occasions, slow play may not be intentional because of the varying level of skill, searching for lost ball, waiting for the group to clear before hitting and unexpected events like a player needing attention due to injury or illness.
When encountering such instances, inform the golf course marshals who are authorised to manage pace of play and golf course etiquette.