Course Care and Etiquette

As a top tier golf club, it is incumbent on all stakeholders of PKCGC to ensure that on-course etiquette is “best in class”. The following policy applies with immediate effect.

Responsibility:
It is the responsibility of all PKCGC members to observe this policy.

Authority:
PKCGC Board Members, Management, Match Committee Members, appointed Match Referees, Course Marshalls, Golf Shop, and the lowest marker of each playing group have the authority to monitor and ensure observance of this policy.

On-course etiquette expectations:
General Etiquette:

• All players MUST report to the Golf Shop prior to tee off.
• Players are requested to be ready 15 minutes before their scheduled tee time.
• Players MUST be on the tee a minimum of five minutes before their allocated tee time.
• A three-minute time allowance for searching for a lost ball.
• Driving range use must be from the mats until further notice.
• Yellow range balls MUST NOT be used on the short game area at any time.
• No-shows on timesheets are monitored, and sanctions will apply unless there is a reasonable excuse.
• Sand buckets MUST be carried at all times.
• Course staff have right of way. DO NOT hit onto greens when the flag has been removed. Otherwise proceed with caution.
• In practice rounds limited to one or two players, up to two balls may be played for each shot, but only where this has no impact on the pace of play for the entire hole, or the groups position in the field.

Course Care:

• Divots on tees and fairways are to be filled with sand and smoothed over by foot.
  DO NOT replace displaced turf.
• Bunkers must be raked properly, ensuring that divots, foot prints and any other rough spots within your reach are smoothed out.
  DO NOT rake sand up slopes or towards entry points – these areas should be smoothed over with the back of the rake.
  After exiting, rakes should be carefully placed in the bunker parallel to the line of play in the closest flat area near the entry point that is towards the centre of the bunker and NOT on an up slope or near any edge.
• Pitch marks must always be repaired.
  If you cannot find your own, find another to repair.
  While waiting to putt, repair any you can see (without distracting other players).
• Use your pitch mark repair tool to push turf from all sides of the pitch mark in towards the centre.
  Then pat it down carefully using the sole of your putter.
  DO NOT replace loose turf onto the pitch mark.
• DO NOT leave buggies or carts in front of the green.
  DO NOT take buggies or carts across the green.
  Always move to the side or back of the green, or towards the next tee, consistent with designated path-ways.
• Take care when removing or replacing the flagstick, so as not to damage the hole.
  DO NOT drop the flag stick on the putting surface.
  Always lower the flag stick by using a club or by hand.
  DO NOT use a clubhead or the flagstick to remove the golf ball from the hole, or use a ball lifting device while the flagstick is still in the hole.
  Careful use of fingers to remove the ball with the flagstick still in is permitted.
  Replace the flag stick properly in the hole before leaving the green.

Pace of Play:

• All playing groups are required to keep up with the group immediately in front (rather than focusing on whether you are holding up the group behind).
  In practical terms, this means when a group arrives on a tee, the group in front should be in sight on the same hole, but not such that they need to wait before hitting off.
  The only exception would be if you are in the second group in a competition and the first group is a 2 or 3 ball.
  The first two players to putt out should move to the next tee, where verification of a score on the hole is not required, and the group is out of position.
• It is expected that all rounds are completed in 4 hours 20 minutes maximum for a 4 ball competition and under 4 hours for a 2 or 3 ball competition, not constrained by groups of 4 playing ahead of them.
• If loss of a ball causes your group to hold up the group behind, you MUST either continue play without further delay or call the group behind through.

Motorised Carts:

• Use of motorised carts for Board/Major Events will require a current medical certificate. This applies to both Men’s and Women’s events.
• Golf buggies or other transporting devices are prohibited on all putting surfaces, including practice greens.
• Carts are to be driven according to GPS governance, directional signs and arrows, but never less than 10 metres from the putting greens, or the margin of the bunker, unless on a cart path.
• Avoid driving in the roughs, and in low lying damp areas even when not marked.
• Please follow the guidelines in the cart.
• Where possible avoid single cart riders, as course wear and tear is reduced by two people sharing.
• Carts will not be permitted on the courses in the event of heavy rain (or the aftermath of), frost, or at the direction of the Director of Sports or designated staff member.
• GPS units in carts must not be turned off.

Safe Play:
It is every player’s responsibility to play the game in a safe manner and:

• Always be aware of the inherent dangers on a golf course: These dangers are to yourself as well as others.
• Always be aware of shots being played by other members of your group to ensure that you are not in danger. If you are on a ‘wrong fairway’ be careful of any players playing on that fairway.
• If a shot is endangering players always shout the warning ‘fore’ as loudly as possible.
• Always be watchful for snakes when entering the rough as they can be a danger.

See “Rules of Golf – Section One, Etiquette” for further guidelines

Mobile Phones:
Peninsula Kingswood encourages all golfers to carry mobile phones for use in case of an emergency.
Excluding an emergency, voice calls on mobile phones are not permitted except in the Locker Rooms, Reception Area, and Car Parks, to contact the Golf Shop, or with the permission of the CEO.
The screen functions of smart phones and other small hand-held devices may be used with the consent of any present company and with the sound muted, provided their use DOES NOT breach the rule of golf 4.3a.

Smoking or Vaping:
Smoking or vaping is not permitted in any part of the clubhouse or any part of the golf courses or in any other part of the Club property which is designated a non-smoking area.

The courses are a non-smoking area.

Monitoring and adherence to On-course Etiquette, Pace of Play and Course Care:
The club is progressively implementing a multi-faceted approach to this, which will include:

• Course marshals to monitor play through 18 holes.

• Golf shop staff will monitor pace of play to identify slow groups.

• From time to time, staff will attend a particular hole to provide education on fairway, green and bunker care.
• The lowest marker in each group has authority and should:
  • implement “ready golf” techniques to move his/her group along in a timely fashion.
  • phone the Pro Shop if they feel the group in front is consistently out of position in the field (ie not keeping up with the group immediately in front as discussed earlier)
  • request playing partners to take the steps necessary to adhere to this policy, including fairway, green and bunker care.

Penalties for breaches of on-course etiquette:
Pace of Play:
Should a group fail to respond to reasonable requests to meet pace of play requirements those in authority as listed earlier (except “the lowest marker” of a playing group) have the ability to impose the following:

• Friendly warning
• Official warning (should the group fail to respond to a Friendly warning).
• Should a player or group of players who have already received an official warning continue to breach ‘Pace of Play’ requirements the Captain, Course Marshall, Pro Shop or Match Referee may impose the following penalties.
  • Loss of hole (match play)
  • Move group to next hole AND / OR
  • 2 stroke penalty
• Should a player or a group of players who are repeatedly identified as slow players as per the Pro Shop monitoring system the Captain on behalf of the Match Committee will be able to impose penalties.

Course Care and Etiquette:
A player failing to comply with on-course etiquette or course care requirements, should be reported immediately to the CEO or Director of Sports who would then escalate to the Board where appropriate.