Pace of Play Policy
Effective 12/1/25
8 min. vs. 10 min. separation chart
Introduction
ASGA events have grown tremendously in the last couple of years. With a number of events having over 150 players and rounds often averaging 4 ½ - 5 hours, maintaining an enjoyable pace of play for all players has become more challenging. As such, we are updating our pace of play standards and policy.
Policy For Groups Not Keeping Pace:
- 1st hour tee time groups not finishing in 4 hours or less will not receive 1st hour tee times for the following 4 weeks
- Groups taking longer than 4:15 **and** finishing 15 minutes or more behind the group in front of them will be flagged as slow. The only exception will be for 2-person Modified Pinehurst events. For these events, groups finishing more than 15 minutes behind the group in front of them will be deemed as slow......regardless of the length of their round.
Each group is responsible for accurately recording their start and finish times. If your group fails to enter a start or finish time, an estimated time will be entered. Start time is the time that the 1st players in your group tees off. Finish time is the time that the final player in your group holes out.
Groups flagged as slow will not receive tee times earlier than 10:30 a.m for their next four events. If that group is flagged again during the following four events, those players will no longer receive tee times earlier than 10:30am on a permanent basis.
Groups can end that restriction by:
- Accepting an on-course monitor; and/or
- Consistently keeping pace with groups ahead of them for four consecutive events.
What can each member do to keep pace?
Just like so many things in life, the devil is in the details. The focus will be on the little things that each of us can do on every shot to trim 10 seconds off the time it takes to play it. We're focusing on shortening round times by playing more efficiently and getting rid of the 'dead air' between shots.
While many factors contributed to our POP, there are 3 key issues:
- 1. Not being ready when it's your turn
- 2. Poor equipment management by both walkers & riders
- 3. Not realizing when it is ok to play out of turn
Here is our plan to address these issues:
New Initiatives
- 1. Remind everyone on how to do the right thing! This will include:
- a. New member Intro letters include our expectations for POP and an instructional video.
- b. Regular speedy play tips sent out via email and blog
- c. POP instructional video with easy tips. Every member is encouraged to watch this and put these tips into practice.
- 2. Provide on-course support
- a. Course marshals will be actively monitoring slower groups and providing POP suggestions to groups not keeping pace. All 4 courses have committed to support this program.
- b. Board volunteers will be made available to any group wanting/needing a POP monitor for a round. Monitors will observe play and offer tips for improvement.
- 3. Use proper tee time spacing
Some courses are now offering eight minute spacing. Lions is doing ten minute spacing due to a shortage of carts. Players need to keep close to their assigned tee times, but may tee off early if the group in front is not ready. If you tee off more than 40 minutes earlier than your designated tee time out of sequence you may be disqualified from winning prizes for that event.