Ahead of its 2017 season of amateur events and international matches the EGA has introduced two new measures concerning pace of play.
Two particular situations are addressed by these measures: groups being considered to be out of position even if they are playing within the time allowed, and the timing of individual players who are playing at an overly slow pace and are only being kept in position by their flight partners’ quicker play.
The first measure is a change to the definition of “Out of Position”, according to which, from 1 January 2017 on, “any following group” (any group except for the first group and any group after a starter’s gap) will be considered “out of position” if it is more than the starting interval behind the group in front. The addition “and have exceeded the time allowed for the number of holes played” has been abandoned.
The definition of “Out of Position” for the first group or any group after a starter’s gap has not changed and is still: “The first group and any group after a starter’s gap will be considered to be “out of position” if, at any time during the round, the group’s cumulative time exceeds the time allowed for the number of holes completed”. The following note has been added: “In making a decision on whether to time a “following group” that is out of position, leniency may be shown to a group that has not exceeded the time allotted for the number of holes completed.”
The second measure is the addition of a new clause, “Random Timing Without Warning When Group Not Out of Position”. In some circumstances, a group or an individual player may now be timed without warning, including when the group is not out of position.
By introducing the two new measures, the EGA hopes to further improve pace of play at its amateur championships and international matches.
These measures allow the officials at EGA events to address situations where a group has fallen behind, and is playing significantly slower than the groups ahead of them, but is still within the scheduled time. The Committee will now have authority to time these groups and encourage quicker play.
Players also have a responsibility for playing at a good pace, not just when they are out of position. Officials can now intervene when a particular player is only being kept in position as a result of the quick play from his/her flight partners.
The 2017 EGA Hard Card can be downloaded here.