New Pace of Play Log Sheets will be used for each weekly tournament starting this season.  This is really required as data improvement to really improve and enforce pace of play.

1. Simplified and fasted data recording
2. Faster data collection and analysis
3. Published Pace Status in website and newsletters

The data is exactly the same as required on the Universal Score Card (USC).  But the USC is not available for analysis quickly.  Plus extra movement (mailing or collection) is added expense.  The USC will be the backup if Log Sheets get misplaced.

At Registration:

1. Starters will have log sheet out and noted for Date/Course and weather or course conditions
2. Tee Groups will fill in Member IDs on their start line as soon as they have their tee position

At Round Finish

1. Scorers will have Log Sheet available
2. Tee Groups will complete their line with Start Time, Finish Time and Scorer Finish Time
3. Tee Group can also comment about round if times are unusual
   1. Sickness
   2. Cart problems
   3. Slow group ahead
   4. Whatever they think is appropriate
4. Scorers will look over Official Finish Times for accuracy and then mail the sheet to Pace Committee

Tee Groups will only have to write Member IDs and Times – about 20 seconds each tee group.  Starters / Scorers simply make Log Sheet available and mail out.

Each Div Case will have Pre-Printed (Date, Course, Division) log sheets for each Tee and Shotgun start.  Plus blank sheets will be available.  Stamped, addressed envelopes are available.  Each sheet has instructions printed on the back.

Sample Blank Sheets are available.  Starters or VPs can print these out and set up manually before the outing if they wish.    The logs are different for Split Tee and Shotgun to more easily show the Tee Group order of play.  You can actually see your group status (Start/Finish) as you fill out the sheet.

Blank Pace of Play Log Sheets

Split Tee Start Log Sheet

Shotgun Tee Start Log Sheet

Download (PDF, 97KB)

Why is the 15 minute Gap so important?

Well, the gap time measures a tee group’s separation from the group immediately ahead. If there is more than about 15 minutes separation, the groups are separated by a full hole.

Once a group loses sight or contact with the group ahead, they sometimes lose their perception of pace and fall behind even further.

The following chart show the actual Play Time and Gap for Division 1 at all Tee Start courses for 2016.

1. For most groups, the gap separation is less than 15 minutes – GREAT!
2. If the gap is less than about 8 minutes, the group ahead may be slower and blocking
3. The yellow highlight – gaps between 16 to 25 minutes – too slow but not critical.
4. The red highlight – gaps from 26 to 50+ minutes.  These are very serious.
5. The red highlights usually show a very slow time.
6. The fast groups in the early tee positions show the course conditions
7. Slow group early in the tee positions will slow and block several groups behind
8. Unfortunately slow play problems are magnified on the Shotgun Starts (different data set)

Where were you in these groups?  What could you do to play faster/ keep up? Every group is responsible for enforcing pace of play within their group.

Bottom line:

• A few slow groups can impact many groups on the course
• Keeping Up with the group ahead (Minding the Gap) is very important

Everyone can have a bad round.  It is very important to shake off a bad hole or two.  And it is important to all of us for everyone to play quickly, and as a minimum stay up with the group ahead.