THANK YOU!
You made significant improvements to Pace of Play already in the first 7 weeks of 2017.
Even considering weather, course conditions, and course load (attendance), Pace is significantly better for 2017 as compared to 2016.
We have average times running 15 to 20 minutes faster than last year. That is a huge improvement. With the rain, wet fairways, and path only for many rounds it is even more significant,
We still have work to do. About 1/3 of our rounds had maximum time of 5 hours and more. Although slow tee groups made up only about 10%, up to 40% of members will suffer when following a slow group.
3 rounds were especially slow, averaging about 5 hours. Weather, high rough, wet fairways and course crowding were factors. But this simply made our slowest players play even slower. Our fastest groups still got around at a quick pace.
What is a “slow group”?
Slow Groups are clearly identified with:
- Total Play Time over 4 hr 25 min.
- Total Play Time significantly more than the Average Play Time for outing – more than 10 minutes and most 20 to 30 minutes longer.
- Time Lost against the group immediately ahead more than 10 to 15 minutes
- Total Play Time >>> Minimum Play Time – more than 45 minutes
Your group won’t be slow if
- Total Play time is < 4:25
- Keeping up with the group ahead, within 8 to 10 minutes
You can have one slow round once in a while – stuff happens.
Our primary concern are groups that are chronically slow – 2 to 3 slow outings over a short period. As an example, in the first 7 weeks we have several members who were in slow groups for 3 or 4 of the first 7 events. We are already asking these folks to improve more. If you have a string of slow times, you will be asked to improve ASAP.
Your Division VP has the details from the Pace of Play logs and a summary of our slowest players, dates, times, and more.
Enforcement starts June 1
The first 7 weeks were for data collection and testing. We are now ready to roll out enforcement.
Starting June 1. our VPs will begin reviewing for slow play. Warnings may be issued. Slow groups will be asked to improve. Some groups may be asked to break up, play with others. Some groups may be limited to playing only in 3 somes or playing in the last group for tee starts.
Member cooperation is critical.
Complaints – Contact me – David Wicks, dlwicks@sbcglobal.net
For more details of the first 7 weeks see below.
Good question. The Pace of Play logs include the times for each tee group and the member ID numbers. I have forwarded a copy of each summary log sheet with times, numbers and calculations to each VP. You can ask your VP for a copy (PDF file, 1 page for each week). You could them check your time. Fastest, easiest way would be for you to mark your time of of the scorecards each week. I am working on a database file with all information. This would allow much more flexibility in reports, by position, course, start type, and so on. Might get this done before I start contract for next year (October), but might not.