Vermont Amateur Championship

Dorset Field Club
July 11 - 13, 2017

 

PACE OF PLAY POLICY

Rule 6-7 states in part: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish” and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play.  During play of a hole and between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player shall not unduly delay play.

 

Allotted Time

When play is in groups of three, groups will be expected to play at no more than a 4 hour and 28 minute pace for the 18-hole round.  Extra time has been allotted for longer walks from putting green to the next teeing ground.

 

Definition of “Out of Position”

• The first group to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind the allotted time to play as shown on the competitor’s scorecard.
• Any following group will be considered out of position if it is (a) behind the allotted time as shown on the competitor’s score card and (b) reaches a par 3 hole that is open and free of play and the preceding group has cleared the next tee, or reaches a par 4 hole and fails to clear the tee before the preceding group clears the putting green, or arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green.  Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.

 

Courtesy Warning

As an initial courtesy warning, if a VGA official becomes aware of a group that is out of position or about to fall out of position, the official will plant an orange irrigation flag on the tee of the next hole that the group will be playing.  If a group arrives at a tee and there is an orange irrigation flag on that tee, it means the group is either out of position or just about out of position and they will be expected to make whatever effort is necessary to get back into position on that hole.  If they fail to do so, they will be monitored and subject to timing on subsequent holes. 

 

Timing

A group that fails to get back into position after a courtesy warning will be notified that they are out of position and subject to timing.

Other than on the putting green: the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he has had reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction.  Time spent walking forward or backward to determine yardage will count as time taken for the next stroke.

On the putting green: timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair ball marks and remove loose impediments on his line of putt.  Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as part of the time taken for that stroke.

 

A player will be allowed a maximum of 40 seconds to complete his stroke.

 

NOTE:  An additional 10 seconds will be allowed for the first player to play:

• from the teeing ground on a par 3
• a second stroke on a par 4 or a par 5 hole
• a third stroke on a par 5 hole
• a stroke on or around the putting green

 

If a player exceeds the time limit on one (1) occasion, he will be warned that if he exceeds the time limit on one more occasion (total of 2 bad times), he will automatically incur a penalty of one stroke under Rule 6-7.  If the player exceeds the time limit on one more occasion (total of 3 bad times), he will incur an additional two stroke penalty.  If a player exceeds the time limit a total of 4 times, the penalty is disqualification.

 

Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-7

First Offense               Warning

Second Offense          One (1) Stroke Penalty

Third Offense             Two (2) Stroke Penalty

Fourth Offense            Disqualification

 

NOTE:  Timing will discontinue when the group has regained its position.  Previous bad times will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring.