PACE OF PLAY TIMINGS
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY
Even if you think you are not a slow player, you should read this information as it is almost
guaranteed that you will be in a group that will be timed during the 2017 season.
We ask for your cooperation and support of this policy to achieve quicker rounds. Please take
note of the recurring highlighted messages within this document.
KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP AHEAD
Please be aware that being in a group that is timed means you are placed on record and if this
happens on 5 occasions during the season, you will be fined!
TIME PERMITTED FOR HOLE/ROUND – GUIDELINES
The current guidelines for holes are as follows:
Par 3 – 11 minutes
Par 3 – 9 minutes
3 ball groupings
2 ball groupings
Par 4 - 14 minutes
Par 4 - 12 minutes
Par 5 – 17 minutes
Par 5 – 14 minutes
Additional time will be added to holes which are considered difficult or are likely to cause delays. In
addition, anticipated time for walks from greens to tees will also be added into the time permitted
giving a range of between 4 hours 12 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes for a 3 ball group and 3 hours 32
minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes for a 2 ball group.
TIMING PROCEDURE
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY
In order to try and achieve a more consistent method of timing amongst all Referees on the Alps Tour,
the following document should act as a guideline which will also be forwarded to all members.
Each week, the Chief Referee in consultation with the Tournament Director will publish a “Time
Allowed” chart which will be posted on the official notice board. Copies will be made available to
individual players on the reverse side of the pin positions sheet. This chart will list the maximum time
permitted for a group to finish individual holes and thus the overall time for the round.
If the first group exceeds the “Time Allowed” they will be regarded as being “Out of Position”. Each
subsequent group must stay within a starting interval behind the group in front or less than the “Time
Allowed” to avoid being “Out of Position”. Any group starting after a starter’s gap will be regarded as
a first group (as noted above).
KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP AHEAD
A group that becomes “Out of Position” for any reason whatsoever will be subject to immediate
Monitoring and will be so advised. A group will continue to be Monitored until they have regained
their position or are within the time allowed.
If the group lose additional time for any reason whatsoever, the group will be informed that they are to
be timed officially.
ALPS TOUR GOLF ASSOCIATION
68 rue Anatole France – 92300 Levallois-Perret – France
+33 (0)1 41 49 77 78 - +33 (0)1 41 49 77 22 -  [email protected]
SIRET 500 436 142 00011 - APE 926C
If it becomes apparent during the Monitoring that one or two of the group are not making any
contribution to improving the group’s overall pace of play, then timing may apply only to them while the
other player(s) remain Monitored.
When a group or individual(s) are subject to timings, we will make every effort to inform the following
group but this is not mandatory and each player is obliged to know the relative position of his own
group. A group so informed who fail to maintain position will almost certainly be subject to Monitoring
or individual timing.
Individual timings will be taken by the Referee of all players in the group.
For tee shots, players will be given sufficient time to reach the teeing ground, a player to tee his ball
and a count of 3 seconds thereafter.
Through the green, the time will start when the player has had sufficient time to reach his ball, pace
and calculate his yardage and a count of 3 seconds thereafter.
Should a player be distracted by his fellow-competitors, caddies or an outside agency during the
preparations for his stroke, the stopwatch will be stopped and will not restart until the player has again
reached the point in his preparations when he was previously distracted.
Weather conditions such as wind or rain would not be regarded as an allowable distraction and the
stopwatch will continue to run.
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY
Sufficient time is the time taken to walk at normal pace to the ball or tee i.e. if a player walks quickly
to his ball, he may have additional time to prepare, whereas a player who strolls slowly to his ball may
have less time as the stopwatch may have already started!
Individual timings on the putting green should commence after the first player has had an
opportunity to replace his ball, all other balls have been marked and the player has been given
sufficient time to reach a position to start assessing his putt and 3 seconds thereafter.
However on a putt of less than 2 metres the timing should start as soon as the player stands up
having replaced (or having had sufficient time to replace) his ball and a count of 3 thereafter.
Note: The time taken to repair ball marks and the removal of loose impediments will not count in the
timing of the stroke.
KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP AHEAD
A player who is in excess of the time permitted to play a stroke whilst being Monitored will be
assessed a Monitoring Penalty.
Any player having a Monitoring Penalty will be Timed from the next tee unless his group has
regained its position.
If a Monitored group loses further time, the group or those players within the group who are deemed
to be the cause of the delay will be Timed.
If a Monitored group fails to gain time, the Referee will decide whether to continue Monitoring or
alternatively, commence timing. All players will be so informed.
A player who is seen by a Referee to take longer than double the applicable time permitted for a
stroke, regardless whether his group were in position at that time, will also be assessed a Monitoring
Penalty.
If a player in a group that is being Timed exceeds the time permitted by more than 10% (ie 45
seconds for a 40 second shot or 56 seconds for a 50 second shot) he shall have a Bad time.
Except on the putting green, the Referee should advise that player as soon as practicable that he has
had a Bad time. The official may ask the player if he is familiar with the pace of play condition thereby
ensuring that the player is aware that a further bad time will result in a penalty of one stroke being
applied.
If the bad time is on a putt or short chip, the player should be so advised on the way to the next tee.
A player will not be penalised if he has a 2nd bad time before being advised of his 1st.
Please note if a player, during a stipulated round, records 3 individual stroke timings that
exceed the limit of 40 or 50 seconds but which are within the 10% allowance, he will be
assessed a Bad time.
Any bad times will be carried forward for the remainder of the stipulated round even if the
group regains their position.
When you are informed that the group in front of you is being timed, you will have to quicken
your group’s pace to prevent your own group from being timed.
You have 30 minutes after finishing your round to appeal any bad time(s) assessed during your
round and thereafter there is no appeal.
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY
FINES AND PENALTIES
Please be aware that a stroke(s) penalty may only be imposed if the same player has two or more
Bad Times while having been officially timed during the same round. A monetary fine will also be
imposed at the same time. All members will be fined under the Pace of Play Regulation in the
Member’s Handbook and will not be subject to additional fines under the Condition of Competition.
However, in addition to the Hard Card, there is a comprehensive regulation in your Members
handbook that details the other ways in which your pace of play may attract a fine:
If you are timed on 5 occasions during the season, you will be fined €100. A player reaching 10
timings will be fined €200. 15 occasions of timing will incur a fine of €400 and a further fine of €500 for
each subsequent 5 occasions of timing.
Fines will also be levied for a player achieving his 2 nd Bad Time or Monitoring Penalty or any
combination of either during the season. This fine is €150.
These fines are increased on each occasion that a player has a subsequent Bad Time or Monitoring
Penalty.
KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP AHEAD
Copies of the list containing all players timed are available from the Alps Tour Office and will be
periodically displayed on the official notice board. Please make sure you are aware of your up to date
position.
THINGS THE REFEREE CAN DO TO HELP
-Be in a position where you can be seen by the players.
-Be ready to assist with any Rules problems.
-Assess a player’s prospective shot and give additional time if you feel it is of a particularly difficult
nature.
-Offer the chance for a player to be timed in practice rounds to help him understand the time limits.
-Give additional time if weather conditions necessitate waterproofs being put on and taken off
repeatedly.
-Be understanding in adverse weather conditions.
THINGS A PLAYER CAN DO TO HELP
-Be aware of your position with regard to the group in front.
-If you feel that your group is falling behind, advise your fellow-competitors.
-If your group is behind, try to catch up as soon as possible.
-If informed that group ahead is Being Monitored or Timed, increase your pace of play immediately
-Play a provisional ball whenever there is doubt as to where the ball is lying “through the green”
-Do not wait until it is your turn to play before putting your glove on
-Do not wait until it is your turn to play before calculating your yardage.
-Do not wait until it is your turn to play before assessing the wind direction
-Look at your own line of putt while your fellow-competitors look at theirs (within the bounds of normal
etiquette).
-Do not concern yourself with the group behind - that is the officials’ responsibility.
40 seconds is a long time in which to hit a golf shot
if preparations take place before it becomes your turn to play,
you will NOT have to rush your shot whatsoever.
BE READY TO PLAY WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY
Alps Tour Operations
January 2017