Senior Amateur Championship

Florida State Golf Association

Pace of Play Policy

Effective January 1, 2004

FSGA will not Tolerate Slow Play

The FSGA philosophy is simple.  (1) If your group falls out of position with the group ahead and you are not keeping pace with the established time, you will be warned that your group is out of position and subject to timing.  (2) If you take too long to play a shot after your group has been warned, you, the individual, will receive one warning.  (3) The next time you take more than the permitted time to play a stroke, you will be penalized.  (4) Further infractions will result in additional penalties that could lead to disqualification. 

Pace of Play Policy

Rule 6-7 states, in part: "The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with the pace of play guidelines which may be laid down by the Committee," and thereafter prescribes penalties for slow play. In order to prevent any such penalty, we suggest that you review carefully the following guidelines.

Allotted Time

Matches/groups will be required to play at no more than the allotted time published for the event. The allotted time for each course will be determined prior to each event and posted in a prominent location at the tournament site.

Definition of "Out of Position"

The first match/group(s) to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the match/group is behind their allotted time.

Any following match/group will be considered out of position if it (a) is taking more than the allotted time to play and (b) reaches the tee of a par 3 hole and the hole is clear, fails to clear the tee of a par 4 hole before the preceding match/group clears the putting green or reaches the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding match/group is on the putting green. Both (a) and (b) must apply for a match/group to be out of position.

Match/Group Notification

Matches/groups WILL BE NOTIFIED that they are out of position prior to being timed.

Timing

A match/group may be monitored or timed for compliance with this pace of play guideline if it is "out of position." When a match/group is "out of position" a player in the match/group is expected to play any stroke within 40 seconds.

NOTE: A player is permitted 40 seconds to play a stroke. An extra 10 seconds (for a total of 50 seconds) will be allowed for:

(a)  The first player to play a stroke from the teeing ground.

(b)    The first player to play a second stroke on a par-4 or par-5 hole.

(c)  The first player to play a third stroke on a par-5 hole.

(d)    The first player to play a stroke around the putting green.

(e)    The first player to play a stroke on the putting green.

Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player's stroke will begin when he has had a reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as part of the 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 his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt 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 the next stroke.

NOTE: The Committee reserves the right, at any time, to time a match/group when the Committee deems it necessary. Players should also be aware that the Committee may assess a “bad time” to a player in a match/group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help his match/group get back in position. An example of this would be a player who unduly delays play between shots.

Pace of Play Penalties

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

                                    Match Play                   Stroke Play

One bad timing              warning                       warning

A second bad timing      loss of hole                    one penalty stroke

A third bad timing          warning                        two penalty strokes

A fourth bad timing        Disqualification              Disqualification

NOTE: If the match/group in question regains its proper position, any previous timing of more than the allotted time will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that match/group requires additional monitoring.

Rulings or Other Incidents

If a ruling or some other legitimate delay occurs which causes a match/group in question to lose its position, that match/group is expected to regain its position within a reasonable time.