STARTING PROCEDURES DUTIES OF OFFICIALS IN THE STARTING TENTS The responsibilities are to ensure that the players start at the time laid down by the Committee and to distribute score cards and special notices to the players. A. Please wear USGA jacket unless Chairman has indicated otherwise. B. Arrive at the appropriate starting tee 20-30 minutes prior to the first starting time. C. The starter s box will be prepared and distributed by the staff to the starting tents each day. D. Make sure all equipment is set up. Please call the USGA Office if something is not set up when you arrive. E. Starter s box shall contain: Atomic Clock The Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf Groupings and Starting Times Notice to Players and USGA Hard Card Pace of Play Guidelines List of Conforming Golf Balls and One Ball Rule List of Conforming Driver Heads Hole Location Sheets Course Evacuation Procedure Official Score Cards and Extra Score Cards Pencils Tees Permanent Markers Entry Forms PA System possibly Trash Box F. If play is delayed while starting times are in progress, maintain time records on Groupings and Starting Times sheet. Additionally, please notify the Staff-in-Charge and/ or Pace of Play Administrator of any delays. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES 13
G. Inform Staff-in-Charge when the last group has teed off. H. Procedures to follow for starting: Review the Notice to Players; if you have any questions, please call the Staff-in-Charge prior to starting players. The atomic clock is the official time. Start each group exactly at the time indicated on the starting sheet. Do not start any group prior to the scheduled time. Begin announcing a group so that the first player will go forward to play his/her ball at the group s starting time. Do not delay a group because a player is late in appearing for his/her starting time. All players in a group must be present and ready to play at the time laid down by the Committee. The order of play is irrelevant. Four-Ball Stroke Play: a side may be represented by either partner for all or any part of a stipulated round. Four-Ball Match Play: a side may be represented by one partner for all or any part of a match. If a player(s) has not arrived at the tee before his/her scheduled time, please refer to the document Procedure for Handling a Late to the Tee Incident. In stroke play, introduce yourself and the Referee (if applicable). In match play, introduce yourself, the Referee, Observer, Walking Scorer and the standard bearer to the players. Give each player a Hole Location Sheet for the day and the Notice to Players and point out the location of the Evacuation Policy and USGA Hard Card. Notify players of any new items on an updated Notice to Players. Remind each player to mark and identify his/her golf ball to fellow-competitors or opponent(s). Remind each player to count his/her clubs before they start. In stroke play, give an overview (briefly) of the Pace of Play Guidelines to the players as you hand out the score cards: o Point out the time on the score cards, o Point out the checkpoint holes (they are shaded on the card). 14 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES
Explain the need to be at a checkpoint by the designated time or no later than 14 minutes behind the group in front of them (i.e., don t be a hole behind). Give the players/caddies the official time so they may synchronize their watches. Tell players the following: o They may ask to have their group monitored at any time. o In the case of the last checkpoint if they are out of position they will be liable to a one-stroke penalty (there is no warning). o The hole completion time is when the flagstick is put into the hole. o The appeals process will take place in scoring. In stroke play, the player does not receive his/her own score card. Player 1 keeps Player 2, Player 2 keeps Player 3 and Player 3 keeps Player 1. This is the procedure we would like followed. Four-Ball Stroke Play: each side will keep a score card for the other. One score card per side. Four-Ball Stroke Play: review the requirement of individually identifiable scores. In match play, give the official score card to the Referee. PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING A LATE TO THE TEE INCIDENT The following is the procedure that is to be followed by a starter who is missing a player(s) on the starting tee: At a point three minutes prior to the group s starting time, the starter will get on the radio and announce, Group No. 7, the 9 a.m. starting time on hole No. 1, we have three minutes to go and I m missing Kevin Smith. Four-Ball Competition: I m missing Kevin Smith but his partner is present. At a point one minute prior to the group s starting time, this message is repeated over the radio and the starter should ask that the radio be kept clear of all traffic for the next 60 seconds. At this point, the starter USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES 15
should also inform the fellow-competitor(s) or opponent(s) that 60 seconds remain. At a point 30 seconds prior to the group s starting time, this message is repeated over the radio. At this point, the starter should also inform the fellow-competitor(s) or opponent(s) that 30 seconds remain. At a point 10 seconds prior to the group s starting time, the starter counts down each second over the radio and to the fellow competitor(s) or opponent(s), then says over the radio and to the other players, Kevin Smith is late to the tee. Gentlemen, play away please. When the initial radio transmission is broadcast by the starter, a Rover should proceed to that starting hole. It is the USGA s policy to look for players who are missing. However, the starter must not leave the tee to do so. If a player is found by another member of the Committee, there is no need to communicate that fact on the radio. The player must be directed to get to his/her starting tee as soon as possible to avoid a penalty. The player may be transported by anyone and in any type of vehicle. If a player arrives to the tee prior to the group s starting time, the starter must communicate that fact on the radio as follows: Group No. 7, the 9 a.m. starting time on hole No. 1, is now complete. If the player arrives at the tee after the group s starting time, the Rover not the starter will handle the application of the penalty, including communicating with the player s marker. If the group starts late as a result of this issue, the starter must communicate this on the radio to all Rovers and Checkpoint officials. STARTER S SCRIPT FOR STROKE PLAY AND MATCH PLAY Note: Begin announcing a group so that the first player will go forward to play his/her ball at the group s starting time (not earlier). The full name of the player should be used each time, without titles (i.e., Mr. or Ms.). Past Champions: If a player is a past champion from that championship, then he/she should be announced as such for all rounds. 16 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES
Stroke Play Script: Before First Group of Each Wave: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the (first or second) round of stroke play of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. For the First Group of Each Wave and Following Groups (Note that the Referee or Observer is not announced): This is the (Time) starting time; please welcome from (City, State, or Country), (Player Name) play away please Match Play Script: Before First Match of Each Round, Rounds 1-Semifinal: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the (first,second, third, Quarterfinal, or Semifinal) round of match play of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. For the First Match of Each Round and all Following Matches: This is the (Time) match; please welcome from (City, State, or Country), (Player Name), The Referee for this match is (Name of Referee). Note Only the Referee is to be announced (i.e., the Observer (First Player) has the honor. Play away, please. Before Final Match: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Championship Match of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES 17
(Total # entered in Championship) players entered this year s Championship, with (Total # in Championship Proper) players competing in the championship proper. After 36 holes of Stroke Play, the low 64 players began match play, and each player competing in today s (18- or 36-) hole Championship Match has won five matches in order to advance to this point. Please welcome the players; from (City, State, or Country), (Player Name). The Referee for the match is (Name of Referee). Note Only the Referee is to be announced (i.e., the Observer (First Player) has the honor. Play away, please. Before Second 18 Holes of 36-Hole Championship Match: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the continuation of the 36-hole Championship Match of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association and hosted by (Host Club). Please welcome the players; from (City, State, or Country), (Player Name). The Referee for the match is (Name of Referee). Note Only the Referee is to be announced (i.e., the Observer At the conclusion of the first 18 holes, (a) (Player Name) is (so many) up. OR (b) The match is all square. (Player Name) has the honor. Play away please. 18 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES
FOUR-BALL: STARTER S SCRIPT FOR STROKE PLAY AND MATCH PLAY Note: Begin announcing a group so that the first player will go forward to play his/her ball at the group s starting time (not earlier). The full name of the player should be used each time, without titles (i.e., Mr. or Ms.). Past Champions: If a player is a past champion from that championship, then he/she should be announced as such for all rounds. Stroke Play Script: Before First Group of Each Wave: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the (first, second,) round of stroke play of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. For the First Group of Each Wave and Following Groups (Note that the Referee or Observer is not announced): This is the (Time) starting time; please welcome play away please., Match Play Script: Before First Match of Each Round, Rounds 1-Semifinal: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the (first, second, Quarterfinal, or Semifinal) round of match play of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES 19
For the First Match of Each Round and all Following Matches: This is the (Time) match; please welcome The Referee for the match is (Name of Referee). Note Only the Referee is to be announced (i.e., the Observer (Last Name Player 1), (Last Name Player 2), has the honor. Play away, please. Before Final Match: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Championship Match of the (Number) (Championship Name), conducted by the United States Golf Association. (Total # entered in Championship), sides entered this year s championship, with (Total # in Championship Proper), sides competing in the championship proper. After 36 holes of stroke play, the low 32 sides began match play, and each side competing in today s 18-hole Championship Match has won four matches in order to advance to this point. Please welcome the players; The Referee for the match is (Name of Referee). 20 USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES
Note Only the Referee is to be announced (i.e., the Observer (Last Name Player 1), (Last Name Player 2), has the honor. Play away, please. PROCEDURE FOR ANNOUNCING GROUPS AFTER DELAYS When play resumes after a suspension; the starter will announce the following: Stroke Play: This is the originally scheduled (Time) starting time; please welcome play away please Match Play: This is the originally scheduled (Time) match; please welcome Note This only applies when there has been an official suspension or delay due to weather, fog, darkness, etc. This procedure does not apply when play is delayed due to another reason such as a ruling on the starting hole or a match going to extra holes. Only if new groupings and starting times have been printed will the starter announce the new starting time. USGA RULES NOTEBOOK STARTING PROCEDURES 21