August 14, 2025
Dear Geneva National Members,
Good day to all as we gear up for the 2025 Club Championship that takes place this Friday – Sunday. Good luck to all members who participate and looking forward to some exciting golf. During the member listening session held on 7/29 there were numerous member complaints about slow pace of play on the Member course. Based on these comments the Member Golf Professional staff pulled all the pace of play data for May – July 2025. We know members playing early and late in the day often skew pace data with very fast play, which we all appreciate. Based on this knowledge we pulled data for each day for all rounds played between 8am and 2pm excluding rounds less than 18 holes. This data confirms that we do have a pace of play issue. Over these 90 days of golf the data shows over 30 days where pace of play exceeded our expected 4 hours and 15 days where pace of play was between 4 hours 15 minutes and 5 hours.
Despite Member and Member guest rounds being down in 2025, pace of play concerns has grown. Based on this data we are refreshing everyone on what the club rules and regulations state on pace of play and what our pace of play policies and procedures are for Members playing the Member course.
The following snippet is from page 12 of the Membership Rules & Regulations:
As with all golf rounds, Members who will be walking are required to check into the Golf Shop or Member Corner prior to commencing their round.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Head Golf Professional may grant or restrict walking privileges at any time. Any time a Member walks the course, he or she is expected to keep up with the pace of play. Failure to do so may result in the golf staff requiring the Member to use a golf cart for the remainder of the round.
Slow Play
Golf is more fun when played with dispatch and without delay. All rounds shall be completed as promptly as possible. When one hole becomes open ahead, the following group shall be allowed to play through, or the group will be required to skip hole(s) to get back in position. A single player has no priority in terms of speed of play.
MEMBER COURSE PACE of PLAY is 4 HOURS and is expected on all days and all rounds of golf including while hosting guests or playing any competitive matches. There may be some occasions during a major golf event, that we would note on the rules sheet, Pace of Play may be set longer but would not exceed GPS Pace of Play of 4 hours 20 Minutes. Cart path only days the maximum pace of play would adjust to 4 hours and 15 minutes.
GPS pace is set at 4 hours and 20 minutes, unfortunately the process to change this daily to be at 4 hours on the Member course is a challenge. We often hear why Resort pace is managed at 4 hours and 20 minutes and the Members at 4 hours. This is because as Members you all know the golf courses, what tee you should be playing and the layout of the land on best ways to get around the courses.
As for golf cart GPS, Member’s need to be cognizant that after 9 holes the group should be at least 10 minutes ahead of GPS Pace and after finishing 18 Holes should be at least 20 minutes ahead of GPS Pace. A second way of monitoring your group’s pace on the GPS screen is to be at least the number of minutes ahead of GPS Pace of the hole your group is playing. An example is to be at least 12 minutes ahead of GPS pace while playing the 12th hole.
Our Player Assistants (Rangers) are out there to help each member group as needed. Please be respectful to them if they do talk with you about pace of play, that is part of their responsibilities. As Member’s it’s your responsibility to keep pace and the Player Assistants’ responsibility to remind groups who are behind pace and enforce pace of play policies if necessary. The Player Assistants may also help slower groups by acting as a ball spotter on a few holes or raking bunkers to allow Member’s to help a group get back on the correct pace.
3-Step Pace of Play Warning Procedure
- 1st - Inform the Members they have fallen behind pace set at 4 hours
- 2nd - Inform the Members they have not regained their place on the course or have fallen further behind pace and could be asked to move back into place if they do not improve pace over the next few holes and are warned a third time.
- 3rd – If no improvement, Members will likely be moved into place on the golf course. This would mean skipping part of or all the next hole or holes.
As we work to improve pace of play warnings will likely be issued with greater frequency, warnings will be tracked to identify repeat offenders, groups will be required to skip holes when out of position, Members with repeated infractions will be subject to disciplinary action from the club as outlined in the club documents, any Member disrespect to staff charged with enforcing the pace of play will not be tolerated.
Pace of Play Pointers
- Choose correct set of tees for your playing ability.
- When sharing a cart, drop partner at their ball and go to your ball. After playing your shot, return and pick up your partner on way to the next shot.
- Read your putt while others are putting or do continuous putting to speed up.
- Stay within one shot of the group in front of your group.
- Aim to play in 20 seconds, club selection, pre-shot routine, hit it.
- Play ready golf and skip honors, when ready and safe go ahead and play even if not farthest away.
- Watch flight and position of all players and help locate stray shots.
We thank you for your cooperation, support and ongoing commitment to the Club.
Here’s to a great second half of the season.
