PACE OF PLAY POLICY

Rule 6-7 states, in part: “The Player shall play without undue delay and in the 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 such a penalty, we suggest that you review carefully the following guidelines.

Allotted Time

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 group to start will be considered out of position if, at any time during the round, the group is behind their allotted time.

Any following 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 group clears the putting green or arrives at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole when the preceding group is on the putting green.  Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be out of position.

Group Notification

Groups WILL BE NOTIFIED when they are out of position and when being timed. 

Timing

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

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 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 group which is out of position if the player makes no effort to help his 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 group out of position who takes more than 40 seconds to play a stroke when it is his turn to play:

                                                Stroke Play

 One bad timing                          warning

A second bad timing                 one penalty stroke

A third bad timing                    two penalty strokes

A fourth bad timing                                  Disqualification

NOTE:  If the group in question regains its proper position, any previous timings of more than 40 seconds will be carried over for the remainder of that round in the event that group requires additional monitoring.

Rulings or Other Incidents

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

LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION 

The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play. See applicable Notice to Competitors/Players for additional Rules and Conditions. Complete text of Rules and Appendix I may be found in the current “Rules of Golf.”

Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule or Condition is:

Match Play - Loss of Hole; Stroke Play - Two Strokes

LOCAL RULES

Tees- Boys 16-18 will play from the FCWT Gold markers.

          Boys 13-15 will play from the FCWT Blue markers.

          Girls 13-18 and boys 11-12 will play from the FCWT White markers.

Out of Bounds- Defined by inside edges, at ground level, of white stakes and property fence posts. Rule 27-1.

Water and Lateral Water Hazard Stakes and Lines- When a lateral water hazard is defined on only one side, it is deemed to extend to infinity.

Ground Under Repair- Defined by white lines. Fire ant hills and French drains are deemed to be ground under repair. Rule 25-1.

Sodded Areas- Except in a hazard, if the ball lies in or touches a sod seam, the player may, without penalty, lift the ball and clean it. The player must drop the ball as near as possible to where it originally lay, which is not nearer the hole, avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard or on a putting green. All seams within the sodded area are considered the same seam.

White-Lined Areas Tying Into Artificially-Surfaced Road and Paths- have the same status as the roads and paths, that of obstructions.

Wood Chips and Mulch- are loose impediments.

Embedded Ball Through the Green- Local Rule as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

Integral Parts of the Course- includes cables, rods, wires or wrappings when closely attached to trees; liners in bunkers and artificial walls and pilings when located in hazards, unless otherwise provided for in Notice to Competitors/Players.

CONDITIONS

List of Conforming Golf Balls- Note under Rule 5-1 and Optional Conditions as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

       Penalty for Breach of Condition: Disqualification

Time of Starting- Note under Rule 6-3 and Optional Conditions as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

Pace of Play- See separate memorandum to player for pace of play guidelines, when applicable.

Discontinuance of Play- Note under Rules 6-8b and Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I are in effect. All practice areas are closed during suspension for a dangerous situation until the Committee has declared them open.

Note: A suspension for a dangerous situation will be signaled by one prolonged airhorn note. All other types of suspension will be signaled by

three consecutive notes, repeated. Resumption of play will be signaled by two short airhorn notes, repeated.

Practice- Prior to a round, a player may practice on the designated practice areas. Rule 7-1b applies to other practice in stroke play.

Transportation- Players shall walk at all times during a stipulated round. Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

Caddies- A player is prohibited from using a caddie during the stipulated round. Optional Condition as prescribed in Appendix I is in effect.

Footwear- Traditional metal spikes are prohibited.

        Penalty for Breach of Condition: Disqualification

How to Decide Ties- In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole by hole sudden death playoff starting at a hole determined by the Committee.

Close of Competition- The competition is deemed to have closed when the trophy has been presented to the winner or, in the absence of a prize ceremony, when all scores have been approved by the Committee.