Pace Report By: Brian Dunster

Pace of Play at Highland Pacific Golf

Regular golfers at Highland Pacific Golf know that pace of play is a high profile and sometimes contentious issue. As a public course that attracts golfers of all ages and skill levels, we recognize that some individuals and groups will play quicker than others. With this in mind, we do our best to accommodate players that may be slightly slower while maintaining an overall pace of play that is acceptable to all.

In order to provide the best possible experience for all Highland Pacific golfers we ask that players/groups make their best effort to keep up with the group in front of them. In situations where a group is playing behind a much faster group and may not be able to keep up, we ask that rounds be completed in no longer that 2 hours and 15 minutes for 9 holes and 4 hours and 30 minutes for 18 holes. Again, these are the maximum allowable times and groups should strive to maintain a quicker pace if possible.

If you are approached by a Course Monitor or Starter regarding your group’s pace please don’t take it personally. We are simply pointing out where a group may have an opportunity to improve their pace in an effort to provide a more enjoyable experience for all golfers on the course that day.

Pace of play can be impacted by a number of factors including weather conditions and how busy the course is, but ultimately results from the actions of individual players. While there is lots of resource material available online for individuals and groups interested in improving their pace. following are some key considerations for providing an optimum playing environment for all:

• Report to the Starter no later than 10 minutes before your scheduled tee time. Players arriving too close to their tee time can cause confusion and delays in getting groups out onto the course.
• Don’t spend too much time looking for lost balls … anything longer than a minute or so will negatively impact the pace of play on the course.
• If there are beginners in your group, consider playing a best ball format and/or encourage them to pick up their balls if they are holding up other groups … or when they have reached the maximum playing time (15 minutes) for an individual hole.
• Most importantly, be prepared to play! Move deliberately to your ball after each shot and hit your next shot as soon as the group in front is safely out of range.

Please ask one of our golf operations staff if you have questions about Highland Pacific’s pace of play policy or if you would like suggestions for improving your group’s pace of play.