READY GOLF
Key Points
• Be ready to play when it is your turn.
• Hit as soon as the group in front of you is fully clear.
• Determine possible club selection for your next shot before you get to the ball. If you are using a cart, bring one club more and one club less than you think you need.
On the Tee
• All players are out of their carts "on deck" with club, extra tees and 2 marked balls at the start.
• Shorter hitters hit first. First person to hit has sand ready to fill drive divots.
• Hit when ready as soon as the group ahead is clear of your shot distance.
• Be prepared for a porvisional ball if your ball might not be on the fairway, goes into the woods, or goes into a possible hazard. Hit your provisional as soon as soon as the rest of the group has hit.
• Watch everyone’s shot. If the ball goes into the woods, all players should know where the ball landed.
• Stow clubs and get off quickly, planning the clubs you might need for your next shot.
Lost Balls or Out of Bounds
• Play a “provisional” ball if you think the ball is lost or out of bounds (OB). Make sure it is marked and different than the first. Then......
• Look for the ball for no more than 5 minutes.
• Other players should play any shot that is farther from the hole than the lost ball before helping to look for the lost ball.
On the Fairway
• Go to your ball as soon as possible. The only time a player should wait for other players before going to their ball is if it is not safe due to another player's position.
• If your ball is past other players' balls: If it is safe to do so, walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball, determine your club selection while waiting do move into the fairway when it is safe to hit. This allows you to be close to your ball and ready to play, while others behind you can still make their shots.
• Drivers of carts: If partner’s shot is farthest behind, drop them off, let them choose their clubs and then drive to your own ball and get ready to play. Make sure your cart does not obstruct the next players’ shots.
• Take extra clubs: Once you are closer to the ball, your lie may appear different. Possible club choices can be estimated even from the cart path. You should not have to return to your bag or cart for another club selection.
***Exceptions to the rule that a player farthest from the pin should play first
• Players with the cart should hit first IF they reach their ball first AND are ready play before players who are walking, whether they are behind or farther ahead.
• When a player hits, but is still farthest from the hole, the other players should hit before that player IF they are ready and the original player is not ready for the next shot.
• If a player is off the green while others are on AND is still farthest out after hitting again, play on the green should continue, until that player is ready to make the next shot.
On the Green
• Clubs and Carts: always leave your cart on the path between the flag and the next hole. Pull carts may be placed close to the green, but not in front of the green. This allows players behind you to hit to the green as soon as possible.
• Putts: Line up your putt before your turn, but don’t move or stand in a vision line while others are actively putting.
Continue your putting to finish your hole IF
… the ball is not in another player's line.
… you do not have to stand in another’s line and
… you do not have to spend a lot of time surveying/lining up the putt.
• Marking the ball: If your ball is clean and playable and you are not in anyone’s way, don't mark the ball (unless you need to use an alignment line on the ball to putt).
Scoring
• Scoring discrepancies should be politely addressed. For example, "Please review your score." Or "I think you may have forgotten a stroke (or penalty)". Etc.
• Discrepancies should be settled before scorecards are signed and submitted. If a player signs for a lower score, they would be disqualified even after card is attested and submitted.