USGA Open Championships

Pace of Play Guidelines

 

Rule 6-7 provides that "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.

 

Maximum Allowable Time

 

Maximum allowable time is the MAXIMUM time deemed necessary by the Committee for a group to complete its stipulated round.

 

 

• A group’s maximum allowable time begins at its assigned starting time, or if the starting time is delayed, at the adjusted starting time.
• Time associated with playing the game, e.g., course difficulty and walking times between holes, is included in all maximum allowable times.

 

Definition of "Out of Position"

 

A group is out of position when it:

• Completes play of a hole (replaces the flagstick) later than the maximum allowable time given (see attached chart) and:
  1. Reaches a par-3 hole that is clear of all play and all players in the preceding group have played their strokes from the teeing ground of the next hole.
  2. Reaches a par-4 or par-5 hole which is not clear of all play but which becomes clear of all play before all players in the group have played their strokes from the teeing ground.
  3. Reaches a par-4 or par-5 hole which is clear of all play.

 

Note: If a ruling or some other legitimate delay occurs which causes the group in question to be out of position, that group is expected to regain its position within a reasonable time.

 

The walking referee with each group can be a source of information about the group’s pace of play. A player may ask the referee at any time about the group’s pace of play status. Each referee has been instructed to proactively alert the group if it is approaching an out of position status as defined herein.

           

Timing

 

When the Committee determines that a group (or individual) will be timed, all players (or a specified individual) in the group will be notified by a Rules Rover. 

 

Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player's stroke will begin when it is the player’s turn to play and the player can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage and other conditions (such as wind) will count as time taken for the next stroke.  

 

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

 

A player is permitted a maximum of 40 seconds to play a stroke, and an extra 10 seconds (for a total of 50 seconds) will be permitted for the first player to play:

 

1.     A stroke on a par-3 hole;
2.     A second stroke on a par-4 or par-5 hole;
3.     A third stroke on a par-5 hole;
4.     Around the putting green; and
5.     On the putting green.

 

Any player in a group being timed who exceeds the maximum allowable time to play a stroke will be informed as soon as practicable by the Rules Rover. 

 

A Rules Rover will not advise a group that it has regained its proper position on the course and is no longer being timed). As previously noted, a player may inquire at any time regarding the group’s pace of play status.

 

Note:  The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to time a group when deemed necessary. Further, if the Committee determines a player to be unreasonably slow, the player may be timed individually at the Committee’s discretion regardless of whether the group is out of position.  Players should also be aware that the Committee may assess a “bad time” to a player in a group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help the group get back in position.  An example of this would be a player who delays play between shots or holes. 

 

Pace of Play Penalties

 

The following are the penalties, in sequence, for any player in a group being timed who takes more than the maximum allowable time to play a stroke after timing of the player’s stroke begins:

 

            1st bad timing exceeding the allowable time – Warning

            2nd bad timing – 1 stroke penalty

            3rd bad timing – Additional 2 stroke penalty

            4th bad timing – Disqualification

 

Note:  If a group being timed regains its proper position, any previous “bad times” will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring.  Any player who has a bad time(s) will be reminded of the bad time(s) if the player or the group requires additional timing during the round.