Standard Pace of Play Guidelines

The Pace of Play Hole Timings are as follows:

For Groups of Two: (max time of 3 hours 54 min).:12 minutes for Par 3's, :13 for Par 4's, :14 for par 5's

For Groups of Three: (max time of 4 hours 12 min).:13 minutes for Par 3's, :14 for Par 4's, :15 for par 5's

For Groups of Four: (max time of 4 hours 30 min).:14 minutes for Par 3's, :15 for Par 4's, :16 for par 5's

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make adjustments as necessary.

Timing Station

When timing stations are in place, Volunteers will display a Blue Sign if your group is in good position, a Yellow Sign if you are within 5 minutes of being out of position and a Red Sign if you are out of position. Please do everything you can to maintain your position when playing in a MVGA Championship or Event.

Pace of Play Guidelines

Rule 5.6 states, in part: You must not unreasonably delay play, either when playing a hole or between two holes.

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 the prescribed schedule as detailed on the applicable Pace of Play Time Chart.

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 or par 4 hole and the hole is clear 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 Out of Position

If a group or match is out of position, an Official may monitor it. Immediately after all players have left the teeing ground, but before any subsequent strokes have been played, the Official will inform the group that it is out of position and that they will be monitored, timed and subject to penalties.

Timing

The timing of a player's stroke will begin when he has had reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play and he can play without interference or distraction.

Except on the putting green, if a player has reached his ball, and it is his turn to play and there are no distractions, timing will begin after he has had reasonable time to select his club. Any time spent determining yardages 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 mark his ball, repair his ball mark and other marks on his line of putt and remove any 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.

Pace of Play Penalties

The following are the Stroke and Match Play 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:
NOTE: An extra 10 seconds will be allowed for:

(a) the first player to play from the teeing ground on a Par 3;

(b) the first player to play a second stroke on a Par 4 (or Par 5 when attempting to reach the putting green);

(d) the first player to play on or around the putting green

Stroke Play

First bad timing - Warning
Second bad timing - One stroke penalty
Third bad timing - Disqualification

Match Play

First bad timing - Loss of hole
Second bad timing - Disqualification

A player will be informed as soon as practicable that he has incurred a penalty.

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

Ruling or Other Incidents

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

Any appeal of a penalty must be referred to the Tournament Committee immediately upon completion of a player's round. The Tournament Committee's decision will be final.