Rule 6-6 states, in part: “The player shall play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the Committee,” and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play. Every player is expected to play efficiently, be ready to play in turn, and to play any stroke within 40 SECONDS.
DEFINITION OF “OUT OF POSITION”
Any group will be considered out of position if it: reaches the tee of a par-3 hole and the preceding group has cleared the next tee; reaches the tee of a par-4 hole and the putting green is clear; or reaches the tee of a par-5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green.
GROUP OUT OF POSITION
If a group is out of position, the players in that group will be monitored and timed.
TIMING
Other than on the putting green, 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 DETERMINING YARDAGE COUNTS AS PART OF THE TIME TO PLAY THE STROKE.
On the putting green, timing will begin after the player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean, and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt, and remove loose impediments from his line of putt. TIME SPENT LOOKING AT THE LINE FROM BEYOND THE HOLE AND/OR BEHIND THE BALL COUNTS AS PART OF THE TIME TO PLAY THE STROKE.
NOTE: The Committee reserves the right at any time to time players and assess a “bad time”.
PACE OF PLAY PENALTIES
The penalties, in sequence, for any player being timed who takes more than the allotted time to play a stroke:
Stroke Play
First bad time – Warning
A second bad time- 1 stroke penalty
A third bad time – Additional 2 stroke penalty
A fourth bad time – Disqualification
Match Play
First bad time – Warning
A second bad time – Loss of hole penalty
A third bad time – Disqualification