Amid the conversation about slow play on the PGA Tour, there is a shining example of proper pace of play in the game. It has been highlighted in recent days by Golf Channel analysts Brandel Chamblee and Damon Hack. I am referring to the pace-of-play policy that guides the American Junior Golf Association.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have served on the AJGA’s board for nearly 30 years, including as the current president. So, while I am hardly objective about the situation, the AJGA’s dedication to teaching youth on the proper way to play the game is what first attracted me to the organization and explains my longevity of service.
How do they do it?
The AJGA’s Pace of Play policy was implemented in 2003.
During the past 10 years, the AJGA, which will run 130 tournaments and 105 qualifiers this year in the U.S. and five other countries, has averaged 4 hours and 23 minutes for threesomes in tournament golf.
The AJGA sets up six timing stations spread around the golf course, typically holes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17.
Players know that they are “on the clock” as soon as they start their round and are expected to play ready golf and walk with purpose between shots. Players are required to do the “walk ahead” (first person to hole out goes to the next tee). They are expected to continue playing when a fellow competitor needs a ruling or has a ball search if there are others to assist.
For each tournament, a “time par” is established. Factors in determining a golf course’s time par include:
difficulty and length of the course;
walks and shuttles between holes;
AJGA pace-of-play history for the course;
conditions of competition (weather, course health, etc.).
The AJGA employs a color-card system to manage pace of play. Each group is shown one of the following cards at each of six timing stations throughout the golf course:
Green card (no penalty): The group is in position and/or within overall time par through that checkpoint.
Single red card (warning): The group is out of position and behind overall time par through that checkpoint.
Double red card (subject to one-stroke penalty): The group is out of position, behind overall time par through that checkpoint and did not make its required checkpoint-to-checkpoint time determined at the last red-card checkpoint.
Once a group receives a single red card (warning):
groups playing on a single red card may extend the red card by gaining one minute against time par between future checkpoint holes;
groups receiving a red card at a checkpoint which immediately precedes their final hole must play the final hole without delay;
timing will begin when the flagstick has been replaced or when all players in the preceding group have removed their balls from the hole.
The beauty of the color-card system is that red cards can be rescinded … there is forgiveness in the system.
A single red card can be rescinded in two ways:
group is in position with the group immediately ahead through the next checkpoint;.
group is on or below overall time par through next checkpoint.
If one of the above requirements is satisfied, the group is considered to be back on green card.
A double red card can be rescinded in two ways:
group finishes the round in position with the group immediately ahead;
group finishes the round on or below overall time par.
In 2022, the AJGA issued 3,689 red cards, but only eight players eventually received a penalty for having two red cards. The system clearly works.
Those looking for a culprit for slow play on the PGA Tour should focus not on youngsters but on the college game. I have said for years, only partly in jest, that the AJGA players who go on to play at the NCAA Division I level must spend the first two weeks on campus being deprogrammed, to become comfortable with six-hour rounds of golf. Everything the AJGA has taught these kids gets shunned aside quickly.
It's no wonder that so many players come to the PGA Tour expecting to play slowly.
E-MAIL JIM
Photo courtesy ajga