Pace of play at The Links

As the weather improves and daylight hours lengthen, many golfers are beginning to get their clubs out of the cupboard dust them off and get out on the course. This will mean that more players will be on the course increasing the potential for slower rounds. How long should a round of golf take? Are you or your playing partners slow players? These are questions that need answering as slow play has a huge effect on the enjoyment of the game for everyone.

Julie Otto, assistant secretary (rules) of the R&A, said: "Everyone is affected by slow play which has become a major problem in the modern game. "This is the first time that the R&A rule book has been written for the modern golfer and has such a prominent section on etiquette and how to improve the pace of play. If we can increase the speed of play then we can increase the pleasure of the game for everyone."

 There are many other factors that contribute to the speed of play, none more so than the actions of the players. Here are some tips taken from the R&A website that you should be aware of:

Keep up with the group in front

- Do not worry about the group behind 
- keep up with the group in front: 
- If you feel that your group is falling behind take responsibility and bring this to the attention of the other players in your group. 
- React positively to the situation. 
- If your group is behind there is no need to run but try to catch up quickly. 
- If you lose a clear hole and are delaying the group behind invite the group behind to play through. 
- If there is no group in front of you and you are delaying the group behind invite the group behind to play through.

Be ready to play 

When it is not your turn to play use your time wisely to prepare so that when it is your turn you are ready to play: 

- Put your glove on, check your yardage, assess the wind strength and direction. 
- Decide on the type of shot that you are going to play. 
- Select your club.

When it is your turn to play, play promptly: 

- Decide on the shot and execute it. 
- You only need one practice swing. 
- You do not need to waggle the club back and forth and round about again and again.

At the putting green: 

- Assess your line, repair pitch-marks on the green and remove loose impediments while others are playing. 
- It is not necessary to look at your line from every angle. 
- You do not need to have an alignment mark on your golf ball and ensure that it is perfectly aligned to the hole before every putt.
- Move off the green as soon as all players in your group have holed out and mark score cards at or on the way to the next tee. 
- Speed up your exit by positioning your bags on the way to the next tee.

If each player took a few seconds off their pre-shot routine then the cumulative effect would be very significant.



Capt Pro Challenge Matches 

Ray Bolton, the Captain, and I are laying down challenges to members once again this year. The list of dates are now up on the board in the clubhouse. The format is a fourball better ball matchplay match and the winner at the end of the season will be the pair who, if any!, who beat the Captain and I by the biggest margin. If you haven't played before or you are a new member we would be delighted for you to put your name up.

   

Captains Charity Draw 

Win a set of Titleist AP1 irons including a fitting session at Titleist's national fitting center at St Ives in the Captains Charity draw. Retail value of the clubs and fitting combined is in the region of £650. We have limited the draw to 200 tickets at £5 a ticket and we are looking to raise in the region of around £600 for the local charities that all the club captains have chosen this year. The draw will take place on Charity day in May.The board is now up in the Pro Shop so hurry as we only have 200 tickets left to sell.

Mole hills 

If you have been on the course recently you will not have failed to notice the mole hills that are appearing all over the course. The problem has got so bad the club has employed the services of the local mole catcher. For your information below I have included the rule procedure if you are affected by this abnormal ground condition. 

An abnormal ground condition is casual water, ground under repair or a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird. 

Except when the ball is in a water hazard, relief without penalty is available from the abnormal ground condition when the condition physically interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or your swing. You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief , but not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief . If the ball is on the putting green, it is placed at the nearest point of relief, which may be off the putting green.

There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless both your ball and the condition are on the putting green. As an additional option when the ball is in a bunker, you may take relief from the condition by dropping the ball outside and behind the bunker under penalty of one stroke. Know the rules and sometimes you can you use them to your advantage.