READY GOLF and PACE OF PLAY
Key Points
• Be ready to play when it is your turn.
• Hit as soon as the group in front of you is fully clear and out of reach.
- Plan ahead. Determine possible club selection for your next shot before you get to the ball. If walking away from the cart, bring one club more and one club less than you think you need.
Pace of Play
- Use the guidelines below to keep to the suggested Pace of Play timing on the back of the course scorecard. 2 hours for regular 9-hole play and 4 hrs, 20 mins for 18 holes.
On the Tee
- All players should be out of their carts "on deck" with club, extra tees and 2 (differently) marked balls at the start.
- Hit once the group in front of you is fully clear with shorter hitters hitting first. The first person to hit has sand ready to fill any drive divots.
- Watch everyone’s shot to aid in locating balls efficiently.
- If you believe that a ball struck from the tee MAY be either lost or Out of Bounds (OB), here are your options:
- Provisional Ball (least preferred option): You may declare that you are playing a
provisional ball, making sure that it has a unique mark. If in fact it is discovered that the original ball is lost or OB, the provisional ball is now in play lying 3. (You may advance the provisional ball up to the point where it’s reasonable to begin a maximum 3 min search, counting all strokes. If the original ball is neither lost or OB, ALL shots played with the provisional ball are cancelled. Play your 2nd shot with the original ball.)
- USGA Local Rule (preferred option): Rather than play a provisional ball, proceed to a point where the ball may be lost or discovered OB. Draw a straight line from that point to the edge of the fairway, drop within two club lengths of that point, and play your 4th shot. (2 stroke penalty)
- The option to return to the tee and proceed under the “Stroke and Distance” is allowed under the rules but not allowed in league play.
On the Fairway
- Generally, players farthest from the pin should hit first.
- After hitting all players should go to their ball, only waiting for other players if it is not safe to move ahead. Stay alert as you walk down the side of the fairway even with or near your ball. Determine your club selection while waiting to move into the fairway. You’ll be closer and ready to play your ball, while others behind you can still make their shots.
- Players should play any shot that is farther from the pin than a lost ball before helping to look for the lost ball.
- “2 for 1” cart time – after hitting your shot, re-enter the cart with club in hand and ride to next hole. Replace the club to your bag while choosing your club for the next shot.
- Drivers of carts: If your 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.
- Lost/OB balls follow the same rules as above.
**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 to play before walkers, 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.
• 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, allowing players behind you to hit 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 turn putting to finish the hole IF
… 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).