SGA PACE OF PLAY POLICY

1. The maximum time allowed for the round will be decided by the Tournament Committee. The hole by hole allotted time is provided on the Official Notice Board in the Notice to Competitors.

2. The Singapore Golf Association’s Pace of Play policy leaves the responsibility for maintaining the pace of play where it belongs, with the player. The first group in the field should play efficient golf.  The following groups should keep up with the group in front of them. 

3. There will be time-keepers present on the 4th, 9th, 13th and 18th hole with whom players can check on their pace.

4. The first group in the field must complete play at the 9th hole and 18th hole no later than the time established by the Tournament Committee.  Subsequent groups are held to the same standard.  If they are unable to meet the prescribed standard due to slow play ahead of them they will be considered to have met the standard if they complete play at a 9th hole and 18th hole within 14 minutes of the group ahead of them.  A group is considered to have completed the play of a hole when all players in the group have holed out and the flagstick is replaced in the hole.

5. Subsequent groups, other than the lead group, which are OUT OF POSITION (behind the allotted time AND more than 14 minutes behind the preceding group) after finishing the 9th or 18th hole will be liable to Pace of Play penalty for every player in the group. 

6. Pace of play penalty will be added to the score on the 9th or 18th hole. The tournament officials or Rules officials will notify players officially on this.  No advice will be issued to players with this Pace of Play policy at the intermediate checkpoints but officials will endeavor to do so at check points on the 4th and 13th hole advising that the group may be liable to slow play penalty at the 9th or 18th hole.

OUT OF POSITION

7. First Group Only: If the lead group is behind its expected time after completing the intermediate check point, the group may be advised that they are liable to a penalty if they fail to complete the first nine holes in their expected time.

8. If they pass the second intermediate check point, behind their expected time, the group may be advised that they are liable to penalty if they do not complete the round within their expected time.  If they have had a penalty on the first nine holes and again fail to complete the round of eighteen holes within their expected time, two strokes penalty will be added to their score on the finishing hole.  A group may appeal in the scoring area before submitting their scorecards.

9. Subsequent Groups: If any subsequent group completes the intermediate checkpoint behind its expected time AND more than 14 minutes behind the preceding group, the group may be advised they are liable to a penalty if they fail to complete the first nine behind their expected time AND are more than 14 minutes behind the group in front of them.

10. If they pass the second intermediate check point behind their expected time AND are more than 14 minutes behind the group in front, they may be advised that they are liable to slow play penalty if they do not complete the round within their expected time AND are more than 14 minutes behind the group in front.

11. If they have had a penalty on the first nine holes and again fail to complete the round of eighteen holes within their expected time AND are more than 14 minutes behind the group in front when they complete the round, two strokes penalty will be added to their score on the finishing hole.  A group may appeal in the scoring area before submitting their scorecards.

12. Note: Players will be advised that they are behind on their pace of play and may be liable to penalties should they fail to meet the expected time when they complete the nine holes or complete the round.  Penalties on the 9th or 18th hole may be assessed even if no advice have been given to the group at the intermediate checkpoints.  A group that receives a penalty on the first nine holes is not absolved from penalty if the group completes the second nine holes in position and on time.

13. In the notice to players, the allotted time on a hole by hole basis will be provided on the Official Notice Board.  These times are adjusted based on the difficulty of the course and the ability of the field.  They include time to search for lost balls and deal with other common occurrences encountered during play.  A normal speed of play should result in completing play before the time indicated.  If a group falls behind, they are expected to play efficient golf and make up the lost time.  This might mean playing ready golf or continuous putting, which are both allowed in stroke play. 

14. It is the PLAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITY to know their group’s position relative to the published Pace of Play and to ensure they play within the published limits.  Failure to play within the Pace of Play guidelines will result in a Pace of Play penalty unless players appeal and the Committee upholds their appeal.

15. A player concerned about a slow player(s) in his group should first speak with the player(s) and encourage them to play more efficiently.  Then, the concerned player may, before or after penalties are assessed, ask to have the group monitored.  The individual player does not have to be identified; the request just needs to be made.  At some point during the stipulated round, the group will be monitored.  If a player is identified as holding up the pace of the group, penalties may be applied to that player and rescinded from the others.

APPEAL PROCESS
16. Pace of Play penalties may be appealed to the Committee and must be made before scorecards are signed and returned.  In order for an appeal to be considered, there must have been an action by the Committee, a circumstance beyond the player’s control, or some similar occurrence that contributed to the delay, such as an action by an individual member of the group. 

17. If a group receives a penalty for exceeding the pace of play for each nine, both penalties may be appealed, however, each appeal must be made and handled separately.  Each appeal may result in a one step reduction of a penalty (i.e., three strokes to one stroke then one stroke to no penalty, but not three strokes to no penalty).

PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF PACE OF PLAY POLICY

18. 1st Breach of the Pace of Play Policy  –  One Stroke Penalty;

19.  2nd Breach of the Pace of Play Policy  –  Two Strokes Penalty.

20. The maximum penalty per round of 18 holes is 3 Strokes.