Below are guidelines for Pace of Play with our club and the Bear Creek Golf Complex management as of 11/16/2024.

 

DEFINITION for “out of position” – a group that is one or more holes behind the group in front of them and they are not within a reasonable time of the expected course playing time.

 

Bear Creek Men’s Golf Club Members and Guests

  1. The Bear Creek Golf Complex has established a playing time for the Bear Course of 4 hours under normal playing conditions.
  2. Cart signs, in addition to starting hole and start time, will include turn time to reach Hole #1, unless you start on Hole #1; in this case, it will include turn time to reach Hole #10.  Whether you are riding or walking, it is your/group’s responsibility to know the expected turn time.  The Course Starter and Ranger will be managing course flow based on each groups’ start and turn times, and position relative to the group in front of them and course playing time.
  3. If you are in the first of two groups assigned to a starting hole, it is your/group’s responsibility to be at the assigned starting hole and begin teeing off at the specified start time, provided it is clear to do so.  If you are in the second of two groups assigned to a starting hole, it is your/group’s responsibility to be at the assigned starting hole and on-deck, waiting until it is clear to begin teeing off.
  4. Your group is expected to keep up with the group in front of you.
  5. If your group is not keeping up with the group in front of you and is out of position, then do any or all the following to get back in position:
  • Play ready golf.  For stroke play, this means that a player may hit their golf ball out of turn.
  • Do not wait for everyone to putt out on the green.  Once a player is done and has putted out, that player or players should head to the next hole and tee off while the others are still putting out.
  • You only have 3 minutes to find a lost ball.  If this is an ongoing issue hole after hole, the player needs to shorten their search time and consider dropping a ball, taking a 2-stroke penalty, and continue to play.
  1. If the Bear Creek Ranger or Starter approaches your group to address a gap in position, please be courteous, and comply with any instructions given and do not argue. If any member has an issue with the Ranger or Starter, they should talk to the Bear Creek Golf Complex Management.  Do not cause a scene out on the golf course.
  2. On Hole #1,
  • If a group is 5-9 minutes out of position, the Starter will issue them a warning with instructions to catch-up with the group in front of them.
  • If a group is 10 or more minutes out of position, in addition to above, a 1-stroke penalty will be assessed for all members in the group on Hole #1.
  • If a group has not corrected their position within 3 holes of receiving initial warning, then an additional 1-stroke penalty will be assessed for all members in the group on the hole that they received a 2nd warning.

We are the Bear Creek Men’s Golf Club; we DO NOT own the course.  We are allowed to play golf as a club because management allows us to.

 

Bear Creek Starter

  1. At the appropriate time, the Starter is to inform players to head to their starting holes.
  2. The Starter is to record the actual start time for the BCMGC group(s) starting on Hole #1.  The Starter is also to record the turn time for the BCMGC groups transitioning from Hole #18 to Hole #1, and the BCMGC groups transitioning from Hole #9 to Hole #10.
  3. When a group makes the turn from Hole #18 to Hole #1 and is 5-9 minutes out of position, the Starter is expected to issue a warning and instruct the group to catch-up within 3 holes.  The Starter will then inform the Ranger of the group that is out of position, and the Ranger becomes responsible for monitoring the group’s progress to close the gap in position.  If a group is 10 or more minutes out of position, in addition to above, the Starter will then make a note for a BCMGC Officer to assess a 1-stroke penalty for all members in the group on Hole #1.

 

Bear Creek Ranger

  1. The Ranger is to focus on course flow for the purpose of managing any groups that get out of position.
  2. If a group gets out of position, the Ranger is expected to issue a warning and instruct the group to catch-up within 3 holes.
  3. If a group has been given a warning and they have not closed the gap in position, the Ranger has the option to issue a 2nd warning.  If this is the case, the Ranger will then inform the Starter of the group receiving a 2nd warning and the hole number on which it was issued.  The Starter will then make a note for a BCMGC Officer to assess a 1-stroke penalty for all members in the group on the appropriate hole.
  4. If a group has been given a warning and takes action to close the gap in position, the Ranger will inform the group that they are no longer out of position and will also inform the Starter.
  5. The above actions can apply anywhere on the golf course.

 

** Special Note:  The above guidelines apply to groups that are causing the slow pace of play.  It does not apply to the groups behind them, provided they are keeping up with the group in front of them.