Pace of Play

The Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour will designate a minimum of 6 holes on the course as timing checkpoints (Traditionally holes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18). A Rules Official will be stationed at each timing checkpoint and will inform each group their position and time on the golf course. Penalties may be given by a Rules Official and will be confirmed with groups by the Tournament Director and verified in the scoring area after the completion of their round.

Time Par

Time par is the amount of time in which the Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour expects all players to complete a round. This will be expressed on a per hole basis and an overall time for 18 holes which are as follows:

Per Hole Basis (Traditional time per hole)

  • Par 3 – 13 minutes
  • Par 4 – 15 minutes
  • Par 5 – 17 minutes

Per Round Basis (Traditional time per round)

  • Par 70 – 4 hours 26 minutes
  • Par 71 – 4 hours 28 minutes
  • Par 72 – 4 hours 30 minutes

A group’s time begins when a member of the group has played his/her 1st stroke from his/her starting teeing ground.
Checkpoint times are measured when the flagstick is replaced in the hole after all players in the group have holed out.
The Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour may adjust time par during and between tournament rounds based on average group times.

Out of Position

Out of position is the failure to complete the hole being played before the group immediately ahead has completed the hole which follows the timing checkpoint.

  • When a checkpoint hole precedes a par 4, failure to complete the checkpoint hole before the group immediately ahead has placed the flag in the hole and completed the par 4.
  • When a checkpoint hole precedes a par 5, failure to complete the checkpoint hole before the group immediately ahead has made a stroke from the putting green.
  • When a checkpoint hole precedes a par 3, failure to complete the checkpoint hole before the group immediately ahead has finished the par 3 and teed off on the next tee.

The first group of the day is judged only against time par.

Bad Times

A bad time occurs when a player has taken an excess of 45 seconds to play a shot once it is his turn to play and there are no distractions. Each player that arrives to the tee, fairway and putting green that plays first will receive an additional 10 seconds. Players will be notified of the number of bad times they have committed at each checkpoint.

Penalties

A 1 stroke penalty may be added to each member in the group if the group receives back-to-back notifications at checkpoints about being out of position and behind time par. A penalty will only be added to a group if they do not improve their position on the course or time par after their first bad checkpoint. Any subsequent checkpoint after the group’s first bad checkpoint where they do not improve their position on the course or time par relative to the first bad checkpoint is the same as receiving back-to-back notifications about position and time par resulting in a 1 stroke penalty. The 1 stroke penalty may be assessed to a player in the group if that player has multiple bad times (minimum of three).

If a player records 5 bad times during the round, they will receive a 1 stroke penalty. The player will receive 2 penalty strokes if they record 2 or more additional bad times.

A penalty stroke is added to where the infraction has occurred. Penalties are never definite and will be confirmed with the group by the Tournament Director and verified in the scoring area.

Rescinding a Penalty Stroke

A penalty can be rescinded in 3 ways:

  1. Group is in position with group immediately ahead of them through any following checkpoints
  2. Group is on or below time par through any following checkpoints
  3. Group gains at least one minute on time par through next checkpoint and continues to improve time par and position on the course through the remaining checkpoints

Factors in Determining Time Par

  • Difficulty and length of course
  • Walks between holes
  • Conditions of Competition
  • Pace of Play history for course

Pace of Play Tips

  • If your ball might be out of bounds or lost outside of a penalty area, play a provisional ball (Rule 18.3)
  • If a situation arises and you do not know how to proceed, play a second ball under Rule 20.1c. You must report all facts to a Rules Official afterwards regardless of score.
  • Place golf bag off the putting green in a direction that is on the way to the next tee.
  • Anyone can search for a lost ball. Parents and spectators are encouraged to follow 1 shot ahead to spot for errant shots.
  • Identify your golf ball and show to fellow competitors.
  • Get your yardage before it is your turn to play.
  • Read your putt before it is your turn to play.
  • Be aware of who is away. If you are not sure, ask.
  • Recognize when someone will need the flag tended or your ball marked.
  • Get to your next shot without delay. It is more important what you do between shots than during.
  • If a ball is not found after a brief search the fellow competitors should go forward and play their shots to the green and let the player and spectators continue the search.
  • Know where your group is in relation to the group in front of you.
  • Take the appropriate amount of clubs for your shots around the green.