Dear Linda,
As winter arrives in Ireland one hears more and more muttering about slow play. It has been suggested in our club that a Local Rule be introduced imposing penalties on slow players. It is proposed that at two points – after the 9th and after the 18th – if the group has not completed within the allotted time then each player in the group would be subject to a one-stroke penalty, maximum two penalties per round. Would this proposal be within the Rules of Golf?
yours,
Lou from Dublin, Ireland
Dear Lou,
The Committee has every right to establish pace-of-play guidelines, and to penalize players who do not play within the allotted time. The standard penalty in stroke play is two strokes for the first violation and disqualification for a subsequent offense. However, the Committee may modify the penalty to one stroke for the first offense, two strokes for the second offense, and disqualification for a third offense.
The penalty in match play is loss of hole followed by disqualification. The Committee modification would be loss of hole for the first and second violations, followed by disqualification for a third violation.
Please read Rule 6-7.
Linda
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