2016 NCGA Pace of Play Policy: What to Know

March 9, 2016

2016 NCGA Pace of Play Policy: What to Know

The 2016 portion of the 2015-2016 NCGA Amateur Tour and NCGA Women’s Amateur Tour seasons is just around the corner.

Are you aware of the NCGA’s 2016 policy changes regarding pace of play? If not, here’s a primer.

Let’s start with some of the basics:

What is the Policy? A quick summary of the policy includes the following:

• There will be one single checkpoint at the 18th (final) hole.
• Players must be under the maximum allotted time, or within 14 minutes of the group in front of them.
• There are no appeals, however in exceptional circumstances the Rules Committee (staff, rovers or chairpersons as assigned) may decide not to assess the penalty.
• There is a two-stroke penalty for breaching the policy.

 Notable Changes in Emphasis

• An emphasis will be put on the maximum available time, and players should play faster than that time.
• It is the player’s responsibility to know their position.
• Warnings still will not be issued, however the Rules Committee only may communicate may communicate with groups to inform them of their position.
• Undue Delay: The single checkpoint is not an excuse for a group to delay the field on the front-nine.

 What Does Not Change

• All officials will still be monitoring group progress by tracking flagstick in times, and notifying rovers of gaps as needed.
• The checkpoint timer will be tracking the checkpoint holes in the same fashion as before.
• Communication with players regarding pace from Tournament Officials will only occur when asked, except for Rovers and members of the Rules Committee who are permitted to advise groups that fall out of position during the round.
• Players may (and should) still ask to have their group monitored if concerned about pace of play in their group.

 Still need some things clarified? Want to brush up some more on the changes? See Here

-NCGA Staff