Pace of Play Policy
Thank you for playing Owl’s Nest! To ensure all golfers have a positive experience, it should take no longer than 4 hours and 30 minutes to play 18 holes (approximately 15 minutes per hole). We strongly encourage groups to play faster whenever possible.
- Pro tip: Booking an early morning (pre-9 a.m.) tee time? Please be able and willing to play at an accelerated pace.
We employ the following Pace of Play policies and practices
- 18-hole rounds should be completed in the allotted time (4 hours and 30 minutes/approximately 15 minutes per hole). 9-hole rounds should be completed within 2 hours and 15 minutes, at a pace of approximately 15 minutes per hole.
- Our friendly course rangers will be on the course monitoring guests’ pace of play.
- Should a group fall out of position during a round, our rangers will ask the group to please close the gap. Our rangers will make this request up to two times.
- If a group does not close the gap, our rangers will ask the group to: (if feasible) allow the group behind you to play through, or pick up and move to the appropriate hole to bring pace of play back within our timing guidelines.
- If the gap is still not closed and maintained, our rangers may ask your group to leave the golf course.
This policy is practiced with the intent of maintaining a reasonable and pleasurable round of golf for all guests. Members and guests are expected to respect the directions of our course rangers as their goal is to help make everyone’s round more enjoyable.
Choose the Right Tee
Players should play from a set of tees best suited to their driving distance. In addition to providing more enjoyment for golfers, teeing it forward is an important step golfers can take to improve pace of play.
Ready Golf
- When a player is at the ball and ready to play, they should go ahead and play—so long as it’s safe.
- Again, if you aren’t in the line of play, you can move forward and/or help others find their ball.
- If you’re on the tee and ready to tee off, go ahead and tee off.
- Putt continuously: if you aren’t in someone’s line, go ahead and finish that short putt.
- Never hold up play because you’re in the middle of a conversation. Put your conversation on hold, take your stroke, and then continue the conversation.
- Your place on the golf course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you.
Think Ahead
As you walk or ride up to the next shot, start assessing the situation and getting a feel for the shot, the wind, and the yardage. You’ll spend less time analyzing the shot when you get to the ball.
As you ride or walk up to the green, you can often learn more about the next shot from in front of the green than on the green. Look for tell-tale slopes, mounds, and swales that will affect the break. Look for where the water will roll off. Often, the best read is the first read. Go with your gut.
Riding in a Cart?
- Drop your partner off at their ball, then ride ahead to yours. Switch drivers if necessary.
- Carts on the path? Take several clubs when you walk to the ball so that you don’t have to walk back to the cart.
- If there is a group behind you, give yourself one minute to look for a ball that is obviously not going to be found. The rules let you take five minutes, but you should try to take less.
Out of the Hole? Putting up a Big Number? Pick Up and Move On.
The USGA Handicap System allows a maximum score depending on handicap and par. Use the simple guidelines below.
Navigation
- Where you walk and where you park the cart can significantly affect pace of play.
- Park or leave your bag off the green on the side closest to the next tee.
- Line up your putt while others are putting.
- When putting, leave the clubs you used for chipping in line with the next tee.
- Mark your scorecard after leaving the green.
- Talk while you walk.
Finally, please be respectful of our rangers and staff. Everyone has difficult golf holes or days on the course. Our rangers are not here to cause grief or lecture groups. Their goal is to ensure all golfers have a reasonable and enjoyable experience on the course. Sometimes that means asking a group in front of yours to pick up the pace, and sometimes it’s reminding your group that you’ve fallen behind. It happens to everyone, please do your best to get back in position.
Follow these simple guidelines and always be thinking about how you can play a little faster each hole and you’ll enjoy your round—at Owl’s Nest or anywhere!
