USGA Pace-of-Play Initiative: What's your take?
06 Feb 2013
by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com
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USGA President Glen D. Nager
As part of its annual meetings and along with
the re-election of Glen D. Nager as the
association's president, the USGA released it's
key
initiative for 2013: pace of play.
It's an agenda item that impacts each and
every golfer. It's an item we all have a say in.
It's also an issue that weighs heavily on the
game's growth. Heck, golfers already
interested and invested in the game have to
clear six hours
for a round of golf, how will the game attract
newbies?
To reiterate, here are the details on the
USGA's Pace of Play Initiative, taken
straight from USGA.org:
Analysis of Key Factors: Factors
known to influence pace of play include course
design (overall length, green-to-tee walks,
location and number of hazards); course
management and setup (green speed, hole
locations, height and location of rough); player
management (most significantly, the proper
distribution of starting times); and the
effectiveness of player education programs.
Research to Produce Pace-of-Play
Modeling: A major study is underway at
the USGA’s Research and Test Center to
create the first-
ever dynamic model of pace of play based on
quantifiable data – a model that will be
applicable to both competitive and recreational
golf.
Previous models and programs addressing pace
of play have been based largely on
observations and anecdotal evidence, while
the new USGA
model will draw from large-scale real-world
inputs, including data from the PGA Tour’s
Shotlink system. Once completed, analysis of
the model
should greatly increase understanding of the
key factors affecting pace of play and allow
recommendations for improving pace of play on
a
course-by-course basis.
Pace Rating System: The Test Center
model will drive improvements in the USGA
Pace Rating System, first developed in 1993 to
help
players complete a round of golf at an
optimum, reasonable pace. The USGA Handicap
Department will utilize data from the Test
Center model
to better customize the Pace Rating System
for individual courses.
On-site Assistance at Golf Courses:
New programs to help golf course managers
assess and improve pace of play will be
delivered by
the USGA Green Section through its Turf
Advisory Service. The group will expand its
educational efforts about aspects of course
management
that impact pace of play. The on-site visits will
evaluate the overall playing quality of a golf
course, of which pace of play is a central
component. Recommendations provided by the
USGA may also generate economic and
environmental benefits, providing additional
incentives
for course managers to implement new
practices.
Player Education Programs: Nager said
the Association needs to “double down” on its
efforts to educate players on the fundamentals
of how to play faster. To this end, the USGA
will use its communication channels to reach
its Members and the larger golf community with
messages on improving pace of play, such as
picking up one’s ball on a hole once a player’s
Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) limit is reached.
Other efforts could include promotion of
alternate formats such as match play,
foursomes and Stableford scoring that are
popular in other
parts of the world and that take less time to
play than the standard individual stroke-play
format. The TEE IT FORWARD campaign,
developed
in conjunction with The PGA of America, will
continue to be promoted as a way to speed
play and provide more enjoyment. The
Association
will support these educational efforts with an
online resource center at www.usga.org that
contains information to help golfers improve
their
pace of play.
We want to know your thoughts. Will the
USGA's initiative make a difference? Will it take
time? How would you change the pace-of-play
issues plaguing the game? Leave your thoughts
and ideas in the comments section below.