UNDUE DELAY AND PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES
The Rules of Golf state “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish”. In accordance with Rule 6-7, the NSGA has adopted the following pace of play guidelines.
TIME ALLOTTED
The Committee will determine the time allotted for a group to play each hole (“time par”) and a “time par” card/sheet will be made available to all competitors.
MONITORING OF GROUPS and PLAYERS
A group that is out of position may be so informed by the Committee. However, the Committee reserves the right to time any player or group of players that the Committee deems is out of position or may be in breach of Rule 6-7, whether or not the player or group has been informed.
OUT OF POSITION
The first group on the course is out of position if the elapsed time for the round on a per hole basis exceeds the allotted time in which all groups are expected to play.
Any following group is out of position when both of the following occur:
i) The group arrives at the teeing ground of a par 3 or a par 4 hole when the preceding group has completed play of the hole or at a par 5 hole, when all players of the preceding group are on the putting green or have completed play of such hole.
AND
ii) The elapsed time for the round exceeds the allotted time in which all groups are expected to play.
TIMING
When a group is out of position, any and all players in the group may be timed. If a group regains its position, timing of players will cease. Timing may recommence if the group subsequently falls out of position, in which case any delay time recorded, at anytime during the round, will be carried over throughout the round.
A player shall be subject to penalty for undue delay if, during the round, he incurs two (2) delay times. A player will not be advised by an Official when he incurs one (1) delay time but should the player inquire, the Official may give him the information.
A delay time occurs when it is the player’s turn to play and he takes forty-five (45) seconds or more to play any one stroke. An additional ten (10) seconds will be allowed to the player who is first to play on or near the putting green or first to play from the teeing ground on a par three hole.
The timing of a player’s stroke will begin when it is his turn to play, he has had reasonable opportunity to reach the ball and there is no interference from another person or ball. Any time spent in club selection and determining yardages 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 mark, lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments on his line of putt.
Undue delay can also occur between strokes (such as by walking too slowly) and between the play of two holes.
PENALTIES
If a player incurs a penalty for undue delay he will be so informed as soon as practicable.
Match Play:
First Offence: Loss of Hole at the hole where the second delay time is recorded.
Second Offence: The player will be disqualified when the fourth delay time is recorded.
Stroke Play:
First Offence: One (1) stroke at the hole where the second ‘delay time’ is recorded.
Second Offence: Two (2) strokes at the hole where the fourth ‘delay time’ is recorded.
Subsequent Offence: The player will be disqualified when the sixth ‘delay time’ is recorded.
Note: In circumstances where the Committee deems fit, the general penalty under Rule 6-7 may still apply. |
