Pace of Play/Ready Golf

Print Pace of Play Policy/Ready Golf Recommendations

Maintaining a good pace is not only respectful to your fellow golfers but also key to creating an enjoyable experience for everyone on the course. A slow round can lead to frustration for players behind you, while a fast and steady pace ensures the flow of the game remains smooth. No one wants to play a 5+ hour round of golf.

Cinnabar Hills (like all golf courses) aims for groups to play their course in a maximum of 4 hours and 30 minutes. To achieve this, the Board has worked with Cinnabar Hills to develop the pace of play policy detailed below for our tournaments. In addition, we’ve put together a set of recommendations on how to play “Ready Golf”, which can be found at “What is Ready Golf?“. All members should play “Ready Golf”.

  • Pace of Play Definition. The clubhouse will calculate the pace of play for each group based on the difference between the time they tee off and the time they leave the 18th green after completing their round.
  • “Out of Position” Definition. Groups are considered “Out of Position” when they:
    • Reach the teeing area of a par-3 that is clear of play and all players in the match ahead have played from the teeing area of the next hole.
    • Reach the teeing area of a par-4 that becomes clear of play before any player plays a stroke from the teeing area.
    • Reach the teeing area of a par-5 after any player in the match ahead has made a stroke on the putting green.
  • First Warning. Members will be given a first warning by the clubhouse (in person or via the golf cart display) when they out of position with the group in front of them AND are 5 minutes behind the 4 hour 30 minute pace of play maximum.
    • Members should immediately pick up their pace of play to get back in position OR within 5 minutes of the 4 hour 30 minute pace of play maximum within the next three holes.
  • Second Warning. Members will be given a second warning by the clubhouse (in person or via the golf cart display) if they are still out of position with the group in front of them AND 5 minutes behind the 4 hour 30 minute pace of play maximum three holes after the first warning.
    • Members should immediately pick up their pace of play to get back in position OR within 5 minutes of the 4 hour 30 minute pace of play maximum within the next three holes.
  • 2 Stroke Penalty. Members will be assessed a two stroke penalty at the end of their round if they: (1) have received a second pace of play warning as described above, AND (2) are out of position with the group in front of them when reaching the 18th tee, AND (3) finish their round with a pace of play of more than 4 hours 35 minutes. This penalty will be assessed by the golf course personnel in the clubhouse when the scorecards are turned in.
  • Penalty Relief. If at the end of the round, the Tournament Committee determines that a player (or players) in the group was the cause of the group failing to maintain pace of play and determines other players are playing within the requirements of this policy, those meeting the requirements of this policy may be absolved from any penalties while others may not.
  • First Groups. To achieve our pace of play maximum, the first tee group needs to target completing their round in 4 hours or less, and the first four groups should finish in no more than 4 hours 15 minutes. The Tournament Director will flight the tournament field based on past pace of play data to ensure players with a history of playing quickly are in the first four groups.