PACE OF PLAY POLICY

PACE OF PLAY TIPS

AJGA PACE OF PLAY PROCESS

The AJGA Tournament Committee will designate a minimum of six (6) holes on the course as timing checkpoints. A volunteer will be stationed at each timing checkpoint and signal each group with a color-coded card (green, single red or double red) indicating a group’s position on the course. Penalties will be confirmed with groups by an AJGA Tournament Committee member and verified in the scoring tent. It is the responsibility of the player to know which color cards they receive at all checkpoint holes.

AJGA PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES

All players should take responsibility to ensure every member in the group is following the AJGA Pace of Play guidelines.

• Realize the group is “on the clock” as soon as they play from the teeing ground on the first hole.
• Play ready golf throughout the entire round.
• The first person to complete each hole should immediately go to the next tee and is expected to be the first person to tee off. The second person to finish should replace the flagstick.
• When spotters, officials or parents are available to help search for a potentially lost ball, the AJGA recommends that players go forward to play his next shot or shots and hold the group’s position on the golf course.

OVERALL TIME PAR

Overall time par is the amount of time in which the AJGA Tournament Committee expects all players to complete a round. This will be expressed on a per-hole basis and an overall time for 18 holes. In part, time par is established with the understanding that 45 seconds or more to play a shot without distractions is excessive.

• A group’s time begins when a member of the group has played a stroke from his starting teeing ground.
• Checkpoint times are measured when the flagstick is replaced in the hole after all players in the group have holed out.
• The AJGA Tournament Committee may adjust time par between tournament rounds.

OUT OF POSITION

"Out of position” is defined as:

• Failure to complete the hole being played in less than the time established by the Committee after the group immediately ahead put the flagstick in on that hole (i.e. 14 minutes is defined as 00:14:00).

* The first group(s) of the day is judged only against time par until they get into position with any group ahead of them.

TIMING CARDS

Volunteers stationed at the green of each checkpoint hole will signal the group according to their position on the course.

• Green card (No Penalty): The group is in position AND/OR within overall time par through that checkpoint.
• Single Red card (Warning): The group is out of position AND behind overall time par through that checkpoint.
• Double Red card (One-Stroke Penalty): The group is out of position, behind overall time par through that checkpoint AND did not make its required checkpoint-to-checkpoint time determined at the last red card checkpoint.

PENALTIES/BAD TIMES

• Bad times: A player has recorded a bad time when he has taken in excess of 45 seconds to play a shot once it is his turn to play and there are no distractions. Players will be notified of the number of bad times they have committed when they receive their first red card.
• Double red card: A one-stroke penalty may be assessed to each member in the group if the group receives a double red card. The one-stroke penalty will be assessed to any player with multiple bad times (minimum of three) or the player responsible for the slow play.

*A penalty stroke is added to the hole where the first red card was issued. Penalties will be confirmed with the group by an AJGA Rules Official and verified in the scoring area.

• If a player records five (5) bad times during the round, he will receive a one-stroke penalty for undue delay. Players will be warned after receiving three (3) and four (4) bad times.
• The player will receive another penalty stroke if he records two (2) or more additional bad times.

RESCINDING A SINGLE RED CARD
A red card can be rescinded in two ways:

• Group is in position with the group immediately ahead through next checkpoint.
• Group is on or below overall time par through next checkpoint.

EXTENDING A SINGLE RED CARD

• Once on a single red card, a group will be presented with another single red card if they play checkpoint-to-checkpoint gaining one minute on time par, but are still “Out of Position” AND behind overall time par through that checkpoint.

* If a group receives a red card at a checkpoint which is immediately preceding their final hole, and the final hole is played at or under time par, no penalty will be enforced.
*Timing will begin when the flagstick has been replaced in the hole of the checkpointe hole.

FACTORS IN DETERMINING TIME PAR

Listed are factors the AJGA takes into consideration in creating a fair time par at each event:

• Difficulty and length of course / walks between holes
• AJGA Pace of Play history for course
• Conditions of competition

The AJGA reserves the right to adjust the AJGA Pace of Play Policy - Revised 2/1/12

PACE OF PLAY TIPS

The following tips will enhance your tournament experience and can keep your group from receiving a red card during your round.

• Show identifying marks on your golf ball to fellow competitors.
• Get your yardage before it is your turn to play.
• Read your putt before it is your turn to play.
• Recognize when someone will need the flag tended or your ball marked.
• Get to your next shot without delay. It is more important what you do between shots than during.
• Be aware of who is away. If you're not sure, ask.
• Know where your group is in relation to the group in front of you.
• Anyone can search for a lost ball. Have your parents and spectators one shot ahead of your group to spot errant shots.
• If a ball is not found after a brief search, the fellow competitors should go forward and play their shots to the green and let the player and spectators continue the search.
• If your ball might be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds, play a Provisional Ball (Rule 27-2).
• If a situation arises and you do not know how to proceed, play a second ball under Rule 3-3 and continue play (stroke play only). You must report the facts to the AJGA staff afterwards regardless of score.
• Place golf bag off the putting green near the next teeing ground. This avoids holding up the following group to hit while a player retrieves their golf bag from the front of the green.

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