Date: 05/05/2010
SLOW PLAY
We continue to receive complaints about slow play. Whilst recognising that what constitues slow play to some is fast by even our printed 'Pace of Play Guidelines', it is always worth refreshing your memory on some of the simple things that we all can do to ensure that we play at a reasonable pace.
Pace of Play Guidelines
Slow players unfortunately never realise that they are slow players!
Please try and observe the following simple rules and if nothing else
observe Rule 1 and the rest will fall into place.
1. GET ON WITH THE GAME
2. Do not hold a score checking seminar after each hole. Once the last ball has been holed out, the player who has the honour should move to the next tee and drive. He/She can do their paperwork afterwards.
3. Do not go 50 or 100 yards out of your way to help look for a lost ball until you have played your own. More often than not the lost ball will be found before you get there. (In stroke play it is not essential for the ball furthest from the hole to be played first)
4. Leave your bag or trolley at the side of the green nearest to the next tee.
5. Whenever possible, study the line of your putt before it is your turn to play.
6. The first player to complete the hole should pick up the flagstick ready to be replaced.
7. Do not be afraid of driving into players who are 300 yards ahead. You never will!
On the Championship Course the following should be the maximum times that members of any ability should take and it should be possible on a calm day to play a round well within these guidelines:
Two-Ball Games - 3 Hours 15 Minutes
Three-Ball Games - 3 Hours 40 Minutes
Four-Ball Games - 4 Hours
Visitors are not so familiar with the Course as the Members and will inevitably take longer. Please be patient.
Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it becomes clear that the ball will not easily be found; they should not search for five minutes before doing so! They should not continue play until the players who are called through have passed and are out of range.
