Press Release: THE R&A INTRODUCES NEW PACE OF PLAY MEASURES FOR AMATEUR EVENTS

For Immediate Publication

THE R&A INTRODUCES NEW PACE OF PLAY MEASURES FOR AMATEUR EVENTS AND INTERNATIONAL MATCHES

13 June 2016, St Andrews, Scotland:  The R&A has introduced two new measures to its Pace of Play Condition ahead of The Amateur Championship being played at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig in Wales this week.

The measures will address two particular situations that can arise during championship play: groups being considered to be out of position even if they are playing within the time allowed, and the timing of individual players who are playing at an unduly slow pace and are only being kept in position by other members of their group who are playing at a quicker pace.

The R&A is introducing the new measures for its 2016 season of amateur events and international matches and they have come into force at The Amateur Championship.

The first measure is a change to the definition of "Out of Position", which will now enable groups that are more than the starting interval behind the group in front to be timed, even if they have not exceeded the allotted time for number of holes completed.

The second measure is the addition of a new clause, "Random Timing Without Warning When Group Not Out of Position", for situations where an individual player may be timed without warning, including when a group is not out of position, for playing at an overly slow pace.

Players will be fully briefed on these changes ahead of the events.

David Rickman, Executive Director – Rules and Equipment Standards at The R&A, said, "The two new measures are part of The R&A's continuing efforts to improve pace of play at our amateur championships and international matches.

"It is now possible for us to address instances where a particular group has fallen behind, and is playing considerably slower than those groups ahead of them, but is still under the schedule. The Committee will now have authority to time these groups and encourage a quicker pace of play.

"Players also have a responsibility for playing at a good pace, not just when they are out of position and being timed. We will now be able to intervene in situations where a player is only being kept in position as a result of the quick pace of play from others in their group."

The R&A's Pace of Play Condition is available to download at www.randa.org/RulesEquipment/Pace-of-Play/Overview.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The R&A

Based in St Andrews, The R&A runs The Open, elite amateur events, international matches and rankings. Together The R&A and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions but sharing a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards. The R&A governs worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, with the consent of 152 organisations from amateur and professional golf and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 140 countries.

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For more information about The R&A visit www.randa.org.

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