Tyrrells Wood Golf Club - Pace of Play

Golf is a game that requires patience, skill, and focus in order to be successful. However, one of the biggest frustrations that golfers often face is getting stuck behind a slow group on the course.

Our objective is for the average round of golf to take 4 hours

Research suggests that each golf shot should take no longer than 45 seconds. If a golfer takes 90 shots in their round but adds another 10 seconds to their routine by not being prepared to play, then this adds another 15 minutes per player.

These time delays include:

• The golfer is not ready to play when it is their turn
• The golfer is in the way of another player
• Their golf bag is in the wrong position
• Marking your card on the green as opposed to the tee

It is the responsibility of the players to maintain their position on the golf course by ensuring that they keep up with the group in front and do not hold up groups behind them.

Tyrrells Wood golf club has adopted the ‘READY GOLF’ principles, and each group must be aware of their speed of play on the golf course. The following points will allow them to do so, in turn ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience for all.

GOLFERS MUST:

• Be ready when it is their turn to play from the tee. They should have their club, ball, and tee ready once the player before has hit their shot.
• Walk directly to their own ball and play their second shot before helping a playing partner look for their ball.
• Spend no longer than 3 minutes looking for a lost ball before moving on.
• Prepare for their shot, including lining up a putt, while their playing partners are doing the same even if they are not next to play. The golfer should be ready to play, with club in hand, as soon as the player before has played their shot.
• Place their bag between the green and the next tee box to avoid doubling back before moving to the next tee box.
• Exit the green immediately after finishing the hole, only writing down scores once clear of the group behind.

GROUPS SHOULD:

• Allow shorter hitters to hit first if the landing area of a longer player is occupied by the group in front.
• Allow someone else to hit first if the player with the honour is not ready.
• Pick up if they are playing a format where they can no longer impact their score, i.e. lost match play hole or no score during stableford.
• Play before the furthest player if that player is not ready to play. E.g. a player has played a bunker shot and is still furthest from the hole. Their playing partners should play while the player rakes the bunker and prepares for their next shot.

*Note- Playing order can be observed in match play where strategy may be influenced by an opponent

Playing through

Should your group fall behind the group in front, you must be prepared to allow the group behind to play through if they are being held up. Even if the group behind has more players than the one holding up play, the faster group should be allowed through.

Likewise, there is no preference on the course, a two ball doesn’t have the right to play through a group of four balls, as long as those four balls are ‘in position’ on the course.

As a Club, Tyrrells have now reduced the rough height between the 1st & 10th holes and our starters have been tasked to be more visible and pro-active around the golf course. The tee intervals were changed to help accommodate the amount of golf that is played.

Ultimately, the responsibly for avoiding slow play lies with the players. By taking the steps outlined in this document, golfers can help avoid the frustration of slow play and make the round of golf more enjoyable for all those on the course.

For more information, please see the links below:

Video from the R&A showing how to be prepared to play, and also an exagerated example of what not to do

Video from the R&A

Pace of Play Policy from England Golf