WMGA PACE OF PLAY POLICY
USGA Rule 6-7. Undue Delay; Slow Play:
"The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play."
Note 2: For the purpose of preventing slow play, the Committee may establish pace of play guidelines including maximum periods of time allowed to complete a stipulated round, a hole or a stroke.
PLAYER’S RESPONSIBILITY:
The WMGA Pace of Play Policyleaves the responsibility for maintaining the pace of play where it belongs – with you, the player. If you are the first group in the field, play efficient golf. If you are in a following group, keep up with the group in front of you and you will not have a pace of play issue. If you fall behind, you are expected to play efficient golf and get back into position. This might mean playing ready golf or continuous putting which are both allowed in stroke play.
Scorecards will have the expected time your group is to complete each hole. Clocks will be stationed on holes #4, 9, 13, and 18 giving you the opportunity to check on your pace throughout the course.
The WMGA will produce a pace of play time chart specific to the golf course being played by taking into account the difficulty of the holes and the layout of the golf course. While the close monitoring of individuals may not be possible because of the limited number of officials on the golf course, the pace of play time chart will help officials to identify groups that are out of position.
OUT OF POSITION:
The first group to start will be considered Out of Position if the group is behind the schedule prepared by the Committee. Any subsequent group will be considered Out of Position if it: (a) is taking more than the scheduled time to play and (b) reaches the teeing ground of a par 3 which is clear of all play and all players in the preceding group have played strokes from the teeing ground of the next hole or; (c) reaches a par 4 or par 5 hole which is clear of all play or becomes clear of all play before all players in the group have played all of their strokes from the teeing ground.
WARNINGS:
When possible, the Committee will advise players in a group if the group is lagging but, not yet Out of Position. The Committee will advise a group if it is being timed.
TIMINGS AND PENALTIES:
When a group is Out of Position, each player must play any stroke within 40 seconds after the timing of the Player's stroke begins. The timing of a Player's stroke will begin when she has had reasonable opportunity to reach her ball, it is her turn to play and she can play without interference or distraction. On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has had a reasonable amount of time to mark, lift, clean and replace her ball, repair her ball mark and others on her line of putt and remove loose impediments on her line of putt. Time spent determining yardages as well as time spent looking at the line of putt will count as part of the time taken for the next stroke. If a group is being timed, any player who takes more than 40 seconds to play a stroke is subject to the following penalties:
Stroke Play:
‐One bad time exceeding the allotted time: warning
‐Second bad time: one stroke penalty
‐Third bad time: additional two stroke penalty
‐Fourth bad time: disqualification
Match Play:
‐One bad time exceeding the allotted time: warning
‐Second bad time: loss of hole penalty
‐Third bad time: disqualification
If a group being timed regains its proper position, any previous bad timings will be carried over for the remainder of the round in the event that the group requires additional timing. Also, if a ruling or other uncontrollable delay causes a group to lose its position, the group is expected to regain its position within a reasonable time.
APPEAL PROCESS:
Pace of Play penalties may be appealed to the Committee and must be made before scorecards are signed and returned. In order for an appeal to be considered, there must have been an action by the Committee (such as a long ruling), a circumstance beyond the players’ control such as an extensive search for a ball or balls, or some similar occurrence that contributed to the delay, such as an action by an individual member of the group. Failure to play within the POP guidelines will result in a penalty unless the penalty is appealed and the Committee upholds the appeal. Appeals will only be considered if the player(s) have been: delayed by the Committee or; delayed by circumstances beyond control of the player or the group or; delayed because of another player in the group.
Allotted Time:
The overall time is the sum of each per hole time which will be posted prior to the start of the event.