Pace of Play and Etiquette
Herndon Golfers Club
Golf Etiquette and Pace of Play Basics
Pace of Play Tips
Start Smart.
Confirm your tee time in advance and make it a point to arrive at the tee early with your golf equipment in order, ready to play. Remember essentials like extra balls, tees, gloves and appropriate clothing for the day’s weather conditions. HGC requires check in 30 minutes prior to your tee time. Failure to do so will result in inability to compete in the tournament at all.
Minimize your time on the tee.
On the tee it is acceptable for players to “hit when ready.” We don’t play with Honors to the winner of the last hole. You should also save time by playing a provisional ball if you think your original ball might be lost or out of bounds. Carry a second ball in case it is needed.
Plan your shot before you get to your ball.
Once you are off the tee, think ahead. Determine your yardage and make your club selection before it is your turn to play. Very often, you can do this while others are playing, without disruption. If you take your glove off between shots, have it back on before it is your turn to play. Even a small step like this saves time.
Keep your pre-shot routine short.
Pick your line of play once and trust yourself. Try to take no more than one practice swing, then set up to the ball and play your shot. Most importantly, be ready to hit when it is your turn. Be efficient after your shot too. Start moving toward your next shot promptly.
Aim to play in 20 seconds.
From club selection to pre-shot routine to execution, strive to hit your shot in 20 seconds when it is your turn to play. Help keep play moving at a brisk pace.
Develop an eye for distance.
You don’t have to step off yardage for every shot. If you need to determine precise distance, try to find a yardage marker before you reach your ball, then step off the yardage on the way to your ball. Or, consider investing in an electronic range-finder or global positioning system for golf. it is legal to give a distance to the pin to a playing partner if you have a range finder.
When sharing a cart, use a buddy system.
Don’t wait in the cart while your cart mate hits and then drive to your ball. Get out and walk to your ball with a few clubs. Be ready to play when it is your turn and then let your cart mate pick you up. Or, drive to your ball after you drop your cart mate off and then pick him or her up after you hit. If it is cart path only:
1. If you are walking and there is a cart in your group, offer to advance the cart if the player using the cart is on the other side of the fairway.
2. Don’t walk to your ball without several clubs that you might need to hit to eliminate the back and forth walking.
Be helpful to others in your group.
Follow the flight of all tee shots, not just your own. Don’t turn away in disgust if you hit a bad shot. Follow it until it stops. Once in the fairway, help others look for their ball if you already know the location of yours. If you reach your ball first, go ahead and hit it before you help others look for their balls. Volunteer to fill in a divot or rake a bunker for another player if needed. Be ready to attend the flagstick for others. If you are hitting a blind shot, make sure someone in the group is watching that can follow the ball for you.
Keep up with the group in front of you.
Your correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you. Arrive at your next shot just before the group in front leaves the area in front of you. Let the person or persons causing the slow play know that they are holding up play and help them speed up. If you are consistently not able to keep up and a gap opens in front of you, invite the group behind you to play through, irrespective of the number of players in the group. Speed of play is a persistent problem in the league. It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that their group keeps up with the group in front of them. Failure to do so may result in penalty strokes being added to all the members of the group. Refer to the Herndon Golfers Club Rules. Penalty strokes will be added to everyone in a group that is behind, one stroke for 20 minutes behind the group in front and two strokes for 30 minutes behind and another stroke for every fifteen minutes after that.
Be efficient on the putting green.
Mark your ball and lift and clean it when you arrive at the putting green so you will be ready to replace it when it is your turn to play. You can usually line up your putt while others are putting, without disturbing them. Leave your clubs on the side of the putting green closest to the next tee, and leave the green promptly after holing out. Wait until the next tee to record your score.
Golf Etiquette Basics
Do:
• Play at a reasonable pace.
• Repair ball marks, replace divots, and rake bunkers.
• Pay attention to the rules as they are laid out and administered by the USGA and HGC.
• Turn in every score for handicap purposes.
• Respect the rules and regulations of the course you are playing.
Don’t:
• Move or talk while someone in your group is hitting the ball (or about to hit).
• Ask your opponent what club he hit, this is a penalty.
• Walk across the line of another player’s putt on the green.
• Hit your shots until the group in front of you is well out of range.
• Hold up other players.
• Don’t play music in your cart or on your push cart without the approval of all the members in your group.