ERMGC PACE OF PLAY POLICY

Multiple Checkpoint System

Revised January 10, 2023

 

Compliance with Pace of Play Policy is the Player’s Responsibility – The Checkpoint System uses two separate benchmarks for groups to monitor their Pace of Play progress throughout a tournament round.  Scorecards are printed with a unique BARCODE for each group.  One player in each group must scan the scorecard barcode at each checkpoint during the round.  All scorecards in a group have the same barcode, so any of the group’s scorecards may be scanned.  In addition, scorecards are printed with a COMPLETION TIME for each hole.  These times are the maximum allowable finishing times for all players in the group to complete each hole.

Hole-by-hole completion times are based on the assigned starting time for each group.  The maximum allowable times consider the difficulty of the hole, the distance between the green and the next tee, and other factors.  A normal pace of play should result in completing play of any hole BEFORE the time indicated on the scorecard.  If a group is delayed on a hole due to a ball search or an extended ruling, the group is expected to make up the lost time before the next checkpoint.  The hole completion times printed on the scorecard are based on completing play of the round in no more than four hours and thirty minutes (4H/30M).

Out Of Position – The first group in the field must arrive at the tee on a checkpoint hole no later than the time established by the Tournament Committee as printed on the scorecard. (An exception will be granted if the lead group is held up by play ahead of them.)  Subsequent groups are held to the same standard.  If a group exceeds the maximum allowable time due to slow play ahead of them, they will be considered “in position” if they arrive at the tee on a checkpoint hole and scan the barcode WITHIN 11 MINUTES of the scan time registered by the group ahead of them.  Groups are considered “out of position” and subject to penalty when BOTH apply:

1. The group reaches the checkpoint after the maximum completion time for the hole just completed.
2. The interval between the group’s checkpoint scan time and the scan time of the group ahead is greater than eleven (11) minutes.

 

At all times, players are expected to know their group’s position relative to the expected completion time for each hole AND their position relative to the group ahead.  Failure to comply with this POP policy will result in a Pace of Play penalty unless an appeal is registered with the Tournament Committee and the committee rescinds the penalty.

Checkpoints – During Men’s Club tournaments there will be checkpoints at which each group must scan the barcode printed on their scorecard.  The scanner will record the time that each group arrives at the checkpoint tee to play the hole.  It is good practice to compare the actual time when the group reaches a checkpoint with the expected time for completion of the previous hole as printed on the scorecard.  Failure to scan at any checkpoint will result in the group being assigned a “default” scanned time 9 minutes earlier than the scanned time of the group behind them.  There will be no appeal of penalties assessed if this assigned default scan time results in an interval greater than 11 minutes behind the group ahead.

The committee will establish up to four (4) checkpoints depending on the event.  Normally, scanners will be located near the tees on holes 5, 9, 11, and 17.  A group that exceeds maximum hole completion times AND exceeds the maximum interval of 11 minutes between groups at any checkpoint will be assessed penalties:

• 1st violation – 1-stroke penalty
• 2nd violation – additional 2-stroke penalty
• 3rd violation – tournament disqualification

 

Checkpoint scan data automatically “flags” penalty situations triggered by a group being Out of Position (as defined above).  The Tournament Committee (TC) reviews every penalty situation after scores have been returned and before final results are posted.  The TC will make the final decision regarding application of penalties.  Penalty strokes are added to the score of the next hole to be played.  For example, penalties for missing the checkpoint time at #9 tee will be added to scores for hole #9.  In team events, penalties apply to each player on the “side.”  Penalties are added to player’s scores before tournament results are final.  If players believe they may be out of position during the round, they should take action as described below.    

Act immediately when your group is out of position.  Work as a group to regain position as quickly as possible.  If players feel that one or more in the group is unduly delaying play, they should speak with the offending player.  If there is a pace of play discussion within the group, the circumstances should be noted on the back of the scorecard and reported to scoring on completion of the round. 

Appeals – Players who believe they may have incurred Pace of Play penalties may register an appeal with the Tournament Committee.  The first step of appeal is for the player to write notes on the back of the scorecard.  They must appeal after completing play when returning scorecards at the scoring area.  If players return their scorecards without appeal, any subsequent penalty assessed based on checkpoint data and TC review will stand.  Appeals will be considered only if the player(s) registered a timely appeal, and the group

• Were Was delayed because of circumstances beyond control of the group, or
• Was delayed because of another one or more individual players in the group.

 

Future Impact of Penalties – Players incurring two or more pace of play penalties in two separate tournaments within a six-month period will be ineligible to participate in Men’s Club weekend tournaments for 3 months.   Players returning from ineligibility will be on probation for 6 months.   A player incurring two or more violations of pace of play policy within the same tournament during probation will be immediately ineligible for the next 6 months.  The ineligibility applies only to participation in weekend tournaments, not to other Men’s Club activities.

 

Pace of Play Data Use – Men’s Club pace of play data will be used to determine tee times in tournaments.  The combined pace of play statistics of players in a pairing will be used to rank the order of tee times from early-to-late.  ERMGC will publish and update member pace of play information on the Men’s Club website.

 

Pace of Play Penalty Notes: 

• Pace of play penalties are not enforced on in tournaments when carts are restricted to cart path only, or when weather conditions such as fog, heavy rain, or high wind adversely impact pace of play.
• Results posted to the website will be “pending” until penalty situations have been reviewed by the TC.  The review may take up to 24 hours to complete.  Any Pace of Play penalties assessed will not affect results of skins game or skills contests.