The Council remains concerned at the increase in recent years in the time taken to complete a round of golf at this course in RMGC competitions. Many members can remember when a Medal round took no more than 3 hours 15 minutes to complete. 4 hours has now become the norm for a 3-ball and the Council is determined that this must be reduced to a maximum of 3 hours and 30 minutes.

This golf course has gained a bad reputation in golfing circles for slow play and it is known to be a factor in deterring people from joining and in members leaving to go elsewhere. The membership needs to recognise this and take responsibility, individually and collectively, for turning this situation around.

The Council will be monitoring the position more proactively and will not hesitate to take action against offenders. The Council will give full support to the staff in the Professional’s shop in keeping play running to time even if this results in members being disqualified from playing in a competition (and not allowed on the course) for being late for their starting time.

Advice and guidance to members have been posted on the notice-boards in the past but the following guidelines and recommendations issued by the R and A should be observed by ALL members on a continuing basis in all play.

• Be aware of your position with regard to the group in front.
• Do not concern yourself with the group behind; the fact that you are not holding them up is irrelevant as it is your group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front.
• If you feel that your group is falling behind, advise the other players in your group.
• If your group is behind, try to catch up quickly.
• If you lose a clear hole and you are delaying the group behind, invite the group behind to play through.
• Do not wait until it is your turn to play before calculating your yardage and selecting your club.
• Look at your own line of putt while the other players in the group look at theirs (within the bounds of normal etiquette).
• In summary, prepare yourself for playing your next shot as soon as possible when it becomes your turn.
• At the green, place your bags/trolleys/buggy so as to enable you to move swiftly off the green to the next tee. (That usually means not leaving clubs at the front of greens.)
• Move off the green as soon as all players in your group have holed out. Mark score cards at the next tee while you wait for others in your group to drive.
• If you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds, immediately play a provisional ball, after informing your fellow competitors. Play it from as near as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played.
• If you keep up with the group in front. You cannot be accused of slow play.

Finally, we play golf for fun, not our livelihood, even when we are playing in a competition. However, playing golf is not the same as strolling along a prom; nor is a golf course a place for chatter with players in other groups. KEEP UP A GOOD PACE WHEN WALKING BETWEEN SHOTS AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO LIKEWISE.

John Gilmour
Honorary Secretary
On behalf of the RMGC Council